Zalgiris (Lithuania) meets Nizhny Novgorod (Russia) in the quarterfinals of the VTB United League Playoffs.
Who:
Zalgiris, 2012/2013 Lithuanian champion
vs
Nizhny Novgorod, 2010/2011 Russian Cup finalist
Where and When:
Game 1. Zalgiris Arena, Kaunas. May 15, 2013, 19:20 (20:20 MSK)
Game 2. Zalgiris Arena, Kaunas. May 16, 2013, 19:20 (20:20 MSK)
Game 3. Mescherski Sports-Health Complex, Nizhny Novgorod. May 18, 2013, 13:00 (MSK)
Game 4. Mescherski Sports-Health Complex, Nizhny Novgorod. May 19, 2013, 17:30 (MSK) (if necessary)
Game 5. Zalgiris Arena, Kaunas. May 21, 2013, 19:20 (20:20 MSK) (if necessary)
TV:
Rossiya 2 (Russia), Sport (Russia), Sport1 (Lithuania), Lietuvos Rytas TV (Lithuania), VTB-League.com
Regular Season:
Zalgiris: 1st place in Group B (16-2)
Nizhny Novgorod: 5th place in Group B (10-8)
Face to Face:
Although Nizhny Novgorod is in just its second season in the VTB United League, the team has already played Zalgiris four times. The series is tied 2-2, with Nizhny Novgorod picking up its two wins in its debut season.
It’s worth noting that most of the games between these two teams have been closely contested. The first game in Kaunas went down to the wire, and Nizhny Novgorod ultimately won, led by forward Semen Antonov. His 14-point fourth-quarter explosion helped Volga take a solid lead and finish the game off at the free-throw line, 92-86. The second time the two teams met in the 2011/2012 season, Antonov didn’t play as well, but Michal Ignerski and Artem Yakovenko picked up the slack, scoring 49 combined points, including 16 in the final quarter. Nizhny won, 85-79, for the 2nd-straight time over Zalgiris.
The Lithuanian champions returned the favor this season. Zalgiris took care of business in Nizhny Novgorod, blowing out the home team, 76-58, thanks to a big game from Ksistof Lavrinovic. The second meeting between the teams was much closer, though neither team had much to play for. The score was tied entering the final period, but the Lavrinovic twins got hot for Kaunas and helped pull out a 69-62 win.
Looking Back:
Intrigue:
The Lithuanians appear the heavy favorites in this match-up. They have a more balanced squad and recently demolished Lietuvos Rytas in the Lithuanian Championship Finals. Plus, they’ll have the home-court advantage. But looking at past results, it’s clear that Nizhny Novgorod is not intimidated by the big crowds in Kaunas. If anything, the Russian club plays better on the road against Zalgiris than at home.
Kaunas fans expect success against Nizhny Novgorod after winning the domestic league. The Volga club isn’t likely, however, to roll over without a fight. That’s what makes this interesting. Can Nizhny Novgorod pick up a win on the road or will the Lithuanian powerhouse take care of business?
The Question:
Who’s got a better rotation? Two completely different philosophies regarding player rotation will be on display here. Joan Plaza likes to make a lot of substitutions. He’ll use at least 10 players, even in big games, giving everyone a chance to contribute. The Lithuanian finals drove that point home. Zoran Lukic, however, is more conservative. Players like Ivan Savelyev and Pavel Korobkov do occasionally have breakout games for Nizhny Novgorod, but it’s rare. In general, the Serbian coach relies on his top six – Artem Yakovenko, Semen Antonov, Dijon Thompson, Vadim Panin, Dmitriy Golovin and Obi Trotter. We’ll find out soon whose approach is more effective.
The Duel:
The experienced Lithuanian big men against Nizhny Novgorod’s young Russian frontcourt. The battle under the basket will be one of the key elements in the series. Players from different generations, not just countries, will be squaring off. The age difference is striking. Robertas Javtokas and the Lavrinovic brothers had already been around Europe and back and led the Lithuanian national team to numerous international successes when Semen Antonov, Artem Yakovenko and Pavel Korobkov were still in school.
Much has happened since then and the Nizhny Novgorod centers have grown up to form their own solid battalion. It’s difficult now to say which side will have the advantage. The Lithuanians will have experience and skill, while the Russians will be younger, more athletic and more energetic. They balance each other out and the outcome of this battle of generations is difficult to predict.
X-Factor:
Marko Popovic. He’s got enough charisma for two teams. No matter who else is on the court, the crafty Croatian guard is almost always at the center of attention. But his wild personality doesn’t always benefit the team. Marko is a very talented player, but too reckless for his own good. When he’s playing well, he can bury any opponent, but he’s just as capable of shooting his own team out of the game.
Interesting Facts:
- The first quarter has always been won by the visiting team when these clubs play each other.
- Nizhny Novgorod has a winning record vs Baltic clubs in the VTB United League, 8-6 overall. In fact, Nizhny Novgorod won its first six games against the region, before falling to Lietuvos Rytas (Lithuania) in last year’s playoff quarterfinals.
Quotable:
Zalgiris head coach Joan Plaza:
- The games against Nizhny Novgorod won’t be easy for us. But we’re going to play like we played before. It’s not right to change the style we’ve used all season. In any case, I think that the series will be hard-fought and that we might face some problems.
Nizhny Novgorod head coach Zoran Lukic:
- Our opponent is in a good mood, having won another domestic title. Kaunas didn’t have much trouble doing so, either, in sweeping bitter rivals Lietuvos Rytas in the finals. It just goes to show that this is a powerful, battle-ready team, despite certain complications for the Lithuanian club at the start of the calendar year. They will be very difficult to compete against. Plus, we’ve run into roster problems again prior to this important series. Unfortunately, Obi Trotter has pain in his knee that has bothered him for several months. It’s clear that Obi won’t be ready 100% for the quarterfinal round. In order to not worsen the injury, the guard has planned an operation. Despite this serious loss, I continue to believe that our team can make life interesting for the Lithuanian powerhouse. Of course, Zalgiris is the favorite, but if our guys can play with the same effort and desire as they did in St. Petersburg, we have a chance to hang on in this series.
The Prediction:
- I think that Zalgiris is one of the favorites for the League title, - said VTB United League executive director and former well-known player and coach, Tomas Pacesas. – However, much in the series with Nizhny Novgorod will depend on their motivation for these games. Zalgiris hasn’t played for more than a week since becoming Lithuanian champions. That factor may have an effect on the players’ physical condition, as the team was playing twice per week before then. Plus, Zalgiris has several injured players and won’t be at full strength against the Russian team.
As for Nizhny Novgorod, they really surprised me in the games against Spartak St. Petersburg. This is a team with character, plus Zoran Lukic’s men play well on the glass. If Zalgiris doesn’t respond with the same effort, then anything could happen in this series.
Team Stats:
|
Zalgiris
|
Nizhny Novgorod
| |
| 83.3 | Points | 73.3 |
| 21.3/40.1 (53.0%) | 2-pointers | 18.7/37.1 (50.5%) |
| 7.6/20.3 (37.4%) | 3-pointers | 7.8/22.1 (35.4%) |
| 17.9/22.9 (78.0%) | Free throws | 12.4/16.7 (74.1%) |
| 37.5 | Rebounds | 35.6 |
| 17.4 | Assists | 15.3 |
| 13.3 | Turnovers | 14.5 |
| 8.6 | Steals | 6.0 |
| 1.5 | Blocks | 2.9 |
| 21.1 | Fouls | 24.6 |
Player Stats:
|
Zalgiris
| Nizhny Novgorod
| |
| K. Lavrinovic (12.1) | Points | Dijon Thompson (15.1) |
| K. Lavrinovic (4.8) | Rebounds | Dijon Thompson (6.6) |
| Marko Popovic (3.1) | Assists | Obi Trotter (4.2) |
| Donnie McGrath (1.5) | Steals | Dijon Thompson (1.6) |
| Trammell Darden (0.4) | Blocks | Semen Antonov (0.7)
|
source: www.vtb-league.com
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