CSKA — Anadolu Efes, 15 December 2020

PRE-GAME BREAKDOWN

Last season Efes took a hard-fought victory on the Megasport floor, it was the first win of the team in Moscow since 1999. It is interesting that 3 last games in this pair were won by the visitors.

The Army Men don’t have a full roster again. Dani Hackett is still ill, Janis Strelnieks is not in his best shape. Three CSKA-2 players – Daniil Kochergin, Yuri Umrikhin and Alexander Shashkov prepared for the game together with main team.

PRE-GAME QUOTES

Dimitris Itoudis, CSKA head coach:

We play against a very experienced and motivated team that plays good basketball. They know how to move the ball, so it's a tough game in front of us. We have good momentum and we will fight. We go game by game. A double-round week at home or on the road in these circumstances that we are living in doesn't make big difference. For sure, not traveling is a plus. But we have an experienced opponent in front of us, so we focus on this game.

Alexander Khomenko, CSKA guard:

We play two games this week, starting with Efes. We studied their game, their leaders. Shane Larkin obviously stands out; he is their engine, their scorer, who is aggressive both on offense and defense. We play home in front of our fans; we will feel their support, and it is really important for us. We will try hard to get this win.

”RELATIVITY” CONNECTIONS

Efes center Chris Singleton and Mike James were teammates at Panathinaikos from 2016 to 2018.

Will Clyburn was a teammate of current Efes players James Anderson and Adrien Moerman at Darussafaka Istanbul during the 2016-17 season.

Nikita Kurbanov was a teammate of Efes guard Krunoslav Simon at Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar during the 2014-15 campaign.

Johannes Voigtmann was a teammate of Efes duo Rodrigue Beaubois and Shane Larkin at Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz. Voigtmann and Beaubois were teammates for two seasons, from 2016 to 2018, while Larkin was there with them in the 2016-17 campaign.

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

Ten different players have appeared in CSKA's starting lineups so far this season. Only Nikita Kurbanov has started in every game.

Mike James has made at least 1 three-point shot in 32 of his last 33 games. James has made multiple threes in seven straight games. He ranks second this season with 2.9 three-point shots made per game.

James has scored in double figures in seven straight and 37 of his last 38 games. He leads the EuroLeague in scoring this season with 20.6 points per game and second in average PIR with 21.2 per game.

Will Clyburn has made a three-pointer in five of his last six games.

Will Clyburn ranks 10th in scoring this season with 14.3 points per game.

Nikola Milutinov leads the league in offensive rebounds with 3.2 per game. He is third with 6.7 rebounds per game.

Janis Strelnieks ranks sixth all-time in free-throw accuracy at 90.9%.

Nikola Milutinov is ranked 10th all-time with 408 offensive rebounds. Bryant Dunston of Anadolu Efes Istanbul is ninth with 410 and counting.

Tornike Shengelia needs 2 rebounds to reach 800 for his career.

Johannes Voigtmann needs 2 offensive rebounds to reach 200 for his career.

PAST MATCHUPS

Wins/losses: 19-10
1992-93 – European Cup. Group stage: Efes Pilsen – CSKA: 85-82 (-3)
1992-93 – European Cup. Group stage: CSKA – Efes Pilsen: 87-96 (-9)
1997-98 – Euroleague. Preliminary Round: CSKA – Efes Pilsen: 77-73 (+4)
1997-98 – Euroleague. Preliminary Round: Efes Pilsen – CSKA: 71-63 (-8)
1998-99 – Euroleague. 1/8 finals: Efes Pilsen – CSKA: 73-58 (-15)
1998-99 – Euroleague. 1/8 finals: CSKA – Efes Pilsen: 98-105 2ОТ (-7)
2000-01 – Suproleague. Third place game: Efes Pilsen – CSKA: 91-85 (-6)
2002-03 – Euroleague. Top 16: Efes Pilsen – CSKA: 71-69 (-2)
2002-03 – Euroleague. Top 16: CSKA – Efes Pilsen: 66-54 (+12)
2005-06 – Euroleague. Quarterfinals: CSKA – Efes Pilsen: 66-57 (+9)
2005-06 – Euroleague. Quarterfinals: Efes Pilsen – CSKA: 71-75 (+4)
2008-09 – Euroleague. Regular season: CSKA – Efes Pilsen: 90-68 (+22)
2008-09 – Euroleague. Regular season: Efes Pilsen – CSKA: 55-74 (+19)
2010-11 – Euroleague. Regular season: Efes Pilsen – CSKA: 86-72 (-14)
2010-11 – Euroleague. Regular season: CSKA – Efes Pilsen: 78-69 (+9)
2011-12 – Euroleague. Regular season: CSKA – Anadolu Efes: 96-68 (+28)
2011-12 – Euroleague. Regular season: Anadolu Efes – CSKA: 65-82 (+17)
2012-13 – Euroleague. Top 16: CSKA – Anadolu Efes: 90-71 (+19)
2012-13 – Euroleague. Top 16: Anadolu Efes – CSKA: 63-60 (-3)
2014-15 – Euroleague. Top 16: Anadolu Efes – CSKA: 69-78 (+9)
2014-15 – Euroleague. Top 16: CSKA – Anadolu Efes: 88-81 (+6)
2016-17 – Euroleague. Regular season: Anadolu Efes – CSKA: 87-93 (+6)
2016-17 – Euroleague. Regular season: CSKA – Anadolu Efes: 80-77 (+3)
2017-18 – Euroleague. Regular season: Anadolu Efes – CSKA: 80-98 (+18)
2017-18 – Euroleague. Regular season: CSKA – Anadolu Efes: 110-79 (+31)
2018-19 – Euroleague. Regular season: CSKA – Anadolu Efes: 102-84 (+18)
2018-19 – Euroleague. Regular season: Anadolu Efes – CSKA: 78-80 (+2)
2018-19 – Euroleague. Final. Anadolu Efes – CSKA: 83-91 (+8)
2019-20 – Euroleague. Regular season: Anadolu Efes – CSKA: 80-81 (+1)
2019-20 – Euroleague. Regular season: CSKA – Anadolu Efes: 80-82 (-2)

SHORT DOSSIER

Anadolu Efes Istanbul, Turkey

Founded: 1976
Colors: white, blue
Home Court: Sinan Erdem Dome (16,000)
President: Tuncay Ozilhan
Head Coach: Ergin Ataman
Website: www.efesbasket.org
Trophy case:
- Korac Cup winner (1996);
- 14-time Turkish champion (1979, 83, 84, 92, 93, 94, 96, 97, 2002, 03, 04, 05, 09, 19);
- 11-time Turkish Cup winner (1994, 96, 97, 98, 2001, 02, 06, 07, 09, 15, 18);
- 9-time Turkish President Cup winner (1986, 92, 93, 96, 98, 2000, 06, 09, 10)