CSKA
The game is over
Moscow
21 April 2021 Wednesday / 20:00 MSK
Megasport Sport Palace
CSKA
92
76
Apr. 21 (Wed):
LIVE (for Russia): Match! Game, MatchTV.ru, Sportbox.ru
LIVE (pay): Euroleague.tv
20.04.2021
An unusual season turned into an unusual playoffs. Our team got Fenerbahce as an opponent: on the one hand, the Turkish team is one of the hottest in the end of the tournament. On the other hand, the abundance of injuries and illnesses will force the Istanbul side to come to Moscow with an unusual lineup...
Mysterious rival

PRE-GAME BREAKDOWN

The Army Men themselves have enough problems. Nikola Milutinov continues his post-surgery rehab, Joel Bolomboy continues to recover as well, the Euroleague top scorer Mike James is engaged in his own employment in America, he is suspended by the coaching staff. Dani Hackett, who suffered a shoulder injury in a meeting with Asvel, just joined the training process.

The main loss for Fenerbahce is Jan Vesely, who is recovering from an ankle injury. Most likely, he will not come to Moscow for the first two games, but he can take part in the continuation of the series. COVID also hit the Turkish team, knocking out eight people. According to official reports, there are five players among them.

PRE-GAME QUOTES

Dimitris Itoudis, CSKA head coach:

Everybody’s favorite time. Playoffs is something special. We are happy that we consecutively qualify for playoffs, consecutively have home court advantage. We are expecting our fans to come and help us. Everybody’s thrilled, motivated and concentrated. We are facing a great team that has being changed during the season by adding important players. They are well-coached, we need to be alert. We are going game-by-game, a lot of details are to be analyzed but for sure now we are focused on the game 1.

Nikita Kurbanov, CSKA forward:

Our next target is Final Four. Yes, in the regular season you tune in to every next game, like to the final, you have to win, this is important. But now you realize that the ticket [to the Final Four] is at stake. The room for a mistake is smaller and smaller, each game is more valuable. The mood is different, you need to focus on your game. We defeated Fenerbahce on the road, we lost at home. It is difficult to draw conclusions. This is a good, balanced team, in any lineup they will be determined to win.

CLOSE “RELATIONS”

De Colo returns to Moscow where he spent five seasons as an All-EuroLeague performer for CSKA, helping the team win 2016 and 2019 EuroLeague titles.

De Colo and Toko Shengelia were teammates at Valencia Basket during the 2009-10 season and won the 2010 EuroCup title together that season.

Shengelia has played under current Fenerbahce head coach Igor Kokoskov on the Georgian national team in the past.

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

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

Johannes Voigtmann has made at least 1 three-point shot in eight straight and 20 of his last 21 games. He ranks eighth this season in three-point accuracy at 47.2%.

Voigtmann has scored in double figures in six consecutive games. 

Iffe Lundberg has posted a performance index rating in double figures in four straight games.

Will Clyburn has scored in double figures in six of his last seven games.

Semen Antonov needs 12 points to reach 500 for his career.

PAST MATCHUPS

Wins/losses: 25-12

SHORT DOSSIER

Fenerbahce Istanbul, Turkey

Founded: 1913
Colors: yellow, dark-blue
Homecourt: Ulker Sports Arena (13800)
President: Azim Yildirim
Head coach: Igor Kokoskov
Website: www.fenerbahce.org
Trophy case: EuroLeague champions (2017), Turkish champions (1991, 2007, 08, 10, 11, 14, 16, 17, 18), Turkish Cup winners (1967, 2010, 11, 13, 16, 19), Turkish President Cup winners (1990, 91, 94, 2007, 13, 16)

 

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