The trip continues
PRE-GAME BREAKDOWN
After so-and-so start of the season the Turkish club switched the gears and reminds those version of Efes that led in the previous EuroLeague season. In two games prior to the next one the Ergin Ataman side confidently beat Fenerbance and Valencia, the teams that were also considered to be hot. Efes has won eight of its last nine games, including the last five.
The Red-Blues stayed in Tel Aviv after the battle against Maccabi, slept in the hotel and left to Bosphorus banks at noon. The practice planned for the night was cancelled to get some extra rest so the team just had a video session in the hotel.
PRE-GAME QUOTES
Dimitris Itoudis, CSKA head coach:
We are about to play a third road game in a row against a very good team that has the same chemistry. They managed to keep the core, the main players untouched in comparison to the game we played in the 2019 final in Vitoria. That shows how motivated they are, how high they target. They play good basketball, we find them in a good moment, they execute their plays, they are consistent defensively. Overall we know that every time here in Turkey while playing against Efes you need to be fully concentrated and motivated for 40 minutes.
Darrun Hilliard, CSKA guard:
It [the trip after the game] is pretty difficult for an average person, but this is what we do, we are professionals, we get paid good amount of money to do this, we gotta prepare ourselves, be well rested and mentally focused for the next game against Efes.
”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
Twelve different players have appeared in CSKA's starting lineups so far this season. Only Nikita Kurbanov has started every game.
Mike James has made at least 1 three-point shot in 18 straight and 43 of his last 44 games. He ranks second this season with 2.7 three-point shots made per game.
James has scored in double figures in 18 straight and 48 of his last 49 games. He leads the EuroLeague in scoring this season with 20.0 points per game. Mike James is in 14th place all-time with 2,635 points. Kyle Hines is in 13th place with 2,670.
James ranks sixth this season with 5.8 assists per game.
James has posted a PIR of at least 10 in 15 of his last 16 games. Mike James is second in the league this season in average PIR with 20.4 per game.
Michael Eric needs 12 points to reach 500 for his career.
Semen Antonov needs 21 points to reach 500 for his career.
PAST MATCHUPS
Wins/losses: 20-10
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)
2020-21 – Euroleague. Regular season: CSKA – Anadolu Efes: 100-65 (+35)
SHORT DOSSIER
Anadolu Efes Istanbul, Turkey
Founded: 1976Colors: 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
