"Red" day of the calendar
PRE-GAME BREAKDOWN
It took two days to prepare for the game. On Tuesday, the coaches reduced the workload for those who played heavy minutes in Tallinn, and on Wednesday there was a full-fledged practice.
Nikola Milutinov and Darrun Hilliard remain out of the game. Diop Reath and Qino Colom will not play for Crvena Zvezda.
PRE-GAME QUOTES
Dimitris Itoudis, CSKA head coach:
Zvezda plays better lately, especially offensively. They have won two of their last five games averaging 80 points. They are shooting great from the perimeter, especially guards - everybody, as they involve more players into rotation, but Loyd, Dobric, Davidovac, Walden can shoot the ball, Simonovic is a specialist in that as spread four. In general as a team they have a lot of talent. They are not chasing the specific spot in the standings, so they are more dangerous because they play with no pressure. We need to be focused, to be locked in from the beginning, especially on their key players, and hustle from the beginning until the end. We are in a good momentum regarding hustling, regarding the ways to score the ball, so we focus not to lose that [momentum].Iffe Lundberg, CSKA guard:
I think we've prepared pretty good. We haven't have so many things to prepare on, as we just came back from Estonia, but the team is ready, we will go there and fight for 40 minutes. They have many good players especially on the perimeter so we are locked in. The game plan is going to be trying to make it tough for them, of course, for the entire team, but as long as we focus on ourselves and executing the coaches' game plan I think we are fine.
“RELATIVITY” CONNECTIONS
No connections.
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 21 straight and 46 of his last 47 games. He ranks third this season with 2.7 three-point shots made per game.
James has scored in double figures in 20 of his last 21 games. He leads the EuroLeague in scoring this season with 19.6 points per game.
Mike James is in 14th place all-time with 2,683 points. Alexey Shved of Khimki Moscow Region is in 13th place with 2,692 points and counting.
Mike James is ranked second in the league this season in average PIR with 20.0 per game.
James ranks sixth this season with 5.8 assists per game.
Johannes Voigtmann has made at least 1 three-point shot in 15 of his last 16 games.
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: 14-2
1969-70 – European Champions Cup. Group stage. Crvena Zvezda – CSKA: 82-85 (+3)
1969-70 – European Champions Cup. Group stage. CSKA – Crvena Zvezda: 105-92 (+7)
1972-73 – European Champions Cup. Semifinals. Crvena Zvezda – CSKA: 90-98 (+8)
1972-73 – European Champions Cup. Semifinals. CSKA – Crvena Zvezda: 100-83 (+17)
1999-00 – Euroleague. Preliminary Round. CSKA – Crvena Zvezda: 86-62 (+24)
1999-00 – Euroleague. Preliminary Round. Crvena Zvezda – CSKA: 65-80 (+15)
2015-16 – Euroleague. Quarterfinals. CSKA – Crvena Zvezda: 84-74 (+10)
2015-16 – Euroleague. Quarterfinals. CSKA – Crvena Zvezda: 77-76 (+1)
2015-16 – Euroleague. Quarterfinals. Crvena Zvezda – CSKA: 71-78 (+7)
2016-17 – Euroleague. Regular Season. Crvena Zvezda – CSKA: 78-67 (-11)
2016-17 – Euroleague. Regular Season. CSKA – Crvena Zvezda: 102-80 (+22)
2017-18 – Euroleague. Regular Season. Crvena Zvezda – CSKA: 59-85 (+26)
2017-18 – Euroleague. Regular Season. CSKA – Crvena Zvezda: 92-81 (+11)
2019-20 – Euroleague. Regular Season. CSKA – Crvena Zvezda: 100-74 (+26)
2019-20 – Euroleague. Regular Season. Crvena Zvezda – CSKA: 81-86 (+5)
2020-21 – Euroleague. Regular Season. Crvena Zvezda – CSKA: 86-84 (-2)
SHORT DOSSIER
Crvena Zvezda Belgrade, Serbia
Founded: 1945
Colors: white, red
Homecourt: Stark Arena (25.000), Aleksandar Nikolić Hall (8.000)
President: Nebojša Čović
Head coach: Dejan Radonjić
Website: www.kkcrvenazvezda.rs
Trophy case:
- Cup Winners Cup (1974);
- ABA Champion (2015, 16, 17, 19);
- Yugoslavian champion (1946, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 69, 72, 93, 94, 98);
- Yugoslavian Cup winner (1971, 73, 75);
- Serbian champion (2015, 17, 18, 19);
- Serbian Cup winner (2004, 06, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
