For the first place and more
13.01.2010
The home game vs Caja Laboral will be deciding for our team. The chance to take the first place in Group C promises better perspectives for the next Euroleague stages, so the USH CSKA floor will be hot on Thursday...
The home game vs Caja Laboral will be deciding for our team. The chance to take the first place in Group C promises better perspectives for the next Euroleague stages, so the USH CSKA floor will be hot on Thursday.
The winner of the game automatically takes the first place in the Group. That means the team will get better draw chances for Top 16 and, consequently, technical and mental advantage on the next stage. The loss will leave Caja on the second place and CSKA will be probable dropped to third in that case (if Maccabi defeats Maroussi in Athens).
CSKA newcomer Mensah-Bonsu will not be able to play. It is expected that he will arrive to Russian capitol on Thursday in the afternoon, will be immediately sent to medical examinations, and doctors will provide final verdict on his contract. With the exception of Smodis (back) CSKA will have full roster for the game. Ramunas Siskauskas (left wrist) participates in full-length practices together with his teammates.
From the other side, the club from Baskonia will miss a couple of players even after returning Herrmann and Huertas who missed the game in Vitoria. Brad Oleson is injured and Sean Singletary is questionable for the game.
“Our opponents will have full roster and they arrive to Moscow in the middle of great winning streak, - CSKA head coach Evgeny Pashutin said. From the other side we also improved and we want to take the first position which is on the stake. Caja Laboral plays very aggressive basketball with lots of contact; they are striving in using opponents’ mistakes. So our task will be to control the rhythm of the game, to minimize the number of turnovers, to stop their fast break and to play very active on the glass. It is important that we also do not have injured players so everything depends on us.”
The winner of the game automatically takes the first place in the Group. That means the team will get better draw chances for Top 16 and, consequently, technical and mental advantage on the next stage. The loss will leave Caja on the second place and CSKA will be probable dropped to third in that case (if Maccabi defeats Maroussi in Athens).
CSKA newcomer Mensah-Bonsu will not be able to play. It is expected that he will arrive to Russian capitol on Thursday in the afternoon, will be immediately sent to medical examinations, and doctors will provide final verdict on his contract. With the exception of Smodis (back) CSKA will have full roster for the game. Ramunas Siskauskas (left wrist) participates in full-length practices together with his teammates.
From the other side, the club from Baskonia will miss a couple of players even after returning Herrmann and Huertas who missed the game in Vitoria. Brad Oleson is injured and Sean Singletary is questionable for the game.
“Our opponents will have full roster and they arrive to Moscow in the middle of great winning streak, - CSKA head coach Evgeny Pashutin said. From the other side we also improved and we want to take the first position which is on the stake. Caja Laboral plays very aggressive basketball with lots of contact; they are striving in using opponents’ mistakes. So our task will be to control the rhythm of the game, to minimize the number of turnovers, to stop their fast break and to play very active on the glass. It is important that we also do not have injured players so everything depends on us.”
