Week 2. Summary.

Our web-site continues to cover VTB United League’s Regular Season.

The Event
Down go UNICS and Loko!
Kazan’s team lost at home to Tsmoki-Minsk (83:91), while Lokomotiv fell to (74:76).

We could write off these bad outings by the favorites and call it the lack of cohesiveness, but let’s not forget the small market team’s perspective. A team from Minsk didn’t look as polished as their counterparts on paper, but they came there ready to blow, it all capitalized for them in the 3rd quarter when they scored 31 points.

Michael Dickson continued where he left off in his first game, as the Czech’s team leader put on a scoring exhibition. He registered 18 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter, an amazing scoring display.

The Derby
Avtodor beats Nizhny in OT - 94:86.
Derby between the two teams from Volgograd region will always attract special buzz from the local fans and this time wasn’t any different. The game was marked by hot shooting from both squads as Maksim Grigoriev set the League’s record for three-pointers made in a half with his six makes, while Malcolm Armstead (23+6+7+3 steals) held it down for his squad time after time.

Grigoriev missed his chance to be the hero of the hour twice, the game went into the overtime after his two misses. The extra period ended with Avtodor’s win, their first of the season and their first against Nizhny in the League.

The Contrast
Zenit victorious over Krasny Oktyabr - 94:93.
Both teams have similar potential and will probably compete for the spot in the League’s elite eight. Both teams played some of their best as well as some of their worst basketball if you compare the two halves of the game they played against each other. The case of the polar opposites.

The Progress
Vita hosted CSKA. Lost their second straight home game - 60:93.
CSKA and Vita came away from tonight’s contest facing the same challenges they came in with going into the game versus one another. Team from Tbilisi will look to establish themselves in the League, head coach Pavel Googe estimates his team to get in rhythm around New Year, while Red Army will continue the feel-out process and prepare to face and battle challenges as they present themselves.

The Fan
 

The Persistence
Enisey defeats VEF (73:71).
Teams were dead even for the whole duration of the game and defense prevailed until the end as neither team could score on their last combined eight tries.

The Number
18 – Unanswered points in row scored by Khimki in a game against Bisons (81:62).

The MVP
Michael Dickson. The American was instrumental during his team’s upset of Lokomotiv, scoring a whopping 18 of his 31 points in the 4th quarter.

The Quote
Ronen Ginsburg. Nymburk’s head coach.
I think this was of the finest wins for our team in recent years. This victory is special, because it’s important for many of our young players to know they can play with and defeat a Euroleague level basketball team. This is an important win for our club and for Czech basketball.

The Highlight

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