Speed vs. height. How Enisey surprised UNICS

Enisey and UNICS utilize different approaches to the game. Krasnoyarsk likes to push the pace, while Kazan often relies on a big frontcourt. Exclusive to Breaking  It Down, Konstantin Kucher analyzes the key moments in Enisey's shocking win over UNICS. 

Both teams were dealing with injuries. Krasnoyarsk had a weakened frontcourt, with Kosta Perovic and Alexander Pavlov both out with injuries and Artem Yakovenko serving a one-game suspension. Sava Lesic did play, but was not at full strength. Kazan had to go without guards Anton Ponkrashov, Keith Langford and Sergey Bykov, who warmed up with the team but didn't play.

Kazan averaged 6 cm taller than Krasnoyarsk at every position prior to tip-off. That would have a huge impact on the game. The visitors tried to run everything through the paint, while Krasnoyarsk attacked from the perimeter. Not surprisingly, UNICS won the rebounding battle, but also committed nearly twice as many turnovers.

UNICS struggled at the point guard position. Curtis Jerrells did a bad job distributing the ball, throwing the ball away six times while compensating with just six assists. Evgeny Pashutin ultimately benched him for the final five minutes of the game. Vadim Panin stepped in as the playmaker down the stretch.

Lacking a true point guard, UNICS relied on a very simple offensive set. First, one of the big men got the ball with his back to the basket. 

He then tried to back down his man.

If no one came to double team, he looked to score himself. Most of the time, however, another Enisey defender came over to help.

The UNICS big man would then swing the ball to an open teammate, who either took the shot or passed it on to a more available teammate.

Konstantinos Kaimakoglou thrived in the system. He scored 17 points and dished out six assists, nearly carrying UNICS to victory.

UNICS turned to this play in crunch time, needing a basket with 30 seconds left on the clock. Unfortunately for the visitors, the execution wasn't there and Vadim Panin was forced to use a screen and shoot a pull-up jumper, an unusual shot attempt for the Russian forward. He missed and ultimately cost Kazan the game.

After that failed attempt to score, Enisey executed the winning possession. The play featured Krasnoyarsk's two biggest weapons: quick transition offense and perimeter shooting.

After rebounding the ball, Donell Cooper and his teammates took off for the opposite end of the court.

Krasnoyarsk found itself in a 5-on-3.

The visitors weren't able to defend everyone and Pavel Sergeev ended up with a wide-open look in the corner.

The guard hit his shot from the perimeter, making the crowd go wild.
 

Krasnoyarsk only shot 36% from beyond the arc, but it was just enough to overcome a discombobulated UNICS offense. Kazan connected at a better percentage from two-point range, but was doomed by its turnovers (19 vs. Enisey's 10).

The home team played a part in Kazan's ballhandling struggles by pushing the tempo and applying lots of ball pressure. Krasnoyarsk ended up with six extra shot attempts and four more free throws than the visitors, the perfect recipe for a victory.