Week In Review: Riga Thriller And Parma’s First Win

Week In Review: Riga Thriller And Parma’s First Win

The biggest stories from the past seven days in the League.

Breakthrough
“We’ve missed 9,000 shots this season. We’ve lost 20 games. We’ve plenty of chances and battled late in games, but couldn’t hit shots to put us over the top. We’ve failed over and over again. And that is why we succeeded.”

Michael Jordan’s most famous quote came to life on Sunday for Parma and the team’s patient fans. Perm picked up its first victory in the League on the 21st attempt. Parma defeated Tsmoki-Minsk in the Belarusian capital, erasing the goose egg in the win column to avoid a winless campaign. Better late than never.

Thriller
Riga hosted the most exciting game of the week as VEF and UNICS went to overtime. Kazan center Artsiom Parakhouski played the entire game without missing a field goal, knocking down eight shots (16 points, nine rebounds), which played a big part in UNICS getting the win. The team has now won two in a row, Kazan’s first winning streak of 2017.

Opportunity
Nizhny Novgorod lost at home to Khimki, putting the team’s playoff hopes on life support.

“Now we need to defeat Astana by 10 or more points, defeat Tsmoki and wait for Astana’s results. There’s still a chance. The important thing is for our players to have the desire to compete,” – said Nizhny boss Arturs Stalbergs.

It’s not totally impossible, considering Astana’s (9-12) two other remaining games are against UNICS and Khimki. But Nizhny Novgorod (7-15) also can’t forget about Avtodor (6-14), which could still make a run at the postseason.

Guarantee
Enisey and VEF have clinched spots in the postseason, thanks to Nizhny Novgorod and Astana’s losses over the weekend. Both teams are in the playoffs for only the second time in club history.

Motivation
Zenit, Khimki, Lokomotiv and UNICS clinched playoff spots weeks ago, but there’s plenty to be decided when it comes to seeding. St. Petersburg and Khimki are battling for 2nd place, while Krasnodar and Kazan are fighting over 4th. Better yet, Zenit and Khimki take the ring on Sunday, before Loko and UNICS meet up Monday. You won’t want to miss a second.

Fatherhood
CSKA captain Victor Khryapa is a father for the 3rd time. His wife Ekaterina gave birth to a daughter, Svetlana.

Khryapa went to pick up his wife and child from the hospital on the same day as the game vs. Kalev. His absence didn’t stop the Army Men from cruising to victory and nearly clinching the top seed in the playoffs.

Dunk


Return
With Sasa Obradovic’s arrival in the fall, Lokomotiv-Kuban quickly became one of the League’s most dangerous teams. But spring has not been as kind to the Railwaymen. Loko dropped three in a row to top rivals: CSKA, Khimki, Zenit. The team also missed out a spot in the EuroCup finals, losing to Unicaja in two games. Due to European competition, Kuban has only played once in the League over the past month. The club branded Monday’s match-up with Avtodor in the Basket Hall as a “Comeback Game” and the team delivered, strolling to a 79-61 victory.

Bowling

 

Fearless fan during the ‘Giant Bowling’ contest. #lokonation #lokofamily

Публикация от Lokomotiv Kuban (@lokobasket)

Krasnodar knows how to put on a show.

Revenge
Enisey twice came close to winning against Astana when these teams met in Kazakhstan earlier in the season, before losing on a sensational double-overtime buzzer-beater from Rob Lowery. Enisey players didn’t hide that it was the most painful loss of the season. With revenge on the mind, Krasnoyarsk completely dominated the game on Sunday, taking an early lead and going on to win by 10.

Honesty
Astana head coach Ilias Papatheodorou gave his interpretation of the team’s poor performance in Krasnoyarsk.

“Enisey is one of the League’s top six teams. But Krasnoyarsk didn’t have to do much today, but we simply didn’t take the court.”

Stat
79 – Khimki’s two-point field-goal percentage against Nizhny Novgorod. That’s the best mark of the season and 8th all-time in the League.

Quote
Kalev head coach Alar Varrak:
– We played our best basketball, but still lost by 30 points. Unfortunately, that’s reality: the two teams are at totally different levels. It’s like a 50-kg boxer taking on a 100-kg opponent.”

Stars
Alexey Shved (Khimki)
Khimki’s turnaround in Nizhny Novgorod after being dismantled in Moscow was largely thanks to Shved’s return from injury. He played 37 minutes, posting a 37 efficiency rating thanks to 32 points, six rebounds, five assists and 12-16 shooting.

Sergei Chernov (Parma)
Parma laid the foundation for its first victory in the first half, led by Chernov’s 16 points in 18 minutes. The playmaker finished with 23 points, four rebounds and three assists.

Artsiom Parakhouski (UNICS)
Parakhouski’s impeccable finishing in the Riga thriller make him an easy choice on this list.

Images