The endless series of endless coaching strife in Eastern Europe - Serbs with Lithuanians - again ended in victory for the latter. The second time in a row for Dusan Ivkovich - four days ago the gray-haired sage was offended by the Khimki Baltic Kemzur. However, Zeljko Obradovic, a Balkan specialist, does not have to count on fraternal sympathy on the coming Tuesday from a compatriot - and part-time coach "Pao". The Euroleague does not ask for a residence permit - only the result.
Yesterday’s opponents have different results. UNICS even first shook basketball Europe with three victories in a line (over Siena and Real Madrid), it crumbled in Madrid, which turned into cherished dreams about the main tournament of the Old World. Dynamo, not departing from the euphoria of qualifying for the Euroleague quarter-finals, misfired with Khimki sentenced themselves to an early clash in the playoffs with the slender army ranks of commander Messina, as well as a new wave of blasphemy for Ivkovich.
By the way, in terms of the variety of well-deserved and not very criticized Antanas Sireyka constantly pouring during the season, it competes with the famous Duda. However, fans from Tatarstan should thank the coach for the team’s upcoming defensive metamorphoses. The protection of UNICS, albeit alabaster in away matches, at home confidently strives for hardness of flint. The ridiculous 22 points allowed in the opening of the Euroleague in the first half are another sure sign of positive dynamics.
At the same time, Kazanians cannot do without failures. So now the lazy jogger of the fastest Super League team at the start of the third quarter has not passed without a trace. Significant acceleration of white-blue - from the former leading "+20" there were horns, legs and three impressive points.
The coup, however, did not happen. The jerk (18: 2) of the name of the heroic Hellenes and, which is pleasant and unexpected, Moni did not arouse the partners of the triumvirate. The throws of the guests by aesthetic refinement still looked much more like scattered spits; the organization of the attack limped on all ten legs. The lost Dynamo playmakers wholeheartedly volunteered to help the virtuous workers of the Sport channel, who graphically awarded the title “point guard” to almost every participant in the match. Did not help out. Even Ivkovich’s proprietary lotion in the form of Khvostov, who had trumpeted the entire fourth period of the inexpressive lately, had no drug effect. UNICS recovered from a sensitive slap and stirred in the attack (the leader was Dariush Lavrinovich). And soon he was at all like that. The intrigue left the Basket Hall in advance in the middle of the final segment of the game.
Now, the comforted Kazan can rush by any route to conquer the peak form right up to the “final four” of the Russian Cup. A gold margin of safety and skill to avoid collapse in the final matches of the regular season should be more than enough.
The suppressed Dynamo after two consecutively unsightly defeats in the Super League can only hope for a sudden drop in the prices of the trinity in heaven. If God doesn’t fall out of love with her, Muscovites are unlikely to cope with the frightening Panathinaikos earthly methods.
Nikita GOLOVANOV
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