Preview

The Johnson’s derby: Loko vs. Astana

BJ Johnson vs. Markell Johnson; Karvel Anderson vs. his previous team – these intrigues are obvious. Of most things else in the VTB United League game between Lokomotiv Kuban and Astana we gratefully inform you.

How hot will it be?

Lokomotiv will play Astana for the 20th time. Of the previous 19 (the odd number is due to the fact that in the 2019/20 season was shut due to COVID), the Krasnodar team won 13 times, losing 6. The biggest victory of the railwaymen was on March 30, 2022 _ 109:57 in the Basket Hall. On December 9, 2018, the Kazakhstanis won at their Velodrome with a gap of “+19” – 90:71.

Last season, it was Astana that inflicted the most painful defeat on Lokomotiv: on November 9, 2023, they won the 3rd quarter of a home game in a landslide (26:4), after which Alexander Sekulic’s team was never able to return – 68:78.

On January 5, 2024, Loko returned the favor penny for penny, winning with exactly the same “+10” margin – 93:83. That game was remembered for 21 points by Andrey Martyuk and 5 accurate 3-pointers by Karvel Anderson, who at that time was playing for Astana. But also – for the withdrawal of Okaro White for trying to fight with Markell Johnson – and for several other fights.

What is Astana playing?

In the mid-season, it was Astana that gave rival scouts the least information to analyze. During the Kazakh team’s training camp in Serbia, there are no video recordings of the friendly games, or even their protocols – with the exception of one, which we will talk about a little later.

It is known that the “falcons” lost to Yenisei (81:90), some Derby team (80:94), defeated Zlatibor (85:82), and the game against Spartak Subotica was ambidextrous: they were leading 50:44 at the big break, but then lost 85:93 – maybe because of a 7-men rotation. T.J. Starks scored 27 points that evening and made 5 rebounds and 5 assists; Grigory Motovilov scored 13 points; James Murray-Boyles added 4 steals to 12 points, and Galin Smith added 3 steals to 11 points (yes, this is exactly the game whose protocol is publicly available).

After that, Astana won the Kazakhstan Cup, successively defeating Kostanay Tobol (112:72), Aktau Kaspiy (80:75), Almaty Legion (87:76), Atyrau Barsy (69:54) and Aktobe (90:43). But only four players registered for the VTB United League took part in this tournament.

Askar Maidekin averaged 15.8 points, made 10 rebounds and 2 blocked shots at the Kazakhstan Cup. Vadim Shcherbak made 13.3 points + 2 steals. Astana captain Rustam Murzagaliev did 12.8 + 7 assists. Ruslan Aitkali did 7.8 + 4.8 rebounds.

In the first game the VTB United League, the Kazakhs suffered a rather unexpected crushing home fiasco – 62:90 from Pari NN. Each of Astana’s five American legionnaires spent at least 24 minutes on the court. Though, the Nizhny Novgorod team looked much made-up team – especially in defense. Markell Johnson scored 25 points – but that looked solely like his own effort. Also, TJ Starks (12) and Grigory Motovilov (10) were also able to surpass the 10-point mark for Astana.

Obviously, this is not what Fotios Takianis, the best coach of the Greek 2021/22-league, expects from his team. But what is the game that he is setting for Astana? Perhaps the game with Loko will provide more information.

Andrey Vedishchev, the Loko head coach

Astana is a serious opponent. In the first game, they did not look like a fully coordinated team. But a lost home game is dangerous for the next opponent - because they will have to react to the defeat in the opening match. The most important thing for us is to defend as a team, to keep attention to all the opponent's players, without thinking about who of them scored 25 points in the last match, and who - 2 or 3. Sometimes, the result is determined by those who are not considered capable of it. Therefore, we are preparing to win against the whole Astana team, and not against some of who we think their leaders are.

How powerful Loko is?

Having played 7 pre-season matches, the Krasnodar team managed to achieve a such unexpected 50% win-loss ratio – thanks to such an exotic result as a draw with Türk Telekom.

Unlike Astana, Andrey Vedischev’s team actively used a much larger roster in these games – that let Loko have 10 different players in the Top 3 for five main statistical indicators.

It was the wide rotation that helped the Krasnodar team confidently (88:65) defeat Yenisei in the first VTB United league game. Antonius Cleveland was included in the team of the round and in the hit parade of the best moments of the week.

But how much of its capabilities did Lokomotiv play in the first match? What surprises does Andrey Vedishchev’s coaching staff have in store? The game will give the answer.

What we definitely know is that the red-greens are preparing for the game against Astana with the full roster. The coaching staff will decide which 12 of the 14 players to include in the final application a few hours before the opening.

The game will be shown live on the Krasnodar and Start. Triumph TV channels, as well as the official websites of the VTB United League and ours.

And we are waiting for you in the stands of the Basket Hall! Come, the current Lokomotiv is worth seeing live!

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