Ishchenko's potential
Vsevolod Ishchenko had a bad Game 1 of the bronze medal series (0 points in 12 minutes), but in the 2nd, he began to resemble the player the League named Youngster of the Year: he was everywhere, providing defensive coverage, drawing double-teams, and dishing out assists. He could have even scored the highlight of the week if, late in the 2nd quarter, the ball had fallen into the net on a counterattack after Ishchenko, in the spirit of Jason Williams, faked a behind-the-back pass and then immediately attacked the basket himself.
The situation is difficult for Lokomotiv right now, but also, it’s the perfect opportunity for creating a beautiful story. We believe Seva has the composure and character to fully demonstrate his potential in the remaining games of the season.
Martin's offence
Jeremiah Martin was one of the powerhouses in a Game 1 chase that barely ended in victory (12 points, 6 assists, and the best plus/minus rating for both teams, +14). The point guard also started Game 2 good, but Zenit then managed to draw him into the general slow-paced chaos. If Martin remains as focused and decisive on offense as he is on defense the whole series, Lokomotiv will have a serious advantage. After all, it was against Zenit this season that Martin once scored 26 points, and another time, 24.
Kvitkovsky's confidence
Anton Kvitkovskikh hasn’t looked his usual self in this series so far: only 3 points and 25 minutes in two games combined. However, Lokomotiv fans are well aware of what the forward is capable of: this season, Kvitkovskikh had 27 points against Uralmash, 14 points against Zenit, 2 double-doubles in 4 days (against MBA-MAI and Uralmash in November). And if we take recent games into account, he scored 19 points against BETCITY PARMA in the quarterfinals. Anton‘s return to this groove could be a key factor in the series.
Rebounds and 50/50 balls
In both the 1st and 2nd games of the series, Lokomotiv lost the rebounding–31:34 and 31:41, respectively. The exact percentage of 50/50 balls Zenit won during this stretch isn’t apparent from the statistics, but anyone who watched those games will likely recall more than one instance where the St. Petersburg team won possession through sheer dedication. And this is precisely the component Lokomotiv had no problem with in the second half of the season. We hope that in front of their home crowd, our team’s players will show the same desire to fight for the ball that makes them so beloved.
Tempo control
Lokomotiv played their best stretches in the series (the 4th quarter of Game 1 and the 1st quarter of Game 2) when they were playing at their preferred pace–quick possessions with rapid passing, and high defensive pressure with a focus on transitions. Zenit saved Game 2 by imposing their own tempo–as slow and languid as possible.
Against an opponent who has played 3 more games in the playoffs, it makes sense to up the tempo and maintain a high intensity with frequent substitutions. We’ll see what solution Lokomotiv’s coaching staff comes up with.
And, of course, a lot will depend on our “sixth man”—that is, on you, Lokofamily. There aren’t many home games left this season, so let’s give the team such a boost that there was no stopping that train!
Go, Loko!