CSKA Moscow hopes to finish the Euroleague Top 16 in style when it hosts archrivals Zalgiris in the Russian capital on Wednesday.
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CSKA has a 4-1 record and is already the Group G champion due to its tie-break advantage against Asseco Prokom, which has also advanced to the Quarterfinal Playoffs. Zalgiris is right behind at 2-3, but has no chance to advance to the next round.
Despite not being an important game, both teams will fight for a prestigious win, as CSKA and Zalgiris have been big rivals since the late 1980s, when both team met regularly in the Soviet League finals. Both teams may use different rotations in this game due to the circumstances. Zoran Planinic has been starting at point guard for CSKA, with veteran playmaker J.R. Holden and left-handed talent Anton Ponkrashov coming off the bench. Planinic will try to use his size and experience against Mantas Kalnietis.
Meanwhile, Holden is ready to use his well-known defensive skills against Aleksandar Capin. It will be a special game for Marcus Brown, who goes back to Moscow to face CSKA. Brown helped CSKA to reach back-to-back Euroleague Final Fours in 2004 and 2005, earning All-Euroleague first team honors in his first season in the Russian capital. Dainius Salenga offers experience and athleticism alongside Marty Pocius and Arturas Milaknis, who bring deep shooting range and intensity off the bench. Brown will measure his legendary scoring skills against Trajan Langdon. Meanwhile, Salenga must stop superstar small forward Ramunas Siskauskas. Players like Viktor Keyru or Nikita Kurbanov may see extended playing time in this game.
CSKA has been running its offense through Viktor Khryapa, who has made the most out of his ball-handling and passing skills and quickness. Khryapa, an outstanding defensive player, leads a deep CSKA frontcourt that also offers up-and-coming talent Andrey Vorontsevich, athletic big man Pops Mensah-Bonsu, defensive center Dmitry Sokolov and above all, Sasha Kaun, who is having a breakout season due to his good hands, determination and ability to read the pick-and-roll. Khryapa and Mensah-Bonsu will try to stop rebounding machine Travis Watson while Sokolov will see extended playing time against Mirza Begic. Tadas Klimavicius offers intensity and power off the bench. Zalgiris must expect a good game from Brown and Watson to beat CSKA. The hosts must be their usual self in defense and play with high intensity. Expect an interesting game in Moscow on Wednesday.