“This will be the last game of the group stage this season,” CSKA head coach Dimitris Itoudis said. “Avtodor is a talented offensive-minded team, that plays good basketball over the year and fully deserves to be in the VTB League playoffs. They run the court very well, producing more than 50 percent of their points off primary and secondary fast breaks; they have very good roster, quality players on every position; they have established team game. We clinched the first place in the regular season long ago, so we will have our own tasks, our young players have the opportunity to show their abilities. Still we have respect to our opponents and to the game, we will play seriously and focused.”
The Army Men lost Joel Freeland (shoulder) for season, Victor Khryapa (wrist) and Pavel Korobkov (knee) continue to practice individually.
Past matchups
Wins/losses: 47-16
Short dossier
Avtodor Saratov
Founded: 1960
Colors: black, white
Home court: Kristall Ice Palace (5500)
President: Vladimir Rodionov
Head coach: Vladimir Antsiferov
Website: www.avtodor.ru
Trophy case: 4-time Russian League runner-up (1994, 97, 98, 99), 2-time Russian League bronze winner (1992, 96), EuroCup semifinalist (1998), Superleague A champion (1997, 98), Superleague B champion (2009), Superleague champion (2013/14)
