Pre-game breakdown
The Army Men got a day off upon their return from Perm and had two training days after. The team went to Tel Aviv with Aeroflot flight on Wednesday afternoon.
Unfortunately Darrun Hilliard didn’t make a trip with his teammates because of bruised knee. He will practice individually as well as injured Will Clyburn and Mikhail Kulagin. Alexander Khomenko is playing for the CSKA-2.
Omri Casspi, Nate Wolters and John Dibartolomeo are out for Maccabi.
Pre-game quotes
Dimitris Itoudis, CSKA head coach:
Maccabi is an ambitious team that started the season really well. They play aggressive basketball on both ends. They deserve our full respect especially at home, though on the road they also play good basketball.
Johannes Voigtmann, CSKA forward:
We are prepared for very physical game against one of the best defensive teams in the league, we also are up there. It is going to be a tough game in a hot atmosphere. We are going to be ready for that, we will try to find offensive rhythm to beat their defense.
“Relativity” connections
Will Clyburn and Scottie Wilbekin were teammates at Darussafaka Istanbul in 2016-17 season. They helped the team reach the EuroLeague Playoffs.
Jeremy Pargo played for CSKA during the 2014-15 season and won the VTB United League with the club. Only Kyle Hines and Andrey Vorontsevich remain from Pargo’s time with the club.
Important numbers
Coach Itoudis has used 10 different players in the starting lineup this season. Only Nikita Kurbanov has started every game.
Mike James has made at least 1 three-point shot in 12 of his last 13 games. James ranks fourth this season with 2.5 three-point shots made per game; Darrun Hilliard is tied for fifth with 2.4 per contest.
James has scored in double figures in each of his last 10 games. James ranks sixth this season with 18.7 points per game.
James had recorded a performance index rating in double figures in 10 straight games. He ranks seventh this season in average PIR with 19.4 per game.
Janis Strelnieks has made 15 consecutive free throws. Janis Strelnieks ranks sixth all-time in free-throw accuracy at 91.2%.
Strelnieks has scored in double figures in each of his last six games.
Strelnieks has made a three-pointer in each of his last five games.
Kyle Hines ranks third all-time with 219 blocked shots.
Hines ranks second all-time with 531 offensive rebounds. Felipe Reyes is the all-time leader with 695.
Hines ranks sixth all-time with 902 two-pointers made.
Hines ranks seventh all-time with 1,197 rebounds. Georgios Printezis of Olympiacos is sixth with 1,260 and counting.
Past matchups
Taking into account three technical defeats suffered in 70s due to political situation, CSKA prevailed in 25 games out of 44.
1974-75 – European Champions’ Cup. Group stage: CSKA – Maccabi: (CSKA technical defeat)
1974-75 – European Champions’ Cup. Group stage: Maccabi – CSKA: (CSKA technical defeat)
1976-77 – European Champions’ Cup. Group stage: CSKA – Maccabi: 79-91 (-12)
1976-77 – European Champions’ Cup. Group stage: Maccabi – CSKA: (CSKA technical defeat)
1980-81 – European Champions’ Cup. Group stage: CSKA – Maccabi: 83-81 (+2)
1980-81 – European Champions’ Cup. Group stage: Maccabi – CSKA: 85-74 (-11)
1982-83 – European Champions’ Cup. Group stage: CSKA – Maccabi: 80-84 (-4)
1982-83 – European Champions’ Cup. Group stage: Maccabi – CSKA: 69-78 (+9)
1984-85 – European Champions’ Cup. Group stage: CSKA – Maccabi: 81-87 (-6)
1984-85 – European Champions’ Cup. Group stage: Maccabi – CSKA: 67-79 (+12)
1988-89 – European Champions’ Cup. Group stage: CSKA – Maccabi: 92-97 (-5)
1988-89 – European Champions’ Cup. Group stage: Maccabi – CSKA: 94-90 (-4)
1994-95 – European Championship for Club Teams. Semifinal Round: CSKA – Maccabi: 87-78 (+9)
1994-95 – European Championship for Club Teams. Semifinal Round: Maccabi – CSKA: 92-89 ÎÒ (-3)
1996-97 – Euroleague. Qualification Round: CSKA – Maccabi: 89-80 (+9)
1996-97 – Euroleague. Qualification Round: Maccabi – CSKA: 77-78 (+1)
1997-98 – Euroleague. Preliminary Round: CSKA – Maccabi: 71-63 (+8)
1997-98 – Euroleague. Preliminary Round: Maccabi – CSKA: 87-69 (-18)
2000-01 – Suproleague. Semifinal: Maccabi – CSKA: 86-80 (-6)
2001-02 – Euroleague. Top 16: Maccabi – CSKA: 69-68 (-1)
2001-02 – Euroleague. Top 16: CSKA – Maccabi: 81-77 (+4)
2003-04 – Euroleague. Regular season: Maccabi – CSKA: 84-87 (+3)
2003-04 – Euroleague. Regular season: CSKA – Maccabi: 80-83 (-3)
2003-04 – Euroleague. Semifinal: Maccabi – CSKA: 93-85 (-8)
2005-06 – Euroleague. Final: CSKA – Maccabi: 73-69 (+4)
2006-07 – Euroleague. Quarterfinals: CSKA – Maccabi: 80-58 (+22)
2006-07 – Euroleague. Quarterfinals: Maccabi – CSKA: 68-56 (-12)
2006-07 – Euroleague. Quarterfinals: CSKA – Maccabi: 92-71 (+21)
2007-08 – Euroleague. Final: Maccabi – CSKA: 77-91 (+14)
2009-10 – Euroleague. Regular season: Maccabi – CSKA: 71-54 (-17)
2009-10 – Euroleague. Regular season: CSKA – Maccabi: 77-72 (+5)
2013-14 – Euroleague. Top 16: CSKA – Maccabi: 100-65 (+35)
2013-14 – Euroleague. Top 16: Maccabi – CSKA: 76-81 (+5)
2013-14 – Euroleague. Semifinal: CSKA – Maccabi: 67-68 (-1)
2014-15 – Euroleague. Regular season: CSKA – Maccabi: 99-80 (+18)
2014-15 – Euroleague. Regular season: Maccabi – CSKA: 61-84 (+23)
2015-16 – Euroleague. Regular season: CSKA – Maccabi: 100-69 (+31)
2015-16 – Euroleague. Regular season: Maccabi – CSKA: 82-88 (+6)
2016-17 – Euroleague. Regular season: Maccabi – CSKA: 76-80 (+4)
2016-17 – Euroleague. Regular season: CSKA – Maccabi: 93-81 (+12)
2017-18 – Euroleague. Regular season: CSKA – Maccabi: 101-86 (+15)
2017-18 – Euroleague. Regular season: Maccabi – CSKA: 73-93 (+20)
2018-19 – Euroleague. Regular season: Maccabi – CSKA: 86-89 (+3)
2018-19 – Euroleague. Regular season: CSKA – Maccabi: 76-93 (-17)
Short dossier
Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel
Founded: 1932
Colors: yellow, blue
Home court: Menora Mivtachim Arena (11,000)
President: Shimon Mizrahi
Head coach: Giannis Sfairopoulos
Website: www.maccabi.co.il
Trophy case: 5-time Euroleague champion (1977, 81, 2004, 05, 14), Suproleague champion (2001), Adriatic League champion (2012), Intercontinental Cup winner (1980), Israeli champion (1954, 55, 57-59, 62-64, 67, 68, 70-92, 94-2007, 09, 11, 12, 14, 18, 19), Israeli Cup winner (1956, 58, 59, 61, 63-66, 70-73, 75, 77-83, 85-87, 89-91, 94, 98-2006, 10-17)
