The battle of the newcomers: AS Monaco – Unics Kazan
Monaco will host Unics Kazan today in the EuroLeague in a very important game for both teams. It will be a rematch of last season’s EuroCup final, and while this time they will not play for a trophy, it is a crucial game for both in their quest for a playoffs spot.
The team that represents the microstate of the Principality of Monaco surprisingly won the EuroCup final and is having an overall positive first experience in the premier basketball league of Europe. They made headlines in the summer when they signed Mike James, considered by many the best EuroLeague player and also managed to bring another ex-NBA player, center Donatas Motiejunas back to the EuroLeague. The results were also great in the beginning of the season, including a win in Kazan (88-80), but then the team started to lose its composure and also a coaching change was made, Zvezdan Mitrovic being replaced with another experienced coach, Sasa Obradovic. Just like their star player Mike James, Monaco is capable of playing amazing basketball and beating teams like CSKA, Zenit or Bayern, but also to lose games they should win, like last round at home against last-placed Zalgiris. The defeat against the Lithuanian team was a big blow for the Red and Whites playoff chances and a defeat today would diminish the hopes for a playoff spot considerably.
Just like their rivals, Unics also has a season above expectations so far. They made their ‘’Mike James signing’’ too, by bringing Mario Hezonja to the team. Also John Brown has had a great season and the team is coached by experienced Croatian Velimir Perasovic. Another similarity with Monaco is that the Russian team can beat anybody in the league (demonstrated in their games against powerhouses Barcelona, Efes or CSKA), but can also suffer unexpected defeats like the one at home against Crvena Zvezda less than two weeks ago. Unics is currently still in a playoff spot, but a defeat today would bring them to 12 defeats, the same as Efes, Maccabi and Bayern, teams that are outside the Top 8.
Normally we should see a fun game as both teams have some spectacular players and Monaco is a high scoring team (that also receives many points), however, the high stakes that this game has for both teams could make them score fewer points than usual.
Imre Halasz
Image: Euroleague
