In a head-to-head battle for first place in Group B of the Euroleague, CSKA welcomes Brose Baskets in Moscow this evening.
CSKA showed its power in the opening game against Zalgiris, but Brose leads Group B due to a 31-point blowout win against KK Zagreb CO.
This is the first meeting between these two teams in more than five years and only one player – Nikita Kurbanov – is still on the roster from that last Top 16 showdown.
CSKA is the heavy favourite and wants to avoid surprises to lock up a Top 16 spot as soon as possible, setting a positive course after an underwhelming 2010-11 season. Brose is undefeated in all official competitions, playing an attractive, fun-to-watch brand of basketball.
Other than long-time injured John Goldsberry, Brose Baskets is ready to face CSKA with its full line-up.
Andrei Kirilenko, Ramunas Siskauskas and Darjus Lavrinovic sat out CSKA's last game due to different injuries but should be ready to play against Brose.
Brose must try to play an up-tempo game in Moscow, which is always difficult, as CSKA excels at man-to-man defence led by Kirilenko and Viktor Khryapa, whose versatility and athleticism can give any team headaches.
PJ Tucker will try to showcase his one-on-one skills against Kirilenko, while Jacobsen is ready to use his deep range and experience against Khryapa.
CSKA must try to stop Slaughter down low, but has the size and experience to do it with Nenad Krstic and Lavrinovic.
Defensive rebounds and on-the-ball defence at the point guards should be the key to this game, along with the match-up between Kirilenko and Tucker.
