31.10.2017, 09:00 Views: 476
Source: Press service
Author: Almira Shakhaeva
«Astana» team went to Moscow leaving several players at home. Alexander Zhigulin and Denis Degtyarev get injured and stayed in Astana. Justin Carter was injured as well at the moment of the game.
From the first minutes the players of “Astana” rammed through the game. Although «Astana» warmed up through the first period, but already in the second period due to sharp three-pointers our team got close to the opponent. The attack after the attack, the throw for the throw, the team of Kostas Flevarakis practically breathed down the neck of Khimki. Throughout all 40 minutes of the game, «Astana» did not let the hosts relax even for a minute. In the final period, «Astana» broke away, which clearly made the opponent nervous. The match turned out to be heart-stopping for both teams. But luck this time was on the side of Khimki. The game ended with a score of 72-71 (Khimki).
The most effective:
«Khimki»: Alexei Shved (24 + 6 assists), James Anderson (11), Thomas Robinson (8 + 6 rebounds).
«Astana»: Anthony Clemmons (16 + 6 rebounds), Justin Carter (14 + 6 assists), Leonidas Kaselakis (12), Ike Udano (10 + 6 rebounds).
Head coach of «Khimki» Georgios Bartsokas: - Today was a great opportunity to realize what kind of team we have at the moment, and also to understand what else you need to work on, to go back to the basic things in basketball. Once again we didn’t look great in the first twenty minutes, and our attitude to the game was completely wrong, I would even say it was a nightmare. We did not think about defense, combinational basketball, we were not good enough in the attack. As a result, we gave a chance to «Astana», a very good and athletic team, which patiently plays in the attack. It was a great opportunity for them to win, but in the end we won and you should be happy about it, because every match is important. Honestly, now I'm very happy. Tomorrow in practice I'll tell the players that our performance in the first twenty minutes reminded the game of small teams.
The head coach of «Astana» Kostas Flevarakis: - I think, in this match everyone could see what kind of team we have and what qualities are the players of «Astana». We controlled the game for all forty minutes, though opposed by a rival who gains on average 98 points in the VTB League. I really like «Khimki», but, unfortunately, in the end we missed our chance, because we did not score free throws. What happened at the line? It's a game, that's the best explanation. We did exactly what we wanted. At the same time, we need to understand that we started preparation for the season much later than other teams, since we went to the tournament in China, and then played without five important basketball players. And the first match in the League was CSKA. Anyone who understands basketball should realize that the way Astana is playing now is a miracle, because we achieved all this in the shortest possible time. We need victories, we try and we wait for the next matches. I want to emphasize that today my players fought in a big match, not thinking that they have no chance. Still, we were confronted by such a grand as «Khimki», who won three confident victories at the start of the Euroleague, this tells how the good team is.
The next match of «Astana» will also be on the road, in a few days the team will fly to Perm, where on November 5 a match with «Parma» will take place.
