FIBA Basketball

    EUROLEAGUE FINAL FOUR 2010 (Men) CSKA Moscow

    CSKA MOSCOW EUROLEAGUE FINAL FOUR 2010, MEN TEAM CHARACTERISTICS Their game plan is designed to play in low scoring games. They play their sets as close to 24 seconds as possible, when many ...



    CSKA MOSCOW
    EUROLEAGUE FINAL FOUR 2010, MEN

    TEAM CHARACTERISTICS
    Their game plan is designed to play in low scoring games. They play their sets as close to 24 seconds as possible, when many unbelievable shots are scored. They play classic sets such as Diamond, Flex or Horns. They are guard and forward orientated with their scoring options. Their individual class creates solutions which are difficult to defend. Three players are worth highlighting. Langdon is a top of the class catch and shoot player. Siskauskas is an isolation option, and last but not least Khryapa is a power forward that will play middle Pick & Roll. As defensive principles one should point great amount of switching and also their hedge and recover tactics. They will always contest every shot and the close out is very important in their defensive game plan.

    TRANSITION
    They rarely run a fast break, the most you can see is early Pick & Roll or a catch and shoot from Langdon or Holden. The most likely situation to occur is Planinic dribbling into the low post and playing back to the basket against smaller point guards or going coast to coast.

    OFFENSIVE TENDENCIES
    All sets are created for one player only. If the first option for the player does not work he will pass, reposition and ask for the ball again. The centers are there to set screens rebound. They do not use the Pick & Roll as much as other teams and the players using this option most often are Holden and Siskauskas. Langdon will use baseline exits or staggers. Siskauskas and Khryapa will look for isolations or three point shots. Planinic and Holden will try to drive hard to the basket.

    SET PLAYS
    Flex: Will be played for Siskauskas who will use the weak side option and shoot a three pointer, or go for the ball side option and curl or post up with his back to the basket. If all of this is denied then Langdon will receive a hand-off and shoot right away.

    Isolation: Starts with a side dribble entry followed by a weak side stagger. The center sets a cross screen for Siskauskas who will play with his back to the basket or go out to the perimeter and play one on one.

    Diamond: There are two differences to the classic entry of Diamond. The first entry starts with the shooting guard receiving a bump while cutting under the basket. The second entry option is when the power forward pops out to receive a pass and then he begins the diamond offense. In this option the screens are set by the small forward and the center for the shooting guard to choose their baseline exit.

    ZONE OFFENSE
    They will use the overload as a basic offensive pattern in zone offenses. Besides that at the second sequence of the zone offense Langdon will cut to the opposite corner and look for a catch and shoot. The power forward is the creator of the zone offense either from the perimeter or the high post position.

    OB PLAYS
    On SOB they will most of the times run their set plays and especially Diamond. If not they will use a simple baseline exit for Langdon followed by a Pick & Roll from the weak side center. On BOB they will also regroup for a set play or they will run screen the screener for Holden or a stagger for Langdon to catch and shoot.

    DEFENSIVE CHARACTERISTICS
    A very strong defensive transition team. Their transition pick up is at the extended free throw line where they will stack. Besides that one or two players will position themselves under the basket so that two lines of defense are set up in order to prevent dribble penetration. On off ball screens they will always try to chase from behind and they will always defend close out situations well. Defending the Pick & Roll they prefer the center to sag 5m below the screen, but they also have him sag 3m below the screen.
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