Zenit vs PARMA. Game 2 preview
Conext
Before the big break in the opening game, the visitors applied serious pressure on St. Petersburg’s defense. The leader of PARMA at this point was Royce Hamm, who scored 12 points in the second quarter alone. By the end of the game, the center scored 21 points, becoming the joint top scorer along with Dwayne Bacon.
However, in the second half, the Ural team couldn’t maintain the same pace, and the score gap began to grow rapidly, reaching a final deficit of "-34". As a result of the match, Evgeny Pashutin’s team committed 14 turnovers and allowed 10 steals by the opponent, which significantly impacted the flow of the game. The head coach of PARMA noted after the match that his team failed to manage the rotation properly:
As soon as the rotation started, there was a deep collapse. We have many young players. After the game, I told them they need to play from defense and try to help from the bench as much as possible. Defending well, controlling the rhythm — that’s how we will have a chance.
Head-to-head
The history of the rivalry between the teams in the VTB United League now counts 25 games, with the blue-whites team leading 22:3.
Quotes
Zenit’s head coach Xavi Pascual shared his thoughts ahead of the next match:
We know that in playoff every game has a different history, so we know that we need to approach well the game. It's going to be another kind of game, to read well everything that is going to happen. The most important is the concentration, to understand that it will be a different game and to be ready for any scenario. Playing hard, playing good in defense, playing concentrated in offense and trying to win the second game.
Who. Where. When.
Opponent: PARMA
Location: CSC Arena, St. Petersburg
Date: April 24, 19:30 (local time)
Broadcast: Match TV, VTB United League website
Tickets are on sale
