Russian clubs are ready to storm the Eurocup. "Lokomotiv" - the main favorite, "Zenith" is preparing to surprise, Priftis conjures over UNICS

The new season of Eurocup starts on October 2. Like a year ago, three Russian clubs - "Loco", "Zenith" and UNICS - begin the next crusades for trips to the Euroleague. Despite the fact that in recent years, our teams more or less regularly reach the decisive stages and are rightly listed in the cohort of favorites, there will simply be no one: the overall level of participating teams is slowly but surely growing, and in this draw will participate "Unicaja "And" Valencia ". Last season, both Spanish teams played in the Euroleague, and in the year before - they fought in the final of the Eurocup.

Let's try to figure out what the Russian clubs are waiting for in the upcoming Euro-zone.

Lokomotiv-Kuban

If everything goes according to plan, the red-green should finally win the trophy. Three of their last participation in the European Cup consistently ended with a quarterfinal, semi-final and an exit in the main series of the season.

It's not just about improving the results systematically. Krasnodar has an indecent composition for the tournament, which was added to the best sniper of the United League, the NBA champion and not the last player of the Brooklyn in the summer. Yes, it is Whitehead who can turn the game around and become the "different-maker" that Loko missed last year. What was, for example, Wilbekin - a man who at some point just explode and alone will pull the decisive matches.

But the equipment in the "Loco" was not limited to Whitehead. In themselves, the other signers - Fall, Johnson, Wright, Macklin, Ponitka, Fridzon - can become a deadly force for the Eurocup, and after all, there already were several jokers already at Obradovic.

It seems that Krasnodar seriously intended to return to the Euroleague. If the team can do without serious injuries and maintain a balance in the distribution of the ball, it will be surprising not to see above the heads of these guys a cup at the end of the season.

"Zenith"

Pitertsy made a gang, which this season will definitely bite more than the old one. Yes, it was not without the next (what is already on the bill?) Perestroika, but in the ambitions of the team of Vasily Karasev, there is hardly any doubt.

Against this background, especially pleasing is the preservation of the Russian backbone, the recovery of Pushkov and the signing of Trushkin. The last in Kazan was given not so many chances, and Vlad is ready to prove that it is very in vain.

Of course, Brandon Jennings stands out among the American-Canadian brethren of the newcomers. Ex-NBA star moved to Europe, but it is unlikely that he will need too much time for adaptation - he has already spoken on this side of the ocean. And more importantly, the defender moved not to end his career and watch the applause (as it was, for example, with Stademair or Diao), but rather to restart himself in Europe. If his relationship with Karasev senior fails to creep into the ghost of Drew Gordon, then Jennings should ignite akin to Whitehead. The European Cup can have its own Alexey Shved!

And in general, initially there are no questions, probably, not one of the newcomers of "Zenith". Age allows them all to progress at Stakhanov's pace, and if this happens, Petrograders will be able to count, for example, on the semifinals.

UNICS

The most difficult thing to talk about Kazan. On paper, the team of Dimitris Prithtis strengthened worse than the rest - lost Lasma and Koloma, and from loud by the standards of the Eurocup the names were acquired only by Raimar Morgan.

But there is a chance to underestimate Prithtis. Last season showed that the Greek, even to himself on his mind, is very good at managing what he has. How will Klimenko replace Lasma and Henry Koloma? Priftis knows one. But the situation can develop in any direction, and monitor UNICS in the new season of Eurocup should be no less interesting than for "Loko" and "Zenith".