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A series with high-quality defense

They faced each other in the first part of the Euroleague when Barca were without Dorsey, and Lokomotiv were without Randolph. The Russians have left a slightly better impression in those games and showed that they know how to play against Pacual's team

Lokomotiv dominated their two head-to-head games this season, even though they lost at the finish of the game in Barcelona, after Delaney missed free throws and after they lost their lead by 8-9 points from the start of the final quarter. The Russians will enter these series with more confidence, aware that they have one of the best defenses in the league, and offensive diversity, especially in tall positions where it is hard to defend against them because both Randolph and Singleton have excellent shots from the backcourt which will get Tomic and Dorsey far from the basket.

- First of all, we have to enjoy the play-off, no one thought we would be in the Top 8 at the start of the season - said coach Bartzokas. 

- In this series we have to play based on our principles, good defense and selfless offense. The first game is especially important and we need mental strength to win this. I would say that, overall, mental strength is one of the most important things right now. 

Lokomotiv had a test run last weekend. Jenisej cannot be put in the same sentence as Barcelona, but they are an offensive team that came to Krasnodar to play a relaxed game, unburdened and without imperative to win. Lokomotiv reduced them to 51 points. 

- We are under no pressure. We just want to get out there, have fun and enjoy the play-off - said Delaney, but it is hard to believe that. 

- I think we have a decent match-up against anyone. Barca are a strong team, but if we stick to our plan and do what we're supposed to do, I think we will be fine. 

Barcelona had their intro to this game a day earlier than other Spanish teams, and they played their game against Fuenlabrada on Saturday. Even though it was expected they would have an easy job, it turned out not to be and Barcelona won by only 2 points. Fuenlabrada's backcourt shots caused problems for them, but it was also a great test for today's game. 

Lokomotiv have a lot of excellent shooters in backcourt line and the key to this game will be Barca's defense and the way it handles them. Popovic, Urtasun and Uriz caused a lot of problems for them there, so it is important that Delaney and others do not repeat that. 

- They are an athletically powerful and diverse team which enables them to constantly change positions. In my opinion, they are playing the best defense in the league so it is important that we are focused - said coach Pascual. 

Lokomotiv force their opponents to the highest number of turnovers in Euroleague, but Barca also makes the least of them per game and Satoranski and Arroyo's ball control will be crucial. 

- Smart offense is necessary in this game. We have to use bench width in order to impose our pace. They have to feat us as well because we are Barcelona - said Pau Ribas. 

Barcelona have great players in backcourt line, like Satoranski and Oleson who guarded Delaney well in the two games against Lokomotiv and they will need that today as well. Another important thing is Ante Tomic who has been 'very slow' in the second part of the season, but he performed great in the two games against Lokomotiv in which he scored 16 and 17 points. They will need such performance today as well because Dorsey is not dangerous offensively. 

Doellman will be back at position 4, he has been resting last two weeks in the championship so he should be ready and especially motivated. His duels with Claver will be significant because both of them are able to turn around the game in their team's favor.

Barcelona have barely advanced though the 'group of death', but that's what makes them extremely dangerous today, as their coach, Pascual, said. Advancing in such way fills the team with confidence, and today they are facing a team that easily advanced to the quarter-final a lot is expected from them. That means they will be under pressure, and we have yet to see how they will handle it. In the regular season Barca and Lokomotiv shared wins by 4 points, but we should say that Barca were in the lead here by 6, going into the final quarter and then they lost 6 balls in the final quarter, which rarely happens to them, because, on average, they lose 11 balls per game. Today they are in much better form than they were back then, they are aware of the importance of ball control and Lokomotv will not get the easy points they are used to. Barca are a better team in position basketball, and they showed that in their head-to-heads. Delaney will be under pressure by Satoransky or Oleson, and Barca defend themselves great against pick play both with Tomic and with Dorsey who has been out in the first part of the season. He will also be penicilin for Randolph whom he can guard inside and outside the paint. When the axis Delaney-Randolph is stopped, Kuban get into trouble and Barca will use that. Only four teams defeated Kuban at home this season (Unics, CSKA, Fener, Stelmet), but they all have something in common. They have great defense with which they stopped Lokomotiv and that is why Barca have a big chance today, in my opinion. They play great defense and, in my opinion, even better than above mentioned teams. If they limit the game to lower numbers, these handicaps get even more value and I think this game will be decided by one ball, and I give Barcelona the advantage.

This Greek forward's form is dropping, but so is his playing time which is connected to the fact that Pascual can count on healthy Navarro, Oleson and Ribas. Ribas is a man of great confidence here, he solved the game at Zalgiris impressively and there is no doubt that he will play an important role in this series. Perporoglou was at 2 (17 minutes, 1/6) and 0 points (14 minutes, 0/2) in the two head-to-heads against the Russians, he was at 5, 7 and 7 in the last three Euroleague games, and in the last 6 games in the ACB league he went over only once. This weekend at Funelabrada he scored 7 (3/10) of Barcelona's 84 points. Another bonus to the bet is the fact that Lokomotiv have excellent defenders in that position, Broekhoff most of all, and then Bikov who comes in from the bench.