 In just his second Euroleague season, Sasha Kaun has become key young pilar in a CSKA Moscow lineup that otherwise relies heavily on its veterans. Kaun enjoyed his main learning period as a rookie season, which he finished filling a key reserve role in the Final Four as CSKA came within a basket of winning the Euroleague and repeating as champions. A year later, Kaun is a starter whose presence in the paint will be key to CSKA's aspirations of reaching a fifth consecutive title game. Kaun finished second in the Euroleague in two-point shooting accuracy this season, with 72.7% of his shots made, so you can expect CSKA to get him the ball for sure. But just as there are bigger responsibilities for him this time, Kaun knows what to expect heading to Paris and another shot at the Euroleague trophy. "I just try to do what I do best - play defense, rebound, run the floor and try to help the team wherever it is needed," Kaun told Euroleague.net. "I don't try to do too much or too little, I just try to do what I have always done."
Hello Sasha. Congratulations on reaching the Final Four! You were an important contributor off the bench at last season’s Final Four. Wat do you remember most about that experience and how can it help you now?
"Thanks a lot. I think losing the final was the most memorable moment. Hopefully, we will not make the same mistake and play well for the whole game. We kind of let down early in that game and were down by more than 20 points. We had to play a catch-up game after that. This year, we will try to get control of the games early and try to finish them off."
This year you are a central part of CSKA. Is there more pressure to go with the extra responsibility you've taken now?
"Well, I definitely think I have a little bit of responsibility, but I will not try to think of it as if it was different from any other game. We have to go out there, play, have fun and do what we need to be doing."
What adjustments did you make to your game as you became such an important part of the CSKA lineup?
"I just try to do what I do best - play defense, rebound, run the floor and try to help the team wherever it is needed. I don't try to do too much or too little, I just try to do what I have always done."
You were second in the Euroleague this season in two-point shooting percentage at 72.7 percent. What is the secret?
 "I think most of my chances are coming underneath the basket and that has definitely helped me. I don't take any jumpers and try to take my shots close to the basket, do what I do well, so maybe this is why I had such a high percentage. There have been many dunks and layups and that definitely helps it."
Statistically speaking, your production has improved at every stage of the season, from the Regular Season, to the Top 16, to the Quarterfinal Playoffs. What factors have contributed most to your continued growth as a player?
"I think having great guards - Trajan, Ramunas, J.R. - helps a lot. Paying so much attention to these guys gives you the opportunity to help the team and score easy baskets. I think that, overall, my feel for the game has gotten better. I played a lot more than I did last year and the opportunity to start kind of helped me to learn the game better this year compared to the last one, It has been a good learning season for me, just as it was last year."
You recently missed a few Russian League games with a knee injury. What was the extent of the injury and how are you doing now?
"I am doing a lot better. It was nothing serious, a little thing. I am trying to get to the Final Four in the best condition as I can. I kind of had to play with it, but I now have I little opportunity to get healthy."
For most of the season, you played next to Viktor Khryapa, who has just been named the Euroleague Best Defender for 2010. What kind of impact does Khryapa have on you when you play together?
"Definitely, a big impact because he is such a good passer, that definitely helps, as he is an all-around guy in offense. We play in a system with two big guys, but Viktor is more like a perimeter player than a big guy. I always run the pick-and-roll with him. He always looks down for me to pass me the ball. He helps me a lot on offense and I have a pretty good connection with him. Defensively, he is always such a good help for everybody. He always blocks shots, sets the tempo on defense, steals the ball and is where he needs to be. He is an all-around player on defense, too."
In the semifinals, you will face two players, Erazem Lorbek and Terence Morris, who were your teammates at CSKA last season. What was it like playing with them and how will that experience affect the matchup on the floor?
 "It was great fun to play with them. Terence is an athletic player and Lorbek is very skilled in offense. Definitely playing with them last year helps us to understand what we can expect in the semifinal. They know about our team as much as we know about them, so I think it is a pretty even situation there."
What other challenges does Barcelona present, and how will it help to have Matjaz Smodis back from injury in the frontcourt?
"Matjaz will help us a lot because he is a great player, and having an experienced big guy down there to fight with their big men will definitely be important, because Barcelona has a great frontline. We will definitely need some help from him."
Is it true you are engaged to be married this summer? How would you like the Euroleague trophy as an early wedding present?
"Yes, is it true, I am engaged and getting married this summer! It will be really nice to have the Euroleague trophy as an engagement present. It would be a great way to start the summer!"
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