February 10, 2012
Playoffs analyst: Andrey Vorontsevich, CSKA Moscow
Andrey Vorontsevich - CSKA MoscowAlready a Euroleague champion at age 22, Andrey Vorontsevic has blossomed this season into the promising power forward he hinted at becoming while waiting his turn on a team full of veterans. His three previous seasons in practice and on the bench behind CSKA's stars, including three trips to the Final Four and a Euroleague title in 2008, was time well spent. When opportunity arose this season, Vorontsevich was ready to grab it with both hands. In 2010, he has posted his Euroleague career highs in almost every statistical category, including 13 points in 17 minutes in a great fourth-quarter performance as CSKA clinched first place in its Top 16 group. Now, as CSKA faces Caja Laboral in a five-game Quarterfinal Playoffs series starting March 23, expect Vorontsevich to be ready for the call again. "We know their strongest options and what our opponents can do," Vorontsevich says. "There is little room for surprises."

CSKA started out with two early losses but has been outstanding since, winning its regular season and Top 16 groups. How has been the season for your team?

"It is a good way to see it. We had some problems with our game in the beginning of the season. We didn't find our rhythm and some people started to wonder if CSKA was not the same team it was in the last few years. We were a new team, with new players and a new coach, too, almost a different ball club. We started to play together and found our game. We have listened to our coach, trusted him and done all he says. The season has been good so far, but the most important games are coming now."

What do you think about your opponent, Caja Laboral, in this series?

"The strongest thing about Caja Laboral is their inside game, especially with a dominant player like Tiago Splitter. We have to stop Splitter if we want to win the series. They have a great shooter at power forward, Mirza Teletovic, who is a very good player. Laboral has other shooters and scorers, especially Carl English. They have a deep bench ready to help the team, too. We have to prepare really well for them."

How important is the fact that both teams already faced each other in the regular season?

"Well, it is important, for sure. We already know them well, saw their games and played against them. It is good for us - but also for them, of course. We know their strongest options and what our opponents can do. There is little room for surprises. If we hadn't played against them, it would be a bit tougher in terms of preparing to face a new team, I think."

You almost doubled your scoring average in the Top 16 and played great in the key game against Unicaja in Malaga. How has been your development so far this season?

"I trust my coach a lot and try to do my best, show my best game. The most important thing is that I know that I need to play defense if I want to see playing time, to be able to stop my opponents. If I start playing and don't do well on defense, I know I am going to the bench. I have tried to play tough and do my best. Of course, when you play hard and do well, everybody talks about you and your opponents see you in a different way. They see your strengths and people start to wonder. So I have to carry on working in that direction."

What does CSKA need to do to beat Caja Laboral and make it to an eighth consecutive Final Four?

"We have to play very good defense, because Laboral is a very talented team. Like I said before, we have to stop their main players to have more chances to win. I really hope we can do it and have the chance to play another Final Four!"
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Euroleague.net
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