2008-09 Club Profile: Dynamo Moscow
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 Dynamo Moscow has spent several seasons living in the shadow of city-rival and European superpower CSKA, but the 2006 ULEB Cup champion won't settle for being second best and heads into this season with a new coach and a revamped roster looking to make some noise everywhere.
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Dynamo Moscow Roster 2008-09
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| Name |
Pos.
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Height
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| Travis Hansen |
G
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1.98
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| Darjus Lavrinovic |
C
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2.12
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| Hollis Price |
G
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1.86
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| Sergey Bykov |
G
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1.90
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| Jannero Pargo |
G
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1.88
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| Sergey Monya |
F
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2.02
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| Dmitry Domani |
G
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2.00
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| Robertas Javtokas |
C
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2.11
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| Yury Vasilyev |
C
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2.07
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| Arriel McDonald |
G
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1.91
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| Bostjan Nachbar |
F
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2.06
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| Dmitry Khvostov |
G
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1.90
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| Yaroslav Korolev |
F
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2.06
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| David Blatt |
Head Coach
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Dynamo was created in 1923 when Russia was part of the Soviet Union (USSR) and its name was chosen since Dynamo means 'power in motion'. The club won the USSR Championship in 1937 and 1948, made it to the final in 1944 and also finished third in 1946, 1957 and 1958. Years of domestic obscurity followed, although it reached and lost the 1968 European Cup Winners' Cup final against Slavia Prague. Dynamo finished third in the USSR League four times between 1975 and 1982. Once the Soviet Union disappeared in 1991, Dynamo found new success outside its Russian borders. Dynamo reached the Saporta Cup semifinals in 1991, losing the series to eventual champ PAOK Thessaloniki by 1 point. Star forward Valeri Daineko helped Dynamo to reach the 1996 Saporta Cup finals, but Tau stood in its way. One year after that, Dynamo disappeared due to financial reasons despite making its Euroleague debut that season. It wasn't until 2001 when Dynamo reappeared and already finished sixth in the 2002-03 Russian League with players like Dmitry Domani. Dynamo did even better the following season, reaching the Russian semifinals with players like Nikos Ekonomou, Nikolay Padius and Damir Mrsic. The 2004-05 season marked its ULEB Cup debut and the team marched to the eighthfinals, before getting upset by Hemofarm. Dynamo also made it to the Russian League finals, losing to CSKA. Dynamo added players like Mire Chatman, Ruben Douglas, Antonis Fotsis and Lazaros Papadopoulos as the team went undefeated in the 2006 ULEB Cup elimination rounds to lift its first European title. Back in the Euroleague, Dynamo won its regular season group against all odds and managed to survive the Top 16, too, losing against eventual champion Panathinaikos in the playoffs. Last season Dynamo was again a ULEB Cup force, despite bowing out in the semifinals. Now under head coach David Blatt, the goals are sky-high once more and Dynamo has the talent to reach them. In fact, Dynamo is stronger everywhere on court. Dynamo landed point guard Hollis Price after an outstanding Euroleague season with Lietuvos Rytas, as well as bringing back Arriel McDonald. Travis Hansen and Sergey Monya will have a lot of help at both wing spots, as Dynamo inked Bostjan Nachbar and Jannero Pargo. Dynamo managed to keep most of its frontcourt, featuring Robertas Javtokas, Yuri Vasilyev and Yaroslav Korolev, as well as adding former All-Euroleague second team selection Darjus Lavrinovic. With its outstanding roster and its results in Europe's second club competition, the sky is the only limit for Dynamo this season.
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Friday, September 26, 2008
Euroleague.net
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