Euroleague Semifinals: Spartak Moscow 87, Ekaterinburg 79

Diana Taurasi, "Russian" to another Euroleague final.

Those "in the know" in European basketball were watching this semifinal of Euroleague, as it was very likely that one of these two Russian teams would probably win it all. Spartak Moscow has been Euroleague champion for three straight years, and the rules of Euroleague have forced any two teams from the same country left in the semifinals to play each other. In the last two years, Spartak Moscow has faced Ekaterinburg, and beaten them both times. Furthermore, this year Spartak Moscow is undefeated in the powerful Russia Superleague A.

Nothing would change in this game. Spartak Moscow won 87-79, moving into the finals on Sunday against the winner of Ros Casares-Krakow. Ekaterinburg plays the loser in the 3rd place consolation game.

The game report, box score, play by play, and a small photo gallery can be found here.

What to say? After a tight first quarter, Ekaterinburg built an eight point lead late in the second, but Spartak Moscow fought back to 40-40 on the second of two free throws by Kelly Miller with 23 seconds left. A buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Cappie Pondexter put Ekaterinburg back in the lead, 43-40 going into halftime.

Both teams resumed the battle in the third quarter, neither side getting more than a couple of baskets ahead of the other. Ekaterinburg took a brief four-point lead in the fourth but Irina Osipova's tip in with 5:19 brought the score to 69-69 for Spartak Moscow. Tied again at 71-71 with 3:27 left, Spartak Moscow went on a 9-0 run that gave Spartak Moscow the lead for good.

Every player that scord in double-digits for Ekaterinburg had a WNBA pedigree. Candace Parker led Ekaterinburg with 18 points and six rebounds. Cappie Pondexter scored 16 points and four rebounds. (Both players would end up fouling out.) Deanna Nolan scored 13 and Ann Wauters added 10 points.

But for Spartak Moscow, it was Diana Taurasi who put the team on her back, hitting 8-for-13 from behind the 3-point line and scoring 37 points and 12 rebounds, also adding six assists. Sylvia Fowles added another double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Anete Jekabsone-Zogota scored 12 points.

Kelly Miller played for eight minutes. Spartak Moscow did pretty well without her.

1 points
1-for-2 free throw shooting
8 minutes played

Russia Superleague A Quarterfinals 2/2009 - Spartak Moscow 100, Vologda 62

For Spartak Moscow, the Russian quarterfinals are over - they win the first two games decisively in the best-of-three opening round, winning 100-62 yesterday over eighth-placed Volgoda. Spartak Moscow will play Dynamo Kursk on April 15th and 18th in the semifinals.

The box score is here.

Vologda actually played the tougher Spartak Moscow team closely on their home ground in the first quarter, only down by 22-20. The problem was that they had to play three more quarters of basketball, and Spartak Moscow won each quarter by at least ten points. It could be why only 650 Vologda fans bothered to show up.

Olga Yakovleva led Vologda with 17 points and five rebounds. (Vologda was out-rebounded 46-21.) Anastasia Pimenova scored 16 points and added four assists in the losing effort.

For Spartak Moscoe, Anete Jekabsone-Zogoto led with 18 points and five rebounds in 20 minutes played. Diana Taurasi added 18 points and Sue Bird scored seven points and seven assists.

Kelly Miller played 14 minutes...and made virtually no impact.

0 points
0 shots taken
2 rebounds
3 assists
14 minutes played

Russia Superleague A Quarterfinals 1/2009 - Spartak Moscow 109, Vologda 74

You might be wondering, "hey, Michelle Snow's no longer on the Dream, so why write about Russian basketball?" The answer is that as we lose one Dream player who plays for the Russians, we pick up another Dream player who plays for the Russians, this time in the form of Kelly Miller. Kelly Miller plays for one of the two best teams in Russia. And make that "the two best teams in Europe". Spartak Moscow is in top form both in the Russia Superleague and in Euroleague, and they get their first win by a score of 109-74 in the best-of-three series.

The box score is here.

Players suchs as Irina Osipova and Sylvia Fowles worked the boards while Miller and Sue Bird worked the perimeter. Spartak Moscow led by 29-10 after the first quarter and by 60-30 at halftime.

According to a write-up about the game, "even inaccurate throws became productive attacks" at the hands of Spartak Moscow. At one point, Spartak Moscow led 90-49.

Anastasia Pimenov scored 18 points for Vologda. Olga Yakovleva led the team in rebounds with six rebound and eight points, but Vologda was out-rebounded 47-19.

Seven players scored in double figures for Spartak Moscow. Ilona Korstin had 21 points and 10 rebounds and Irina Osipova had 10 rebounds and 10 rebounds.

Kelly Miller had a good game:

11 points
5-for-10 shooting
4 rebounds
no assists
20 minutes played

So how has Kelly Miller been doing this season in the Russia Superleague?

6.5 ppg
3.2 rpg
2.4 apg
22 minutes per game

I suspect those will be her numbers in the W this year as well.

Lauren Jackson Leaves Spartak, Will Play for Canberra

From ABC News in Australia:

The Canberra Capitals will sign Opals superstar Lauren Jackson tomorrow for the rest of the Women's National Basketball League season.

The Capitals are yet to raise the $220,000 for Jackson but will register her after she was released by her Russian Club in Moscow.

Two thoughts: 1) How much money was Jackson getting for Spartak? I suspect the $220K is a discount for living in the comforts of home.

2) What does this mean for Spartak when someone who might be the best player in the world - the argument could certainly be made, Taurasi fans - leaves them? Of course, Spartak gets $220K but is the widow of a billionaire really that hard up for money....?

Oh yeah. Jean Davidson. Never mind.

Powerful Women's Basketball Patron Shabtai Kalmanovich Killed

I suppose in Russia, the bigger they are, the harder they fall. Shabtai Kalmanovich, the owner of Russian Superleague team Spartak Moscow which has been the home of some of the biggest players in the WNBA in the off-season, might have been assassinated.

From the bad translation:

The investigation is considering the possibility that Kalmanovich killed in connection with his activities as president of basketball club.

What this means for Spartak Moscow and its staff - Janel McCarville (who landed in Spartak when CSKA folded), Sylvia Fowles, Diana Taurasi, and Coach Pokey Chatman - is not know. More news as we know it.

This article was written less than a year ago: it gives you an idea of just how powerful Shabtai Kalmanovich was, and why people might have wanted him dead.

Update: Sport.Ru confirms the death.

From Janel McCarville on Twitter:

@JanelMcCarville the world is one fucked up place, i cannot believe how low people will sink. the world lost someone great today.. it still hasnt sunk in!!!