Terrell Lyday, Unics Kazan
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 Unics Kazan of Russia is back to the Eurocup Quarterfinals ready to challenge for the title yet again this season. Unics won its regular season and Last 16 groups to establish itself as one of the teams to beat in the 2010-11 Eurocup. Its mix of experience, talent and depth could finally pay off for a team that was always close to Eurocup glory, but came up short. In his third season in Kazan, combo guard Terrell Lyday has been a pillar for Unics in each of them. Lyday currently leads Unics in scoring with 15.4 points per game and is second in both assists, at 3.5 on average, and three-point shooting accuracy, at 47.4%. Despite an excellent season so far, he knows that his team must play its best basketball now if it wants to overcome difficult Pepsi Caserta of Italy in the Quarterfinals. Experience might give Unics an edge, Lyday told Eurocupbasketball.com interview. “Most of the times, games go down to small details and depend on the players that are on the court," Lyday said. "Knowing each other and experience helped us a lot in close games."
Hello Terrell. Congratulations on a fine season thus far. How would you sum up the Eurocup campaign until now?
"Thank you. It has been a tough season since we lost the chance to go to the Euroleague. We had a tough regular season group even though I think we are one of the better teams in the competition. We have veteran players and some of us have been playing together for a while now. That has been a big key to our success so far this season."
Looking ahead, you will face Pepsi Caserta in the Quarterfinals. What do you know about the team?
"Well, I know that they are a good team and everything is pretty even. It goes down to just two games and any team can win if they play well. To get this far, each team has something special. I have played against guys like Timmy Bowers and Jumaine Jones in the past, so I know some of their players. I haven't played against the rest of them, but I know that they are a pretty good team from what I have seen and people have said about them."
How much of an advantage is to play Game 2 at home?
"Man, it is the travel! Coming to Kazan is always tough - just the weather will be cold, so it will be a little bit of a shock to them. We are playing really well at home and our crowd gets into it. That gives us a pretty good advantage. Our crowd can get really loud in games like this."
Statistically speaking, you are enjoying the best season of your Eurocup career, with career-high averages in scoring, three-point shooting and assists? What has caused you to be at your best this season?
"I don't know, really. I feel very comfortable here. I have been here for three years now and being in one team for a time gives you a feeling of comfort. I was asked to score more and do what I am able to do. It is also a matter of confidence, which allows you to show your natural abilities."
Your backcourt mate, Marko Popovic, dominated early this season before going out with an injury. How much was he missed and what does he offer on and off the court?
"Everyone knows that Marko is a great shooter. We missed that when we were double-teamed and things like that. He is always ready to hit the big shots - but we are a pretty deep team. He was missed, but like I said, everyone stepped up and played well. I think we managed to play well without Marko, but having a player like him on the court, on the floor, is a big addition for us."
 There is an interesting situation on your team, where the head coach Evgeny Pashutin coaches his younger brother, shooting guard Zakhar Pashutin. How unusual is that?
"It was weird at first, but if you see their relationship on the court, you would never tell that they are brothers. He treats him like any other player. There is nothing much to say about it, really. It is kind of funny, but you could never tell the way coach treats him that Zakhar is his brother."
Unics has one of the most experienced teams in the Eurocup. How important is that experience at this point in the season?
"Man, that experience has helped us so much during the season - in games, practices, everything! Most of the times, games go down to small details and depend on the players that are on the court. Knowing each other and experience helped us a lot in close games. I would say that knowing each other so well gives you 10 extra points in every game. It has helped us a lot and it shows on the court sometimes."
The Eurocup Finals this season are in Treviso, Italy, a city that you played in during the 2006-07 for Benetton. What are your memories of Treviso like and what do you think of it as a choice to host the Eurocup Finals?
"It is a great choice! I have nothing but the best memories of being in Treviso. Even though we had a complicated season with off-court problems, the atmosphere and being in that gym is huge. I have nothing but good memories of Treviso - the club, the fans, everything."
Last, but certainly not least, Unics Kazan is widely considered among the favorites to challenge for the Eurocup crown. What would finishing the season with the Eurocup trophy raised above your head in Treviso mean to you personally?
"Oh, that would be too big. It would be something to remember for years and years to come. Just going back there and playing in that gym one more time in the Eurocup Finals would be great, but winning would be huge - period. The Eurocup winner goes to the Euroleague, too! I can't even describe how I would feel."
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Monday, March 21, 2011
Javier Gancedo, Euocupbasketball.com
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