It also has the advantage of playing the next two weeks at home, where it has been nearly indestructible, losing just once in 10 Euroleague games. One of its main pillars has been center Paul Davis, who leads the Euroleague in performance index ranking (PIR) per 40 minutes (33.3 per game) on the strength of his fantastic Top 16 so far. Despite averaging just 21 minutes, Davis ranks second in PIR (20.8), sixth in scoring (15.7 ppg.) and fourth in rebounds (6.6 rpg.). On a per-40-minutes basis during the Top 16, Davis is first in PIR (38.7) and scoring (29.2), second in rebounds (12.4). Ambitious, productive and entering the prime of his career, Davis wants Khimki to focus exclusively on the next two home games to get to the promised land of the playoffs. "We need these next two home games against Fenerbahce and Caja Laboral to give us the best chance of going forward to the playoffs," Davis told Euroleague.net. "We don't want to come down to the last game and have to win that to guarantee a spot. We hope that we can do it before that last game."

Paul, congratulations on a great Top 16. How are you enjoying your Euroleague debut season and especially the playoff race now?

"You know, I think that every player's goal when coming to Europe is to play in the Euroleague. Like you said, this is my first season and I think it is going great. I am enjoying playing against the top players and we are doing great as a team. We have great chances to go to the playoffs and that's our main focus right now."

Khimki's great season has been based on winning 9 out of 10 home games so far. What makes Khimki so strong at home?

"Obviously, every team is strong at home in the Euroleague. We have great fans and they give us energy to go out there and play well. It is obviously a good feeling being at home. The road trips are kind of long and like I said, every team is great in its home city. We have been good at home, that's why we have been doing so well in the Euroleague."

You are having a great Top 16, too, more than doubling your performance rating. What has made you improve so much?

"I had the knee surgery early in the season, so I was five weeks or so adapting to play with the team. We had a lot of new players and it was more of an adjustment for everybody to find their role and for myself to get healthy. I think we came into our own at the right time. We have been very successful and want to continue that way in the next two months."

You lead the Euroleague in performance rating per 40 minutes, too. What is your mindset when you step on court?

"Just trying to change the game in our favor. I know that every minute counts at this level. if you have two bad minutes as a team, it can cost you the game. I have to go out there and be productive. Every minute counts in this league. I am not a guy that is going to play 30 or 35 minutes. We have a lot of talented players, so I try to make the most out of the 20, 21 minutes that I do play."

It is being one of the classic sentences from this year's Euroleague announcers: "Davis, assisted by Planinic". What's it like to play with Zoran Planinic?

"Yes, he is obviously one of the better players in Europe in the past few years. He has got a lot of understanding of basketball and I think that the main thing is that he trusts me when he is going to pass me the ball. He is a big part of this team and has not only made myself better, but a lot of our players, too."

This week Khimki hosts Fenerbahce Ulker Istanbul, a talented team with no playoff chances. Does that make them more dangerous?

"Yes, it is a tough game. It means everything for us. It's tough when you play a team that has no chance to advance. We cannot worry about that. We felt like we gave one away against Maccabi last week, so we need these next two home games against Fenerbahce and Caja Laboral to give us the best chance going forward to the playoffs. We don't want to come down to the last game and have to win that to guarantee a spot. We hope that we can do it before that last game."

After FB Ulker, you play against Caja Laboral and Olympiacos, with a playoffs spot up for grabs. Is this one reason you joined a Euroleague team, to look for this level of competitiveness?

"I think that outside of the NBA, the Euroleague is the best competition in the world. The best players, the best teams... that's the goal for everyone in Europe. Everybody wants to eventually be on a Euroleague team that goes far. Eventually, a Final Four team. I think we can be a Final Four team, but we still have about another month to be able to prove that."

You seem to be really comfortable under coach Rimas Kurtinaitis's system, with limited playing time but as a first option every time you are on the floor. How do you like to play for him?

"I like playing for Coach. I think he really trusts me a lot to go out there and do what I need to do. He gives trust to his players — we are the ones on the floor, playing, and he trusts us to make the decisions. From a player's point of view, that's what I like. Some coaches want to control everything and every step that you make. Coach knows that we can play. He give us the game plan and expects us to execute it."

Though solid at home, Khimki has won just 2 of its 8 road games. Is that where the team's biggest room for improvement is?

"I think so, yes. The games that we have lost in the Top 16 have been by one point last week, by two in Barcelona, by six in Siena... We are close! It does come up as a loss, but it went down to one or two possessions in each game that cost us the win. We are very close. We just have to remember that if we battle 40 minutes on the road, I think we can beat anybody. At this point in the season, I think everybody believes that. When Khimki comes to an away game, the other team knows that they need to play 40 minutes and we have to be ready for that."

What would it mean for you to take Khimki to the playoffs with a chance to reach the final four?

"It would be great. I don't think that Khimki ever made it to the Euroleague playoffs. It would be great for the club, the city and the organization. CSKA will probably make it to the playoffs as well and potentially, having two teams with chances to go to the Final Four would really show how strong Russian basketball is and the talent that is here in this country."