Even without all the NBA leaguers, Japan was strong.
Japan won 96-61 in Group F against Iran in the 2023 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Basketball World Cup Asian qualifier held at Takasaki Arena on the 23rd (Korean time).
It was a match against each other without core power. In Japan, none of the NBA leaguers such as Rui Hachimura and Yuta Watanabe were selected. Iran was also not at 100% power with Hamed Hadadi missing due to injury. However, Japan was also strong in the B. League, and Iran was not the scary ones in the past.
In Japan, Kanechika Ren played an active role with 20 points and 2 rebounds, including 6 3-pointers, and Joshua Hawkinson, a new naturalized player, flew with 17 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists. Yuki Kawamura also led the win with 15 points, 2 rebounds and 4 assists.
Iran tasted the humiliation of a crushing defeat, although Behnam Yakcharly recorded 15 points and 6 rebounds, and Mohammed Gajidi recorded 15 points and 3 assists.
In fact, it was a game over in the first half. Japan attacked Iran, which insisted on old-fashioned basketball, which only hit the paint zone, with coach Tom Horvath’s unique space game and sophisticated basketball that actively utilizes the 3-point shot. 먹튀검증
Without Hadadi, Iran’s rim attack lacked detail. Conversely, Japan signaled Kawamura’s consecutive 3-pointers, and Kanechika’s 3-pointers also spewed fire, ending the first half with a score of 52-29.
There was no turnaround in the second half. It was Iran that was pushed back by Japan in the physical fight. Japan used a lot of players to show their composure and broke down Iran’s outer defense with a bold 3-point shot.
Japan made a whopping 17 3-pointers that day, with a success rate of 45.9%. On the other hand, Iran attempted 24 three-pointers and only succeeded in four. It was a game that Japan had no choice but to win by using the court wide and actively using the 3-point shot.
Meanwhile, Iran is in a situation where it is not confident to even advance to the Basketball World Cup finals. We must win the last game against China and hope that the competing Kazakhstan loses all their remaining two games.