Changwon LG players are happy after winning the game against Busan KCC on the 26th. Provided by KBL
There is no ‘absolute top’ in professional basketball this season. Although the season has entered the middle of the season, competition is taking place with the top spot changing each round.
The teams that created a sensation in the first round were ‘defending champion’ Changwon LG and Anyang Jeonggwanjang, newly led by coach Yoo Do-hoon.
The two teams started the season smoothly, recording 7 wins and 2 losses. Both LG and Cheong Kwan Jang do not have much reinforcement in the off-season. The existing aces lived up to expectations. In LG, Karl Tamayo, Assem Marey, and Yoo Yu-sang, who teamed up to win the championship last season, contributed to the victory by playing more than 30 minutes in all 9 games. At Jeongkwanjang, Park Ji-hoon, who was reborn as the starting point guard last season, is alive and well, and Byun Jun-hyung has regained his prowess from his prime. Lens Abando, who returned from the Asia Quarter, improved his three-point shooting ability.
Seoul SK, the previous regular season champion, finished the first round with 3 wins and 6 losses. The absence of Kim Seon-hyung, who was responsible for the team’s speed, was significant. However, after completing the adjustment period, SK came up with a scary attack from the second round. We regained our pride with 7 wins and 2 losses. SK, with Jamil Warney holding on, was strong. Playing an average of 32 minutes and 40 seconds, he ranks first in overall scoring with 24.4 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 5.1 steals. With the return of Ahn Young-jun, who missed the beginning of the season due to injury, the perimeter attack power also revived. SK, which fell to 9th place in the first round, rose to 4th place in the middle of the 2nd round.
Busan KCC players Heo Hoon and Choi Jun-yong are happy after winning the Daegu Korea Gas Corporation match on the 18th of last month. Provided by KBL
In the third round, Wonju DB and Busan KCC recorded 6 wins and 2 losses each and are aiming to advance to the top tier. In particular, KCC, which had only 4 wins and 5 losses in the second round, came out on top with a 7-game winning streak. Choi Jun-yong, Song Kyo-chang, Heo Woong, and Heo Hoon seem to have regained their glory as a ‘super team’ by working together. KCC’s average score soared from 78.1 points in the second round to 94.1 points in the third round. DB has maintained its ranking within the top 5 since the start of the season thanks to Ethan Albano’s consistent performance.
Teams that have taken the lead in each round are concentrated in the top five. As of the 29th, the gap between 1st place LG and 5th place SK is only 3.5 games. When going from 5th place SK to 6th place Suwon KT, the gap rapidly widens to 3 games. This is in contrast to last season, when SK dominated first place in the regular season.
KCC and SK are belatedly improving their performance by adapting to the new team colors after recruiting free agents. With the addition of Heo Hoon, KCC’s average points and assists increased compared to last season. SK, which sent away Kim Seon-hyung and brought in Kim Nak-hyun, saw fewer steals than last season, but its perimeter attack, which had been a chronic weakness, was strengthened.
All teams in the top five are aiming for first place. The real ranking war begins in the new year.
