“I’m not playing basketball alone.”
In Round 21 of B1, Kawasaki Brave Thunders, who are in 12th place in the East region with 8 wins and 25 losses, will play at home against Sunrockers Shibuya, who are in 7th place. Kawasaki won Game 1 with Rosco Allen’s dramatic second-chance point, but lost in Game 2, 58-73. Although it was the first time this season that they did not win consecutive games on the same card, the team’s situation is improving, with 3 wins and 3 losses in the last 6 games.
Kawasaki’s club identity “BE BRAVE”. The team values these words more than their current results. Jeffery Katsuhisa, who was appointed as the new head coach following the retirement of head coach Neno Ginzburg in November of last year, has said that he will focus on rebuilding the team’s culture and creating a team identity upon his appointment. With the new system, Hasegawa has gradually increased his playing time and is now the starting pitcher.
What Hasegawa is looking for is a tone set on defense, and head coach Katsuhisa has confidence in him, saying, “He has the ability to execute defense, has a great understanding of the type of basketball we want to play as a team, and embodies that.”
However, in this game, there were many situations in which they struggled against the opponent’s big lineup and were stopped by fouls, and the defensive tone was not successful throughout the game. Ryuhito Yamauchi, who returned in late January, appeared on the court in place of Hasegawa, but could not get into a rhythm at all, committing 5 fouls in 5 and a half minutes of play. Against a big lineup, the performance of the No. 3 player will be the key, but Hasegawa says that the “collection” is important, not the “individual”.
“I don’t play basketball alone. I think the competitive nature of basketball is that everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses, and we compensate for each other’s strengths, so I would like to improve our team communication and strengthen our cooperation.”
From Hasegawa’s point of view, the mistakes made by young players are probably seen as mistakes by the team. Kawasaki has many young players, and the veterans understand this attitude, as Head Coach Katsuhisa says, “We want them to play with all their might.” However, not all plays are allowed. In this match, Allen dropped a shot near the ring, which turned the tide in favor of SR Shibuya. A mistake made by the breadwinner has a huge impact on the team. That’s why Hasegawa complained, saying, “I asked him to stop doing things like Rosco’s whistle-based layup shots, and I wanted him to make proper jump stops and use his own judgment to pass or shoot.”
This balance is what Kawasaki needs today. I’m not denying everything about Allen’s play. Minimizing the sloppy plays that often occur when the team’s flow is poor is necessary to eliminate team tension and lead to a series of solid plays.
“Basketball is like life”
There is no doubt that winning the match is the greatest way to give back to the fans and boosters. However, it is possible to show a willingness to continue fighting until the end even if you cannot deliver victory. And sometimes that is more important than winning. Head coach Katsuhisa is one of those who thinks so, emphasizing, “Our identity is to keep fighting until the end,” and said this about Hasegawa, who sent his players onto the court at a time when the trend of the game was determined.
“It’s nice to see communication from the players saying, “We’re going to do this right now, right?” and Hasegawa shares that common understanding. It means a lot to us that we were able to fight until the end, and it’s something we absolutely have to do, and I think we can’t grow unless we do that. Hasegawa is an extremely valuable person who embodies this.”
In the world of sports, it is difficult to constantly compete for the top. Of course there are teams that win consecutive championships, but there are almost always periods of decline. Hasegawa has experienced both the sour and the sweet. That’s why this path to rebuilding will definitely serve as the foundation for the revival of the old powerhouses. I could feel it strongly from his words.
“Kenji-san (assistant general manager Kenji Sato) often said, ‘Basketball is like life,’ but there are hard times and good times, so right now we have no choice but to do it. I think things are definitely getting better, so I’ll keep looking at it positively.”
