Evesa Osaka, which includes Lee Hyun-joong, defeated Sumane Sano-O Magic 74-67 at the 2023-24 Japanese Professional Basketball B-League Final held at the Okini Arena in Osaka, Japan on Saturday. Osaka finished the season with 25 wins and 35 losses, ranking seventh in the Western Division.
Lee contributed significantly to his team's victory by exploding 20 points, four rebounds, and three assists, including a long-term three-point shot of 6/10. Lee also excelled in defense, recording block shots and stills one by one.
A total of eight teams from the top two teams in each district in the B-League, including the two wild card teams with the highest winning percentage, will go to the playoffs. The lower-ranked team, Osaka, was not invited.
Osaka was already unable to make the playoffs early in March. However, Osaka unexpectedly recruited Lee Hyun-joong as an Asian quarter player in the second half of the season in order to achieve hope for the next season. Osaka saw hope for the next season by posting nine wins and seven losses from the game that Lee played on March 20.
Osaka signed a short-term contract with Lee Hyun-joong for the rest of the season on 30th. It was a game that confirmed the status of Lee Hyun-joong, who became the team's ace in a short time. Lee Hyun-joong started as Osaka's main forward. The team members' faith in Lee Hyun-joong was great. As soon as Lee Hyun-joong fell into the corner at the start of the game, the pass came right away. Lee Hyun-joong's team scored the first point with a three-point shot.
Lee Hyun-joong matched with Yuu Hakubama at No. 15 in Shimane. He was 12 centimeters shorter than Lee. He checked the opponent team's three-point shot, and even went as far as the rest of the players' assist defense under the basket. Lee even made a block shot by Nick Kei (32, 206 centimeters) of the Australian national team. Shimane, who was blocked by Lee's defense, took 24 seconds to limit the attack. Lee was outstanding in offense and defense.
The B-League allows ample rest time without overstriking the ace players. Lee Hyun-joong headed to the bench from mid-to-late in the first quarter. In the Six Men's Match, Osaka was dominant as well. The team had a run of 28-12 early in the second quarter.
Lee Hyun-joong came out again in the middle of the second quarter. Although Lee was pushed out during the rebound contest, no foul was declared. Lee also joined the swift attack and added an easy layup shot.
An unexpected incident happened. Lee Hyun-joong hit his right thumb on the backboard in a game on Apr. 20, and he was already in a bad condition. After coming out with a bandage on his right thumb, he complained of pain after colliding with his opponent during the game. Eventually, Lee Hyun-joong signed his own replacement late in the second quarter and headed to the bench. Osaka led 41-32 in the first half.
Despite the injury, Lee Hyun-joong forced his participation in the second half. He kept touching the injury as if he was bothered. The injury did not stop Lee Hyun-joong's mental strength. He did not miss the gap in the opponent's defense and made consecutive 3-pointers. Osaka ran 55-42 midway through the third quarter.
Throughout the game, Lee Hyun-joong threw himself into a loose ball, oblivious to his sore hands. Some Japanese fans were cheering with signs with Lee's Korean name written on them.
At a time when Shimane was trailing by five points in the middle of the third quarter, Lee added a three-point shot, which resulted in an additional foul. It was a critical play in which Osaka was running away again, with the score tied at 62-54. Lee also succeeded in a clutch block shot that shook off the rival team's pursuit even with 40 seconds to go.
On the day, Lee Hyun-joong made six three-point shots and scored 20 points. He won the last rough game of the Japanese professional basketball league before he challenged the NBA again.
BY: 토토사이트 추천