Daegu Korea Gas Corporation lost 88-91 to Ulsan Hyundai Mobis in the 2023-2024 Jeonggwanjang Professional Basketball League held at Ulsan Dongcheon Gymnasium on the 20th. It failed to win five consecutive games. It also fell from tying for seventh to sole eighth (11 wins and 21 losses). It is five games behind sixth-ranked Hyundai Mobis (16 wins and 16 losses).
Korea Gas Corporation had elements of anxiety even in the first round of 2023-2023. Key elements of anxiety were the guards. Most of them were unverified ball handlers, such as SJ Bellangel (177 cm, G) and Yang Joon-woo (184 cm, G).
Of course, Bellangel did his bit. As the main ball handler and outer point scorer, he had a synergy effect with Andrew Nicholson (206 cm, F) and Lee Dae-heon (196 cm, F).
However, it was not easy for Bellangel alone. Kang Hyuk, acting coach of Korea Gas Corporation, waited for Han. His name was Kim Nak-hyeon.
Kim Nak-hyeon is a guard who combines 2 to 2 deployment skills, pass, pull-up jumper, and three points. He is also a player who will double the power of Lee Dae-heon and Nicholson.
However, Kim suffered from knee pain shortly after being discharged from the military. However, he scored two three points per game with an average of 15 points and 3.5 assists, three rebounds, and two steals in a series against Goyang Sono, which began on Dec. 8, 2023. In addition, he recently led Korea Gas Corporation's first four-game winning streak. He also tries to escape a losing streak against Hyundai Mobis.
However, Kim is suffering from knee pain. He cannot play for more than 30 minutes. Kang Hyuk, acting coach of Korea Gas Corporation, also said, "I rarely deploy (Kim) Nak-hyeon as a starter. If Nak-hyeon starts as a starter, chances are high that he will have to keep playing. For that reason, I have Nak-hyeon on standby in the bench," saving Kim Nak-hyeon.
Belangel, who replaced Kim Nak-hyeon, did not mix well with the flow of the game. Although other players gradually began to follow suit, Korea Gas Corporation remained in an inferior position throughout the first quarter. Kang Hyuk, acting head coach of Korea Gas Corporation who wanted to change the mood, brought up Kim Nak-hyeon 1 minute and 7 seconds before the end of the first quarter.
Immediately after the deployment, Kim received strong defense. Defending enough to make it difficult to catch balls, Kim chose Andrew Nicholson (206 cm, F) as his screener, and created space for shooting. He managed to shoot with difficulty. However, his shooting balance deteriorated a lot, and Kim Nak-hyeon's shooting ignored the rim.
However, Kim checked his court balance and shooting sense in the first quarter. He took advantage of the defense that stuck to him. After overcoming defense through breakthroughs and physical fights, he induced foul free throws near the rim, or a layup. He attempted a high-probability score.
He played a lot of games against Nicholson. Especially, when Nicholson was close to Kim Jun-il (200 cm, C), Kim Nak-hyeon put in the ball. As a result, a mismatch between Nicholson and Kim Jun-il was made. Nicholson, who made a mismatch, scored near the rim. Kim Nak-hyeon's attack development increased Nicholson's success rate in field throws.
When Duvan Maxwell (201 cm, F) was deployed, Kim Nak-hyeon's strategy was different. Use Maxwell's screen, but focus more on his attack. Although he received a block shot from Kim Kook-chan (190 cm, F), he scored with a high jump and a one-beat slow shot. It made Kim Kook-chan feel futile.
Kim Nak-hyeon recorded six points and two assists in the second quarter alone. It is the most assists among Korea Gas Corporation players and the most points among Korea Gas Corporation players. Nevertheless, Korea Gas Corporation did not overcome its inferiority complex. It finished the first half 45-52.
Kim Nak-hyeon had difficulty catching the ball in the third quarter as well. It was not easy to make the desired motion. However, after a moment of stopping, he turned back and made a difficult move. Both teams scored their first points in the third quarter.
Kim Nak-hyeon also added a rebound to Shin Ju-young's shooting motion. After beating Kim Ji-wan (188 cm, G), Kim scored a putback. Four consecutive points. Korea Gas Corporation threatened Hyundai Mobis with a score of 49-52 within two minutes of the third quarter.
When Kim Nak-hyeon scored, his defense against Nicholson became loose. Nicholson utilized it. He accumulated points around the paint zone and the 3-point line. Korea Gas Corporation, which exploded at the same time as Kim Nak-hyeon and Nicholson, chased Hyundai Mobis 58-60, 5 minutes and 6 seconds before the end of the third quarter.
However, Korea Gas Corporation's momentum subsided. The same applies to Kim Nak-hyeon. Fourteen seconds before the end of the third quarter, he failed to pass and provided an excuse for allowing a run. Both Korea Gas Corporation and Kim Nak-hyeon, who wanted to turn the tables, finished the third quarter 69-72.
Kim Nak-hyeon distracted himself from ball carrying and defense with Bellangel. In addition, with Nicholson as well, the attack distribution of Korea Gas Corporation changed much more evenly. So, Korea Gas Corporation was able to come and go with Hyundai Mobis.
However, Kim was away for the last five minutes and 31 seconds. It was because of the lack of physical strength in the game. It could have caused a bigger injury. For that reason, Kim had to watch the end from the bench.
Korea Gas Corporation led the game without Kim Nak-hyeon. However, the team failed to overcome the crisis. At 1 minute and 13 seconds before the end of the game, Park Moo-bin (184 centimeters, G) scored three come-from-behind points (86-87), and at 30 seconds before the end of the game, Ham Ji-hoon (198 centimeters, F) scored under the basket (86-89).
Korea Gas Corporation failed to overcome the crisis in the end. The same was true for Kim. He had 12 points (2 points: 5/5) and three assists and two rebounds (attack 1) in 22 minutes and 3 seconds, but he still had to face the reality. The reality was quite cold. "10 consecutive losses against Hyundai Mobis" was just around the corner for Kim.