Women's professional basketball, which finished in the first half of the year, also changed the season during a 15-day break
Dec 17, 2024
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As the schedule was adjusted with the Japanese league, unlike in previous years, the All-Star Game was held exactly at the halfway point of the league, and the first half of the year formed a structure of approximately '3 strongest 3 weak'.
The biggest difference from previous years is that KB Stars and Woori Bank, which formed a two-way structure for six seasons, have weakened their power due to variables such as Park Ji-soo and Park Ji-hyun, the team's ace, respectively, entering overseas leagues, while BNK, which was at the bottom last year, actively recruited veteran players such as Kim Son-ia and Park Hye-jin in the FA market, ranking first in the first half of the year.
On top of that, as each team's main scorers left or injured and strengthened defense, the overall offense declined significantly, and amid a series of low-scoring games, the first-ever disgraceful record of scoreless in the first quarter came out like Woori Bank on the 16th. As of the 17th, BNK ranks first in this category with an average of 63.9 points per game, and last season, it is only fifth place.
In any case, there is no 'absolute strong' like last season's KB Stars, and the position that each team lacks has been reinforced to some extent with Japanese players through the Asian player draft, so the game of the second half can change depending on how the All-Star break is used.
Among the three strongest teams, BNK is high, Woori Bank is dependent on Kim Dan-bi, and Samsung Life Insurance is pointed out as weaknesses.
First of all, BNK lacks center resources compared to guards and forwards in the national lineup, and Park Hye-jin and Kim Sonia, who are less than 1m80, have to stop the opponent's big man. BNK exposed its limits to the extent that it suffered a crushing defeat in two consecutive games against Samsung Life Insurance, which is home to veteran center Bae He-yoon. Hana Bank, which has Jinan and Yang In-young Double Post, and Tanimura Rika and Hong Yoo-soon are also struggling with Shinhan Bank, which plays this role, respectively. Park Jung-eun, head coach of BNK, predicted a change in tactics to prevent big men by using brakes.
Woori Bank was in a rush as seen in the first quarter scoreless as Kim Dan-bi was absent due to injury against Shinhan Bank on the 16th. Since then, he has made up for it, but in the absence of the core and central point of offense and defense, it is difficult to cope with even Woori Bank coach Wi Sung-woo, who suffered a battle. Lee Myung-kwan, Han Um-ji, Shim Sung-young, and Japanese guard duo Momona and Natsuki are expected to remain in second place only when they ease the burden on Kim Dan-bi in the second half.
Except for Bae Hye-yoon and Lee Hae-ran, other players of Samsung Life Insurance have ups and downs in each game. Shooter Kiana Smith is still unstable in the aftermath of the injury, but if Lee Ju-yeon and Yoon Ye-bin join the lineup normally in the second half of the year after rehabilitation, they can also challenge for the top spot.
Among the three drugs, KB Stars is still unable to fill Park Ji-soo's gap, while Shinhan Bank's rookie Hong Yoo-soon has grown significantly in the third round and is in good harmony with Rika, and veteran Lee Kyung-eun is enjoying her second heyday If he returns to Choi E-sam in the second half of the year, he can be said to be a dark horse that can aim at the mid-range or higher. Hana Bank is expected to advance to the playoffs for the second consecutive year only when it quickly increases the reading and feeding ability of the guards, who have weakened due to the lack of Jihyun Shin at a time when synergies using Jinan, which was recruited as an FA, have not come out properly.
bluesky@sportschosun.com
