Fundamental problem of the team: “Everyone is not pointing in the same direction”
In the Women’s World Cup 2022, the Japan Basketball National Team lost 56-70 when they played against Canada in the third game of the group league, unable to break down the opponent’s solid defense. With 1 win and 2 losses, Japan is currently in 5th place in the group. 4th place Serbia also had 1 win and 2 losses, but they were defeated in a head-to-head match.
In this match, Japan played an even match at the start of the match, but when they gave up the lead towards the end of the first quarter, Canada took the initiative from beginning to end, and it was a complete defeat that exceeded the score. Momoka Okoe expresses her sense of crisis as follows. “I think we have to face the reality of this point difference. Everyone is not facing the same direction. Team strength is Japan’s weapon, but I think the problem is that we haven’t been able to show it.”
Under Tom Horvath, the Japanese national team, which won the silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics, emphasized discipline, setting clear rules about which players should make what moves in each detailed situation. By instilling this into the team, the five members worked together, and it is still fresh in our memory that the team basketball that excited the world was realized.
On the other hand, under the head coach Toru Onzuka, who was inaugurated after the Olympics, unlike the Horvath era, there are fewer rules, and the players are left to their own judgment according to each situation. If it works well, it will be a truly protean basketball that will be harder for opponents to respond to than the Tokyo Olympic team. However, because it is left to the judgment of the players, it is difficult for all five to face the same direction than a team that decides detailed rules. This weakness was exposed in the match against Canada.
The reality is that the variation in attacks has decreased due to the fact that the team has fewer conventions.
The current team is ironically left to the player’s discretion, leaving less attacking options and lacking creativity. And the frequent substitution of players by timeshare has become a factor that makes it difficult for the five on the court to achieve unity. As a result, if the starting point guard is completely crushed by the opponent, it will immediately fall behind. Okoye also said, “If the guard is denied because there are too few withdrawals, Japan’s play will stop.”
And he continues that although he can hit the number of 3-point shots, which is the biggest weapon of offense, the contents are not good at all. “Why are the shooters making so few attempts? (Yuki) Miyazawa has few attempts, and I was able to hit 3 out of 5 shots today, but we have to find out about that as well.”
In the remaining two games of the group stage, tough opponents such as France and Australia continue. However, as Okoye says, “Participating in the Olympics is not easy, and that’s why it’s important to take steps at the World Cup.” have meaning.
“First of all, I want to focus on having the five players on the court facing the same direction.” Okoye spoke about his enthusiasm for today’s match against France. There are various issues, but first of all, I would like them to take the first step in counterattacking by regaining the team power that is typical of Japan. And I would like to expect Okoye to be the team’s detonator with his good 3-point shot.