The 2022-2023 SKT A-Dot professional basketball entered the All-Star Game break after the game on the 11th. The regular league has turned around the halfway point. Under the new variable of the introduction of the Asian Quarter, teams that were noticed as top candidates in Media Day before the opening stagnated, while teams that made great strides, led by Anyang KGC Ginseng Corporation, created a new ranking competition structure and raised interest in the league.
◇ KGC Ginseng Corporation’s overwhelming leading march
Anyang KGC Ginseng Corporation has leaped into a prestigious club under the former manager Kim Seung-gi. In the past six seasons, they have won twice and have finished in the semifinals or playoffs four times.
There were many changes ahead of the 2022-2023 season. Coach Kim Seung-gi left for Carrot, Goyang, and the destination of shooter Jeon Seong-hyun, who became a free agent (FA), was also a cat. The team entrusted the baton to manager Kim Sang-shik, who had been away from the KBL stage for about 8 years.
Director Kim Sang-shik emphasized communication and autonomy. The coaches helped the command tower with precise role division.
KGC Ginseng Corporation was one of the clubs that were not nominated for the championship at Media Day before the opening. However, starting with 4 consecutive victories in the opening, from the first day of the opening until now, it has never come down from the top spot. It is dominating the league based on strong offensive basketball, such as being tied for first place in team average scoring (83.6 points).
Key players of KGC Ginseng Corporation, such as Oh Se-geun, Yang Hee-jong, and Moon Seong-gon, who are evaluated as “it seems like basketball 8th and 9th dans are gathering and playing a game,” showed off their soundness. Point guard Byun Jun-hyung has grown further, and with Park Ji-hoon at the head, Bae Byung-jun, Jeong Jun-won, and Han Seung-hee have filled the ranks of players.
Here, Omari Spellman and Daryl Monroe, who renewed the contract side by side, were in charge of one axis of power, and Lens Abando from the Philippines added, capturing the attention of basketball fans with splendid play and scoring ability.
◇ Advancement of emerging powerhouses
Teams that were considered favorites for the championship faltered, while emerging powerhouses made remarkable progress. The most representative club is Carrot. Financial issues such as non-payment of subscription fees and non-payment of salaries raised concerns from basketball officials and fans, but no one was pushed behind on the court.
The Carrot club, which acquired Goyang Orion and became a new member of the professional basketball team, has repeatedly performed well, holding its second place in the early stages of the regular season. Although the ranking has dropped to 5th place, it maintains a win rate of over 50% and maintains formidable potential.
Carrot was evaluated as weak after Lee Seung-hyun and Lee Dae-sung, who were the main players, left the team, but the effect of ‘Kim Seung-gi Magic’ was great. It is evaluated that the player base is not strong compared to other clubs, but the player rotation is well configured to suit the opponent and situation. Above all, he is leading the growth of KBL’s rising star Lee Jung-hyun.
There were foreign players such as David Simon’s injury, but the attack system built around Jeon Seong-hyun and Lee Jung-hyun is comparable to any other team.
In particular, in the first half of 31 games, Seong-hyun Jeon recorded an average of 20.3 points and a 3-point shot success rate of 43.4% (4.1 successes per game), and performed at a level that would surpass KBL’s all-time best shooter. Coach Kim Seung-ki’s coaching method, which maximizes the player’s strengths, gave Jeon Seong-hyun even greater wings. 온라인카지노
The twin directors also received a lot of attention. Changwon LG, led by Jo Sang-hyun, and Ulsan Hyundai Mobis, led by Jo Dong-hyun, finished the first half in a tie for 2nd and 3rd place respectively. LG, which had been in the lower ranks recently, succeeded in improving its constitution, and Ulsan Hyundai Mobis stably opened the era of post-director Yoo Jae-hak.
One of the teams that drew a lot of attention at the end of the first half was the ‘defending champion’ Seoul SK. SK slowed down due to the injury of MVP Choi Jun-yong before the opening, but after Choi Jun-yong’s return, SK showed its potential to raise the rankings to a tie for 3rd place, riding an upward trend of 13 wins and 6 losses.
Jeonju KCC, which greatly strengthened its power by signing Lee Seung-hyun and Heo Woong as free agents, stayed in the bottom ranks with 7 wins and 11 losses until the second round. However, as the team’s team communication revived the air defense organization, the current 16 wins and 15 losses, the 50% win rate was restored. Lagunah wrote a meaningful record of achieving 10,000 points in total for the fifth time in professional basketball history.
◇ Laughing and crying at foreign players… Aiming for a rebound
Seoul Samsung, led by coach Eun Hee-seok, made expectations for a rebound by jumping into mid-to-higher competition in the early stages of the regular season. However, no treatment was effective for the constant injuries of key players.
The same goes for Wonju DB. The ankle was caught in the injury of the main players including Doo Kyung-min. What the two teams have in common is that the level of contribution expected from the foreign player position did not come out. Coach Lee Sang-beom, who led DB, recently resigned, and franchise star coach Kim Joo-seong took over as acting manager.
The performance of foreign players had a direct impact on the ranking competition structure. Daegu Korea Gas Corporation’s competitiveness has declined due to the sluggishness of Yushu Silver Ceramics, which had been highly anticipated. Suwon KT, which threw in the strong water of replacing all two foreign players, made them expect a rebound in the second half by winning 6 consecutive victories at the end of the first half.