All First Match Winning Teams Advance to Quarterfinals

“Capture the tickets for the quarterfinals.”

Electro Land Coach Yoo Jae-hak (41-year-old) and Samsung Coach Kim Dong-kwang (53-year-old), Orions Coach Kim Jin (43-year-old) and LG Coach Kim Tae-hwan (54-year-old) will be competing in the playoffs (two wins out of three games) of six teams starting on March 13. In the match between peers in their 40s and 50s, they are confident of their victory against each other. Following is the imaginary conversation between them as they are awaiting the big events.

Yoo Jae-hak said, “This is our sixth time in the post season, but we didn’t go far each time. This time we have to make it to the quarterfinals. We beat Samsung in all three home games during the regular season. I will bet everything on the first home Game. The shooting percentage for regular baskets was over 60 percent in home games.”

Kim Dong-kwang said, “I am worried about the many injured players. If I could, I would replace myself for the guard position. Joo Hee-jeong, who underwent neck surgery, says that he had pain after training. Joo might not be active, and Kang Hyuk has a problem with his wrist. I will let Hannibal and Kang start as the two guards.”

Yoo Jae-hak replied, “Although many Samsung players are not physically perfect, we can’t be relieved. I will rearm the mindset of my players. I don’t think that the condition of LG’s foreign players is good…”

Kim Tae-hwan answered, “Thomas injured his ankle and calf due to overexerting himself and Perryman is also exhausted. They will be all right because they rested for a couple of days. It is important that we outrebound the Orions.”

Kim Jin said, “We have been weak in the low-post area when taking on LG, and we must not let them grab offensive rebounds. Samsungs, with its weakened guards situation, will depend on Seo Jang-hoon more.”

Yoo Jae-hak agreed, “That’s right. It will be advantageous to reduce Seo’s shots. We prepared double team and instant irregular defense to make him ineffective. Defense is more significant than offense in short-term playoffs. Samsung should score less than 80 points.

Kim Dong-kwang said, “The key is that Seo will perform good defense as well as scoring and hustles back for defense. We will prevent Moon Kyoung-eun and Williams from scoring although we may allow the team’s main scorer, White, to make baskets. I know LG adjusted their game on purpose at the end of season in order to secure the Orions as their competitor in the post season…”

Kim Jin said, “Maybe. We are inferior to LG with our two wins and four losses in the regular season, but they were close games decided by only two or three points, and we lead LG with two wins and one loss in Daegu, the site of the first game. Also, we are very confident since we always finished better than fourth place in our four times in the post season.”

Kim Tae-hwan said, “We will block their high post play, Orions’ main attack route, and defend Kim Seung-hyun, the root of Orion’s attack, using a helping defense strategy. We will not allow our opponent’s fast break by reducing stupid turnovers and reckless shooting of three-pointers.”

Kim Jin said, “My team color is fast attack. But in case it’s difficult, we will increase our shot-percentage with secure set offense. I wonder how LG will change their tactics.”

Kim Tae-hwan replied, “Whether Kang Dong-hee, who almost did not play in the game against the Orions, is put in or not is my concern. He may not defend Orion’s fast attack, but his experience is also needed…”

Kim Dong-kwang concluded, “In the past, the team who won the first game always advanced to the quarterfinals. The first game is so important. Let’s encourage each other.”

Jong-Seok Kim kjs0123@donga.com