Lee Won-seok (206cm, C)'s performance has really changed. The Korean men's national basketball team (hereinafter referred to as Korea) played a 2024 Softbank Cup warm-up match against the Japanese men's national basketball team at Ariake Arena in Tokyo on the 5th. The result was 85-84. South Korea, which enjoyed a dramatic victory, laughed in the enemy territory.
However, there was someone who couldn't keep smiling. It was Lee Won-seok. One of the big men in the Korean national team, Lee only played 7:46 a.m. in the first round. He committed three fouls on one rebound and one assist.
His invisible contribution also dropped. He was pushed back in the power struggle with the Japanese big man, and he failed to properly position his defense. Because of this, Ahn Jun-ho, the national team coach, had to give Ha a lot of time (204 cm, C). Ha's physical burden increased.
Lee was also well aware of this. "I was so nervous in the first round. I had to play in front of a full crowd in Japan because it was my first time playing for a 5:5 national team. I can't even remember what I did in the court," Lee said in an interview with this newspaper right before the second round.
After that, he said, "The key to the second round is not to be nervous. And we have to fight under the basket. We have to grab rebounds, defend under the basket. And when we have a chance, we have to score mid-range. I'm sure the second round will be different."
Lee first came out 2 minutes and 54 seconds before the end of the first quarter of Game 2. He could have been nervous about the sudden substitution, but Lee kept his words from the ground up. He made a layup with a momentary left break from the top 43 seconds after the put-in. At the same time, he even led to a foul free throw.
Having gained confidence, Lee was more aggressive. He scored once again near the Japanese rim, using his height, instantaneous speed, and long steps. He was not afraid of physical fights. He led free throws of fouls after a momentary fight.
Lee also exerted influence in defense and box-out. He tried not to lose ground to his match-up, Josh Hawkinson (208 cm, C). Even if he gave Hawkinson an advantage, he defended until the end. He somehow managed to shake the balance of Hawkinson's shot.
When Korea had to play a 2-2 defense, Lee pressed the Japanese ball handler outside the three-point line. After buying time for the Korean ball handler defender to return, Lee returned to his matchup. It disrupted Japan's offensive flow.
Lee scored 18 points in 18 minutes and 22 seconds, although he was withdrawn due to five fouls one minute and 35 seconds before the end of the game. He achieved a 77.8 percent (7/9) free throw success rate with a 100 percent field goal success rate (2 points: 4/4, 3 points: 1/1). 에볼루션 바카라사이트
Above all, his tough and aggressive moves kept him from fighting with the Japanese big man. So, Korea was able to put pressure on Japan until the end. And he got rid of a worry. It was Ha Yoon-ki's backup.