Japanese 2012-2013 National Team

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As a Levanga Hokkaido fan, I am proud that Ryota Sakurai was chosen as the team captain. Sakurai's versatility of being able to play PG, SG and SF for Hokkaido in the JBL was a main factor for the team finishing fifth in the conference despite financial troubles. Head coach Suzuki said that naming Sakurai as the captain places an emphasis on his defensive plans to instill with the team. Suzuki also pointed out that Sakurai and Takumi Ishizaki will be tasked to also developing the youngsters in the pool. Sakurai is a well known veteran of the pool alongside Takuya Kawamura, the Takeuchi twins and Fumihiko Aono.

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The first test for the newly formed national team will be in July 1, 2012 against the visiting Chinese Taipei national team at the Ota Gymnasium in Tokyo.

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Previous training camp was held (Sun. June 10, 2012) and it emphasized shooting. Head coach Suzuki praised Kosuke Kanamaru for his shooting ability as Suzuki himself showed youngsters like Yuta Watanabe, Yuya Nagayoshi, Ryogo Sumino about the importance of balance in one's shot form. Shooting drills were conducted in the afternoon.

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Takuya Kawamura was deactivated due to injury as Kawamura can't participate in any of the drills. Kawamura is expected to re-join the training pool in late July.

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Head coach Kimikazu Suzuki said in an interview with J-Sports that despite the national pool being down to 19 players, he is not compelled to name another player into the pool. Suzuki said that they are looking forward to having Takuya Kawamura back by next month, but stated that Kawamura should not feel pressured to rush his return.

[sinobball]

Sean Hinkley (197-F-91)

is sean hinkley considered as a japanese local player? or as a naturalized player?

I think he's a naturalized player, since he didn't get his Japanese citizenship until he is 19 or 20.

On the other hand, Tenketsu Harimoto (196-C/F-92), who was born Zhang Tianjie to 2 Chinese athletes in China and immigrated to Japan at the age of about 12, is not, since he got his Japanese citizenship before 16.

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The squad is down to seventeen players. Fumihiko Aono and JR Sakuragi are currently out while Takuya Kawamura is ruled out due to an injury. Head coach Suzuki will select from the seventeen players on who will suit up against the visiting national team of Chinese Taipei.

Ryota Sakurai (Levanga Hokkaido)
Atsuya Ota (Hamamatsu Phoenix Higashimikawa)
Takumi Ishizaki (BV Chemnitz 99ers)
Kosuke Takeuchi (Toyota Alvark)
Joji Takeuchi (Hitachi SunRockerz)
Takatoshi Furukawa (Aishin SeaHorses)
Takahiro Kurihara (Toshiba Brave Thunder)
Hironori Watanabe (Panasonic Trians)
Kosuke Kanamaru (Panasonic Trians)
Makoto Hiejima (Gakuin University)
Sean Hinkley (Link Tochigi Brex)
Yuya Nagayoshi (Gakuin University)
Daiki Tanaka (Tokai University)
Tenketsu Harimoto (Gakuin University)
Kosuke Hashimoto (Tokai University)
Yuta Watanabe (Makoto Gakuin HS)
Ryogo Sumino (Fujiwara HS)

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Japan winning against Chinese Taipei 85-77.

Kosuke Takeuchi and Joji Takeuchi with 18 points and 11 points respectively. Takumi Ishizaki with 16 points while Kosuke Kanamaru with 10 points.

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From a friend's facebook uploads.

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The JBA has announced the roster that will participate in the coming 34th Jones Cup.

Takatoshi Furukawa (Aishin Seahorses)
Sean Hinkley (Link Tochigi Brex)
Makoto Hiejima (Gakuin University)
Atsuya Ota (Hamamatsu Phoenix Higashimikawa)
Takahiro Kurihara (Toshiba Brave Thunder)
Kosuke Takeuchi (Toyota Alvark)
Ryota Sakurai (Levanga Hokkaido)
Yuya Nagayoshi (Gakuin University)
Hironori Watanabe (Panasonic Trians)
Kosuke Kanamaru (Panasonic Trians)
Joji Takeuchi (Hitachi SunRockerz)
Daiki Tanaka (Tokai University)
Tenketsu Harimoto (Gakuin University)
Kosuke Hashimoto (Tokai University)

Missing is Takuya Kawamura. Though head coach Kimikazu Suzuki stated that Kawamura is not yet listed out of the coming FIBA Asia Cup. While Takumi Ishizaki is currentlly in Germany. Without Ishizaki, Hironori Watanabe is the only pure point guard and to compensate for that, Suzuki has been playing Sakurai as a point guard for the last practice sessions.

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JBL legend and now Player Skills / Development coach Kenichi Sako with the new crop of the JBA's Jr. Elite Big Man Academy.

Tallest is Nasuda Noguchi (201cm).

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Current, Japan is 1-2 in the Jones Cup. A starting front-court Ota and the Takeuchi twins compensates for height but lacks flexibility given that speed--- once was Japan's asset, is set aside. Joji Takeuchi struggles in guarding winged players and when he is struggling with his shot, he can't contribute anything else aside from setting a high screen.

So a starting lineup of Daiki Tanaka, Tenketsu Harimoto and Kosuke Hashimoto scored more points and has gotten more rebounds (+5) on 50-50 possessions.

Lesson here is don't field Ota and Kosuke Takeuchi at the same time as both are similar in tendencies with their offensive preferences on which catching the ball near the elbow. It could work if the other relegates to being the reader for a down-screen. Also, Joji Takeuchi is not a small forward, he is a power forward that prefers shooting rather than trench up in the paint.

More experimentation for Kimikazu Suzuki in the coming games. Basing on two games against quality opposition, a tall lineup consisting of Ota and Takeuchis leaves the offense very stagnant and predictable. Credit Suzuki for using a very simplified Feed-to-post IO set.

[yuanqiuchiren]

Current, Japan is 1-2 in the Jones Cup. A starting front-court Ota and the Takeuchi twins compensates for height but lacks flexibility given that speed--- once was Japan's asset, is set aside. Joji Takeuchi struggles in guarding winged players and when he is struggling with his shot, he can't contribute anything else aside from setting a high screen.

So a starting lineup of Daiki Tanaka, Tenketsu Harimoto and Kosuke Hashimoto scored more points and has gotten more rebounds (+5) on 50-50 possessions.

Lesson here is don't field Ota and Kosuke Takeuchi at the same time as both are similar in tendencies with their offensive preferences on which catching the ball near the elbow. It could work if the other relegates to being the reader for a down-screen. Also, Joji Takeuchi is not a small forward, he is a power forward that prefers shooting rather than trench up in the paint.

More experimentation for Kimikazu Suzuki in the coming games. Basing on two games against quality opposition, a tall lineup consisting of Ota and Takeuchis leaves the offense very stagnant and predictable. Credit Suzuki for using a very simplified Feed-to-post IO set.

Takeuchi was injured against Iran?

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Takeuchi was injured against Iran?

Nothing serious for Joji Takeuchi. Both Joji and Kosuke did not play against Chinese Taipei team B.

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If it were not for Takatoshi Furukawa's three point streak (7/7) Japan would have lost to Jordan. Last year, it was Daisuke Noguchi's shooting that bailed out Japan against Jordan. Japan plays much better if they are not forcing height. Kosuke Takeuchi should play center as he is getting more comfortable inside. K. Takeuchi flanked with Hashimoto, Harimoto and Tanaka is much more responsive to how quick the pacing of the game can change; compared to being fronted with Ota and Joji Takeuchi. That front-court is just too slow and cannot pace with quick teams.

The lacking of an experienced point guard is hurting this team as Sakurai is not longer akin to playing point guard. Though he plays a vital point forward role with Hokkaido, he is more of a tunnel vision passer compared to the floor vision and team herding that point guards equate. Makoto Hiejima is still learning in commanding a national team under such pressure. This is where the return of Takumi Ishizaki will be most appreciated.