WOWOW Co., Ltd. Will there be a Japanese showdown between Lakers and Grizzlies on November 7th (Thursday)? Live streaming on WOWOW On Demand! Chris Sasaki talks about Rui Hachimura and Yuki Kawamura

[WOWOW Co., Ltd.] Will there be a Japanese showdown between Lakers and Grizzlies on Thursday, November 7th? Live streaming on WOWOW On Demand! Chris Sasaki talks about Rui Hachimura and Yuki Kawamura ​
WOWOW Co., Ltd. Press release: November 5, 2024 11/7 (Thursday) “Lakers vs. Grizzlies” Will there be a showdown between the Japanese?! Live streaming on WOWOW On Demand! Chris Sasaki talks about Rui Hachimura and Yuki Kawamura 11/7 (Thursday) 10:00 a.m. “Lakers vs. Grizzlies” [WOWOW On Demand] *The game will be available on WOWOW Live from 12:00 a.m. on November 9 (Saturday) Also broadcast
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Mr. Chris Sasaki talked a lot about both Hachimura and Kawamura The highly anticipated match will be streamed live on WOWOW on November 7th. The Los Angeles Lakers, played by Rui Hachimura, and the Memphis Grizzlies, played by Yuki Kawamura, who became the fourth Japanese player to make his NBA debut this season, will face off at the Grizzlies’ home, FedEx Forum. If they both stand on the court, it will be the first Japanese matchup since Hachimura and Yuta Watanabe (currently Chiba Jets). WOWOW Basketball analyst Chris Sasaki, who is well-known for his commentary on NBA broadcasts, talked about Kawamura’s success and the matchup between the two Japanese players. Q. With Kawamura making his NBA debut earlier than expected this season, a matchup between Hachimura and a Japanese player may come to fruition. What are your honest thoughts? A. That’s amazing, isn’t it? Kawamura said he had a three-year plan (to establish himself in the NBA), but it feels like he skipped the “hop” in “hop, step, jump.” Kawamura’s luck has been a big factor, as has he been able to seize good opportunities. Q. A match between Japanese players in the NBA between Hachimura and Yuta Watanabe has already happened, but wouldn’t it have a different meaning for Hachimura and Kawamura? When Hachimura and Watanabe were on the court at the same time (December 14, 2019, Hachimura was with the Washington Wizards and Watanabe was with the Grizzlies), it was a spectacular sight. It is difficult to say whether Hachimura and Kawamura will be on the court at the same time, as it will depend on how the match unfolds. However, Hachimura and Watanabe are of the same generation, both competed in American universities, and had been communicating with each other, but Hachimura and Kawamura met for the first time at a training camp before the Paris Olympics. And from there, a relationship was formed. In that sense, with the arrival of a new Japanese NBA player named Kawamura, there is something interesting and grateful about the way generations are connected once again. Q. Kawamura quickly adapted to the American environment and quickly won the hearts of the team and fans through training camp and preseason. I feel that he won his NBA debut not only because of his basketball skills, but also because of his human nature, such as his adaptation to the culture.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/1355/7992/1355-7992-88cbf9e0a295fe75e6c7d86e3f7f4047-1800×2700.jpg Kawamura made his NBA debut faster than expected Getty Images It’s all about having both of those things. Kawamura joined the team and entered training camp, and in the matchup with Ja Morant, he showed off his defense, and even with just a pass, he showed something a little different. I think they won because of both their ability to play basketball and their positive attitude. Because he has
experienced the big stage with the B League and the Japan national team, he plays with a completely different mental balance than other young players who are challenging the Xzibit 10 (non-guaranteed contracts to participate in training camps) or the NBA. I think this is done. In the first game of the preseason against the Dallas Mavericks, Kawamura committed a turnover immediately after
participating in the game, but this is a draft that does not know what will happen to his career unless he makes his NBA debut this year. If he were an outside player, he would have succumbed to the turnover, but he didn’t have that at all. In fact, I think he’s a player who can look at himself very objectively, so it’s amazing that he publicly said he was on a three-year plan, and so far there hasn’t been anything wrong with him. Q. Kawamura is currently on a two-way contract, and he will naturally be aiming for a full contract in the future. What challenges do you think he needs to solve in order to achieve that? As Tom (Horvath, head coach of the Japan men’s national team) said, I want Kawamura to be greedy in terms of scoring as well. Watanabe also scored 40 points in a game for the Memphis Hustle (G League team below the Grizzlies). However, he was not given a contract by the Grizzlies. Of course, the team situation at the time and the position he was playing were different, but Watanabe was in an unrivaled position in the G League. There is a clear difference there (NBA and G League). If Kawamura goes on a hustle, he won’t be convincing unless he averages 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 7-8 assists, like he did in the Olympics. In the past, when players in the 170cm range such as Muggsy Bogues (former member of the Charlotte Hornets, etc., 160cm tall) were successful in the NBA, they averaged
double-digit points for three seasons in a row at the peak of their careers. Since basketball is a sport where you score points, I think this is absolutely necessary. Looking at Kawamura so far, including the preseason, he has hardly been able to take shots in the paint. Last season in the B League, he averaged 20.9 points, of which 6.9 came from inside the paint, and he also made about 5 free throws, so basically he scored about 10 points from inside the paint. Isn’t it? The same goes for Horvath Japan, but the “golden rule” is a 1:1 ratio of shots from inside the paint to 3-pointers, so I think they have to prove that they can do that. Q. On the other hand, Hachimura is now in his sixth season in the NBA, and he is well established. This season, he was in the starting lineup for the first time since his first year, and his 3-point success rate (52.6% as of November 3rd) is showing good performance. Hachimura has also said that he wants to see the top, and I think he is very motivated going into this 6th season. JJ Redick, the Lakers’ head coach this year, has said that Anthony Davis is their ace and wants him to perform at an MVP level. The basis of the team’s tactics is centered around Davis, and I think it’s a great feeling that Hachimura was named the starter even before the start of the season. Although the Lakers’ forward lineup is lacking, the fact that he is the starter can also be seen as a message from head coach Redick to Hachimura that “we will be in trouble if we don’t get him to do it.” So far, he has shown a strong sense of grit. I think they’re doing it with this in mind.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/1355/7992/1355-7992-ec800d38f1b2d7d3549f2c149cbd8d46-3236×2356.jpg Hachimura gets off to a strong start in his sixth NBA season Getty Images Q. Is it possible that Hachimura is doing so well because he has been given the position and has organized what he needs to do? That’s probably true. I think it became clear towards the end of last season what my job was while competing with AD (Davis) and LeBron. As a result, his situational judgment on offense, including shot selection, has improved, and he has carried that well into this season. Also, when he entered the NBA with much fanfare as the 9th pick in the first round of the draft (2019) and was given the starting role, I would like to talk about the self-image that Hachimura had and how the team felt about Hachimura. I think he really struggled with the disconnect between what he wanted him to do and the role he could play. The NBA is, after all, a league where aces from around the world gather, so the hierarchy will be reorganized. No matter what country you’re an ace from, if you’re in the top 450, you’ll be placed in a certain position, right? When it comes to the Lakers, it’s not realistic to be number one or number two, but I think I’ve honed in on what I need to do. Q.If you are doing well, it seems like the markings from your opponents will become tougher. I’m seeing more and more reactions from opponents saying they don’t want to let Hachimura hit 3-pointers because he has a high probability of hitting them, so I think they’re starting to drive more often as the next step. Also, when I hit a 3-point shot, I used to go inside and shoot from mid-range, but instead of that, I shift to the side and abort the 3-point shot. If his chances are high, there’s no reason not to hit 3-pointers, so I’d like him to hit 6 or 7 every game. Q. Because of Hachimura and Kawamura, Japanese fans are paying particular attention to the Lakers and Grizzlies. Davis has become the mainstay of the Lakers, scoring over 30 points consecutively, and I think it’s fun to watch his performances. On the other hand, everyone tends to say that LeBron, who is 39 years old, is not slowing down, but that’s not the case; he plays with a bit of energy conservation on defense and relies on other players, and even takes breaks on offense. However, his basketball IQ is high and his 3-point ability has improved, so he is still able to demonstrate that much dominance. The Lakers’ problem is defense, and judging from the games they’ve played since the beginning, it’s been worse than last season. I wonder how far Davis can take the team by himself, so honestly, I feel like it will be a play-in battle in the highly competitive Western Conference. Q. The Grizzlies also experienced the disappointment of missing the playoffs due to ace Morant missing most of last season and other injured players, so I think they have high hopes for this season. The Grizzlies have also had injuries to Morant, Desmond Bane, and others, but I feel that the Grizzlies have more explosive power (than the Lakers), and are one of the top six teams in the playoff race. I think it’s possible for them to take home court advantage (which is given to four teams). However, it wouldn’t be surprising if around 12 teams competed for the playoffs in the West, and the rankings could change depending on the difference of one win at the end. Q.What are the highlights of this NBA season as a whole? The winning team in the NBA has changed every year for the past six seasons, and the teams are so evenly matched that it’s no surprise that either team could win. There is no doubt that this season will also be dominated by the pack, but I think last season’s champions, the Boston Celtics, are the favorites to win, and I wonder which team will stop the Celtics from winning the title again. I think that’s an interesting way to look at this season. Last season, three veteran stars, LeBron, Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors, 36 years old), and KD (Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns, 36 years old), reached the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2005. I couldn’t advance. and young players who will be the faces of the next decade, such as Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks), Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers), Jayson Tatum (Celtics), and Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves). We may be able to say that we are at a turning point in history, as Japan is starting to become involved in the championship fight. Q. It seems that the number of Japanese fans who haven’t watched the NBA before is increasing because of Hachimura and Kawamura. For those of you who are not yet familiar with the NBA, I would like you to leave yourself to the development of the game and enjoy the battles of the world’s best league to the fullest without getting too excited. Also, through last year’s FIBA ​​World Cup and the Paris Olympics, I think many fans have learned about the players from overseas countries who play in the NBA, so not only Hachimura and Kawamura, but also their presence has helped the NBA become more popular. I think people will feel a sense of familiarity with it. [ Program overview 】 11/7 (Thursday) 10:00 am “Lakers vs. Grizzlies” [WOWOW On Demand] Commentary: Akira Rikukawa (Tokai University Basketball Club Coach) Commentary: Keisuke Matsumoto *The same match will also be broadcast on WOWOW Live from 12:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 9 [Check below for the latest information such as other broadcasting and distribution schedules] WOWOW NBA program official site: https://www.wowow.co.jp/sports/nba/ WOWOW On Demand NBA page: https://wod.wowow.co.jp/genre/nba WOWOW NBA Official X: @wowow_nba https://twitter.com/wowow_nba