Team profile: Hosts Japan aim to maximize homecourt advantage

OKINAWA (Japan) - Japan will be looking to protect their home floor when they host a "group of death" at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 in Okinawa..

Their task will be enormous. First Round Group E opponents are Germany, Australia and Finland.

The Roster

Japan coach Tom Hovasse has a very interesting squad, one loaded with players from the B. League, including league MVP Yuki Kawamura and former MVP, Yuki Togashi.

There is also Yuta Watanabe, a 2.03m (6ft 8in) forward with several years of NBA experience under his belt. Watanabe, who spent last season with Brooklyn, signed a contract with the Phoenix Suns last month.

Sharp-shooting guard Keisei Tominaga, a rising senior with the Nebraska Cornhuskers in American college basketball, is in the squad along with point guard Kai Toews. The two represented Japan last year at the FIBA Asia Cup 2022 in Jakarta.

Yuki Togashi

Other notable members of the squad are shooting guards Makoto Hiejima and Yudai Baba, and point guard Seiya Ando.

The Question

Can Japan overcome their lack of size and win one or two games to advance to the Second Round?

In a warmup game against France on Thursday, Hovasse played American bigs Luke Evans and Josh Hawkinson. It's clear that low post play will not be a strength.

Japan can excel in other ways. If they can force opponents to play at a faster tempo, and if the hosts can make jump shots, they'll have a chance to win games.

One player that fans will be watching is Baba, who spent this past season with the Texas Legends in the NBA G-League. Baba has also played in Australia's NBL and therefore has experiences of different styles of basketball.

The high-flying forward dazzles at time. He's improved in all aspects of his game, including three-point shooting.

The Hope

Hovasse led the Japan national team women to the Gold Medal Game at the Tokyo Olympics. The game played by the team was wonderful.

Now, he's the head coach of the men's team and Japan have clearly improved under his guidance, since he took the reins in 2021. Yet it remains to be seen if they have improved enough.

Proof that Japan's have gotten better was their performance in the Asian Qualifiers. Despite being assured of a slot in the World Cup as co-hosts, the team used every game as important preparation. They had a 7-5 record.

Japan won their last five games, including a 96-61 beatdown of Iran in Takasaki. The Japanese beat their opponents by an average of 21.2 points in that impressive streak.

What can't be stressed enough is the importance of taking advantage of playing at home in Okinawa. Having thousands of fans cheering a team on can lead to wins, and momentum.

It's up to Japan to follow through and light it up at home.

The Fear

A major concern for Akatsuki Japan is size. There is no way around it.

In the win over Iran, Hawkinson flashed his potential with 17 points and 11 rebounds, although Iran did not have Hamed Haddadi or another legitimate center in that game. 

While benefiting during the Asian Qualifiers by speeding up the pace and improving shooting accuracy from beyond the arc, a lack of size has been a glaring problem and should continue to be against teams like Australia, Germany and even Finland.

Can Japan win those battles riding on their own strengths?

IN THE LAST 10 FIBA EVENTS

YEAR	EVENT	LOCATION	ACHIEVEMENT
2022	FIBA Asia Cup	Jakarta (INA)	7th
2021	Olympics	Tokyo (JPN)	11th
2019	FIBA Basketball World Cup	Beijing (CHN)	31st
2017	FIBA Asia Cup	Beirut (LBN)	9th
2016	Olympics	Rio de Janeiro (BRA)	Did not qualify
2015	FIBA Asia Cup	Changsha (CHN)	4th
2014	FIBA Basketball World Cup	Madrid (ESP)	Did not qualify
2013	FIBA Asia Cup	Manila (PHI)	9th
2012	Olympics	London (GBR)	Did not qualify
2011	FIBA Asia Cup	Wuhan (CHN)	7th

The Poll

 

More?

For a deeper look on Japan's journey to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, click here.

FIBA