SWOT preview: Kuwait Club out to go 5-0; WASL debut for Shabazz Muhammad

BEIRUT (Lebanon) - Eyes will be on Kuwait Club if they can remain perfect as West Asia Super League (WASL) action continues this Monday.

Holder of an immaculate 4-0 record, the crew is now the only unbeaten team in the rest of the field when Shabab Al Ahli-Dubai fell to a revitalized Kazma side led by new signings Salah Mejri and Shane Rector last week.

They will be hosting Al Manama at the Shaikh Saad Alabdullah Sport Hall Complex at 19:30 local time, and it would definitely be interesting to find out if they can stretch that perfect streak to five against a tough foe.

Kuwait Club will be taking on the current 2-seed in Group B, who's coming in with its own mini-streak. The Bahraini side headed into the FIBA break with back-to-back wins to improve their record to 3-1.

There's really been no shortage of stuff to look forward to in WASL-Gulf but there's also one big thing to anticipate over at the WASL-West Asia.

Present Group A leaders Beirut Club will look to chalk up win no. 3 against Orthodox Amman on Wednesday at the Nouhad Nawfal Sports Complex in Zouk Mikael with a major boost from a former NBA cager.

Just last February, they signed Shabazz Muhammad, indeed another star in a deep lineup bannered by Cedars star Ali Haidar.

2023 March 13

Kuwait Club vs Al Manama
19:30 (GMT+3)
Kuwait City
Shaikh Saad Alabdullah Sport Hall Complex

2023 March 14

Al Sadd vs Al Nasr Riyadh
19:00 (GMT+3)
Doha
Al-Gharafa Sports Club Multi-Purpose Hall

2023 March 15

Beirut Club vs Orthodox Amman
21:30 (GMT+2)
Zouk Mikael
Nouhad Nawfal Sports Complex

STRENGTHS - Beirut Club have definitely become even tougher to guard with the 30-year-old Muhammad's addition to a deep lineup that already has old reliables Kenny Hayes and Cleveland Thomas, Jr.

And so, Orthodox Amman will have their work cut out for them when they face a beefed up version of the Lebanese crew, where they will have to get their first official win of the tournament following major league adjustments.

WEAKNESSES - While there's no denying Muhammad's calibre, the fact that he's only been with the team for a few weeks could be an issue for Beirut Club, which could be an opening that their Jordanian foes could pounce on.

OPPORTUNITIES - Another WASL-Gulf game will see Al Sadd take on the winless Al Nasr Riyadh and this could be a window for Babacar Dieng to bounce back after struggling for Qatar in the recent FIBA Asia Cup Pre-Qualifiers.

After emerging as an elite performer prior to the break, the 25-year-old couldn't find that same form in the Pre-Qualifiers -- despite the fact that they played on their home floor -- although his team managed to reach the ACQ.

THREATS - Kuwait Club may have the mental and homecourt edge but Al Manama is no pushover especially Mosti Rashed.

He slowly became one of WASL-Gulf's exciting guards and he carried that fine play over to Bahrain in the recent FIBA World Cup Qualifiers when he poured 15 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and a steal against WC host Japan.

And definitely, he's expected to come out firing anew when he returns to WASL, where he's averaging 11.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists.

FIBA