DB needs ‘initial focus’ rather than strength to survive a crisis

DB needs to stay focused from the start.

Wonju DB lost 94-99 against Anyang Jungkwanjang in the first round of the 2023-2024 Jungkwanjang Professional Basketball League at Wonju General Gymnasium on the 10th. The team was unable to continue the momentum of its opening seven-game winning streak. DB’s record at the top of the standings is 7-1.

DB has been dominant since the start of the season. In addition to Dedrick Lawson (202 cm, F), who averaged 27.7 points, 8.9 rebounds and 4.9 assists before this game, Lee Sun Albano (185 cm, G), Kang Sang-jae (200 cm, F) and Kim Jong-kyu (207 cm, C) shined. The rotation players, including Choi Seung-wook (193 cm, F), Park In-woong (190 cm, F), Shin Min-soo (197 cm, F), and Kim Young-hyun (186 cm, G), also exceeded expectations.

DB coach Kim Joo-sung also led the team’s rise with his tactical operation of switching between the triple post and three guards. Although they couldn’t reliably overpower their opponents every time, DB was the team with the last laugh.

Nevertheless, there were question marks about DB’s performance. This was because there were games in which they were heavily defeated in the early stages, such as the game against Busan KCC on October 28 and the game against Hyundai Mobis in Ulsan on October 5. Coach Kim Joo-sung said that they had confirmed their “strength to overcome the crisis,” but before the game, he said, “It’s not a good game to lose big and then turn it around.

Did the DB players, who were on a winning streak, get off to a bad start? Kim shook his head.

“Our players are half joking and half serious. They don’t lose their focus,” he praised. Just like Kim Joo-sung said, DB dominated the Seoul Samsung on the 7th. The worries seemed to be unfounded.

However, DB was hounded by Jung Kwan-jang from the start of the game. They struggled against Jung’s triple post, which utilized Jung Hyo-geun (202 cm, F), Darryl Monroe (198 cm, F), and Lee Jong-hyun (203 cm, C). Lawson was completely tied up. He managed just 4 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 steal in the first half.

Lawson’s slump soon led to a slump in the DBs as a whole. Albano and Kang Sang-jae led the way on offense, but they didn’t have enough players to convert into points. They lost the firepower battle to Jeong Kwan-jang.

However, DB stabilized after the introduction of Jeff Weedie (213cm, C). Withie stabilized the defense, the offense made fewer reckless plays. They were able to chip away at the deficit. 보스토토

In the fourth quarter, the DBs really got into the game. Along with Lawson, who woke up, Kim Jong-kyu lifted the sagging mood. Park In-woong also hit key threes and mid-range jumpers.

However, the first-half deficit hindered DB. They ran out of time to turn it around. A foul on Park Ji-hoon (184 cm, G) resulted in a turnover. Even Lawson’s difficult three-pointer couldn’t turn the game around.

DB’s disappointment must have been unimaginable. The eight-game winning streak to start the season was tied for the longest in the KBL, and an eighth straight win would have been the first in 1,381 days for DB.

DB is still in sole possession of first place. They are also the favorite to win the title. To take a step closer to the title, they’ll need to maintain their early focus rather than rely on their ability to overcome crunch time.