"South Korea is not just strong offensively; its defense is also terrifying." Japan conducts detailed analysis ahead of the final: "We cannot focus only on stopping Lee Hyun-jung"

*This content was translated by AI.

"South Korea is not a team that is only strong offensively. Its defense is also threatening."

With the men's basketball final at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games marking the first-ever South Korea-Japan matchup in history, Japanese media and officials have closely analyzed South Korea's roster and expressed heightened vigilance.

The South Korean Nam Ja-nong-gu (CEO) team, led by coach Nicholas Mazur of Latvia, will face host nation Japan in the tournament final at 7:40 p.m. on the 20th at the Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, Japan.

South Korea advanced to the final after decisively defeating Iran 77-51 in the semifinals. This marks their first final appearance since winning the gold medal at the 2014 Incheon Games — a 12-year gap.

Japan also secured its spot in the final by defeating China in the semifinals. It has been 64 years since Japan last reached the men's basketball final at the Asian Games, dating back to the 1962 Jakarta tournament. To date, Japan has never won a gold medal in men's basketball at the Asian Games.

With both teams now just one game away from a meaningful championship, Japanese outlets have intensively scrutinized South Korea's capabilities.

South Korea entered the final with a perfect 5-0 record in this tournament. They scored 102 points against Indonesia, 100 against Japan, and 114 against Jordan in the quarterfinals — recording over 100 points in three consecutive games, showcasing explosive offensive power.

However, Japanese basketball specialty site Last Buzzer highlighted that South Korea's defense is just as formidable as its offense.

The outlet particularly emphasized how South Korea held Asia's traditional powerhouse Iran to just 51 points in the semifinals. The media noted: "South Korea scored over 100 points in three consecutive games through the quarterfinals, but in the semifinals, they also demonstrated strength on defense."

It further stated: "Japan must guard not only South Korea's perimeter shooting but also recognize that their defensive intensity in stopping opponents' attacks is equally threatening."

In head-to-head history, South Korea leads 48 wins to Japan's 22. However, recent trends show Japan has mounted a strong comeback. South Korea lost both exhibition matches against Japan held last month in Tokyo.

Nevertheless, in this Asian Games group stage matchup, South Korea decisively defeated Japan 100-83, regaining confidence and pride. Now the two teams will meet again for the gold medal.

Last Buzzer reviewed the group stage clash, analyzing: "Against South Korea's intense defensive pressure and fast breaks, Japan struggled with pass-and-catch accuracy and finishing plays to completion."

The outlet added: "The player rosters differ between the August exhibition games and this Asian Games tournament. Therefore, what actually occurred in this tournament's group stage matchup is more critical for predicting the final than past results."

Japan must also find a way to break through South Korea's intense pressure — a key focal point identified by analysts.

The media analyzed that even after breaking the initial defensive pressure, players must be ready to receive subsequent passes.

It suggested Japan should diversify its offensive starting points by leveraging Oga Atsuya's drives, Kurokawa Gotezu's passing, and Harper Jr.'s speed.

A particularly notable point in the analysis was that Japan cannot focus its defense solely on South Korea's 'ace' Lee Hyun-jung.

The media stressed: "Japan must not concentrate its defense too heavily on Lee Hyun-jung alone. While it is important to prevent Lee from comfortably receiving the ball, they must also continuously track the perimeter attacks led by Lee Woo-seok, Yu Gi-sang, and Lee Jeong-hyun."

In reality, multiple South Korean players have taken turns playing key scoring roles. In the group stage match against Japan, Lee Jeong-hyun scored a team-high 25 points, including five three-pointers. Lee Hyun-jung also contributed with 16 points, seven assists, and four steals.

As the tournament progressed into the knockout stage, offensive options expanded further. Lee Woo-seok added significant perimeter scoring, notably netting 14 points in just the first half against Iran in the semifinals. Yu Gi-sang has also displayed powerful three-point shooting throughout this tournament.

Additionally, with Yeo Jun-seok returning from an ankle injury and Choi Joon-yong joining the Do Jung (CEO) team, the forward rotation options have broadened compared to the group stage Japan matchup.

This explains why Japan cannot control South Korea's offense by simply focusing on stopping Lee Hyun-jung alone.

Last Buzzer noted: "South Korea's strength was already clearly demonstrated in the group stage match where they lost 100-83." However, it added: "It is even more encouraging that Japan has reached the final stage with the opportunity to avenge that defeat."

The outlet further emphasized: "Players must not be flustered by South Korea's pressure and must all participate in rebounding. It is crucial to finish every offensive possession decisively."

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*This content was translated by AI.