'Heo Woong pelvic injury → absence confirmed' Lee Sang-min, Busan KCC head coach: "It has been problematic since the start of the season..." [Busan on-site]

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Lee Sang-min, head coach of Busan KCC, identified containing opposing ace Paris Bass as the key factor in the upcoming matchup against Suwon KT, which is being played as part of a back-to-back schedule. He expressed his determination to shake off the disappointment of the previous day's loss to Wonju DB and turn the tide at home.

KCC will face KT in a home game of the 2026-2027 KCC Pro Basketball regular season, scheduled for 4:30 p.m. on the 11th at Busan Sajik Indoor Gymnasium.

After suffering a narrow 79-85 loss to DB the previous day, KCC, which now stands at 2 wins and 2 losses, immediately entered a back-to-back schedule without rest.

Speaking with reporters before the game, head coach Lee Sang-min stated, "KT is a team that starts with Bass and ends with Bass," adding, "Even if we allow other players to score, we have focused on reducing Bass's scoring. Given that he holds the ball frequently and carries a heavy offensive load, cutting his average of 29 points by just 10 would be considered a defensive success."

He continued, "Because it is a back-to-back game, there was no physical time to practice on the court, so we focused on adjusting defensive positioning and help timing through meetings," explaining, "The key is to tire out Bass as much as possible. Since Bass tends to show signs of fatigue in the fourth quarter, we will apply tight pressure from the start to decide the game in the fourth quarter."

A variable has emerged regarding team strength. Key scorer Heo Woong is out due to pelvic pain. Head coach Lee Sang-min said, "Heo Woong's pelvic condition had not been good since before the season, but recent worsening of the pain has led to his absence," adding, "While his absence will be a loss offensively, players with height coming in on defense might actually provide an advantage. We will fill the gap with our available resources."

Offensively, he emphasized organic 2-on-2 plays between Sean Long and the guard corps. Head coach Lee Sang-min noted, "In the previous game against DB, perimeter shots did not fall and scoring in the paint was blocked, so Sean Long could not exert his strength," pointing out, "For our offensive basketball to come alive, scores derived from 2-on-2 games between Heo Hoon and Sean Long must flow freely."

Regarding Jang Jae-seok's performance, he stated, "The aftereffects of his hip injury remain, so his movement is not yet at 100%, but it will gradually improve as we progress through the first round," vowing, "It will be physically demanding for all players due to the back-to-back schedule, but we will definitely secure a victory in front of the Sajik fans with our prepared defense and fast offense."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original