Altiri spreads its scoring across Newbill's passing and several perimeter finishers. Yokohama has a strong inside anchor in Kotsar, with Bell and Livers able to punish help around him. Their contest should turn on who finds another useful score after the first defensive adjustment and who takes the last rebound.
Newbill had eight assists at Kawasaki, and Kida delivered a fourth-quarter scoring answer after Altiri's lead narrowed. Davis, Ando and Kurokawa add other outlets; Pardon and Sotto have both played the interior minutes needed against Kotsar, with Pardon's short recent stint attributed to fouls. Bell played Yokohama's last game and remains a live creator beside Kotsar and Livers. Altiri's recent late scoring and defensive response give it several ways to answer Yokohama's inside pressure. That's why I'm siding with Altiri Chiba.
Ryukyu and Tokyo both want defense to feed faster offense. Ryukyu has Cooley's second chances and creation from Oura and Ravena, while Tokyo uses ball pressure to release Alkins and its frontcourt finishers. The decisive sequence is likely to be the possession after an initial stop: a secure rebound or a live-ball turnover can turn it into a repeat score.
Ryukyu gave up points from turnovers in its last game even as Cooley collected offensive boards. Nwaba and Matsuwaki missed that game, leaving Waki and the other wings with the most recently observed minutes; Tokyo's Alkins, Hawkinson, Williams and Grantham all played in its last outing. Tokyo's pressure has produced steals in consecutive games, and its attack has several finishers once Alkins has shifted the defense. I expect that pressure and the follow-up inside scoring to keep supplying Tokyo after Ryukyu's adjustments. That's why I'm siding with Tokyo Sunrockers.
