Two unbeaten B.League sides meet here, but they got to their records differently: Hiroshima built theirs on defence and a lot of games, San-en on a short run of tight escapes under a coach who has been absent. Hiroshima D. are 7-0 after only allowing 71 at Chiba, which head coach Asayama framed as good defence feeding good offence. San-en are 5-0 and come in with far more rest, but their bench has been run by an assistant for the last couple of series. So my question is whether the faster, looser game San-en like is the one Hiroshima's grind can actually slow down.
Hiroshima first. Our records have 658 scored and 555 allowed over seven games, and the Chugoku Shimbun piece on the win at Chiba says the unglamorous defence, not the imports, is what's carrying the start. The schedule is the other half: they were in Chiba on the previous Saturday, rest was about two days, and the club says this opens a three-game home stretch. That is a lot of games in a short span for a team whose edge is effort at the defensive end.
San-en second. Their record is 444 scored and 388 allowed over five games, and the last two road wins were narrow ones: 93-89 at Saga and 83-81 at Shinshu. Hiroshima's own club page describes San-en as one of the league's fastest and most explosive offences. The club announced that head coach Atsushi Ohno would miss the Shinshu game through illness, with Mai Ayabe (assistant coach and interpreter) in charge. Basketball King reported the same arrangement at Saga. I couldn't find a notice on whether Ohno is back for this match, so I'd treat that as open. Tatsumi Yu was announced out for roughly three weeks on the 3rd, and in the Shinshu box score Terence Davis played only about 14 minutes, which I can't explain from what I have.
What would settle my question: whether San-en's early possessions come in transition or against a set Hiroshima defence, and who is on their bench. If Ohno is back and Davis plays a full load, the Hiroshima grind has to deal with the faster team; if not, the home side's rhythm probably dictates the pace. One logistics note: our structured data lists Hiroshima Sun Plaza, but the club's game page lists Hiroshima Green Arena, so the club page is the one to trust.
