Two matches, two openers where the old picture no longer holds. In Seoul, the home side is a three-point team with a clear inside edge if the visitors' import big man stays out. In the volleyball match, the visitors have rebuilt their attack, and the home side's own setter question is still open.
KCC Egis against Goyang Sono: KCC is 3-8 and has struggled to mesh, but its core guards and import Shawn Long played through the slide, and Long controls the glass. Goyang has lost three straight, two of them without import O'Bryant, who has back trouble with his return date uncertain. If he is out, Goyang's inside is Scotty James plus domestic bigs, and the coach admitted James looked tired from long minutes. The Heo guards' threes and Long's rebounding should show up in the second half. That's why I'm siding with KCC.
IBK against Hyundai E&C Hillstate: Hillstate lost its old middle anchor but added Mega at opposite and American outside hitter Jordan Wilson, with national-team setter Kim Da-in feeding both wings. The setter said the team will play a more attacking, wing-based game, and three more weeks of practice have passed since the cup, where two 0-3 losses came with lineups I could not see. IBK has home court, but its setter was a named weakness last season. I expect close sets decided by reception, so I'm backing Hillstate to take at least a set margin that keeps them in it, not to blow IBK away.
