Two 2-4 teams meet with opposite ways of winning: Mobis score inside through two import bigs, while LG protect the ball and live on Asem Marei's rebounding and three-point volume. This season's rule puts two imports on the floor only in the second and third quarters, and that is where this match should be decided. In those two quarters Mobis have a big-man pairing that LG cannot match with a big of their own. LG's edge on the glass belongs mostly to the quarters with one import each.
Mobis are built around Gage Prim and Darius Bazley, and both do their work from two-point range. Mobis are second in the league in two-pointers made and among the most accurate, and they took more free throws than their opponent in four of six games. Their problems are turnovers, the second most in the league, and rebounding: they were out-rebounded in five of six games.
LG's second import is Archie Goodwin, a guard. When both imports are on, one of the Mobis bigs gets a Korean forward, either Tamayo or Yang Hong-seok, and LG's own coach admitted they are struggling with that job. LG's answer is Goodwin attacking Mobis' guards, but he went 2 of 9 in his last game. Mobis' usual leak, turnovers, also meets an opponent that hardly forces any: LG get two to seven steals a game, and three of their opponents committed only six, six and four turnovers.
LG are thin. Only seven players logged real minutes in their last game, Tamayo is described as not fully fit, and Yoo Ki-sang's return is reported at about ten minutes, which adds a shooter rather than a body to guard a big. Marei is back from his eye injury and should own the boards when the game goes back to one import a side.
I expect a close game, like the one-point Mobis win at the September Cup. LG should hold the first and fourth quarters on the glass, and Mobis should grind out the middle two inside and at the line. The market has moved toward LG on name and last season's head-to-head, but that was a different roster. That's why I'm siding with Mobis at home to win this match.
