Korean Basketball League 2011-2012 Season

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Moon Tae-Young back in 2009 where the Changwon LG Sakers drafted him. How time flies. Next season, he will be on another KBL team. Back then, the Sakers were a playoff team.

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Changwon LG Sakers head coach Kim Jin said that next season, Byun Hyun-Soo is still the point guard and he plans to make Park Rae-Hyun into an off-ball point in the shooting guard position.

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Rumor has it that the Busan Sonicboom KT is considering to bring in former Changwon LG Sakers import, Chris Alexander.

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Changwon LG Sakers forward Ki Seung-Ho enjoyed success playing for the SangMoo Military Phoenix in the Winter League. Ki paired with KCC Egis guard Kang Byung-Hyun and Jong Young Sam of Busan Sonicboom KT.

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Lee Kyu-Sup has expressed interest in re-signing with the Samsung Thunder in the off-season. Lee said in an interview with Seoul Weekly.

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Rumor has it that Jordanian National Team star Rasheim Wright is open to play as an import for next season.

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Six teams heading into KBL playoffs

Kang Dong-hee is having his best season this year, but the Dongbu Promy manager admitted he is “worried” ahead of the playoffs in the country’s top basketball league.

The Korean Basketball League wrapped up its five-month long regular season on Sunday, and now the top six teams are heading into the playoff series for the 2012 title.

The playoffs start Wednesday, when the No. 4 KCC Egis face fifth-placed Mobis Phoebus in a best-of-three series, while the third-ranked KT Sonicboom meet the No. 6 team, Incheon ET-land, on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters during a joint press conference of managers from the six teams held Monday at the KBL office in Seoul, Dongbu manager Kang said he felt anxious about the championship series.

“Last season, we lost in the finals, and two years ago we lost in the semis. I don’t want to miss the opportunity this time,” he said.

Expectations are higher than ever as Dongbu won the 2012 regular season title with a 44-10 record, the most wins in KBL history, finishing eight games ahead of runner-up Anyang KGC.

“But playing in the play-off series is different than the regular season. We can’t be assured the championship title,” Kang added.

The hard-nosed manager noted that he believes the key to his team’s success is in the physical condition of the players.

“We have two-weeks off until we play the semifinals, how the players keep their game condition will be crucial,” he added.

Meanwhile, KGC manager Lee Sang-bum said he was confident about the title race. The Anyang-side, which finished ninth last season, surged into second place this season.

“I believe we have a great chance at winning the title,” Lee added.

But KT Sonicboom’s Jeon Chang-jin admitted that his team has a tough schedule ahead. On Sunday the Busan-side beat the LG Sakers 73-69 to secure third place in the KBL league.

“It’s a difficult situation. Our players are tired, and suffering from many injuries. We don’t have high expectations, but will do our best until the end of the season,” he said

If the Sonicboom can fend off the strong challenge from Incheon ET-land, it will meet Anyang KGC in a best-of-five semifinal. Meanwhile, the winner of the other match-up will face Dongbu in the other semifinal.

“I think all six teams have a chance to win the title. We need to play at our best,” Kang added.

-Korea Herald

It will be interesting on how the defending champions, Jeonju KCC Egis will fare without clutch guard Kang Byung-Hyun who is serving in the military. Meanwhile, the youth core of Anyang KGC will have their sure fire test of mental toughness come the playoffs. Also, be wary of Ulsan Mobis Phoebus trio of Yang Dong-Geun, Terrence Leather and the return of Ham Ji-Hoon.

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Anyang KGC's rookie Oh Se-Keun was good as advertised; though even better. Last year, KGC missed the playoff on a number of losses. On his arrival, KGC found itself the second seed in the 2012 KBL playoffs. Also the first player in South Korea to have a triple double in the collegiate and professional stage. This rookie is one to watch in the playoffs.

[uhfotis]

Kang Dong-hee should be worried. All of the pressure is on Wonju, They crushed everyone in the regular season, and they got back an all star shooting guard. Anything less than rolling through the playoffs would be a disappointment. I still don't understand Korean coaching philosophy. Benson played 40 minutes in the final game of the season, a game that was totally worthless, they lost, and no other started played more than 18 minutes. If someone could explain to me the benefits of having a star player risk injury in a completely valueless game I'm all ears.

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A good read about Ulsan Mobis Phoebus import, Terrence Leather.

Tough as Leather: KBL star has life stories to tell

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What about KT Sonic Boom import ?! Is there replacement R.Okosa for the new men at play-off matches ?

[uhfotis]

What about KT Sonic Boom import ?! Is there replacement R.Okosa for the new men at play-off matches ?

Charles Rhodes will be returning to replace Okosa.

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KBL Playoffs 2012

[uhfotis]

KCC got crushed tonight at home to Ulsan. KCC trailed by 1 at the half but started letting Ulsan have wide open looks from 3 and it was a bloodbath from then on. Game 2 is Friday

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Later on, Busan Sonicboom KT lead by reigning most valuable player Park Sang-Oh will face the Incheon ET Land Elephants and their versatile wingman, Moon Tae-Jong.

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The Seoul SK Knights parted ways with head coach Shin Sun Woo and appointed Mong Yong-Geun. The contract runs for three years and is valid until the end of the 2014-2015 KBL Season.

[uhfotis]

Great game last night as Inchon edged Busan in overtime. Cho Sung-Man had 2 free throws to win the game at the very end of the fourth but bricked one of them to send the game to overtime.

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I managed to watch the replay of the Incheon-Busan game. Incheon was carried by Moon Tae-Jong and Herbert Hill. The inside and outside primary threat in both men did materialize as others had hope.

For Busan, Cho Sung-Min was off and normally, he would make those shots. Busan will need Cho to regain his sniping form if they are to survive when the series shifts to Incheon.

Moving on, Moon Tae-Jong made a bold statement in news.naver that they will end the series in Incheon.

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Later on, defending KBL champions hope to live and fight another day in Game 2 of their knock-out series against a hungry Ulsan Mobis Phoebus.

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Ulsan Mobis Phoebus takes a 2-0 lead over the defending champions, Jeonju KCC Egis with a 76-68 victory. Park Goo-Young and Terrence Leather both came through with 26 points each.