There's a lot of basketball to be played this season, and a lot of teams' fortunes will rise and fall. But there's plenty of evidence that there will be many bad teams this season in the bj-league.

Nine of the 21 clubs — more than 40 percent — have losing records, and six have two or less victories to date: Sendai 89ers (2-6), Kyoto Hannaryz (2-8), Saitama Broncos (1-7), Osaka Evessa (1-5), Miyazaki Shining Suns (1-9) and Gunma Crane Thunders (0-12).

In the Western Conference, the Takamatsu Five Arrows are 3-5 and the Shiga Lakestars are 4-6.