The lack of a presence underneath the basket has been Japanese basketball's everlasting issue. So Kenji Hasegawa, the current men's national team head coach, looks more to his outside players than inside muscle, relying on their perimeter shooting to carry the offense.
That said, Keijuro "K.J." Matsui, a sharpshooting guard, is one of the key men for Hayabusa Japan in the upcoming FIBA Asia Championship, which begins on Wednesday, in Changsha, China.
Matsui, a six-year veteran in the NBL, is required to come through in many aspects, driving in the lane, defensive plays, and showing leadership to guide the younger players on his club, the Toyota Alvark.