Among the league's four expansion teams, the Yokohama B-Corsairs have the best record (14-14) entering February.
Coach Reggie Geary's team had a significant accomplishment last weekend: a two-game sweep over the Akita Northern Happinets, one of the favorites to reach the Final Four.
Defense is the key for Yokohama as it fights to maintain its fifth-place position — or rise — in the Eastern Conference standings. The B-Corsairs would be in the playoffs if the season started this weekend as the top six teams in each conference qualify for postseason play.