The Gunma Crane Thunders opened the season with three victories in their first 19 games. Saturday's 93-78 loss to the Shinshu Brave Warriors was the final straw for head coach Ryan Blackwell. It cost him his job, bj-league sources told The Japan Times.
Blackwell was not on the bench on Sunday for the series finale against the Brave Warriors in Midori, Gunma Prefecture, and the hosts dropped a 91-83 decision (see below).
Hiroki Fujita is Blackwell's lone assistant. The 27-year-old is a former Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix and Miyazaki Shining Suns player, and also served as the Miyazaki translator in the 2011-12 season.