With seven victories in their past 10 games, the rejuvenated Sendai 89ers have bolstered their playoff chances.
First-year coach Shuto Kawachi's team and the expansion Aomori Wat's both have identical 21-21 records, but only one of those teams will likely lock up the Eastern Conference's sixth and final playoff spot. The Niigata Albirex BB (26-18) have built a five-game cushion over the 89ers and Wat's, while the defending champion and eighth-place Yokohama B-Corsairs (18-24) face a daunting task to climb above both Sendai and Aomori.
By signing well-traveled forward Wendell White, who was the bj-league's MVP in the 2009-10 season when the Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix won their first of consecutive titles, Sendai added an experienced leader with championship credentials in this league. Similarly, the addition of big man Dzaflo Larkai, who won titles with Hamamatsu and the Ryukyu Golden Kings, raised expectations for the Tohoku team.