After a dreadful start, the Shimane Susanoo Magic became one of the league's most improved teams as the 2014-15 season marched on.

Now, as the new season enters its third week, they are looking to maintain their hot start: four wins in as many games.

Shimane fired head coach Reggie Hanson last fall — the Susanoo Magic were 1-11 at the time — and promoted his assistant, Tomohiro Moriyama, who orchestrated the team's turnaround. Shimane completed the season with a 22-30 record and qualified for the eight-team Western Conference playoffs.