Ace's composure rescued the team from a losing streak.
Seoul Samsung defeated Daegu Korea Gas Corporation 84-63 in the 2023-2024 CheongKwanJang Professional Basketball Regular League held at Jamsil Indoor Stadium on the 23rd. We escaped the crisis of 9 consecutive losses. They maintained sole 9th place with 3 wins and 10 losses. They are 2 games behind 8th place Busan KCC (3 wins, 6 losses).
The core of Samsung is Kofi Coburn (210cm, C). Coburn has physicality, strength, and the ability to finish under the basket. He can also cope with the opponent's cooperative defense to some extent. That's why teams playing against Samsung are wary of Coburn.
If Samsung's domestic players create synergy with Coburn, Samsung's power could be doubled. In other words, if Samsung's outer resources take shots, Coburn's power under the goal can increase. Samsung coach Eun Hee-seok also thought about that.
However, Samsung failed to create a synergy effect between Coburn and domestic players. This is because young players who can throw 3-pointers (Shin Dong-hyuk, Jo Jun-hee, etc.) left, and Coburn's frontcourt partner Lee Won-seok (206cm, C) did not do as much as expected.
So Lee Jeong-hyeon (189cm, G) had to do a lot of work. Among Samsung's domestic players, he is the only player to score in double digits on average (10.3 points per game). However, Lee Jeong-hyun is also suffering from opponent checks. Nonetheless, Lee Jung-hyun needs to be released from the perimeter. Because it is the only solution that can save Coburn.
Samsung coach Eun Hee-seok also said before the game, “Domestic players need to move actively. “The domestic players should do something and give the ball to Coburn,” he said, emphasizing the attack of the domestic players.
Lee Jeong-hyeon understood Director Eun Hee-seok’s words 100%. He actively caught the ball, and after catching the ball, he saved Coburn's attack with a 2-on-2 penetration-based attack. Samsung’s offensive energy level increased with 3 assists in the first 5 minutes of the game.
Samsung was strong even without Lee Jeong-hyun. 1st quarter ends 25-17. After taking a break, Lee Jeong-hyeon felt much more relaxed. And he was aggressive. He helped Lee Dong-yeop (193cm, G) cut the back door with a sharp pass, and scored an easy score by participating in a fast break. Involved in 4 consecutive points. Contributed to Samsung’s 14-point advantage (31-17).
Additionally, Lee Jeong-hyun poured cold water on Korea Gas Corporation’s first score of the second quarter. He met Shin Seung-min (195cm, F), who was physically better than him, but after controlling his dribbling speed, he scored with a quick layup. Shin Seung-min was disappointed.
The next attack was 2-on-2. Shin Seung-min and Andrew Nicholson (206cm, F) seemed to lose strength in defense moving to the left, but Lee Jeong-hyun took advantage of the air space. He helped Ishmael Lane (202cm, F) score under the goal with a high entry pass.
In the next attack, Korea Gas Corporation's team foul was used. He stood at the free throw line without any shooting action. 1 out of 2 free throws successful. He made it 5 points in a row with his own hands. There was something bigger than that. Lee Jeong-hyun's foul induction resulted in Nicholson's fourth foul.
Lee Jeong-hyun used that point in the first attack of the third quarter. Capturing the battle between Coburn and Nicholson. The ball is effortlessly passed to Coburn. This placed greater pressure on Nicholson, who was feeling pressured due to foul trouble. Coburn finished it off with a score. Korea Gas Corporation's hopes were further reduced.
Lee Jung-hyun's brutal attack development(?) did not end there. After picking up a loose ball from his teammates, he caught Coburn running in the opposite direction. An click here alley-oop pass created an opportunity for Coburn to score. Coburn finished calmly. Samsung ran away to 56-21 just 3 minutes and 25 seconds into the third quarter. Samsung's victory was cautiously predicted.
Lee Jung-hyun, who increased the score gap, 강남op retreated to the bench. Thanks to Lee Jeong-hyeon's performance, other guards such as Kim Gwang-cheol (184 cm, G) and Avan Nava (184 cm, G) were able to develop a sense of the game.
Jeong-Hyeon Lee fulfilled his role as captain on the bench. He cheered for his teammates and encouraged their concentration by talking defensively.
However, Samsung conceded the goal too easily in the second half of the third quarter. The reason why Samsung felt uneasy even though it ended 66-46. Samsung coach Eun Hee-seok had no choice but to bring up ‘Lee Jeong-hyun’ again. He was trying to finish the game.
When Samsung needed to push quickly, Lee Jeong-hyun did just that. He tried to keep his teammates alive with outlet passes. But other than that he spent his time thoroughly. He organized Samsung's attack as much as possible.
Even when Samsung was trailing 66-58, Lee Jeong-hyun remained calm. He was guarded on the left sideline, but passed high to Choi Seung-wook (193cm, F), who was running to the opposite wing. Seungwook Choi helped Lane dunk after penetrating the paint zone.
And Lee Jeong-hyeon responded well to Korea Gas Corporation's modified area defense. After forming a position between the defenders, pass to Kim Si-rae (178cm, G) who is running to the other side. Kim Si-rae, whose attack space was expanded, broke through and induced a foul free throw.
Lee Jeong-hyeon's calmness and vision eliminated the variables. Cold water was poured on Korea Gas Corporation’s last will. The most assists among players on both teams with 9 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals. He recorded more assists than the entire Korea Gas Corporation (7). Samsung, which almost thought of an upset loss, also escaped its long losing streak. We have once again laid the foundation for a leap forward.