- South Florida men’s basketball is on an unbelievable heater– but also still on the bubblePosted 2 months ago
- Kobe Bufkin is balling out for Atlanta Hawks’ G League team. When will he be called up to NBA?Posted 3 months ago
- Former Knicks guards Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett may yet prove Raptors won the OG Anunoby tradePosted 4 months ago
- Rebounding savant Oscar Tshiebwe finally gets NBA chance he’s deserved for yearsPosted 4 months ago
- Is Tyrese Maxey vs. Tyrese Haliburton the next great NBA guard rivalry?Posted 5 months ago
- The Detroit Pistons are going to be a problem in a few yearsPosted 6 months ago
- March Madness hero, ex-Fairleigh Dickinson guard Demetre Roberts joins Austin Spurs’ G League training camp rosterPosted 6 months ago
- Cam Thomas is balling out once again. Will he finally stay in the Nets’ lineup?Posted 6 months ago
- Former NBA lottery pick Elfrid Payton lights up Raptors as emergency replacement for Australia’s Cairns TaipansPosted 6 months ago
- How does Damian Lillard compare to Jrue Holiday on defense?Posted 7 months ago
Japan women’s basketball just might be the coolest team at the Olympics
- Updated: August 14, 2016
I don’t know why I tuned into a replay of the Australia-Japan basketball game on Thursday night.
Maybe I was bored. Maybe I just wanted to watch some ball after missing out on most of the Olympic coverage while at work.
Maybe I was shocked to see that Japan had a women’s basketball team. (OK, it’s probably that).
I wasn’t expecting anything special. Just wanted to check out what the teams looked like.
But what I saw made my jaw drop.
Japanese point guard Asami Yoshida streaking down the court like Allen Iverson, attacking the rack and dropping out-of-nowhere dimes.
I’mma let you finish, @Olympics, but this girl might be the greatest female Japanese PG of all time! pic.twitter.com/mFvn00QRE2
— Kels Dayton (@KelsDayton) August 12, 2016
Mika Kurihara filling the lane like Klay Thompson on the Warriors’ fast break, then stepping up and drilling catch-and-shoot threes, often times after a perfect pass from Yoshida.
JAPAN WOMEN’S BASKETBALL IS MY NEW FAVORITE TEAM EVER pic.twitter.com/NIJfGhwZzs
— Kels Dayton (@KelsDayton) August 12, 2016
Big girl Ramu Tokashiki (who I found out is a rookie with the Seattle Storm) posting up and knocking down turnaround jumpers with a hand in her face.
Ramu Tokashiki with the casual fast-break turnaround J pic.twitter.com/KvGqaIbvqm
— Kels Dayton (@KelsDayton) August 14, 2016
The girls on the bench raising their arms and coming together after every basket, celebrating like an eighth grade softball team.
Here’s a textbook screen & roll off a fast break we’re gonna use to show how awesome @japan is in an article pic.twitter.com/c9Kcemh02F
— Roundball Daily (@RoundballDaily) August 14, 2016
Honestly, the above clips don’t even do them justice. If you have Comcast, say “Olympic basketball” into your remote and search for that game. I’m not even kidding.
Because what you’ll see is basketball at its best–the way it’s supposed to be played.
They reminded me of the old-school Sacramento Kings in their glory days: back-cutting, slashing to the basket, passing and moving, and sticking jumpers from everywhere on the court.
It was amazing. Head coach Tomohide Uchiumi should be proud.
Look at this beautiful reverse lay-in pic.twitter.com/gvPqhLI9O7
— Roundball Daily (@RoundballDaily) August 14, 2016
And I know what you’re (still) thinking: Wait, Japan plays basketball?
Yeah, and pretty well. I was stunned too.
But after the Japanese sliced and diced the Australian defense for three quarters, taking a stunning 77-61 lead early in the fourth, it stopped being so stunning. These girls know how to play the game. And it’s a lot of fun to watch them do it.
Australia hadn’t lost to a team not named France or the U.S. since 1996, but Japan had them on the ropes. Of course, they melted down at the end, allowing the bigger and stronger Aussies to finish the game on a 31-9 run and steal the game, 92-86.
But they bounced back.
The Japanese beat France, 79-71 on Saturday, to advance out of the group stage and into the quarterfinal round. They’ll play an elimination game on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m.
You might laugh at this, or say I’m nuts for breaking down the Japanese women’s team.
But if you like basketball, you should check them out.
You won’t be disappointed.
And if you’re like me, you might just have a new favorite team.