Jamil Warney (199 cm, C) has changed, but SK has not.
Seoul SK lost 72-99 to Busan KCC in the second round of the 2023-2024 professional basketball semifinal playoff held at Jamsil Student Gymnasium on the 6th. Lost all two games at home. He is heading to the enemy site (Sajik Indoor Gymnasium in Busan) amid a desperate crisis.
SK's 2022-2023 season was quite challenging. First of all, unlike the 2021-2022 season, SK was not able to utilize the large number of players. It was a huge setback for SK to lack key forward resources such as Ahn Young-joon (195 cm, F) and Choi Jun-yong (200 cm, F).
Nevertheless, SK has been a strong team since the sixth round of the regular season. It has won nine rounds, three rounds of the semifinal playoff and three rounds of the semifinal playoff. It has won three games and two losses until the fifth round of the championship. It is just one step away from winning the championship.
They also fought well in the sixth game of the championship. In particular, they won the championship in the third quarter. The 3-2 variant of the regional defense that SK started to use in the championship game worked, and SK was ahead by up to 15 points at one point in the third quarter. It seemed to be a celebratory shot.
However, SK was shaken up in the fourth quarter. It failed to block Darryl Monroe's second chance point (196 cm, F) and Byun Joon-hyung's (185 cm, G) and Oh Se-geun's three-point shot (199 cm, C). The team lost 4-22 for seven minutes after the start of the fourth quarter, turning Anyang KGC Ginseng Corporation (currently Anyang's Jeonggwanjang) into a reversal drama.
However, he also displayed a great game in Game 7 of the championship game. He continued the game to extra time. Even though he lost, he deserved applause from his fans. Everything was possible because of Jamil Warney (199 cm, C).
Warnie is still in control for the 2023-2024 season. Thanks to this, SK was able to claim 12 straight wins during the 2023-2024 season. With 12 straight wins, SK once jumped to second place. Although finishing the 2023-2024 regular season in fourth place, Warnie earned a home advantage in the semifinal playoff.
Warnie, however, was sluggish in the first leg. Despite playing 34 minutes and 32 seconds, he only scored 14 points. The field goal success rate was only about 33% (2 points: 5/13, 3 points: 1/5).
So SK coach Jeon Hee-chul eased Warnie's burden. Instead, he adjusted his position. He raised Warnie to near the three-point line so that he could play a 2-2 match with local players, including Kim Sun-hyung (187 cm, G)-Oh Jae-hyun (185 cm, G)-An Young-joon.
Warney screened with or without the ball. He made the cut-in of his teammates natural by making it 2 to 2. He made it easier for SK players to score. He also increased the success rate of SK players' offense.
However, Warnie did not catch the ball properly like in Game 1. Even if he caught the ball, Warnie's floater or hook shot did not pass the rim. He only scored four points in 8:27 of the first quarter. SK also finished the first quarter 19-21.
Warnie entered the bench with 1:33 left before the end of the first quarter and returned to the court with 2:50 left after the start of the second quarter. Matchup with Alize Johnson (201 cm, F). Bertie pushed Alize Johnson, who is weak in defense, with his power. A single back down caused KCC to make a team foul.
In addition, Warney cleverly utilized the defense that he focused on. He also utilized the movement of domestic players penetrating into the baseline.
Afterwards, he won the points by inducing Alize Johnson to make a one-on-one free throw. After pressing Alize Johnson to make a free throw, he succeeded in a hook shot that followed a backdown. It created a different atmosphere than the first leg. SK also created an equal atmosphere with KCC, 44-46.
Warnie confronted Ra Gunah again in the third quarter. Faced Ra Gunah with a stockpile of strength, Warnie was more combative. Closer to the rim with strength. At least got a second chance point. 토토사이트
Warnie's defensive rebound also had a positive impact. Warnie's defensive rebound led to SK's swift attack or early offensives. The fast-attacker threatened KCC 51-52 at 2 minutes and 59 seconds into the third quarter.
Warney also gained confidence. He has earned points for any defense type of KCC. With 2:08 left before the end of the third quarter, he turned the tables with a spin move and a hook shot following a backdown. He led the rise of SK Wyverns.
However, SK finished the third quarter with a score of 64-67, thanks to Calvin Epistola (181 cm, G). He tried to restore the flow, but was shaken by KCC's explosive force. The team fell to 66-83, just 3:50 into the fourth quarter.
Although it was an important game, SK had to admit its defeat early on. SK's loss came as an even bigger blow as Warney showed a different performance (record 18 points, 16 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block shot).