Gunma Crane Thunders big man Johannes Thiemann (32) defends Levanga Hokkaido guard Ren Shimatani on December 11, 2024, in Ota, Gunma Prefecture. (©B.LEAGUE)
Read the full story on SportsLook - Gunma Crane Thunders are Playing High-Caliber Defense This Season
The Gunma Crane Thunders (20-8) have surprised many people by reaching the upper echelon of the B.League this season.
After all, the Crane Thunders went 31-29 in the 2023-24 campaign and had a 29-31 the season before that.
Six B.League teams have won 20 or more games entering the final weekend of the first half of the 2024-25 season. The others: the Alvark Tokyo and the SeaHorses Mikawa (both with 20-8 records), the Ryukyu Golden Kings (21-7), the Utsunomiya Brex (23-5) and the San-en NeoPhoenix (23-4).
Now, as the midway point of the 60-game season approaches, it is quite clear that Gunma management made a smart decision by hiring Kyle Milling to be the team's new coach last summer. He replaced Kota Mizuno in the offseason.
Milling guided the Hiroshima Dragonflies to their first championship in May 2024, so he brought a proven track record of success in the B.League, including an 82-37 record over the two previous seasons, to Gunma.
Now at the helm of his new team, the results have been impressive, including a six-game win streak in December. Gunma is the league's most-improved team.
Stingy Defense Pays Off for the Gunma Crane Thunders
Through games of January 5, the Crane Thunders are allowing the third-fewest points per game (71.4) among the league's 24 teams. The Sunrockers Shibuya are second (70.8) and the Alvark are No 1 (70.4).
In addition, the Crane Thunders have held opponents under 80 points on 21 occasions this season. This includes 10 of Gunma's 12 December games and five of its last six to end 2024.
Teamwork is the name of the game for the Crane Thunders, whose collective effort is setting their new benchmark for success.
For example, Gunma is allowing nearly 10 fewer points per game than it did in 2023-24 (81.9).
That's significant over the course of a long season, especially in games when its offense is struggling.
Continue reading the full story on SportsLook.
RELATED:
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- Gunma Overpowers Defending B.League Champion Hiroshima in the Season Opener
Author: Ed Odeven
Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.
