Former Stars Now Facing Similar Coaching Struggles

"If I were still playing, the results would be quite different...is that the best they can do?"

One can only assume how many times such thoughts have crossed the minds of these formerly dominant players-turned-coaches.

Such reference is, of course, made with Orions head coach Lee Chung-hee (48) and KCC head coach Heo Jae (42) in mind. Both coaches, who were once standouts who dominated their competition with their brilliance, are amidst early-season struggles with their respective squads.

Back from a 7-year hiatus away from the basketball court, Lee seemed to be on top of things when his Orions opened the season with a pair of wins in succession. However, the peak quickly hit a wall as they went downhill with five straight losses. At a record of two wins and five losses, Lee`s team currently is in last place.

Heo, with the struggling big-name off season acquisitions Seo Jang-hun and Lim Jae-hyeon, is likewise fretting tied in fifth place with a 3-and-4 record.

Lee`s starting point guard, Kim Seung-hyeon, has missed his sixth game due to a herniated back, and his unavailability is projected to continue beyond the month. Reliance on the All-Star guard has wreaked havoc on the team`s play. Jeong Jae-ho and Kim Yeong-su are alternating in filling Kim`s void, albeit with little success. On top of this, the offensive output of Kim Byeong-cheol and the foreign “mercenary” players have also fallen short of expectations.

In closing out last week`s match-up against KTF on a buzzer-beater win, Heo`s grim countenance seemed to say, "This cannot be good..." The struggling additions, Seo and Lim, were not even on the floor during the final quarter. Widely deemed as being "out-of-shape" by opposing players, Seo has faced tight defense as his scoring has dropped by a whopping five points per game (ppg), standing now at a measly 10.3 ppg. Likewise for Lim, having been held scoreless in the last two games, he has averaged a disappointing 3.3 ppg and 2.3 assists per game.

Lee Sang-min, the current Samsung guard formerly of KCC, points out, "KCC players are under significant pressure to show their presence in the games, and are forced to overcrowd on the offensive aspects of the game.”

With both teams ailing over deficient team chemistry, coaches Lee and Heo are first and foremost in need of reinstating the confidence of their own players as their strategic leaders. As KCC and Orions are scheduled to have their first clash against each other on November 10 in Daegu, one is left anticipating the turnaround efforts of the two coaches.

kjs0123@donga.com