Eight of 24 B.League teams have advanced to the playoffs after the long season, which tipped off in October 2024.
In the best-of-three quarterfinals, the Ryukyu Golden Kings play host to the rival Shimane Susanoo Magic in the first series to tip off (Friday, May 9). A day later, the other three playoff matchups ― Utsunomiya Brex vs SeaHorses Mikawa, Alvark Tokyo vs Chiba Jets and San-en NeoPhoenix vs Gunma Crane Thunders ― begin.
Following the quarterfinals, the semifinals are penciled in to be held between May 16 and 20 at the higher seeds' home arenas. Yokohama Arena is the venue for the B.League Championship on May 24, 25 and, if necessary, May 27.
The reigning champion Hiroshima Dragonflies (28-32) fell short of their goal of reaching the B.League playoffs. Hiroshima did, however, capture the East Asia Super League title in March.
Two teams with winning records, the Nagoya Diamond Dolphins (35-25) and the Kyoto Hannaryz (33-27), didn't qualify for the playoffs.
Officially known as the B.League Championship, the playoffs are a showcase for successful teams and dynamic individual talent.
Insights from B.League Players
There are key factors that determine success and disappointment in the playoffs, according to player representatives of the eight teams who attended a news conference on Monday, May 5.
Brex point guard Atsuya Ogawa highlighted multiple strengths that have helped his club win the Eastern Conference title.
"Our strength is defense, and we are conscious of using that defense to get the game moving quickly," Ogawa commented at the press conference, Basketball King reported. "In addition, our ability to run is also one of our strengths."
Alvark point guard Kai Toews highlighted his team's aspirations at the event in Tokyo.
"The team's identity is defense," Toews told reporters. "We want to play half-court basketball while keeping the opponent's score down as much as possible."
Golden Kings shooting guard Masahiro Waki emphasized another aspect of the game in his comments to the press.
"In the championship, rebounding is the key [to victory or defeat]," said Waki, who averaged 7.3 points in 60 games (49 starts), according to Basketball King.
Susanoo Magic star Seiya Ando spoke about backcourt mate Shota Tsuyama, who contributed 8.1 points per game this season, as a potential X-factor in the series against the Golden Kings.
Noting that Tsuyama is an Okinawa Prefecture native, Ando said that he "wants to show his hometown people what he can do on this big stage. He is a player to watch."
Exhibit A: Tsuyama had 23 points, his second-highest scoring output of 2024-25 against Ryukyu on April 26.
Utsunomiya (48-12 overall, 25-5 at home) vs Mikawa (39-21, 22-8 away)
In the first round, the B.League's winningest team during the regular season squares off against a club that punched its ticket to the playoffs with a wild-card berth.
The Brex swept the SeaHorses in their lone regular-season series, winning 79-61 and 87-81 at home on April 5 and 6.
Reigning B.League MVP DJ Newbill is a terrific floor leader and catalyst for the team's pursuit of excellence. He was No 2 in assists (6.1) and teammate Makoto Hiejima led the circuit in 3-point shooting accuracy (44.2%).
Utsunomiya players and staff rallied around one another after the death of head coach Kevin Braswell on February 24 following heart surgery. New Zealander Zico Coronel, who stepped in to guide the team when Braswell became ill in January and remained in charge, has maintained the team's high standards.
Keep an eye on the Brex's offense. They are No 3 in the league in scoring (84.6 points).
SeaHorses veteran big man Davante Gardner made 60 starts and led the squad in scoring (15.7).
Mikawa guard/forward Yudai Nishida (10.4 ppg) is another key contributor on a well-coached team with balanced scoring.
The SeaHorses enter the playoffs with a 6-4 record in their last 10 games.
Prediction: Brex in two.
Tokyo (44-16, 22-8 home) vs Chiba (42-8, 19-11 away)
The Jets enter the playoffs as the league's hottest team, carrying a nine-game winning streak.
Can Alvark coach Dainius Adomaitis' team grab momentum from the get-go, snapping the Jets' victory run in Game 1?
Tokyo is not a high-scoring team, averaging just 76.1 ppg (16th out of 24 clubs). Chiba is No 7 in points (81.9).
There's plenty of star power on both teams. The Alvark feature established big man Ryan Rossiter and Sebastian Saiz along with versatile Leonardo Meindl, Shuto Ando and Toews, who was No 3 in assists (5.8) this season.
Chiba relies on the tone-setting presence of point guard Yuki Togashi, who returned to action on May 3 after being sidelined for a month with a left ankle injury. A clutch player throughout his career, Togashi's long-range shooting ability is significant for the Jets.
In his injury-plagued first B.League season, former NBA forward Yuta Watanabe averaged 13.3 ppg and gave Chiba an added boost of veteran leadership. Christopher Smith led the club in scoring (17.0) and John Mooney pulled down a team-best 10.6 rebounds for first-year bench boss Trevor Gleeson.
The Alvark went 2-0 against the Jets during the season, winning 86-81 at home on April 5 and 75-72 the next day.
Prediction: Jets in three.
Golden Kings (46-14, 24-6 home) vs Susanoo Magic (37-23, 17-13 away)
Ryukyu had its 16-game winning streak halted by Shimane on April 27 (78-66 in Matsue, Shimane Prefecture). Golden Kings coach Dai Oketani's team then wrapped up the regular season with a two-game sweep of the Saga Ballooners.
Second in points (85.5) and first in rebounding (43.4), the Golden Kings are built to win. Led by a veteran nucleus of center Jack Cooley (12.3 ppg, 9.9 rebounds per game), forward Vic Law (16.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg) and guard Shota Onodera, among others, Ryukyu is aiming to return to the B.League Finals for the fourth straight year.
Winning the 100th Emperor's Cup (All Japan Basketball Championship) in March certainly boosted the Golden Kings' confidence.
But Shimane has matched up well against Ryukyu this season, winning three of four games, including a 98-61 rout of the visiting Golden Kings on October 23.
Star guard Seiya Ando (16.3 ppg) is the catalyst and the emotional heartbeat of the Susanoo Magic. Coty Clarke, James Michael McAdoo and Nick Kay also need to put points on the board to ignite Shimane.
Prediction: Golden Kings in three.
NeoPhoenix (47-12, 26-4 home) vs Crane Thunders (39-21, 22-8 away)
San-en cruised to the second-best record in the league with a high-powered offense (90.8 ppg, best among all teams).
David Nwaba paced the NeoPhoenix with a team-best 17.8 ppg (No 7 overall). Rising star Ryusei Sasaki was the league leader in assists (6.5). They form a dynamic one-two punch on offense for San-en, which defeated host Gunma 83-78 on April 12 and 83-77 a day later.
The NeoPhoenix play with confidence and have benefited from the players' good overall health this season. Ten players appeared in 50 or more games.
Gunma, under first-year head coach Kyle Milling, had an eight-win improvement from 2023-24 to earn a playoff berth.
Strong shooting is one of the Crane Thunders' trademarks. They were No 5 in both field-goal shooting percentage (45.0%) and 3-point shooting accuracy (34.9%).
Trey McKinney-Jones is the team's high scorer (14.6 ppg), and high-energy guard Yuma Fujii (11.1 ppg, 3.3 assists per game) is a vital presence at both ends of the floor.
Gunma is a classic underdog against powerhouse San-en.
Prediction: NeoPhoenix in three.
RELATED:
- ODDS and EVENS | Ryusei Sasaki Raises Game to Greater Heights
- SeaHorses Mikawa Making a Push to Clinch a Playoff Spot
- Ryukyu Golden Kings Playing with Pride and Showing Toughness
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.
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