ODDS and EVENS | Chiba Jets Embrace Trust and Unselfish Play as Their Core Values

Trusting your teammates and unselfish play are often hallmarks of successful pro sports franchises. The 2024-25 Chiba Jets, one of four teams still remaining in the B.League playoffs, provide vivid examples of these qualities whenever they step onto the floor.

During the regular season, the Jets won 42 of 60 games despite a rash of injuries to key players. For example, former NBA forward Yuta Watanabe only appeared in 35 games and big man John Mooney was limited to 43 games. Franchise cornerstone Yuki Togashi, who has played for the Jets since 2015, played in 50 matches.

Missing three players as talented as this Jets trio for long stretches of the season could have had a profound negative impact on their win-loss record. Credit first-year bench boss Trevor Gleeson for his leadership and installing strategies that relied on the synergy and strength of teamwork, not individual play.

Chiba's 78-53 and 92-65 runaway wins over the rival Alvark Tokyo on May 10 and 11 at Ariake Coliseum provided much more than a handful of glimpses into the Jets' mastery of working together to accomplish a goal.

And remember this: Togashi, a 31-year-old linchpin of the Jets' starting lineup for a decade, returned to action on May 3, the team's penultimate game of the regular season. Back on the court after missing a month of games due to a left ankle sprain, Togashi wasn't thrust into the starting lineup. Instead, he came off the bench against the Sendai 89ers on May 3 and 4, playing about 12 and 16 minutes, respectively.

Chiba Jets Star Continues to Come Off the Bench

When the playoffs began, Gleeson maintained the same approach with Togashi, utilizing his experience and skills off the bench. And in Game 2 of the quarterfinals against the Alvark, Togashi, the team captain, delivered an 18-point performance. Most notably, he had an electrifying 16-point effort in the second quarter, knocking down 5 of 5 from 3-point range and helping carry the Jets to a 50-28 halftime lead.

Togashi worked diligently with Chiba's medical staff to overcome his injury and be ready to compete before the playoffs began. He's also continued to work with them to strengthen his ankle.

"Since the end of the regular season,  the trainers and I have been taking good care of my injury so that I can recover as much as possible the next day," Togashi told reporters after Game 2. "And I think that led to my performance today."

Teammates recognized that Togashi had the hot shooting hand ― just like the 9,300-plus spectators observed ― so they kept passing him the ball.

After the game, Gleeson, a five-time title-winning coach in the Australian NBL, spoke about the Jets' current 11-game winning streak. He also dissected the team's chief strengths at this stage of the season.

"We're in this position because we play the right way," Gleeson said on Sunday. "The guys play defense and support each other and play unselfish on offense. We share the ball, find the open man and put trust in them, and it's a trust and belief in our system and each other that gives you that opportunity."

A Team-First Approach for the Chiba Jets

The Jets face the Utsunomiya Brex in the B.League semifinals, a best-of-three series, starting on Saturday, May 17 at Nikkan Arena Tochigi in Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture.

In this clash of Eastern Conference powerhouse squads, who have combined for three B.League titles, both teams exemplify unselfish play.

For instance, four Brex players scored in double figures during the regular season (led by DJ Newbill's 17.1 points per game). Similarly, the Jets had five players scoring 10 or more points a game: Christopher Smith (17.0), DJ Hogg (16.2), Togashi (13.9), Watanabe (13.3) and Mooney (12.0).

Gaudy individual statistics are not a priority, Gleeson insisted.

Throughout his travels as a coach, starting in the early 1990s in his native Australia, Gleeson has closely followed what works to sustain excellence and compete for titles.

And that includes Togashi coming off the bench and rookie point guard Riku Segawa, 18, getting the starting assignment in both games against the Alvark. Gleeson described it as "just a good team rhythm at the moment."

The former NBA assistant coach then commended Togashi for not letting his ego interfere with the team's chief goal: winning a title.

"I've got to get Yuki to accept that role," Gleeson said of being a backup, "and not be, 'I want to start, I want these minutes.' "

He added, "That's very unselfish and just reflects the team attitude ― that the team comes first."

Reaching a Higher Level

The Jets haven't lost since a 70-68 setback against the Sunrockers Shibuya on April 12.

Since then, Chiba has developed into a more cohesive team.

Despite that loss, Gleeson pointed out that "it just had a good feel within the group. They started trusting each other and being in the right spots and being patient, and you can see that on the court."

He continued: "It doesn't matter what five guys are on the floor, they are supporting each other. And it's a beautiful thing when that happens. It's great to see."

Further commenting on past observations and experiences that Gleeson draws upon to put his stamp on the Jets, he shared additional examples of recurring themes over the years.

"There's some traits that success brings when you're trusting each other," he told the news conference, responding to my inquiry.

About Game 2, he mentioned that eight Jets players contributed to the team's total of 19 assists. Indeed, an impressive across-the-board effort.

"That's a team that's not scared of passing the ball to the extra man," said Gleeson. "And that's something you build up in practice and during the games. You can't be selective if maybe it's a non-shooter. You've got to trust your teammates.

"Look, I've been on teams that don't do that, and I've been on teams that do do that. And I know which one wins, so that's really important for us to keep believing in each other and playing together."

Togashi Finds His Shooting Rhythm in Game 2

Togashi missed his only shot in the first quarter in Game 2 against Tokyo. He later admitted that the shot didn't have a good feel to it.

And remember, Togashi, the B.League's all-time leader in 3-pointers (1,177), is a player who's attempted thousands of shots in his pro career. He's an authority on the nuances of his offensive game.

So when he lit up the scoreboard in the second quarter of the Jets' series-clinching win, that earlier missed attempt proved important.

"After that shot, I felt more confident, and I was relieved," Togashi told reporters.

He added, "After that, I was able to shoot in a real rhythm." 

For the Chiba Jets, Togashi as an offensive catalyst is an integral part of their overall success, which is built on a foundation of trust and unselfish play.

RELATED:

• SPORTS SHORTS | B.League Playoffs Get Underway with a Slew of Games
• B.League Playoffs Tip Off with Compelling Matchups in the Quarterfinals
• Chiba Sweeps B.League Rival Utsunomiya in Season-Opening Series

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.