The Japan men's basketball team suffered a major blow at this Olympics. On August 2, Beijing time, the Japan men's basketball team officially released an announcement, announcing that their number one star Hachimura will withdraw from the Olympics early due to injury and go to United States for treatment. According to the announcement, Hachimura was injured in the group stage against France with a specific condition of calf discomfort in his left leg. An MRI showed that he had suffered an injury to his left gastrocnemius muscle, which prevented him from playing the remainder of the game. Hachimura immediately issued a personal statement, expressing his regret for the injury and leaving the team, but also said that he had to make this difficult decision for better treatment.
In his statement, Hachimura succinctly mentioned his injury and the reasons for his departure, while also encouraging his teammates to continue to work hard. The Japan national team said in a supplementary statement that it regretted Hachimura's departure. However, I understand and support his decision, and call on everyone to continue to support the Japan men's basketball team. In the statement, the team emphasized that Hachimura's decision was made after friendly communication with the team and was approved by everyone.
Hachimura's departure is undoubtedly a huge blow to the Japan men's basketball team. In the first two games of this Olympic Games, the Japan men's basketball team showed tenacious fighting spirit and good strength. In the first game, they were in a stalemate with strong rivals France, only eight points behind at half-time, and they kept the score tight throughout the game, and performed remarkably. In the second game, they pushed France into a desperate situation, and if it were not for the final moment of France's 3+1 equalization and extra-time, Japan would have had a chance to win their first Olympic victory.
Hachimura's performances in these two games can be described as ups and downs. In the first game, he had a poor hand, shooting just 4 of 19, but in the second game, he scored 24 points and became the team's leading scorer. However, his two uncool actions on the defensive end resulted in a whistled physical foul and sent off. The mistake left the team passive at a crucial moment, and although Kawamura then played well, hitting consecutive three-pointers to lead Japan to turn the tide and lead by four points after trailing by eight points in the fourth quarter, it still failed to win the game.
Hachimura's departure has sparked controversy in Japan. Many netizens harshly criticized his performance on social platforms, believing that his uncalm behavior was the key reason for the team's defeat. Some people accuse him of being outside the team system, brave and unscrupulous, and some even suspect that he chose to leave the team early because of the pressure of public opinion. These controversies have made Hachimura's departure even more complicated and sensitive.
In the face of external doubts, both the Japan national team and Hachimura himself have chosen to remain calm and continue to focus on the future development of the team and individuals. Although Hachimura's departure has severely weakened the strength of the Japan men's basketball team, the team is still working hard to prepare for the next games. In particular, players such as Kawamura Eiki, Hawkins and Yuta Watanabe have made people look forward to the future of the Japan men's basketball team with their outstanding performances in the first two games.
However, the reality is grim. After Hachimura's departure, Japan's chances of qualifying in the group stage have become even slimmer. In their next matches, they will face an experienced Brazil team. Although the Brazil team has declined in recent years, as a regular participant in the Olympic Games, their experience and strength are still not to be underestimated. If the Japan men's basketball team wants to win this game, it will not only need to play well as the whole team, but also find new scoring and defensive points on both offensive and defensive ends.
According to the qualification rules for the men's basketball competition at this Olympic Games, the top two teams in the group and the two best third-placed finishers will advance to the next round. If Japan are to retain their qualification hopes, they will need to not only beat Brazil, but also gain a sufficient advantage on goal difference. This goal is even more difficult and distant for the Japan team, which lacks the core player Hachimura.
At this critical juncture, the Japan men's basketball team needs the whole team to unite and overcome difficulties. After Hachimura's departure, players such as Kawamura Eiki, Hawkins and Yuta Watanabe need to shoulder more responsibilities and play a bigger role. At the same time, the coaching staff also needs to adjust tactically and find a replacement for Hachimura to ensure the team's stability on both offensive and defensive ends.