Here's what the Japan Basketball Association set forth in new policies about the men's national team for its restart in January: It wanted to establish a strong squad and eventually gain a spot in an Olympics.

Although the qualifiers for the London Games will not be held this year, it seems doubtful that any of the goals will be met with the status quo.

The latest example is the abrupt dismissal of head coach David A. Hobbs, who was replaced by Osamu Kuraishi, the former national team chief, a month before the FIBA Asia Championship (ABC), which will be held Aug. 6-16.