On the first day of 2025, the CBA regular season continues as usual, with fans able to enjoy five New Year's Day battles. These include Beijing vs Liaoning, Guangdong vs Tianjin, Guangsha vs Guangzhou, Qingdao vs Sichuan, and Xinjiang vs Shandong. There are still many popular games, so let me give you a brief pre-game analysis.
The match between Beijing and Liaoning is sure to be very exciting. On one hand, both teams are traditional powerhouses in the CBA, with a long history of confrontations. They have both stood at the top and have stable foundations and strengths; on the other hand, this season marks the rise of the Beijing team. After significant investment in new players, they now have a championship-contending lineup. Meanwhile, Liaoning, after winning three consecutive championships, faces immense pressure, with many injuries within the team and numerous challenges.
However, in recent days, there have been new developments for both teams. Beijing has lost several games, causing their ranking to drop from first place; Liaoning, relying on their tenacious will, has successively defeated Xinjiang and Guangdong, and their big foreign aid, Patton, has officially arrived. It's unclear whether he will play in this game, but his presence can certainly inject a strong boost into the team.
Additionally, 10 days ago, Beijing won away against Liaoning and also caused an aggravation of Zhang Zhenlin's injury, leading to his prolonged absence. This time, Liaoning is seeking revenge. Recently, Wells and Wang Lanqin have been in great form, and if Frug can recover his physical condition, there should be no problem in facing Beijing.
Of course, Liaoning also has two points of concern. If Zhou Qi returns, the pressure inside will be too great, as Han Dejun will be at a disadvantage in terms of both stamina and height. Moreover, Zeng Fanbo poses a significant defensive challenge for Liaoning. In the last game, his seven blocks were ferocious, playing a key role in Beijing's victory. Both teams currently have weaknesses, and their strength is evenly matched. The outcome will only be known after the actual competition.
Xinjiang vs Shandong is also a highlight of this round. Having just defeated Beijing in the previous round, Liu Wei is now very confident, and Qi Lin's suspension ends in this game, allowing him to return, making the lineup nearly complete.
Of course, Shandong has also performed very well recently, not intimidated by any opponent. There are three highlights in this game: firstly, Qiu Biao and Yu Dehao face their old club again. This scene has played out before, but at least this season's encounter still easily evokes memories for everyone;
Secondly, the interior matchup between Li Yanzhe and Tao Hanlin. With Wu Guanxi's long-term absence, Li Yanzhe must hold the fort alone. Tao Hanlin is considered to be in his prime, and both players are in good form, so the on-court competition will be very intense.
Thirdly, the contest between Zhao Rui and Gao Shiyan. The two are old acquaintances, having faced each other on the court during the Liaoning-Guangdong period. Zhao Rui has just returned and is not in his best physical condition, while Gao Shiyan has not been affected by injuries and will not suffer in the confrontation.
Guangdong's home game against Tianjin is not under much pressure. After Du Feng's recent loss to Liaoning, he definitely does not want to suffer consecutive defeats. Tianjin has not performed well recently, appearing to be full of fighting spirit but failing to translate it into actual results. Guangdong's urgent task at present is to evaluate Les and reduce Xu Jie's pressure, as they cannot afford any more losses in their already short-handed perimeter.
Guangsha vs Guangzhou should be a walk in the park, as their top position is still stable. As long as they don't make any mistakes, Shanxi will have no chance to turn things around.
Qingdao vs Sichuan presents no difficulty, especially since it's the first win of the New Year, and the home team will surely go all out. Qingdao is currently quite stable in the top eight positions, and after losing the last game, they will certainly want to avoid another defeat this time.