No miracles occurred as the Liaoning men's basketball team, plagued by injuries, suffered a crushing 90-105 defeat to the Beijing team on the road, ending their four-game winning streak. Throughout the match, Liaoning was largely suppressed and had little time in the lead. It was simply too difficult to overcome, as the players' physical energy had been significantly depleted in previous tough matches, coupled with an incomplete lineup. Facing a strong Beijing team with Zhou Qi's return and Zhang Cairen's outburst, the loss was not surprising. Despite the defeat, Liaoning's players fought hard, which is commendable.
After the game, there were two pieces of bad news for Liaoning:
Firstly, Wang Lanqin and Wells' form has dipped; they were not as heroic as before. If it weren't for Ferguson's recovery, Liaoning would have collapsed in the first half. It is hoped that this is only due to fatigue, and once they return to normal, everything will be fine. If not, it could be troublesome for the team, as the guard line is crucial.
Secondly, Liaoning's frontcourt issues were evident, as they were no match against teams with top-tier frontcourt players. They were completely dominated by Zhou Qi alone. Last season, they still had Morand to hold the fort, so the management needs to urgently find a big foreign aid, keep looking, and not stop even after finding one, because there are too many subpar players.
However, Liaoning also had some positive outcomes from the game, with two pieces of good news:
Firstly, Han Dejun and Li Xiaoxu received ample rest, playing only about 23 minutes each, conserving their energy for the next game. They are vital to the team, and when lacking in stamina, their frontcourt and rebounding performance was dismal.
Secondly, the team's young players performed well, far better than Guangdong's "big sweet potatoes." Both Li Huyi from the previous game and Yu Zechen from this game showed promise. It is hoped that Yang Ming will give them more playing time to train them, as it will surely pay off.
Liaoning currently faces many problems, including issues with big foreign aid, core player injuries, and dealing with opponents' challenges. Everyone wants to defeat the reigning champions, so the pressure on Yang Ming must be immense, as evidenced by his frequent outbursts at referees during games, which is just a way to release emotions. Fortunately, Liaoning still has time to adjust, and we can trust in the depth of the defending champions.