The second phase of the CBA competition has intensified, with the 25th round featuring an exciting match between Guangdong Hongyuan and Tianjin Men's Basketball Team. Among the highlights of the game was the courage and boldness shown by Guangdong's guard Xu Jie when facing Tianjin's center, Gao Shiao. The nearly half-meter height difference between the 1.78m Xu Jie and the 2.25m Gao Shiao sparked heated discussions among fans.
At the start of the game, Tianjin took the initiative, with Gao Shiao scoring repeatedly in the paint thanks to his absolute height advantage. One memorable "match-up" scene from the first quarter impressed fans: during a strong inside attack by Tianjin, it was the small guard Xu Jie who was tasked with defending against Gao Shiao. With a height difference of 47 centimeters, Xu Jie tried his best to block, but Gao Shiao could easily score without even leaving the ground. This moment elicited a chorus of amazement from the stands – it was a defense that was destined to be futile. However, Xu Jie did not back down after this setback. Towards the end of the first quarter, Guangdong organized an offensive play, with Xu Jie holding the ball and boldly challenging Gao Shiao to a 1v1 duel. Facing an opponent almost half a meter taller, he chose to charge into the paint and attempted to score with a quick stop jump shot. Although the shot did not go in, this exchange demonstrated Xu Jie's confidence and boldness in the face of strong opponents.
In the direct confrontation of "David vs Goliath," although Xu Jie did not gain the upper hand, he proved his fearlessness and fighting spirit through his actions. This scene was jokingly referred to by fans as "Xu Jie really thinks he's Zhou Qi." Behind this jest lies both admiration for Xu Jie's willingness to challenge and a hint of helplessness about Guangdong's current situation. Facing an interior giant like Gao Shiao, Guangdong's lack of height in the paint is all too evident. Despite Xu Jie's significant contributions on the offensive end, the team's shortcomings in interior defense clearly became a breakthrough for Tianjin to continue scoring. Due to the disparity in paper strength, Tianjin maintained a tight score, still holding a 17-point advantage at the start of the second quarter. This also evokes memories of similar past scenarios in the CBA league, where classic mismatches with significant height differences, such as Zhou Qi's mismatched singles against guards, often become topics of discussion among spectators.
It is worth mentioning that in this game, Xu Jie's performance remained commendable. In the absence of Hu Mingxuan, as the core of Guangdong's backcourt, he took on the heavy task of ball handling and organizing while also working hard to cover and assist defensively. Against Tianjin, a team that primarily attacks from the inside, his performance became a key pillar of the team's morale.
