The second stage of the 2024-25 CBA regular season is in full swing, but rumors are quickly spreading that Guangdong men's basketball team may be ready to give up on their championship aspirations. This once invincible champion team now seems to have accepted the reality that their strength is no longer at its peak. In the last game, Guangdong lost away to Liaoning, who were missing Zhao Jiwei and Zhang Zhenlin and had a thin bench of foreign players. Although this defeat was somewhat regrettable, it also reflected the actual difficulties faced by Guangdong this season.
As we all know, Du Feng's coaching style in the past was known for its iron-bloodedness. His strict guidance and even "shouting-style teaching" on the sidelines made many young players suffer during their growth. However, this season's Du Feng seems like a different person. In Guangdong's repeated attempts to catch up after falling behind, he not only remains calm but also decisively substitutes key players at critical moments, giving more opportunities to bench players. This "Buddhist" style is likely Du Feng's helpless move in the face of reality - the team's current talent and strength are no longer enough to support championship ambitions.
Guangdong has lost several games, which fans can see clearly. What is encouraging is that despite unsatisfactory results, Du Feng still tries to tap the potential of newcomers. The team's new foreign player, Les, has signed but has yet to make an appearance, leading many to speculate that Guangdong may have decided to invest more time and resources in cultivating local young players. Talented newcomers like Huang Mingyi and Xu Xin should become the focus of future development.
Huang Mingyi, as a rare domestic forward, not only excels at dribbling and breakthroughs but also possesses strong attacking capabilities. Players of this type in the CBA are rare, and with proper training, he could very well become the core of Guangdong's future frontcourt. Xu Xin, as a key prospect developed by the team, his height and talent have already shown the potential to become a top center.
From the current perspective, there are indeed many promising young players worth developing on Guangdong's bench, such as Chen Jiazheng and Wang Hongze. If given sufficient playing time, they might become the backbone of the team. Considering the scarcity of excellent domestic reserves for the three and five positions, the growth of Xu Xin and Huang Mingyi will directly determine the future direction of Guangdong.
If we take a long-term view, it's not that Guangdong is giving up on the championship goal, but rather they are preparing for their next peak. Slowing down, focusing, and giving newcomers more opportunities is the best strategy for rebuilding the team. After all, whether it's centers like Liu Chuanxing or frontcourt newcomers like Hu Mingxuan and Zhang Zhenlin, their growth requires time and the tempering of matches.
Guangdong's past glory was largely due to the depth of their youth training system. Now, the team stands at the crossroads of old and new. The cultivation of Huang Mingyi and Xu Xin will be the key to Guangdong's resurgence. If these new stars can fulfill their talents, coupled with the future supplementation of the youth training system, Guangdong's return to the championship ranks may just be a matter of time.
In summary, Guangdong's goal this season is no longer to compete for the championship, but to exercise the talented newcomers through more match opportunities. This is a strategic adjustment and a necessary transition period. We believe that in the future, when Huang Mingyi, Xu Xin, and others grow into the pillars of the team, Guangdong will return to the championship stage with a more balanced lineup. For now, what fans need to do is to give this former champion team more patience and support. After all, it takes time to accumulate before one can achieve a breakthrough, and the path to revival is not far ahead.