The CBA regular season has quickly reached its 24th round, with several major teams currently vying for the top spot. Looking at the current rankings, it's a mixed bag of joy and concern. Unlike previous seasons, the competition for playoff spots this season has largely been settled, with the top 12 teams already determined. The remaining suspense lies in which team will win the regular-season championship, who will secure the top four and eight spots, and how high Shanghai can climb. Let's take a look:
- The top 12 teams have been largely decided, with eight teams likely to be eliminated early!
Unlike previous years, the change in foreign player usage rules has made the league more clearly divided between strong and weak teams, with playoff spots becoming clearer. Guangsha, Shanxi, Zhejiang, and Xinjiang are currently in the top four, followed closely by Liaoning, Shandong, Beijing, and Qingdao. Meanwhile, Guangdong, Beikong, Tongxi, and Shanghai all have a win rate exceeding 50%. However, Jilin, Ningbo, Sichuan, Tianjin, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Jiangsu, and Fujian have seen a significant drop in their win rates, making it extremely difficult for them to make a comeback into the top 12. Jilin's Jones, Jiang Weize, and Jiang Yuxing have withdrawn due to injuries, effectively giving up on this season. The most unfortunate teams are Guangzhou and Shenzhen, who had to sell off their assets due to financial issues. Rebuilding comes at a cost, and what was once a fierce battle for playoff spots until the last round now seems like these bottom eight teams will have to wait until next season to try again. There's just no way around it; their strength doesn't allow for it.
- Three remaining mysteries: Who will claim the regular-season championship, who will make it into the top four, and where will Shanghai and Guangdong ultimately rank?
Currently, although Guangsha is in first place, Shanxi is hot on their heels, and other major teams such as Zhejiang, Xinjiang, Liaoning, and Shandong are only about two games behind Guangsha. It's safe to say that with 18 rounds left in the league, any team could potentially win the regular-season championship. It all comes down to who can seize the opportunities ahead. The battle for the top four is heating up, with every team in the top eight having a chance to enter or fall out of the top four. It's anyone's game, so stay tuned!
Shanghai has now won an impressive 11 consecutive victories and, despite playing two fewer games, has actually surpassed Guangdong in the rankings. Since the arrival of Luo Xiaopang and Xue Bu, Shanghai has been unstoppable, almost as if they could slay gods in their path. With an easy schedule ahead, who can stop Shanghai's winning streak? The hope now lies with Liaoning, Shanxi, and Guangdong. Otherwise, Shanghai will continue to soar, with the top eight or even the top four within reach. On the other hand, Guangdong is facing unprecedented difficulties, with poor foreign player recruitment, weak frontcourt performance, and young players not living up to expectations. Guangdong is truly in a situation where even a skilled housewife finds it hard to cook without rice. Their upcoming schedule is relatively relaxed, but with their current form, they're evenly matched against any opponent. It remains to be seen how Coach Du will adjust his lineup, and we'll have to wait for Hu Mingxuan's return and the new signings promised by Zhu. From the current perspective, it seems almost impossible for Guangdong to break into the top four, and they can only aim for the top eight for now!
