Six Players Score 111 Points, Qingdao Team Goes on a Rampage! Liu Weiwei Roars in Celebration, Hopes for Top 8 Increase Significantly
Qingdao Team achieved an eighth-place finish in the regular season last year, but this season, despite aiming to improve further, their performance has not been as ideal. Up to now, Qingdao has secured a record of 15 wins and 9 losses, ranking eighth in the league, which is commendable but falls short of the team's objectives.
The team's underperformance can be attributed to several factors, including reliance on foreign players. This season, they selected three foreign players, with Weatherspoon and Mickey performing well, while Smith was quite average. Additionally, the domestic players have shown inconsistency, particularly Yang Hanshen, the team's absolute core in the frontcourt. Although he has made progress this season, averaging 16.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.8 blocks per game, his performance has been inconsistent, failing to fully anchor the frontcourt, which is one of the reasons for the team's subpar performance.
Qingdao needs to continue improving, especially by tapping into their potential to pursue better results. In this match against Sichuan, the team did not want to let go of the victory.
Sichuan's performance this season has been average, with only 7 wins and 18 losses, leaving them with a significant gap from the playoffs. The team's foreign players, Samner and Maric, have been plagued by injuries, forcing them to rely solely on Hunter, which has further weakened their strength. Facing Qingdao in this match, they had little hope of winning.
Qingdao held an absolute advantage in terms of strength, and as expected, Mickey started the game with a 2+1, giving Qingdao the lead! Duan Angjun hit a three-pointer, followed by Zhao Jiayi and Wang Ruijie, who took turns firing, with Qingdao scoring 39 points in the first quarter, suppressing Sichuan at both ends of the court and establishing a 16-point lead in the first quarter.
Yang Wenxue had a hot hand, dominating the basket and delivering precise three-pointers from the top of the arc, contributing 11 points and 5 rebounds in a single quarter, leading Sichuan to compete with Qingdao, with the score fluctuating around a 15-point difference. Qingdao's offensive efficiency dropped somewhat, but foreign players Mickey and Weatherspoon remained stable, and at halftime, Qingdao maintained a 14-point lead.
After switching sides, Yang Wenxue scored with a hook shot, and Hunter added another jump shot, reducing Sichuan's deficit to 10 points. As the opponent seemed poised to gain momentum, Duan Angjun received a pass from Wang Ruijie and nailed a crucial three-pointer to stop the bleeding. In this quarter, Mickey and Duan Angjun combined for 19 points, with Qingdao always maintaining control of the game. Despite Hunter, Sichuan's foreign player, also scoring 11 points, the team's overall defensive performance was average, and they still trailed by 16 points after three quarters.
Wang Ruijie received a pass from Weatherspoon and hit a three-pointer, while Zhao Jiayi drew a foul and made two free throws, extending the lead to over 20 points. Yang Wenxue and Hunter assisted each other in scoring, and Zuo Zhenian and Wang Ruijie exchanged three-pointers. Although Sichuan tried hard to catch up, they could not close the gap due to Qingdao's scorching shooting, as the team scored 34 points with a shooting percentage exceeding 60% in a single quarter. Ultimately, Qingdao defeated Sichuan 126-108.
Sichuan's stats: Marcus Hunter with 31 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists, and 4 steals; Yang Wenxue with 30 points, 15 rebounds, and 4 assists; Zuo Zhenian with 11 points and 4 rebounds.
Qingdao's stats: Quindary Weatherspoon with 24 points, 8 rebounds, and 9 assists; Zhao Jiayi with 21 points; Jordan Mickey with 25 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks.
Qingdao easily won the match against Sichuan with a score of 126-108. The team's overall performance was outstanding, with six players scoring in double figures, collectively scoring 111 points, going on a rampage, and securing the victory!
Weatherspoon scored 24 points, 8 rebounds, and 9 assists in this game, performing exceptionally well, especially with his all-around play that greatly propelled the team! Mickey scored 25 points and 9 rebounds, also playing offensively impressively! Wang Ruijie scored 18 points, Yang Hanshen 12 points, and Zhao Jiayi 21 points, with the team relying on their powerful offense to secure the victory!
With Qingdao's victory, Liu Weiwei was very excited. The team's excellent performance in this game is what he has been pursuing. If Qingdao can maintain such a level of play, there is hope for a breakthrough in the playoffs and advancing to the top 8!