Zhang Ning's Struggle in CBA: A Negative Example and Targeted by Referees
On January 3rd, Beijing time, after being criticized by the CBA referees in a meeting, Zhang Ning seemed to have lost his defensive edge. He committed four fouls throughout the game, with none in the first 45 minutes and all four in the last three minutes, leaving him unable to stop any opponent.
This match was of great concern as Shanxi, a strong contender for the championship this season, faced a formidable Qingdao team. More importantly, Zhang Ning, the core player and tough guy of Shanxi, had just been officially named and criticized by the CBA referees during their meeting. The referees specifically pointed out Zhang Ning's situation, stating that some of his actions were too aggressive, appearing energetic but actually quite dirty, easily harming opponents. Therefore, they criticized him for having too many minor actions.
Zhang Ning has become a negative example and typical case in the CBA, with referees expected to scrutinize his actions more closely, keeping a tight watch on him, and the camera always focused on him. After learning about this, Zhang Ning responded with bravado, saying that being under close attention is a good thing as it allows them to find ways to win games and earn respect, as well as to improve his own defense continuously.
However, despite his words, it was evident in the game that Zhang Ning was no longer daring to make moves defensively, leading to him being unable to stop his opponents directly. Previously, he played with great determination and fearlessness, unafraid to make bold moves. His fierce actions made the players he defended afraid of getting injured.
But in this game, Zhang Ning's actions were indeed quite clean, with zero fouls in the first 45 minutes. It wasn't until the last three minutes that he committed any fouls, resulting in four fouls being called against him. The referees were watching him closely, showing no mercy. In the earlier part of the game, several domestic players from Qingdao dominated him, unable to stop the 35-point guard Weatherspoon, let alone the 24-point, 7-rebound, 6-assist performance by Wang Ruize.
Together, these two players scored nearly 60 points, both of whom were supposed to be Zhang Ning's key defensive targets. However, he allowed them to score 60 points over him. Why did this happen? Because Zhang Ning dared not defend anymore, fearing that he would become a negative example, getting caught every time he reached out. He hesitated to make moves, which naturally left him unable to defend effectively. Now, he feels somewhat like a rat trying to avoid traps.
In the crucial moments of the game, Zhang Ning went all out defensively, but every move resulted in a foul. In the last three minutes, he was called for four fouls. Although he scored 20 points and grabbed 3 rebounds in the game with a 13-for-6 shooting record, the four fouls were quite excessive, contributing to Shanxi's big defeat. Since being named and criticized last time, Zhang Ning either dared not defend or was continuously called for fouls, which might also be an important reason for Shanxi's loss in this game.
Not only him, but his teammates are also being called for fouls frequently now. Diawara committed five fouls in 29 minutes, and another Shanxi player, Ge Zhaobao, a capable and tough mainstay, was sent off with six fouls in just 17 minutes! The circumstances of his dismissal were absurd; it was Yang Hanshen and Goodwin who initially made contact, but the referee didn't call a foul, instead calling a subsequent foul on Ge Zhaobao for pulling someone. Both players were on the ground, yet the referee ignored it, putting Shanxi at a significant disadvantage. It must be acknowledged that once the league referees talk about rectification, he and Shanxi become the biggest victims.