The 25th round of the CBA regular season has concluded, with only nine games played due to the postponement of the match between Shanghai and Shanxi. This round featured intense matchups, including the focus game between Beijing and Liaoning, as well as a strong confrontation between Xinjiang and Shandong. Ultimately, Beijing and Shandong emerged victorious against their respective opponents. Additionally, Zhejiang's unexpected loss to Shenzhen added to the excitement of the round. Let's take a look at the specific matchups and results of this round.
After this round of games, there have been significant changes in the CBA rankings. Among the top four teams, Guangsha maintained its lead in the standings with a big win over Guangzhou. Shanxi, which rested for this game, remains second in the standings. Both Zhejiang and Xinjiang lost their games in this round, resulting in a drop in their rankings. Notably, Xinjiang's undefeated home record was broken, causing them to fall from third to sixth place. On the other hand, Shandong's recent strong performance propelled them into the top four, securing the third spot, while Zhejiang holds fourth place.
Despite losing to Beijing in this round, Liaoning managed to hold their ground with a makeshift lineup that managed to compete for three quarters. Looking ahead, Liaoning's roster will receive reinforcements, with the arrival of big foreign aid Patton. Standing at 2.11 meters tall, Patton's addition not only addresses Liaoning's interior shortcomings but also provides Yang Ming with more options in his lineup strategies. With Zhao Jiwei's recovery progressing well, Liaoning's situation is expected to improve.
Beijing's victory over Liaoning solidified their ranking, currently standing at seventh with a record of 17 wins and 7 losses. Zhou Qi's return is great news for Beijing. However, during the game against Liaoning, Chen Yingjun suffered an injury, which appears to be quite serious. Beijing will announce the specifics of his condition on the 3rd. If Chen Yingjun is out for the second phase, it could have a significant impact on Beijing.
Qingdao, Guangdong, and Beikong all won their respective matches in this round, with no changes in their rankings, remaining in eighth to tenth places respectively. Guangdong's current situation is not ideal, primarily due to Du Feng's lack of trust in small foreign aid Les, leading to Les refusing to play for the team. As a result, Guangdong still relies heavily on Xu Jie in the backcourt. Additionally, Bazley's recent inconsistent form and tactical positioning within the team are concerning. Until a new small foreign aid arrives, Guangdong's performance is unlikely to improve significantly.
Looking at the rankings, although only slightly more than half of the regular season has been completed, the divisions between teams are already clear. The seven teams following Shanghai generally have average strength and little hope of making the playoffs. Shanghai, despite playing three fewer games, is only ranked thirteenth. Given the team's strength and recent strong performance, they are likely to displace one of the teams ahead, potentially leaving either Tongxi or Beikong out of the playoffs.
