On January 2, 2025, that game was a real mixed bag of emotions to watch.
The match between Xinjiang and Shandong teams was supposed to be an evenly matched contest, but the outcome left many Xinjiang fans bitterly disappointed.
Xinjiang's foreign aid, Lawson, was as soft as he was big, with nothing but frustration throughout the game.
From the start of the game, Xinjiang relied heavily on foreign aid Peterson, especially his stable performance on the offensive end, but under Lawson's leadership, the team's overall performance was disappointing.
Lawson frequently shot three-pointers, but the hit rate outside the three-point line was shockingly low.
Am I overthinking it, or does Lawson really have too much confidence, thinking that these three-pointers can change everything?
He tried again and again, but it was almost in vain, with the whole game's offense stuck in a vicious cycle.
You would think Lawson could at least make some compensations on the offensive end, but his performance under the basket was utterly disappointing.
Facing Shandong's inside players, especially Chris, Lawson was like a disappointing little brother, lacking any ability to compete.
Rebounding was even more hopeless.
In other words, Lawson not only failed to score himself but also created many opportunities for the opponent.
Shandong's foreign aid Chris was truly extraordinary.
Whenever he was on the court, the whole team's momentum was different.
Chris completely dominated in his matchup against Lawson, leaving no room for Lawson to counterattack.
Not only was he strong in the paint, but he also steadily grabbed rebounds, leaving Xinjiang with almost no breathing space.
His mid-to-long-range shooting was also stable, and his free throws were impressive.
To say he is the pillar of the Shandong team is no exaggeration.
Whenever the game reached a critical moment, Chris could always step up and stabilize the situation.
Some netizens commented: Xinjiang's foreign aid is really not good enough, especially Lawson, who is too reliant on three-pointers!
Can we play more inside?
Look at Chris, how comprehensive he plays!
Well said!
Chris' all-around style of play is exactly what Xinjiang needs right now.
Xinjiang's current foreign aid configuration is indeed a big problem.
Although Lawson can sometimes score points on the offensive end, neither his three-pointers nor his performance under the basket can truly threaten the opponent, especially when facing a player like Chris with a strong inside presence, Lawson's weaknesses are inevitably exposed.
Everyone knows that basketball is not about individual battles; the team's lineup and the ability of foreign aid directly determine the direction of the game.
Xinjiang's shortcomings in the paint, especially in rebounding protection, urgently need to be strengthened.
Foreign aids like Lawson cannot effectively contribute on both ends of the paint.
A netizen also commented: With Xinjiang's current setup, it's really too difficult to compete for the championship.
Lawson seems to rely only on the outside, with no ability inside or on the boards, and I really think Xinjiang should change their foreign aid.
Speaking of the type of foreign aid Xinjiang needs, I think if they continue to keep Lawson, there's not much to look forward to.
The current situation is that Xinjiang lacks a big foreign aid who can provide stable scoring inside and has strong rebounding protection capabilities.
If they could introduce a versatile foreign aid like Chris who can play inside and create space, perhaps Xinjiang could gain an advantage against strong opponents.
In short, it is hoped that foreign aid can provide support inside for the team, rather than just relying on three-pointers for scoring.
On the other hand, Shandong's performance is also worth recognizing.
The team's overall tactical cooperation and the display of individual abilities undoubtedly provided them with more opportunities.
Besides Chris, Shandong's overall cooperation was commendable, with each player finding their position on the court, especially doing well defensively.
When Xinjiang faced Shandong's defensive pressure, they found no way to break through, especially in the paint offense, which was almost hopeless.
Some netizens commented: Shandong really beat Xinjiang out of shape in this game, and Chris was unstoppable.
Especially in the paint, they completely suppressed Lawson and the other Xinjiang players, with a huge gap.
After the game, everyone discussed Xinjiang's lineup configuration.
In fact, the outcome of this game was really due to the difference in foreign aid performance.
If Xinjiang continues to rely on Lawson, especially his overly single-minded approach, they will not be able to take advantage of strong teams.
If they do not quickly make adjustments and introduce foreign aid more suitable for the team, continuing like this, the possibility of challenging for the championship is almost zero.
Judging from the current situation, changing foreign aid seems to be a problem that Xinjiang must face.
If the management does not want to see such an embarrassing situation again, or if the team wants to make greater breakthroughs in the future, they must start by changing foreign aid.
Not only the fans but also Xinjiang's inside and outside line players understand the problems they are currently facing.
Especially in the paint, Lawson cannot provide effective support, and without suitable foreign aid to help, Xinjiang's competitiveness will be greatly reduced.
After the game, many fans discussed the changes in the team's future, and one netizen even said: Lawson's shots don't go in, he's really not suitable for this team anymore, let's get a reliable foreign aid instead.
I hope the management can hear our voices!
This game gave Xinjiang a profound lesson.
Although Peterson can still provide some support, Lawson's paper strength cannot bear the responsibility of Xinjiang's championship aspirations.
The team's inside and rebounding are still areas that need to be strengthened.
If Xinjiang continues to rely on its current foreign aid lineup, they will probably just watch their opponents laugh triumphantly on the court when facing strong opponents.