On January 5th, the CBA regular season continues with a total of 5 matches taking place simultaneously. These include matchups between Shanxi and Xinjiang, Guangzhou and Qingdao, Jiangsu and Zhejiang, as well as Sichuan and Fujian. While only one match can be considered a focal point, the other games are equally intriguing, and we will provide a brief pre-game analysis.
The game between Shanxi and Xinjiang is undoubtedly the main event. Both teams have long been ranked in the top four, boasting impressive fighting capabilities. However, they have recently encountered some setbacks; for instance, Xinjiang lost to Shandong, resulting in their strong home court being conquered by the opponent. This defeat also led to Zhao Rui receiving a five-game suspension, which came at a significant cost.
Shanxi recently suffered a loss against Qingdao, which had previously given them an opportunity to challenge Guangsha for the top spot. However, they now find themselves tied with Xinjiang at 19 wins and 6 losses. The outcome of this match could essentially secure the second position, and competition between teams at the same level is always fierce.
Currently, Shanxi seems to have the upper hand, not only due to playing at home but also because they have a more complete lineup with a larger pool of available players. Their frontline features Liu Chuanxing and Ge Zhaobao taking turns to deal with Li Yanzhe, while their group of guards is even more abundant, with players like Zhang Ning, Yuan Shuai, and Jia Mingru capable of both shooting and driving to the basket.
Xinjiang's disadvantage lies in their shortage of guards, with only Peterson available, leaving them reliant on Xi Erzati and Ilifu Lati without Zhao Rui. In contrast, Shanxi has two formidable individual talents in Goodwin and Diyaluo. Xinjiang can focus on exploiting the strengths of Abudu Salamu and Qi Lin, but their advantage is not particularly pronounced. Of course, the difference between top-level competitors is often minimal, and no one has an absolute advantage.
Zhejiang faces a relatively easy task in their away game against Jiangsu. After securing a winning streak, Zhejiang was defeated by Beijing, primarily due to their lack of key players, with Wu Qian continuing to sit out and Yu Jiahao unable to play, significantly weakening the team without their two core players.
Wu Qian's absence does not have as significant an impact on Zhejiang, as they have several options on the perimeter, including Cheng Shaipeng, Wang Yibo, and York, who can maintain offensive firepower. However, the absence of Yu Jiahao poses a severe problem, as the team struggles to defend the paint, making offense alone insufficient.
Jiangsu is not as weak as imagined and can put up a fight when they get going, so Zhejiang must stay alert to avoid consecutive defeats.
Guangzhou's chances of victory against Qingdao are slim, especially since Qingdao has just defeated Shanxi and is in stable form. Yang Hanshen, in particular, has been maturing, demonstrating high efficiency in both offense and defense.
The highlight of this match is the confrontation between Yang Hanshen and Jiao Boqiao, both of whom have trained and played for the national team. While Yang Hanshen undoubtedly possesses higher talent, Jiao Boqiao is no slouch, especially with his improved three-point shooting skills this year, posing significant challenges to the opposing defense.
Recently, fans have been paying attention to Guangzhou's anticipation of Guo Ailun's return and when Ding Yanhang will pass the physical test. The two have already been seen watching matches side by side, and it is indeed regrettable to see renowned players slip from their peak.
The overall level of the match between Sichuan and Fujian may not be high, but the two teams are relatively evenly matched in terms of strength. Sichuan has performed well this season, exceeding expectations, with foreign players leading the way and domestic players able to keep up.
Fujian, on the other hand, has been struggling, but there is hope for change with the recent appointment of coach Caeser. They managed to win against Jiangsu previously, regaining some face, and it remains to be seen if they can also claim victory over Sichuan.