Guangdong Derby is here as scheduled, and this season's three teams from Guangdong have faced significant challenges. It is unlikely that the feat of all three Guangdong teams reaching the playoffs last season will be repeated this year. Both Guangzhou and Shenzhen have traded away their starting lineups, while Guangdong Hongyuan has also struggled this season, ranking only ninth in the league and potentially setting a new low for their performance.
Initially, Guangdong continued to play with their familiar double-big foreign lineup, focusing on the inside game. It's hard to imagine what their record would be without the duo of Jilunwater and Morand this season, especially Jilunwater, who was initially signed as a third foreigner but has become a superstar for Guangdong. The main issue for Guangdong Hongyuan this year has been their recruitment strategy of "greedy for small advantages but suffering great losses." They still lack an explosive offensive point on the wing, and the team has faced difficulties in the second stage. Coach Du Feng's young team was not positioned as a championship contender at the start of the season, so they chose Barton and Bazley, an old veteran and a defensive player, neither of whom could help solve the team's problems. Jilunwater was initially questioned by fans, but he later proved himself. However, the primary consideration in choosing Jilunwater was cost-effectiveness, still aiming for a bargain, and they even brought in a mercenary foreign aid, Les, from the Taiwan Provincial League. In the end, it was still a mentality of taking advantage, thinking they could get through this period before finding a new foreign aid. Morand and Bazley were also chosen with this mentality, both looking for bargains, but the result? Taking small advantages led to significant losses.
Seeing Zhou Peng's stable and strong defense, agile and sharp offense, one can't help but ask Guangdong again why they let Zhou Peng go. It can be said that Zhou Peng could solve most of the current difficulties faced by Guangdong. It's not an exaggeration to say that Zhou Peng's role far exceeds that of Bazley, the current No. 11 for Guangdong Hongyuan. With the same defensive coverage area, the difference lies in Zhou Peng's offense, whether it's assisting, low-post singles, or outside three-pointers, Zhou Peng outperforms Bazley in every aspect, and he doesn't occupy a foreign aid spot.
Today, special praise must go to Xu Xin. The big man with high hopes from Guangdong fans finally had his moment to shine. When Morand faced foul trouble and Wang Shaojie couldn't handle the responsibility, this CBA's tallest interior player helped Guangdong establish a "no-fly zone." He had strong dunks under the basket and impressive blocks against foreign players, even bleeding on the court. This performance may have won the trust of Coach Du Feng.
Zhang Haojia has also found his former self in recent games. Once a beacon of hope for Guangdong's front line, an unexpected injury left him down and out. But recently, the sleeping beast has shown signs of recovery, with three 2+1 plays in the first half serving as proof. Zhang Haojia's physique alone makes him a standout among CBA forwards, but how to use his body, or simply put, how to use his weight to attack opponents, is a problem Zhang Haojia needs to solve. Squatting in the corner is clearly not the best solution. Recently, he has been going to the post to demand the ball and using his body to overpower opponents at the three position, holding the ball and using his physical strength to attack the paint. Zhang Haojia has finally found his comfort zone, which is of great tactical significance for Guangdong, especially when both big foreigners are on the court for extended periods, to offset their front-line disadvantages.
Xu Jie's absence in the second half posed a real challenge for Guangdong. Young Yang Yi seems immature, and Huang Rongqi, without Xu Jie's control, was like a headless fly. Fortunately, Guangdong still has Ren Junfei, a coach on the court. In Xu Jie's absence, Ren Junfei is the key to activating Xu Xin. Additionally, Coach Du Feng's decision to bench Du Runwang was undoubtedly the right one, as Du Runwang has been a liability on the court this season, akin to a defensive ATM.
Finally, Xu Jie returned as a king in the team's time of crisis, scoring four points immediately upon entering the game to stabilize the team's morale. Despite playing through illness, with an indomitable spirit, Xu Jie staged a CBA version of the "Flu War," reviving Guangdong's offense!