The CBA rankings have undergone a major shift overnight! Xinjiang has risen by four places, Liaoning and Guangdong are ranked 8th and 9th, while the dark horse has dropped to 3rd place.
Xinjiang's match was a real eye-opener! On January 4th, they faced Sichuan in a classic case of being chased down. They started poorly, with the first quarter seeing them being dominated by their opponents, almost stumbling badly.
However, the Xinjiang players remained calm and gradually found their rhythm. In particular, Qi Lin really carried the entire team! He scored 16 points in the first half, instantly turning the situation around and leaving Sichuan with no fight left.
He finished the game with 30 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 assists, becoming the backbone of the team! It should be noted that Sichuan also played well in this game, with Li Weihao contributing the highest score of 22 points for the team. Unfortunately, despite their strong counterattack from Xinjiang, Sichuan couldn't hold onto their advantage and ultimately lost the game 94-100.
This victory was crucial for Xinjiang, propelling them from sixth place all the way up to second! They've gone from being a mid-table team to joining the top ranks, with their record improving from 19 wins and 6 losses. Honestly, there are many commendable aspects behind Xinjiang's impressive win in this game.
As for Sichuan, although they lost, Li Weihao's performance was beyond reproach. As always, there's room for improvement, and it's worth encouraging.
Speaking of Shanxi, this team is truly the "dark horse" of the year; no one expected such significant fluctuations in their ranking. Originally firmly seated in second place, they were unexpectedly defeated by Qingdao on January 4th, leaving them feeling utterly humiliated.
Qingdao's performance in this game was truly eye-opening, starting with a 19-point lead that Shanxi never managed to recover from, eventually losing 122-129. Wang Ruize of Qingdao became an overnight sensation, contributing 26 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists in a nearly perfect performance. Yang Hanshen was also not to be outdone, with his double-double of 17 points and 18 rebounds making it difficult for Shanxi's players to cope.
Despite Shanxi's foreign player, Weatherspoon, scoring the highest of the game with 39 points, he still couldn't help Shanxi turn the tide, which is a real pity! This loss directly caused Shanxi's ranking to drop from second to third, which is somewhat disheartening.
Beijing had a resounding victory on January 4th! They easily defeated Zhejiang 118-96, showcasing their powerful offense right from the start. Foreign player Jerman was unstoppable, with 13 shots made out of 10 attempts, scoring 24 points, 6 rebounds, and 13 assists in an all-around display of skill.
With Zhou Qi adding 18 points and 4 rebounds, Beijing took control of the game's rhythm. Zhejiang's foreign player, York, scored 22 points, but the team's overall performance fell short, especially on defense, where they failed to effectively contain Beijing's attack.
Such a wide margin of defeat leaves Zhejiang with some loss of face.
Through this big win, Beijing's ranking rose from 7th to 6th, getting closer to the top five. It seems that Beijing's form is starting to improve; whether they can maintain this level of performance in the second half of the season is something to watch.
While Zhejiang lost, it's not all doom and gloom; their tactical system still holds potential, and they just need to further enhance their overall strength.
Finally, let's talk about Liaoning and Guangdong, which is quite surprising! Liaoning dropped from fifth place all the way to eighth, while Guangdong remains hovering at ninth. Liaoning's recent performance has indeed been a bit lackluster, having previously maintained a top-five position, but a series of defeats has seen their ranking plummet.
On the other hand, Guangdong, though not lacking in strength, has also failed to maintain its previous competitiveness, with their ranking stuck at ninth, making their playoff qualification increasingly uncertain.
The upcoming matches are set to be even more suspenseful, with teams fighting hard for playoff spots, and the rankings will change more frequently. Xinjiang and Shanxi have seen the most significant changes in their rankings, but even traditional powerhouses like Liaoning and Guangdong may not be able to rest easy.