A Sigh, 15-Year Veteran Tao Hanlin: Why Is There Only a Lonely Back in the Applause?
With a record of 19 wins and 8 losses, temporarily ranking third in the standings, this season's Shandong men's basketball team has impressed everyone with both its performance and the team's spirit.
Coach Qiu Biao has been strategic, the four foreign players have been diligent, and domestic players such as Gao Shiyan, Guo Kai, and Yu Dehao have also given their all, creating a convincing performance.
However, it seems that all of this has little to do with one person, or perhaps not much at all.
If it were just an inconsequential role player, it might not be so frustrating for everyone. But he was once the core of Shandong men's basketball team and even became a signature player at one point, which makes people feel helpless. This is the power forward: Little Shark Tao Hanlin.
1. Data Performance So Far This Season
In the 25 games played, Tao Hanlin averages 18.2 minutes of playing time, scoring 6.6 points, grabbing 3.8 rebounds, assisting 1.0 times, and blocking 0.7 times.
Whether it's playing time or data contribution, combined with past seasons' performances, it's almost a cliff-like decline! This data is basically on par with the 11-12 season! (Average of 17.3 minutes, 6.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, 0.4 assists)
But back then, Tao Hanlin was only 20 years old and basically still in his rookie stage.
You should know that three years ago, Tao Hanlin was still the undisputed tactical and spiritual double-core of Shandong men's basketball team, with an average playing time that once approached 40 minutes, and an average of 20+10, which is the standard for an All-Star level.
When the Chinese men's basketball team was selected, I can't remember how many fans cheered online for Tao Hanlin. Gong Xiaobin shaped you, Xu Changsu helped you reach the peak, but it's only been a few years, why has Tao Hanlin fallen so fast?
2. Deeply Investigating the Reasons Behind It
After last season ended, from last summer until now, Shandong men's basketball team has undergone a series of changes. This point, I believe everyone is very clear.
The most important point is the flow of personnel, from the coaching staff to the players, more than ten were cleaned out in one breath! Basically, it's a complete change of the team, and those who don't know the reason might mistakenly think that Shandong men's basketball team has disbanded. Of course, this reflects Shandong men's basketball team's determination to make a comeback.
Jia Cheng went to Qingdao, Jiao Hailong went to Shanxi...
So many familiar tough guys, almost none left! But the club kept three main players, Gao Shiyan with great energy, Chen Peidong representing young players, and finally Tao Hanlin, known as the team's soul and workhorse.
To this day, Gao Shiyan is still an indispensable member of the team's backcourt, and Chen Peidong is also an outside shooter at critical moments. Only Tao Hanlin, who everyone had high hopes for, has completely become a supporting player.
One of the reasons is the team's tactics. Friends who are familiar with Shandong men's basketball team should know that in the starting lineup, the frontcourt combination is generally Chris and Guo Kai. Strictly speaking, these two are both power forwards, meaning Shandong men's basketball team doesn't have a pure center.
But Coach Qiu Biao's requirement is like this, emphasizing the speed of attack and defense conversion, mobility, and offensive means. Chris naturally doesn't need to say more, Guo Kai is comprehensive in terms of attacking range, flexible means, including movement and defense.
Therefore, they can only retreat to the second lineup. But the second lineup has defensive tough guy Kujie, and the guard line is paired with Moore, who has strong attacking ability, so Tao Hanlin's situation becomes even more awkward, not only without offensive ball rights, but even further hindered by the rhythm.
Many times, Tao Hanlin doesn't even have the chance to attack with the ball, he's just running back and forth with the team. Most of his strength is used to screen for his teammates and defend.
But due to the reduction in playing time, his own state and technical actions have also been greatly affected. For example, although Tao Hanlin averages only 18 minutes of playing time, his number of fouls has reached an astonishing 3.6 times! Ranking high on the foul list. You should know that the players ranked ahead of him are basically iron-clad starters, with playing times of over 30 minutes each.
Therefore, Tao Hanlin's current situation can only be described as embarrassing. He has no status in tactics, and it seems that only when he fouls does he get any camera time. Other highlights are nowhere to be found for Tao Hanlin.
This explains why the team keeps winning, everyone is cheering, but Tao Hanlin is lonely and barely manages a smile.
3. What Should Tao Hanlin Do in the Future?
The current situation is not only anxiety for himself, but I believe Shandong men's basketball fans are also very distressed.
But in competitive sports, what matters is form, ability, and contribution. To put it bluntly, the current Tao Hanlin basically has nothing, even if the head coach wants to give you a chance, what can you contribute to the team?
Originally thought that as an old player in the team, he could play a role in encouraging spirits in the locker room, but this has always been done by Gao Shiyan. Tao Hanlin is still that honest and obedient big boy.
Opportunities are earned through one's own efforts, and Tao Hanlin still needs to work hard for himself.
Although it is true that the increase in foreign players in the current CBA league has indeed squeezed the playing time of domestic players, don't forget another very important point: in the fourth quarter, it's still single foreign aid.
A team that wants to achieve remarkable results, domestic players are like the shortcoming in the "bucket effect," only when this shortcoming is long enough, can the team get closer to victory.
The single foreign aid in the fourth quarter is the key to victory. Because opponents can focus on the team's single foreign aid and let domestic players go. At this time, as long as the domestic players are strong enough, the team's tactics will come alive!
Think about the top four, or even the top six teams in the league right now, don't they all have good domestic players who exert their power in the final quarter?
And for Shandong men's basketball team, if it weren't for Gali's injury and inability to use him for a long time, Qiu Biao would definitely leave more than half of the decisive quarter for Gali. After all, Gali is good at both offense and defense and is very versatile.
But there's no way, Gali's injury hasn't fully healed, so he has to be used sparingly. Therefore, we can only alternate between Moore and Chris. But Moore leans towards individual play, and although Chris's temper has improved a lot, there are still irrational situations, which is always a major hidden danger.
If at this time, domestic players can hold up the sky in the paint, then Qiu Biao will be more confident in defeating any opponent.
This is Tao Hanlin's opportunity, an absolute opportunity!
In fact, Qiu Biao has already done this more than once, putting Tao Hanlin and Guo Kai on the court at the same time, with Tao Hanlin playing the 5th position and Guo Kai the 4th position, combining their offense and defense. The outside is paired with two locks, Gao Shiyan and Yu Dehao, to stop the opponent's foreign aid, leaving Gali or Moore to attack fully.
But Tao Hanlin is always unreliable, fouling inexplicably, not only affecting the team's tactical layout but also greatly limiting his own playing time.
4. Final Thoughts
At the age of 33, Tao Hanlin has indeed entered the later stages of his career, but he is far from being depressed to the current extent.
Think about it, it's only been a few years, although it's true that his offensive means aren't that rich. But at least under the basket, there are very few opponents who can truly defeat you!
Basketball confrontation, whether it's frontcourt or backcourt rebounds, inside dunks, back-to-basket singles, and even mid-range shooting near the paint, have all been proud traits that he relied on to stand firm.
Although Coach Qiu Biao's tactical ideas don't quite match him, Qiu didn't give up on you. Since last summer, Qiu Biao has been supervising Tao Hanlin's weight, aiming to make him more agile in movement and fit the team's positioning.
Emotionally, Tao Hanlin is the true spiritual core of this team. Having been with the team for 15 years, witnessing its ups and downs and wind and rain, he is the true team soul in the hearts of fans. Therefore, for Tao Hanlin himself, he must quickly cheer up and find that familiar inside shark again!