Why is it always them? Every time in the second half of the season, Tongxi team seems to deflate like a punctured ball, gradually slipping from the upper half of the leaderboard. Is it a problem of strength, or a psychological issue? Or both? From the previous seasons' rankings of 14th and 13th, to this season's brief entry into the top 10 before falling back to 11th, the reality is that they once again stand at the edge of the playoffs, hesitating outside the door.
Meanwhile, Shandong team is enjoying a "spring breeze" scene. In this game, they defeated Tongxi 129-116, not only surpassing Liaoning to rise to third place in the league, but also proved their hard power with a beautiful team victory. On one side is the disappointed Tongxi, on the other side is the thriving Shandong. What exactly is the difference between these two teams? Perhaps, we can get some insights from this game.
In fact, Tongxi's problems are not new. Looking at the results of the past few seasons, their trajectory is like an unchanging "routine": they could still rely on their fighting spirit and form to create some surprises at the beginning of the season, but as they enter the second half, their record begins to slide. The 14th place in the 22-23 season and last season's 13th place speak volumes. Although they had a brief moment of glory this year, they have now slipped from the top 10 to 11th, once again facing the dilemma of missing the playoffs.
In this game, Tongxi managed to reduce the point difference to single digits in the third quarter, but was ultimately firmly suppressed by Shandong. Jordan Floyd performed well, scoring the highest 31 points in the game, with 5 rebounds and 7 assists, but the team still lost. Where is the problem? It's simple, one person cannot carry the whole team. Looking at Tongxi's bench depth, apart from a few main players, the others perform as if they are just going through the motions, no wonder the team always struggles to catch up and appears to be in a tight spot when it comes to critical moments.
More importantly, it's about mental state. Tongxi's weakness in the second half of the season is not just a matter of physical exhaustion, but more like a kind of "timidity" at the psychological level - once the score is widened, their rhythm and confidence are completely disrupted, and they make frequent mistakes on defense, making it easier for the opponent to score. In this game, although they tried to counterattack several times, the slackness in the final stages made the pursuit seem like a futile effort that "looks good".
Looking at Shandong team, it's a completely different state. In this game, they defeated Tongxi with a high score of 129 points, with six players scoring in double figures. The data doesn't lie; this team does not rely on any single player, but instead controls the game rhythm through a multi-point blooming offensive system.
During the game, foreign players Marquis Chris and Jamal Gay displayed super-high competitive levels. Chris scored 23 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists, while Gay contributed 20 points and 5 rebounds. The two foreign players played very efficiently, but what's even more noteworthy is the performance of domestic players, especially Chen Peidong. This young player scored 18 points in the game, and his shooting and playmaking ability from beyond the three-point line became a hidden weapon for Shandong. In contrast, Tongxi relies too much on Jordan Floyd's single-point output, lacking a "second offensive option" like Chen Peidong, which is undoubtedly an intuitive reflection of the gap in strength between the two teams.
In addition, Shandong's home court advantage also played an important role in this game. At crucial moments in the game, the shouts of Shandong fans turned into a "booster" for the team's morale, making each of Tongxi's attempts to catch up more difficult. Perhaps this is also one of the reasons why Shandong has been able to win key victories at home this season.
Speaking of Shandong's rise, the credit must go to head coach Qiubiao. After taking office, this young coach used a more balanced and diversified tactical system, fully activating the team's potential. This season, under his leadership, Shandong has become more fluid in offense and significantly improved in defensive focus. To put it simply, this team not only "knows how to play," but also "can endure."
Qiubiao's success is also reflected in his coaching of the players. Young players like Chen Peidong have grown rapidly in his tactical system; the integration of the two foreign players is also due to Qiubiao's reasonable arrangement of offensive space. Such a Shandong team is clearly more comprehensive and impactful than the previous "foreign players fighting alone" Shandong team.
Currently, Shandong has successfully surpassed Liaoning with this victory, rising to third place in the league. They are moving towards a new height and adding their name to the list of hot favorites for the championship in the playoffs.
The result of this game is not just a competition between two teams, but also reflects the changes in the competitive landscape of the CBA league. Shandong's strong rise, Liaoning's ups and downs, coupled with the competition from traditional strong teams like Guangsha and Guangdong, makes the ranking competition this season particularly fierce. And Tongxi, such a new and promising team, although their overall strength may seem immature, their potential cannot be overlooked. If they can solve the problems of lineup depth and psychological issues, Tongxi might become a dark horse in the league in the next few seasons.
And the overall improvement in the league's level has also made every game more intense and enjoyable to watch. Now, the CBA is no longer a "one-man show" of a few traditional strong teams, but a "free-for-all" among many contenders, which undoubtedly brings more expectations and highlights for the fans.
For Tongxi, their difficulties are not unsolvable. First, they need to strengthen their lineup depth, especially by introducing a few players who can step up in critical moments. Second, the team needs to establish a more cohesive team culture, allowing players to demonstrate stronger psychological resilience in games. Finally, management needs to formulate a longer-term plan and should not always rely on foreign players to solve problems.
As for Shandong, they can take this victory as a new starting point. Under the leadership of Qiubiao, this team has the opportunity to aim for higher goals, even the championship. Their offensive and defensive systems have already taken on the appearance of champions, and they only need to maintain stability in the upcoming games. Perhaps there will be more exciting stories in the future playoffs.
The charm of basketball lies in this: some are happy, some are sad. Victory and defeat are only temporary results, but every game writes the growth of a team. Let's look forward to the upcoming CBA league and see who will truly laugh until the end.
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