Guangdong Wins 3 Consecutive Games! Player Ratings: 2 Aces Score Perfect, 2 Unsung Heroes Excel, 4 Frontcourt and 3 Guards Collapse!
Guangdong defeated Shenzhen with a 7-point advantage after four quarters of fierce competition, with two of the three giants resting for most of the time. Xu Jie and Walter continued their strong performance in this game. Du Feng's heavy reliance on Xu Xin and Zhang Haojia proved to be effective, as they delivered impressive performances. However, the game also exposed some problems for Guangdong, which Zhu Fangyu must address urgently by recruiting new players.
Xu Jie played for 17 minutes, scoring 9 points, grabbing 4 rebounds, and dishing out 7 assists. In the first three quarters, he only scored 3 points in 12 minutes due to a thigh strain that affected his shooting. However, in the last 5 minutes when the team needed someone to step up and seal the deal, Xu Jie confidently scored 6 points, grabbed 1 rebound, and provided 1 assist. His final shot made him the first hero of the victory.
The 36-year-old veteran Walter was once again the workhorse. Due to Morand's foul trouble in the first quarter, Du Feng had to substitute him and let Beizli partner with Walter, turning the original three foreign player rotation into two. Walter carried the team for 39 minutes, scoring an impressive 40 points and 14 rebounds. This old guard is like the CBA's Anthony, an unstoppable force on the court. Even Zhou Peng, the defensive anchor, could not contain Walter. Two of the three giants contributed significantly, and the two unsung heroes also played a crucial role.
After Morand left the court, the responsibility of defending Thompson fell on Xu Xin. In 18 minutes, he scored 12 points, grabbed 2 rebounds, and blocked 3 shots. Xu Xin faced Thompson fearlessly, engaging in a back-and-forth battle. Xu Xin and Beizli continuously sent big blocks, weakening Thompson's power.
A few words must be said about Xu Xin. In previous games, he only played during garbage time, with guards Zhang Wenyi and Huang Rongqi by his side. Without good playmaking support, Xu Xin struggled. The main reason for his outstanding performance in this game was Xu Jie's assistance. With the help of his older brother, Xu Xin continuously scored easy baskets, making Thompson lose his temper.
Zhang Haojia returned from the development league and seemed like a changed person. He shot 5 out of 8, scoring 14 points and grabbing 4 rebounds, becoming the second-highest scorer in the game. Xu Jie and Walter performed perfectly, while Xu Xin and Zhang Haojia's performances were excellent, committing very few mistakes, almost reaching perfection.
Among the remaining seven players, Wang Shaojie and Du Runwang performed the worst. After his injury, Wang Shaojie seemed to lack confidence. Without mid-range shooting, he found it difficult to be effective on the court. Du Runwang angered Du Feng in the first quarter with his defense against He Xining, allowing the opponent to continuously score three-pointers. These two forwards did not meet expectations.
Huang Rongqi, Yang Yi, and Zhang Wenyi failed to hold the fort at the guard position when Xu Jie rested. Especially Yang Yi, who plays the point guard position, only managed 1 assist in 17 minutes. Without a reliable shot, he frequently took unnecessary shots. He does not know how to leverage his strengths and avoid weaknesses, as evidenced by his glaring 1 out of 8 shooting record.
Morand played for 10 minutes but committed 3 fouls, performing unsatisfactorily. Beizli, the team's designated ace foreign player, scored 8 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in 27 minutes, shooting 2 out of 7, with 3 fouls and 3 turnovers. To be fair, his defensive performance was commendable, but as a foreign player, such a performance falls short of expectations and requirements.
Xu Jie currently has no reliable substitute, and the small forward position remains unfilled. The team cannot always rely on overextending Xu Jie and Walter to solve its problems; if injuries strike again, the consequences could be disastrous. Zhu Fangyu bears significant responsibility for the current situation. He must act quickly to sign a reliable small forward to save the team!