On the evening of January 4th, Beijing time, the 26th round of the 2024-25 CBA regular season will see defending champions Liaoning Bensteel travel north to face fellow Northeast team Jilin Jiutai Rural Commercial Bank. Half a month ago, Jilin Men's Basketball managed to defeat Liaoning Men's Basketball with a score of 114 to 102, despite the absence of their core player Er Jiang, under the leadership of foreign players Jones and Kizlink. This time around, Liaoning Men's Basketball suffered a crushing defeat in their last away game against Beijing Shougang, making this an absolutely crucial match that they cannot afford to lose.
Just before the game, Liaoning Men's Basketball received some uplifting news from the front lines. According to accurate information, core guard Zhao Jiwei, who has been out for over a month due to injury, is set to make his return in this match. Prior to this, Zhao Jiwei had traveled from Shenyang to Changchun with teammate Huang Qiushi to reunite with the team. After a long period of treatment and recovery, the esophageal inflammation that plagued him has finally been resolved.
So far this season, Zhao Jiwei has averaged 10.8 points, 2.7 rebounds, 6.7 assists, and 1.64 steals per game, making him the team's assist leader and steal leader. In Zhao Jiwei's absence, Yang Ming had to constantly adjust the starting lineup, first using foreign player Fug as the point guard. However, Fug's offensive efficiency declined as he had to juggle both organizing and defensive responsibilities. Later, after much difficulty, new recruit Wang Lanqin's state exploded, and Liaoning Men's Basketball took advantage to secure a four-game winning streak. But their last game against Beijing Shougang proved that with their current roster, they do not have the capability to compete with the league's top teams.
Zhao Jiwei's return will allow Liaoning Men's Basketball to return to normal rotation in the backcourt. Fug and Wells can focus on their offensive responsibilities, while Wang Lanqin, after being relegated to the bench, can better leverage his playmaking abilities in the second unit. Most importantly, Zhao Jiwei's return injects a strong dose of confidence into the team, allowing everyone to play more steadily and confidently around him.
Yang Ming has been eagerly awaiting Zhao Jiwei's return all along. The team was bold enough to trade away Guo Ailun during the offseason, largely due to Zhao Jiwei's rapid growth. It can be said that without Zhao Jiwei, Liaoning Men's Basketball would not have been able to achieve success in their pursuit of a fourth consecutive championship. Of course, tonight's battle against Jilin Men's Basketball may also be a chance for Zhao Jiwei to test his skills and find his competitive rhythm. The real challenge will come two days later when they face Zhejiang Guangsha, currently ranked first in the league. Perhaps by then, Liaoning Men's Basketball's big foreign player Justin Patton will have completed registration, and the team can look forward to fielding their strongest lineup.
