Foreign Players Determine Success! CBA's Three Dark Horses Each Have Two Superstar Foreigners! One More Powerful Than the Next!
The CBA season is halfway through, with teams showing varying performances and receiving mixed evaluations from the outside world! However, there are indeed three teams that have made remarkable progress and are true dark horses!
Looking at the current rankings, Shanxi Team is currently ranked second in the league, while last season their regular-season performance was only twelfth in the league. Shandong Team, ranked third, was fifteenth in the league last season and did not even make it to the playoffs. Another dark horse is Shanghai Team, which has achieved fourteen consecutive victories and has become the most formidable team, with the goal of definitely winning the championship. Compared to last season's sixth-place finish, this season's Shanghai Team can also be considered a true dark horse!
Due to significant changes in the foreign player policy for this season's CBA, it has changed from four quarters with four foreign players last year to four quarters with seven foreign players. The number of foreign players on the court has increased, as has their playing time.
Looking at the lineups of these three teams, one commonality is that each team has four foreign players, two of whom stand out significantly in terms of ability! This allows the teams to maintain a strong point on the court during matches! Judging from the current league level, an outstanding foreign player is indeed decisive!
Shanxi Team currently has four foreign players, including small forwards Goodwin and Diawara, and big forwards Faye and Giles. Among these four foreign players, Goodwin and Diawara are stronger and very versatile, while Faye and Giles are excellent defensive players.
Goodwin averages 24.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 7.9 assists, and 1.4 steals per game this season. He is a very versatile player with good overall vision on the court, excelling in organizing offense and playing key shots! Another small forward, Diawara, averages 22.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game. Unlike Goodwin, Diawara has better physical attributes and was once the NBA Slam Dunk Champion, making him extremely explosive! This allows him to be highly destructive in breakaways and fast breaks! Both players' average scores are in the top ten in the league, giving Shanxi a consistent explosive point on the court!
Shandong Team's four foreign players are small forwards Gaili and Moore, and big forwards Chris and Kumajie. The division of labor among the four foreign players is clear, with Gaili and Chris being the main players who get more playing time, while Moore and Kumajie are substitutes whose playing time varies depending on the opponent. All four foreign players are quite capable, with Gaili and Chris standing out more!
Gaili averages 19.8 points, 4 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 2.4 steals per game this season. Gaili is a player who excels both offensively and defensively, with strong defensive pressure and excellent defensive capabilities. Offensively, he is very comprehensive, using his strong body to break through and shoot three-pointers well. As a big foreign player, Chris stands out with his abilities, both inside and outside, averaging 21.8 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game. As the former eighth pick in the NBA draft, Chris' talent is undeniable, and he is very destructive on the court! With better and better team integration, Chris' emotional control is also improving!
Shanghai Team can be said to be the team most affected by foreign players. Before Lofton and Bledsoe joined, Shanghai was at the bottom of the league, suffering ten consecutive losses. However, after the two joined, Shanghai has now achieved fourteen consecutive victories and has become the most formidable team in the second stage! The team has jumped to become a championship contender! In addition to these two foreign players, Wilson and Hawkins are also considered capable players!
Lofton averages 24.8 points, 13.1 rebounds, 6.8 assists, and 1.7 steals per game. Lofton can now be considered the strongest foreign player in the CBA, an absolute powerhouse with strong inside impact, making it difficult for opponents to defend against him, whether in terms of strength or speed! Bledsoe has played for Shanghai for three seasons and has excellent team chemistry. After joining the team this season, he only lost one game against Shandong Team and has been on a winning streak ever since! Bledsoe averages 13.9 points, 5 rebounds, 9.6 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. With increasing age, Bledsoe now places greater emphasis on passing to drive his teammates, becoming increasingly adept at organizing the offense, greatly benefiting Shanghai Team's scorers!
To be honest, judging from the foreign player configurations of Shanxi, Shandong, and Shanghai Teams, under the current foreign player policy, good foreign players can really change the league landscape and even determine the championship!