Zhejiang Guangsha hosted Shanxi Men's Basketball Team in a match between the top two teams in the league! Shanxi Men's Basketball Team has always been known as the "King of Reversals," with Zhang Ning ranking first in the league for scoring in crucial moments of the fourth quarter. Therefore, it's uncertain whether Shanxi can leave Guangsha's home court unscathed!
However, although Shanxi Men's Basketball Team has a good record, the atmosphere within the team is not great. In the previous game, Shanxi's head coach Pan Jiang criticized the team for not playing selflessly enough and not being aggressive enough in rebounding. They were often led by weaker teams for too long, not taking their opponents seriously, and showing a relaxed attitude. Zhang Ning scolded his teammates for not even being able to grab rebounds. Goodwin wants to see the Shanxi team from the beginning of the season, a team that shares the ball selflessly and trusts their teammates.
At the start of the game, both sides were cautious in the first quarter, with frequent misses and clangs of iron. Neither the foreign players nor the domestic players could find their rhythm, and Shanxi Men's Basketball Team ended the first quarter with a slight lead over Zhejiang Guangsha.
The second quarter saw Zhejiang Guangsha explode, outscoring Shanxi 30-19. Shanxi was completely stifled defensively, while Zhejiang Guangsha executed their tactics with ease. With multiple players contributing offensively, Shanxi's head coach Pan Jiang realized that they would have to approach the game with a difficult mindset. The players struggled to make breakthroughs, and the quarter ended with Zhejiang Guangsha crushing Shanxi!
In the third quarter, Zhejiang Guangsha continued their dominance, with strong inside play. Boban did not perform as well, missing many shots in the first half. However, Zhejiang Guangsha still had more skilled players, and as the top team in the league, their strength and depth were not something the dark horse Shanxi could compare to. Zhejiang Guangsha continued to dominate with a 35-25 victory, extending their lead to 19 points.
In the fourth quarter, Shanxi Men's Basketball Team, known for their resilience, struggled on the road. The entire team had poor shooting, from Zhang Ning to the other players, and from the foreign players to the other foreign players. It was a lonely struggle, and early in the quarter, they went scoreless, with the gap widening to over 30 points. Shanxi has faced such situations before, but for the disciplined Zhejiang Guangsha, there was no chance for a comeback. Ultimately, Zhejiang Guangsha defeated Shanxi Men's Basketball Team.
Zhejiang Guangsha won 111-78 against Shanxi Men's Basketball Team by a margin of 33 points. What's scary is not the loss, but Pan Jiang's words after the game, which showed a lack of spirit! In an interview, Pan Jiang said: "The players played very chaotically, with no tactical intent. When facing the top team in the league, strength is one aspect, but mentality is another. It's hard to reverse this trend. Playing away at the 'devil's home court' really feels like there's nothing we can do. We've gradually lost confidence. Zhang Ning couldn't perform, and he started from the bench, aiming to face Zhejiang Guangsha's bench players. However, Zhang Ning only scored 12 points, which felt like a drop in the bucket. Zhejiang Guangsha's strength is not something an average team can overcome. I hope the team learns from this lesson and comes back stronger."