In recent days, the CBA league has become increasingly exciting to watch. The teams ranked from 3rd to 11th in the standings have a small gap in victories, with only one or two games separating them, making this season the most intense battle for the top four spots.
Liaoning lost 100-103 to Qingdao, with Liaoning making mistakes in the last three minutes and unable to stop their opponent's counterattack. Han Dejun was too exhausted to make two free throws. Ultimately, victory tilted towards Liu Weiwei, and Yang Ming took responsibility after the game. His personnel decisions are indeed questionable, as most people could see that Fergie and Han Dejun were out of energy but were not substituted. Wang Lanqin and Patton should have been brought on for at least a minute. Qingdao continuously used their speed to attack the basket, and Han Dejun's footwork couldn't keep up. At least Patton has a larger defensive area and can follow the pace.
Xinjiang lost 106-113 to Tongxi. In the fourth quarter, Xinjiang was held down, with Qi Lin being called for a foul while defending Guo Haowen. Qi Lin was very dissatisfied and emotional about the call, leading to a technical foul. Qi Lin's emotions exploded again, and even head coach Liu Wei couldn't hold him back. After the game, Coach Liu Wei said in an interview, "The players played well enough, but we encountered significant difficulties and were unprepared."
Shougang lost 92-106 to Zhejiang in their third consecutive away game. Shougang was plagued by injuries and the flu virus, with Zhou Qi also suffering from a fever and cold. From the first quarter, Shougang couldn't withstand the pressure, lacking key players like Zhou Qi, Zeng Fanbo, and Chen Yingjun, as if they were missing half a team. Additionally, the small foreign aid, Eugene Jerman, was not performing well. However, Zhejiang was also dealing with numerous injuries, with key players like Yu Jiahao, Wu Qian, and Cheng Shaipeng sidelined due to injuries. Both teams faced similar challenges, but it's clear that Shougang was unprepared for this match.
Shandong lost 99-115 to Shenzhen. Despite having a strong lineup, Shandong underestimated their opponent, who is not as strong on paper. Gaili's performance was unstable, and he couldn't control his emotions well. Qiu Biao was slow to make substitutions, with Johnson continuously attacking the basket and scoring 37 points, 14 assists, 8 rebounds, and 5 steals. Qiu Biao should have activated Kumajie to guard the basket. Qiu Biao used the four foreign players evenly, but the correct approach is to use different foreign players against different opponents, letting those who perform well play more.
Guangsha achieved a big win over Shanxi, demonstrating their formidable strength with six consecutive victories. With a record of 25 wins and 4 losses, they firmly occupy the top spot in the league. If they continue at this pace, Guangsha is set to claim the championship of the regular season.
Shanghai defeated Jiangsu 121-95, securing their 16th consecutive victory. Lofton did not play and got some rest, as Lu Wei seems to be preparing for the match against Liaoning. On January 14th, Liaoning will face Shanghai, and Lu Wei presents another challenge for Yang Ming. Who will defend against Lofton, who is so strong? For Liaoning, facing the high-spirited Shanghai team, Yang Ming must come up with a solution. We'll see what happens on the court!