Zhejiang Men's Basketball Team is truly in a huge predicament this season. From their ranking to injuries and the departure of foreign aid, it's all become quite disheartening.
Take a look at their current league standing; they've dropped to eighth place, with 18 wins and 9 losses in 28 games, which is a "barely acceptable" record. However, the recent three consecutive defeats have caused concern.
What's more critical is that the team's main players are being overwhelmed by injuries.
Wu Qian, Cheng Shuaipeng, and Yu Jiahao, any one of them can play a crucial role in the game, but the health issues of these three key players have almost pushed Zhejiang Men's Basketball Team to the brink.
Injuries are truly the team's nemesis. It feels like every time Wu Qian and Cheng Shuaipeng play, they are the driving force of Zhejiang Men's Basketball Team. Now that they're absent, the team seems to lack its soul.
Speaking of foreign aid, Kobe Simmons' departure is even more astonishing.
This guy played a total of 17 games this season, averaging 28 minutes per game. Although his performance did not reach an "explosive" level, his average of 17.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 5.5 assists is still commendable. However, he failed to bring significant change to Zhejiang Men's Basketball Team.
With a shooting percentage of 43.3% and a three-point shooting percentage of 34.1%, he could still make 1.8 three-pointers per game, which seems somewhat "reliable."
The team decided to release him, leaving Simmons somewhat puzzled.
Some netizens commented, "Although Simmons has good statistics, he hasn't really enhanced the team's competitiveness, especially in critical moments, which is very important. Perhaps giving him up is a wise choice." This isn't entirely wrong, as he always seemed capable of scoring on the court but was just short of something, especially in key games, where he didn't seem to unleash his full potential.
Moreover, the team already had two foreign players, Bass and York, and with limited resources, there was no way to give Simmons much space.
You might ask, how can the team hope to rally if they only rely on foreign aid? Local players are the foundation.
Zhejiang Men's Basketball Team has focused on cultivating local players in recent years, especially young players. Everyone should take note; core players like Wu Qian and Cheng Shuaipeng are truly crucial.
However, if they continue to be sidelined due to injuries, Zhejiang Men's Basketball Team may continue to falter.
Back in the day, Bass could hold up half the sky alone. Once these two return, the team will have some hope.
Honestly, many fans are anxious: "When will this season see a rebound? Players, recover quickly! Otherwise, how long must we wait?" I understand the fans' anxiety, as the team's performance is far from their previous goals.
Either they rely on the quick recovery of core players or hope for a miracle from foreign aid.
Seriously, the combination of foreign aid and main players is the key for Zhejiang Men's Basketball Team to get back on track.
Additionally, Simmons' future has become a hot topic of discussion.
This foreign player won't just "disappear" from the CBA, right? Some netizens say, "Simmons is not bad, and other teams will surely be interested in him. He should go to a place that suits him better or try other leagues." Currently, many teams are indeed looking for foreign aid, with strong teams like Liaoning and Guangdong stepping up their operations. Simmons will definitely find a new home.
No one knows where he'll end up, but judging from his previous performances, finding a new team shouldn't be a problem.
The "crisis" facing Zhejiang Men's Basketball Team is indeed significant.
From injuries to foreign aid and the overall slump in form, it will take everyone pulling together to overcome the difficulties.
Fans also need to be patient, after all, this team has had glorious moments in the past. We believe that once they recover their key players, they will still have the opportunity to get back on track for the season.