Translation of the article content into English:
The CBA season is halfway through, and most teams have finalized their roster additions. Some teams may still make adjustments, but the overall landscape has been set. The CBA rankings best reflect the state of each team. Prior to this, Liaoning was narrowly defeated by Qingdao on free throws, and Xinjiang suffered an upset loss to Tongxi, with the rankings now updated. Let's take a look together.
The most stable team remains Guangsha Men's Basketball, topping the charts with 25 wins and 4 losses. As long as they maintain their current pace, securing the regular-season championship seems assured. However, Guangsha's biggest issue is the injury risk; key players Hu Jinqiu and Sun Minghui have nearly become "glass men" in recent years. Guangsha has a great chance to compete for the 2025 championship and fill the regret of having no titles in their history. We hope the lineup can stay intact for the playoffs.
Qingdao ranks second, Liaoning third, and Shanxi fourth. Qingdao and Shanxi are considered dark horses; it was unexpected how strong these two teams would be at the start of the season. However, they lack the ability to contend for the championship. In the playoffs, their weaknesses will be exposed, especially Shanxi Men's Basketball, which is unstable on both offense and defense. Their fast-paced style naturally unsettles opponents but also leads to high turnovers and an inability to secure rebounds.
Liaoning is still a championship contender. Zhang Zhenlin is actually the most crucial part of the defending champion's frontcourt; his impact, defense, and fast breaks are what the current Liaoning team lacks. It will be very difficult for Xinjiang Men's Basketball to win the championship; head coach Liu Wei's coaching is a major issue. Being reversed by Shanxi with a 25-point lead and losing to bottom-placed Fujian are not coincidences. Additionally, Xinjiang players have explosive tempers; Zhao Rui collided with a referee, and in the game between Xinjiang and Tongxi, Qi Lin angrily scolded the referee and kicked a CBA court advertisement board, potentially facing a suspension. For a team to succeed, it's not just about having a luxurious lineup; player discipline is crucial. If the head coach can't control their star players, they'll only be accompanying others in the playoffs.
Shandong, Guangdong, Zhejiang, and Beijing, these four strong teams, are ranked 6th to 9th respectively. It's worth noting that after achieving a six-game winning streak, Guangdong Men's Basketball currently stands at 7th with a record of 19 wins and 11 losses, one point behind Qingdao in second place. Therefore, Guangdong Men's Basketball has a real chance to break into the top 4 and avoid the first round, making them the true silent wealth accumulator. Other teams may play fiercely, but they still can't create a significant gap with Guangdong. Beijing Men's Basketball, with 19 wins and 9 losses, ranks 9th. Comparing the records and rankings of Guangdong and Beijing, it's clear that Beijing's acquisition of Zhou Qi was a mistaken choice.
Zhou Qi is indeed strong, especially in defense, where he can produce immediate effects. But how many games has he missed this season? Whether due to injuries or colds and fevers, or even slight fevers causing him to sit out, Beijing Men's Basketball probably thought it didn't matter, allowing their main players to rest well and prepare for the playoffs. However, if Zhou Qi's body doesn't quickly adapt to continuous battles, he'll be prone to injuries when facing foreign center players from other teams in the playoffs. One of the main reasons Guangdong Men's Basketball was eliminated by Liaoning last season was Zhou Qi's injury. Beijing brought him in to compete for the championship, but it might have been better to spend heavily on signing a top foreign player, like Shanghai's Lofton or Beikong's Salingger. They've spent a lot of money on Zhou Qi, which could end up being a waste.