The second stage of the CBA regular season is in full swing, but Guangdong Hongyuan Men's Basketball Team's performance has been disappointing. In a recently concluded game, Guangdong lost badly to their old rival Zhejiang at home, becoming the focus of public discussion. As the schedule approaches the halfway point, Guangdong has only managed a record of 12 wins and 10 losses, causing many fans to worry about their playoff qualification.
Speaking of Guangdong's performance this season, the foreign player issue has almost become the biggest hidden danger. Although the team has introduced new faces like Bazley and Les, to be honest, the ones who can really hold up under pressure are still the familiar faces of Morand and Jilunwalt. Especially in the game against Zhejiang, Bazley's performance did not meet expectations, and the other new foreign player Les was even more disappointing, with his individual ability not as good as the previously cut Armstrong.
In response to this situation, Zhu Fangyu, general manager of Guangdong, openly stated that the team is actively looking for a fifth foreign player. From the current situation, Guangdong urgently needs a "No. 3 position" player who can break the deadlock on the offensive end, and this player must have strong independent offensive capabilities as well as the standard height and wingspan of a forward. It can be said that finding such a suitable foreign player has become the primary problem that Guangdong must solve next.
When it comes to foreign forwards, one name naturally comes to mind - Landzberg. This old acquaintance of the CBA has had outstanding performances with Zhejiang and Beikong teams. His playing style is somewhat similar to Ma Shang, both being typical rhythm-type offensive players. And unlike many of the "unsuccessful" foreign players in the team now, Landzberg's style is direct and efficient, making him very suitable for Guangdong's current needs.
Why is Landzberg a good choice? First, his scoring ability is unquestionable. What Guangdong needs most right now is a scorer who can "take over the game" at critical moments, and Landzberg has proven this in past CBA games. Second, his height and wingspan fully meet the requirements of the standard No. 3 position, which just makes up for Guangdong's current forward weakness. More importantly, his personal contract is not expensive, which is also an advantage for Guangdong with limited budget.
Landzberg is not just a pure scorer; his athleticism and physical quality can also help the team defensively. Although he may seem somewhat "independent" in his playing style, for the current Guangdong team, this kind of player who can stand alone is exactly what they urgently need.
Comparing the current foreign player situation of the team, there is an obvious compatibility issue between Bazley and Morand, and Les' abilities give people no hope. If Guangdong chooses to continue cutting Bazley and introduce Landzberg, it would undoubtedly be the most stable reinforcement plan at present. Even if he only exists as the fourth foreign player, he can form a good rotation combination with Jilunwalt and Morand, greatly enhancing the team's competitiveness on both offense and defense.
In the past few seasons, Guangdong became the most dominant team in the league because of super foreign players like Weems and Ma Shang. However, due to poor foreign player performance this season, the team's record has declined, and overall morale has also been affected. If Landzberg can join, it might inject vitality into the team's offensive end again.
Of course, all this still depends on the final decision of Zhu Fangyu and Du Feng. Although Landzberg is not a perfect choice, he may be the most suitable foreign forward for Guangdong in the current market. If Guangdong can seize this opportunity, they may still have a chance to turn the tide and re-impact the playoffs in the upcoming games.
The road ahead is not easy, but if they can find a strong supplement like Landzberg, Guangdong can at least increase their chances of winning. For fans, this may be the turning point they have long awaited. Let's wait and see if Landzberg will become Guangdong's "lifeline."