If someone were to ask which CBA team performed the best in the second stage, it would undoubtedly be Shanghai's men's basketball team. As a team that ranked last in the league during the first stage, they have now achieved an impressive 16-game winning streak in the second stage, propelling them directly into the top twelve rankings. However, they are about to face their strongest opponent yet, and this winning streak is likely to come to an end.
In the recent period, although Shanghai's men's basketball team has achieved a 16-game winning streak, they have rarely encountered strong teams. This time, they will meet the reigning champion Liaoning men's basketball team. The match will take place at 7:35 pm tonight, and CCTV5+ will broadcast the game live, which will undoubtedly be a huge test for the Shanghai team. (This will be played at Liaoning's home court.)
As the defending champions, Liaoning has seen a decline in strength due to injuries and player aging, but they still possess the championship pedigree and experience. This season, they have achieved a record of 20 wins and 10 losses, ranking fifth in the league. In the past period, with the return of Zhao Jiwei and the arrival of the big foreign aid, the team's lineup has gradually become more complete, and they are sure to pose a significant challenge to the Shanghai team, perhaps even the strongest opponent they have faced in the second stage. If they can win this game, it will be a huge encouragement for the team.
Furthermore, in the previous game, neither Lofton nor Li Tianrong participated. According to the interview with head coach Lu Wei, Lofton seems to have been injured. If this is indeed the case, it will be even more troublesome for the Shanghai team. Lofton has played 18 games for Shanghai this season, averaging 31.1 minutes per game, scoring 24.4 points, grabbing 13.1 rebounds, dishing out 6.7 assists, making 1.7 steals, and blocking 0.9 shots, with a shooting percentage as high as 56.4%. He is the absolute contributor to the team's long-term winning streak and victories. If he doesn't play, the team's strength will undoubtedly suffer a severe blow.
On the other hand, Li Tianrong also missed the last game due to a cold. Many players from various teams have recently suffered from influenza, experiencing symptoms such as colds and fevers. If Li Tianrong were to miss another game, Shanghai's personnel usage would truly be stretched thin. It should be noted that Li Tianrong has had the best performance of his career this season, averaging 31.6 minutes per game, scoring 16.2 points, grabbing 3 rebounds, and dishing out 1.9 assists, with a shooting percentage of 54.3% and a three-point shooting percentage as high as 50%, making him the most accurate outside shooter among all CBA players. He is able to provide sufficient outside support for the Shanghai team.
Losing one of these two key players might be manageable, but losing both and hoping to defeat the defending champions is akin to daydreaming. It should be remembered that the last game was against Jiangsu, whose strength is very different from Liaoning's. It is understandable that they won that game, but Liaoning is strong both inside and outside, and they will not give Shanghai any easy scoring opportunities. Moreover, Shanghai's upcoming schedule is not easy; after playing Liaoning, they will also face Shanxi and Guangdong, neither of which is an easy opponent.