Shandong Team Explodes for 104 Points in 7 Minutes, Soaring to 3rd Place Under Coach Qiubiao's Guidance
Shandong Team has emerged as a dark horse this season, transforming from a 15th-place finish last season to a remarkable 20-win, 9-loss record, ranking 6th in the league and becoming a top contender for the top 4 spots!
Despite significant overall progress, Shandong has encountered some issues. In their last four games, they suffered defeats against Guangdong and Shenzhen, two opponents clearly inferior in strength, causing a drop in their rankings and exposing various shortcomings within the team.
Shandong's foreign players possess notable abilities but lack consistency. Gali and Moore are strong offensive players, yet their performances fluctuate. Chris lacks independent scoring capabilities, and there are no absolute offensive standouts among the domestic players. This results in a solid defensive presence but occasional failures on offense, impacting the team's performance.
In their previous game, Shandong suffered an unexpected loss to Shenzhen, missing a golden opportunity to secure the 3rd spot in the league and revealing their weaknesses. Regardless of the opponent, they must remain cautious!
Their next challenge is an away game against Guangzhou Team!
Guangzhou Team has had an average season, securing only 7 wins and 22 losses. The absence of their two key players, Guo Ailun and Xiaoding, has weakened their fighting capacity and motivation. Facing them, Shandong has a significant chance of victory!
Playing away, Shandong did not have much initiative. Chris scored with a self-rebound and putback, Warren responded with a floater, Douglas made a layup, and Liu Yancheng hit a three-pointer, giving Guangzhou the lead! Douglas continued his scoring spree with 5 points, but Shandong, sensing trouble, saw Moore hit two consecutive threes, Xu Mengjun also contributing from beyond the arc. Shandong's explosive run reduced the first-quarter deficit to just 4 points!
Moore made a buzzer-beating floater, Gali scored with a turnaround layup, and in the next play, stole the ball for a fastbreak dunk. Chen Peidong executed a Eurostep layup in transition, and Gao Suyan nailed a three-pointer off a screen, propelling Shandong to a lead reversal! Douglas tried to stem the tide for Guangzhou, but Shandong's relentless attack, including a three-pointer by Chen Peidong and a 2+1 play by Moore, ensured they finished the half up by 3 points!
Returning from halftime, Moore started with a floater, Guo Kai added two points under the basket, Gao Suyan hit a jumper, and Chris completed a 2+1 play under the basket. Gao Suyan followed with another mid-range shot, while Guangzhou's offense stalled, allowing Shandong to extend their lead into double digits! Moore scored again with a contested floater, Chen Peidong drained a corner three-pointer, and Moore added another three, intensifying Shandong's dominance to a 16-point lead!
With a 16-point advantage, Shandong played with increasing relaxation and improved shooting accuracy! Gao Suyan scored 4 points in succession, Yu Dehao hit two threes, and Xie Zhijie made a layup, as Shandong's relentless waves of attacks expanded the lead to over 30 points, effectively ending any suspense in the game. Ultimately, Shandong secured a resounding 121-89 victory on the road against Guangzhou, avoiding back-to-back losses.
Guangzhou Team Stats: Crawford 21 points, 6 rebounds; Douglas 16 points, 3 assists; Dwayne Warren 15 points, 6 assists.
Shandong Team Stats: Moore 22 points, 6 assists; Marcus Chris 22 points, 5 rebounds, 5 steals; Gao Suyan 16 points, 12 assists, 4 rebounds.
Shandong's 32-point victory over Guangzhou was a one-sided affair, with the team delivering an impressive performance. Seven players scored in double figures, collectively exploding to secure the win!
Moore shone with 22 points, Chris also scored 22 points with inside-out contributions, and Gao Suyan displayed his versatility with 16 points and 12 assists, effectively driving the team. Gali, Hou Peizuo, and Chen Peidong all contributed to the victory with their scoring prowess!
After defeating Guangzhou, Shandong's record improved to 21 wins and 9 losses, surpassing many teams to climb to 3rd place in the league. Last season, they were only 15th, but under Coach Qiubiao's guidance, they have made tremendous strides, akin to riding a rocket. His adept coaching has fully activated the team, leading Shandong to a remarkable resurgence!