Last night's CBA regular season featured only two matches: one a battle between strong teams, the other a mismatch in strength. The game between Liaoning and Shanghai was closely contested, with Liaoning eventually securing a narrow three-point victory. In contrast, Xinjiang easily overcame the struggling Jiangsu team, ending their two-game losing streak.
In this match, Xinjiang displayed a balanced attack with six players scoring in double figures, dominating Jiangsu throughout and showcasing their offensive prowess. Jiangsu, on the other hand, had only four players reach double figures, leaving the outcome of the game largely without suspense. However, Xinjiang's victory seemed to have little to do with one particular player. Indeed, it was Qi Lin, who has repeatedly faced penalties from the CBA company, that put in a dismal performance last night. Despite playing for 29 minutes, he managed only 1 out of 12 shots, an abysmal display that could be described as nothing short of a shooting disaster. His final stats read 2 points and 1 assist, with a team-low plus-minus of -16. It would not be inaccurate to say that Xinjiang's win had nothing to do with him.
Qi Lin's recent form has been abysmal; apart from his poor showing last night, he also struggled in the previous game against Nanjing Tongxi. There, he again missed most of his shots, going 2 out of 10 in 25 minutes, including a mere 1 out of 6 from beyond the arc, scoring just 7 points. His plus-minus in that game was also the lowest on the team at -12. Despite his limited skills, his temper is significant, as evidenced by his angry outburst towards the referee, which earned him a technical foul, and his kicking of an advertising board. He also made veiled criticisms of the referees on social media, resulting in a fine of 30,000 yuan. The CBA company showed leniency by not penalizing him for kicking the advertising board; otherwise, he might have faced suspension or additional fines.
Compared to last season, Qi Lin's statistics have plummeted dramatically. His scoring average has dropped from 17.9 points to 13.8 points, his field goal percentage from 47% to 41%, and his three-point shooting from 41% to 31%, lower even than the "two lifts" on the guard line. Currently, Qi Lin's three-point shooting is highly inconsistent, and his scoring ability has diminished. Yet, his bad temper has escalated, and he has taken on airs of a big shot, with an inflated ego. On the court, he has clashed with referees and opponents alike. Just 20 days ago, he was suspended for three games and fined 100,000 yuan, yet he has shown no signs of repentance. Recently, he received another fine of 30,000 yuan. His immaturity and poor emotional control have turned him into a ticking time bomb, negatively impacting the team's performance and results—traits typical of a cancer within the team. Not only is he harming himself, but he is also damaging the team. It seems that unless he reflects on his actions, he will be finished.
In the past, some people considered him an overlooked gem for the national team, advocating for him and criticizing Guo Shiqiang for not including him. But what has become of him now? His statistics are not even on par with the guards, so how could he possibly qualify for the national team? What do you think?