After watching Guangdong team defeat Shandong in this match, my heart is truly filled with mixed feelings. As an old Guangdong fan, it's hard not to feel concerned seeing Xu Jie averaging 43 minutes of high-intensity playing time this season. However, this game has given me a glimmer of hope.
What surprised me most about this game is that Xu Jie finally got to rest during the decisive moments of the fourth quarter! You see, in previous games, he was always on the court for a solid 46 minutes. Who is behind this change? It's Huang Rongqi and Ren Junfei, this new-old partnership.
Speaking of Huang Rongqi, this young man is truly a gem. Since joining the Guangdong team, he has been improving in every game, from being a defensive specialist at the beginning to now becoming an all-around guard. The speed of his progress is simply astonishing.
Look at him averaging 21 minutes of playing time per game, scoring just slightly less than Du Runwang. With such performance, it's fair to say that Zhu Fangyu and Du Feng have really found a treasure.
The way Ren Junfei is used is also quite interesting. Du Feng pairs him with Morland in the fourth quarter, which is a brilliant move. Ren Junfei not only has the ability to "steal" points but also excels in assisting and directing. On the court, he's like a traffic cop, organizing the team's offense in an orderly manner.
Did you notice that although Huang Rongqi didn't score in the fourth quarter, he made two breakthroughs to pass the ball to Ren Junfei for scores, catching the opponents off guard. Huang Rongqi's style of play reminds me of Guo Ailun from back in the day, fast and fierce, especially reliable in critical moments.
Honestly, I'm really worried that Xu Jie might run into problems if he keeps pushing himself so hard. In the last game against Tianjin, Xu Jie was off the court for only a minute before the score started to catch up. Now, with the help of Huang Rongqi and Ren Junfei, Xu Jie can finally catch his breath.
Guangdong team's frontcourt has indeed been a big issue this season. But look at how Du Feng handles it, letting Jilunwater go all out in the third quarter, then using the frontcourt combination of Ren Junfei and Morland in the fourth quarter. This adjustment is truly impressive.
By the way, I've heard recently that Zhu Fangyu is looking for a fourth foreign player, hoping to find a reliable helper like Huang Rongqi.
I must say, Guangdong team is really lucky this time. Huang Rongqi is like a gift from the sky, capable not only in defense but also in organizing and shooting. Watching him grow more confident with each game, I believe Xu Jie should be able to rest for an extra five minutes in each game without any issues.