After Guo Ailun's departure, he became the undisputed core of the Liaoning basketball team, enjoying all the resources of the team. However, his performance has disappointed fans. Not only that, but his temper has also grown worse. First, when a teammate missed an open basket, he directly let out a string of curses. Then, he showed disrespect to two veteran players within the team, Han Dejun and Li Xiaoxu, by glaring at them, completely lacking the demeanor of a leader.
In the recently concluded match against Shanghai, there was a detail worth noting for fans. The pass to young player Yu Zechen was clearly too low, yet Zhao Jiwei kept scolding Yu Zechen. This is just a snapshot of Zhao Jiwei's season so far. Since his return this season, Zhao Jiwei's form has been poor, which corresponds with Liaoning's fluctuating results.
Currently, it appears that Zhao Jiwei's performance has significantly declined after losing high-quality screens. It is no longer advisable for him to be the tactical core. Previously, Morand's strengths masked Zhao Jiwei's weaknesses. The team should pivot around the two small foreign players, using Zhao Jiwei as the ball-handler across half-court and as a transition point in tactics. If Wang Lianqin is in good form, he should be given priority over the current Zhao Jiwei, as Wang Lianqin possesses individual attacking capabilities.
Zhao Jiwei should adapt to the new winning system of the team instead of having the team revolve around him. Liaoning can still maintain stability on the surface, largely relying on Ferguson, supplemented by Wells. When Zhao Jiwei, Ferguson, and Wells are on the court together, their combined offensive output is less than three, as they all require the ball.
The seven-person rotation in four quarters has no limit in weakening Zhao Jiwei and Fu Hao, and Morand was even released to Guangdong. As a result, the combination of Morand and Xu Jie is currently thriving.
The current Liaoning lineup is riddled with flaws, lacking speed and relying solely on shooting accuracy. Zhao Jiwei, when not in form, recklessly passes and attempts difficult shots. Han Dejun's free-throw shooting is always a significant issue, especially in critical moments when points are lost and defense is lacking. Li Xiaoxu, aware of his poor three-point shooting percentage, still attempts five to six three-pointers per game. Yang Ming has few tactics and cannot effectively defend against the opponent's pick-and-roll threes. Fu Hao's defensive lapses often lead to easy shots that he fails to convert. Unless new signings perform beyond expectations, it will be challenging to change the situation.
After Guo Ailun left, he became the biggest star in Liaoning. Judging from the offseason, all of Liaoning's resources were tilted towards him. After Guo Ailun's departure, Zhao Jiwei no longer needs to play as he did before. For him, success has been achieved, and after three consecutive championships, he may not have the same desire for the title as before. No one denies Zhao Jiwei's contributions, but when his current form negatively impacts the team, it's time to consider replacing him.
With the increased role of foreign players this season, once he relaxes, it becomes easy for him to underperform, and Liaoning fans should lower their expectations. They should observe if any new talents can emerge within the team. It has been three years since Guangdong's three consecutive titles, and their fans have moved past that phase. Liaoning fans still need time to adjust.