Translation of the article content into English:
With Guangdong's 85:77 victory over Guangzhou and Fujian's 121:117 win against Sichuan, the 31st round of the CBA has now concluded. Let's take a look at the latest standings in the CBA.
Latest Standings After Round 31
Appearing as if all 12 teams can compete for the championship
This year's CBA regular season has already "eliminated" the suspense of the playoff race quite early, with the top 12 teams remaining stable and no 13th team vying for a playoff spot.
Looking at the records of the top 12 teams, the gap between them is not significant, giving the impression that any of these 12 teams could potentially compete for the CBA championship this season! However, this is not the case. A team that truly wants to compete for the championship and is capable of doing so must meet three conditions: mental preparation, personnel preparation, and energy reserve. This season, only five teams have such reserves.
Only Five Teams Competing for the Championship
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Liaoning Team: As the defending champions, their goal is singular – to defend their title. There can be no other objective for Liaoning Team. As a team that has won three consecutive championships, they remain the biggest favorites to win the championship this season.
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Guangsha Team: Guangsha Team declared their intention to compete for the championship at the beginning of the season and has indeed invested in foreign players. Currently ranked first in the standings, Bo Ban is also in place, making them the team with the smoothest progress thus far.
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Xinjiang Team: With a rich roster and as last season's runner-up, Xinjiang Team is a perennial powerhouse in the CBA, possessing both depth and strength. Despite facing injury challenges this season, Xinjiang Team is equipped to compete for the championship.
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Shougang Team: Shougang Team has no choice but to compete for the championship; they must seize the golden years of Zhou Qi and Chen Yingjun. With veterans like Zhai Xiaochuan and Fang Shuo entering the later stages of their careers, this season represents the best opportunity for the team to contend for the championship, and they are determined to do so.
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Shanxi Team: Shanxi Club has made it clear that they aim to compete for the championship, having brought in eight foreign players and sufficiently stocked their domestic player reserves. With such significant investment this season and good results, they are undoubtedly aiming for the championship. Li Chunjiang, serving as an advisor, is also focused on winning the title.