Shandong Team, the dark horse of this season, has transformed from a 15th place finish last season to a remarkable 20 wins and 9 losses this season, ranking 6th in the league and becoming one of the top contenders for the top 4!
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.
The foreign players of Shandong are strong but inconsistent. Gaili and Moore are offensive powerhouses, yet their performances fluctuate. Chris lacks independent scoring ability, and there are no absolute offensive standouts among the domestic players. This results in a solid defensive intensity but occasional failures in offense, affecting the team's performance.
In the previous game, Shandong suffered an upset loss to Shenzhen, missing the opportunity to secure third place in the league and revealing their weaknesses. Regardless of the opponent, they need to be cautious!
The next match saw Shandong face off against Guangzhou away from home!
Guangzhou's performance this season has been average, with only 7 wins and 22 losses. The absence of their two key players, Guo Ailun and Xiaoding, has resulted in mediocre fighting capabilities and insufficient momentum. Facing them, Shandong had a great chance to win!
Playing away, Shandong did not have much initiative. Chris scored on a self-rebound 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, ending the first quarter with the deficit narrowed to just 4 points!
Moore made a buzzer-beating floater, Gaili scored on a turnaround layup, and in the next play, stole the ball for a fastbreak dunk. Chen Peidong countered with a Eurostep layup, and Gao Suyan nailed a three-pointer behind a screen, propelling Shandong to a direct reversal in score! Douglas tried to stop the bleeding for Guangzhou, but Shandong's relentless attack continued, with Chen Peidong hitting a three and Moore completing a 2+1. At halftime, Shandong had overtaken by 3 points!
Returning from halftime, Moore started with a floater, Guo Kai added two points under the basket, Gao Suyan made a jumper, and Chris completed a 2+1 under the basket. Gao Suyan followed up 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, and Moore continued his scoring streak with another three-pointer, increasing the gap between the two teams to 16 points!
Leading by 16 points, Shandong played more relaxedly with an increasing shooting percentage. Gao Suyan scored 4 points in a row, Yu Dehao hit two consecutive threes, and Xie Zhijie made a layup, extending the lead to over 30 points and effectively ending the suspense of the game. Ultimately, Shandong won big on the road, 121-89 against Guangzhou, avoiding a losing streak.
Guangzhou's stats: Crawford with 21 points and 6 rebounds; Douglas with 16 points and 3 assists; Dwayne Warren with 15 points and 6 assists.
Shandong's stats: Moore with 22 points and 6 assists; Marcus Chris with 22 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 steals; Gao Suyan with 16 points, 12 assists, and 4 rebounds.
The 32-point victory over Guangzhou was a complete one-sided affair, with Shandong's outstanding performance featuring seven players scoring in double figures, collectively exploding to secure the win!
Moore scored 22 points in an impressive display, Chris also contributed 22 points with a balanced inside-outside game, and Gao Suyan showcased his versatility with 16 points and 12 assists, effectively driving the team. Gaili, Hou Peizuo, and Chen Peidong all joined the scoring spree, leading the team to victory!
After defeating Guangzhou, Shandong's record improved to 21 wins and 9 losses, surpassing many teams to rise to third place in the league. Last season, they were only 15th in the league, but they have made tremendous strides, akin to riding a rocket. The head coach, Qiu Biao, is undoubtedly deserving of great credit for his effective coaching, fully activating the team and leading Shandong to its rise!