On January 17th, Beijing time, the CBA regular season saw Shanghai play away against Shanxi. Shanghai's foreign aid, Lofton, returned after being sidelined for two games due to injury. Despite trailing by 11 points, Shanghai managed to catch up to a 79-79 score in the first three quarters. However, Shanxi regained the lead in the final quarter. Shanghai continued to fight back and close the gap, but Diyallo and Zhang Ning scored crucial goals in the closing moments, extending their lead by double digits. Ultimately, Shanghai suffered a 100-111 defeat at the hands of Shanxi, marking their second consecutive loss, while Shanxi secured their third consecutive win, consolidating their position as second in the league.
Statistical highlights from the game include:
Shanghai: Lofton returned with 34 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 turnovers; Wang Zhelin scored 7 points and grabbed 5 rebounds with an 8-for-3 shooting record; Li Tianrong attempted 10 shots without scoring a single point; Li Hongquan contributed 21 points and 9 rebounds with four three-pointers; and Bradso added 20 points, 7 assists, and 6 turnovers.
Shanxi: Diyallo had a comprehensive performance with 25 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, and 4 blocks; Goodwin scored 16 points with 6 rebounds and 9 assists; Yuan Shuai made six three-pointers for a total of 20 points; Zhang Ning contributed 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists; Jia Mingru scored 14 points; and Giles added 10 points.
Lofton's absence in the previous game, which ended Shanghai's winning streak against Liaoning, left doubts about the true strength of his team. It is worth noting that during their 16-game winning streak, the strongest opponent they faced was Zhejiang, who themselves were not performing well due to injuries and foreign player issues in the second stage.
In today's match, Shanghai largely stuck to their playing style from their winning streak. However, their tactics seemed to have been thoroughly studied by Shanxi. As the game entered the critical fourth quarter, even though Bradso repeatedly overpowered Jia Mingru, coach Pan Jiang did not replace him. Eventually, after a couple of intense plays, Bradso ran out of energy, prompting Lofton's early return to the court.
Upon Lofton's re-entry, coach Pan Jiang quickly adjusted his lineup. Observing that Shanghai had benched their key player, he immediately removed Liu Chuanxing and instead deployed the not particularly tall Jiao Hailong to guard Lofton, while reducing double-teaming. Consequently, although Lofton could still score, he found it increasingly difficult due to Jiao Hailong's defense. Crucially, Shanxi's defense remained organized, preventing the "Two Lis" from getting open shots, as most of their attempts from beyond the arc were contested and unsuccessful.
On the other hand, Shanghai's Liu Zheng and Li Tianrong each allowed an uncontested three-pointer from Yuan Shuai. With Diyallo joining the fray, the pressure on Lofton was shared, leaving only "Little Fatty" as the sole scorer for Shanghai. This was clearly insufficient to compete against Shanxi, where Zhang Ning, Diyallo, and Yuan Shuai were all contributing goals.
This defeat serves as a wake-up call for Shanghai. Against stronger opponents, they cannot maintain their usual ease and fluidity. Unless Lofton can score in every possession or the "Two Lis" can hit those contested three-pointers, Shanghai's problems will persist.