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In the fiercely competitive arena of the CBA 2024-25 season, with the schedule quietly reaching its halfway point, teams have gone through multiple rounds of fierce battles, and the recruitment work has basically settled. Although some teams are still making minor adjustments, the overall pattern has already begun to take shape. At this moment, the CBA rankings are like a mirror, clearly reflecting the true state of each team. Previously, there were shocking upsets on the court, with Liaoning team suffering a penalty shootout defeat by Qingdao team, and Xinjiang team unexpectedly losing to Tongxi, which led to new changes in the rankings. Let us delve deeper into the mysteries behind these results.
Among many teams, Guangsha men's basketball team's performance can be called a model of stability. With an impressive record of 25 wins and 4 losses, they firmly occupy the top spot. Their rhythm control on the court is like a precise clock, with each transition from offense to defense being just right. If they can continue to maintain such a good momentum, the trophy for the regular season championship seems to be beckoning to them. However, just as there is always shadow behind the sun, Guangsha men's basketball team also faces an issue that cannot be ignored - the risk of injury. Two core players of the team, Hu Jinqiu and Sun Minghui, have been plagued by injuries frequently in previous years, as if shrouded by the gloom of injuries, becoming known as "glass men" in the eyes of many. For Guangsha men's basketball team, who aspire to achieve something in this season and even compete for the 2025 championship to fill the regret of no championship in the team's history, ensuring that the lineup remains intact in the playoffs is undoubtedly the top priority. Imagine that in the playoffs, every game is like an intense battle, and if the core players are absent due to injury, it will be a huge blow to the team. Therefore, fans are eagerly looking forward to Guangsha men's basketball team successfully solving the injury problems and advancing in the playoffs with a complete and powerful lineup.
Qingdao team follows closely behind at No. 2, Liaoning team is temporarily ranked No. 3, and Shanxi team ranks No. 4. The performance of Qingdao and Shanxi teams this season can be called amazing, like two dark horses emerging out of nowhere. At the beginning of the season, few could have predicted that these two teams would be so strong. However, in the fierce competition, whether or not they can win the championship does not solely depend on the temporary glory of the regular season. Although Qingdao and Shanxi teams have shown great strength in the regular season, they still face many challenges on the road to the championship. Taking Shanxi men's basketball team as an example, their unique fast-paced style of play is like a double-edged sword. On the court, this style of play can make opponents fall into chaos in a short time and become unstable. The players' rapid offensive rhythm often catches opponents off guard. But at the same time, this style of play also comes with a high turnover rate and insufficient rebounding security. Imagine that in a tense and exciting game, frequent turnovers are like giving opponents easy scoring opportunities again and again, and failure to secure rebounds means losing many chances for second-chance offense. In the playoffs, facing stronger and more tactically mature opponents, these weaknesses are likely to be infinitely magnified, becoming stumbling blocks hindering the team's progress.
Liaoning team, as a traditional powerhouse, is still a strong contender for the championship. In this team, Zhang Zhenlin's role has become increasingly prominent, and he can be considered a key link in the front line of the defending champion. His impact on the court is like a high-speed heavy tank, capable of easily tearing apart the opponent's defense. His excellent defensive ability is like a solid shield, building a strong barrier for the team. In terms of fast breaks, Zhang Zhenlin is even more like a sharp dagger, often able to strike at the opponent's vital points before they can react. His presence fills the gap in the front line of the current Liaoning team, adding significant weight to the team's championship quest.
Looking back at Xinjiang men's basketball team, despite having a luxurious lineup, they face many difficulties in their pursuit of the championship. The coaching ability of head coach Liu Wei has become a major concern for the team. The team has repeatedly suffered unexpected defeats in matches, such as being reversed by Shanxi team with a 25-point lead and losing to the bottom-ranked Fujian team. These defeats are not accidental and reflect problems in tactical arrangements and on-site command. Moreover, the discipline of Xinjiang team players has also been questioned. Zhao Rui collided with the referee, Qi Lin angrily scolded the referee and kicked the advertising board of the CBA court during the match against Tongxi. These behaviors not only damage the image of the team but may also result in players facing suspension penalties. A team that wants to succeed not only needs a strong lineup but also requires good discipline and team spirit. When the head coach fails to effectively manage star players and lacks disciplinary constraints within the team, even with a luxurious lineup, they can only become a supporting role in the fierce competition of the playoffs.
Turning our attention to the four strong teams of Shandong, Guangdong, Zhejiang, and Beijing, they are ranked 6th to 9th respectively. Among them, Guangdong men's basketball team's performance is particularly noteworthy. After achieving six consecutive victories, Guangdong men's basketball team is ranked 7th with a record of 19 wins and 11 losses, only one point behind the second-placed Qingdao team. Behind this achievement lies the relentless efforts and outstanding performances of all the players of Guangdong men's basketball team. Guangdong men's basketball team can be described as a team that knows how to "accumulate wealth silently." While other teams are fighting fiercely on the court, they move steadily without making noise, maintaining a tight competitive stance with the leading teams, making it difficult for opponents to pull away.
In stark contrast to this is Beijing men's basketball team, ranked 9th with a record of 19 wins and 9 losses. Comparing the rankings of Guangdong and Beijing, it is not difficult to find that Beijing men's basketball team's decision to introduce Zhou Qi seems to have many problems. There is no doubt about Zhou Qi's strength, especially on the defensive end, where he acts like a solid barrier, causing great obstacles to the opponent's offense and often producing immediate effects. However, regrettably, Zhou Qi's number of appearances this season is not satisfactory. It is not due to injuries but being plagued by colds and other illnesses, and sometimes he chooses to rest even with just a slight fever. Beijing men's basketball team may have originally thought that allowing the main players to rest appropriately could help them save energy for the playoffs. However, they overlooked an important issue: if Zhou Qi's body cannot quickly adapt to the intensity of continuous battles, then in the playoffs, facing foreign center players from other teams, he is very likely to get injured due to physical weakness. Looking back at Guangdong men's basketball team's experience last season, Zhou Qi's injury was one of the main reasons why the team lost to Liaoning team and was eventually eliminated. Beijing men's basketball team introduced Zhou Qi with the intention of competing for the championship, but judging from the current situation, instead of investing a large amount of funds in Zhou Qi, it might be better to sign a top foreign player like Shanghai team signing Lofton or Beikong team signing Salinge, which might bring a more stable performance to the team. Otherwise, the huge investment of Beijing men's basketball team in Zhou Qi is likely to go down the drain, ending up with nothing but a basket full of water.
Guangdong men's basketball team's performance this season is commendable. Among the team, Jilunwote's performance has become increasingly outstanding, already showing the style of Mashang-Brooks in his prime. On the court, his main task is to score, and he always excels in completing this mission. Scoring over 20 points in half a game has become as easy as a daily routine for him. Xu Jie's performance this season is also very eye-catching. With his excellent ball-handling and scoring abilities, he has transformed himself into the team's "little foreign aid." Moreover, Morand performs comprehensively on both offense and defense, providing strong support for the team whether it is in interior defense or rebounding. Bazley's offensive state is gradually recovering, and he often contributes key scores on the court. On the bench, there is also Hu Mingxuan with remarkable skills, which undoubtedly provides a strong guarantee for the depth of the team's lineup. Although Guangdong team currently lacks another foreign aid who can attack besides Jilunwote, even so, relying on the outstanding performance of the existing lineup, they have already possessed the strength to challenge for the championship and have the potential to become one of the biggest championship favorites this season.