In the CBA regular season, a focus match took place with Zhejiang team hosting Liaoning team. After four quarters of competition, Zhejiang team emerged victorious with a significant 101-88 win over Liaoning team, securing a 13-point lead. This victory allowed Zhejiang to avenge their loss to Liaoning in the CBA opening game. Concurrently, Zhejiang climbed to third place in the CBA standings with a record of 22 wins and 11 losses, surpassing Liaoning.
During the first half of the game, both teams were locked in a tight battle, trading blows back and forth. At halftime, Liaoning led Zhejiang by 2 points with a score of 49-47. However, in the second half, Zhejiang's small foreign aid, York, displayed an exceptional performance, continuously sinking three-pointers that Liaoning found difficult to defend against. Despite Yang Ming's multiple defensive adjustments, they were unable to contain York, who scored six three-pointers in the third quarter alone, accumulating 23 points and helping Zhejiang win the quarter by 10 points over Liaoning.
Carrying an 8-point advantage into the fourth quarter, Liaoning fought tenaciously but struggled with low overall shooting accuracy, allowing Zhejiang to maintain the upper hand. Ultimately, Zhejiang secured the victory with a 13-point lead in this pivotal CBA match.
Following the game, former CBA head coach Liu Tie provided his analysis, attributing Zhejiang's victory over Liaoning to four main reasons:
Firstly, Zhejiang's defense against Fug was excellent. In previous encounters, the games were intense, with Fug often stepping up to hit crucial shots that ultimately favored Liaoning. However, in this match, Zhejiang effectively stifled Fug's performance, particularly in the fourth quarter where his offensive efficiency was notably low. Fug finished the game with a negative plus-minus of -18, highlighting the success of Zhejiang's defensive strategy against him.
Secondly, Zhejiang's perimeter defense was commendable. Throughout the game, Liaoning attempted 34 three-pointers but only managed to convert 9, resulting in a meager 26% three-point shooting percentage. Under Zhejiang's high-pressure defense, Liaoning's three-point shooting accuracy was significantly hindered.
Thirdly, Zhejiang's small foreign aid, York, delivered an outstanding performance. In the third quarter, York entered an invincible mode, effortlessly scoring from beyond the arc. He single-handedly made six three-pointers and tallied 23 points in that quarter alone, completely overwhelming Liaoning. By the end of the game, York had made eight three-pointers, contributing a total of 31 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists, becoming the key player in Zhejiang's victory.
Fourthly, Zhejiang capitalized on its youthful advantage to engage in a war of attrition with Liaoning. In the fourth quarter, Zhejiang utilized its younger lineup to wear down Liaoning, achieving a very effective outcome.
Liu Tie's analysis largely encapsulates the reasons behind Zhejiang's victory. What are your thoughts, esteemed readers?
Individual statistics for both teams:
Liaoning had five players score in double figures: Fug with 23 points, 4 assists, and 3 rebounds; Wells with 18 points, 3 assists, and 2 rebounds; Yan Shouqi with 14 points and 2 rebounds; Han Dejun with 10 points, 1 assist, and 14 rebounds; and Weber with 10 points, 1 assist, and 8 rebounds. Other notable performances include Zhao Jiwei with 6 points, 2 assists, and 1 rebound; Li Xiaoxu with 5 points, 2 assists, and 6 rebounds; and Wang Lanqin with 2 points and 2 rebounds.
Zhejiang also had three players score in double figures: York with 31 points, 6 assists, and 8 rebounds; Jones with 25 points, 4 assists, and 16 rebounds; and Cheng Shaipeng with 22 points, 2 assists, and 2 rebounds. Additional contributions came from Wang Yibo with 7 points, 3 assists, and 1 rebound; Yu Jiahao with 7 points and 10 rebounds; Lu Wenbo with 5 points, 2 assists, 1 rebound, and 3 steals; and Wang Zailu with 2 points and 5 rebounds.