Zhejiang Men's Basketball Team has finally found its form after a season of ups and downs, securing an impressive 9-game winning streak in their last 10 matches, with a record of 9 wins and 1 loss, propelling them to the second position in the league. This strong winning streak not only reasserts their strength but also lays a solid foundation for the upcoming season sprint. How did Zhejiang achieve this? How do they maintain a strong comeback in adversity?
Schedule Advantage: Easy Matches Boost Winning Momentum
It is undeniable that Zhejiang benefited from a relatively easy schedule during this winning streak. Although they faced some strong teams at the beginning of the season, such as Shanghai, in the recent 10 games, most of their opponents were lower-ranked teams, many of which were plagued by injuries. In these matches, Zhejiang's only loss was a significant defeat against Shanghai, while they managed to win the rest.
For instance, teams like Guangzhou, Qingdao, Tianjin, Ningbo, Sichuan, Beikong, Guangdong, and Shenzhen were unable to stop Zhejiang's winning streak. Particularly, Qingdao played without their core foreign player, Weatherspoon, and their main forward, Wang Ruize, due to injuries; Guangdong also struggled with injuries, lacking firepower in crucial moments despite some stunning performances; Beikong had some bright spots but fell far short of expectations this season, currently ranking only 10th.
Roster Depth: The Declining Importance of Four Foreign Players and Wu Qian
Besides the relatively relaxed schedule, another key factor contributing to Zhejiang's consecutive victories is their excellent roster depth. Zhejiang currently has four foreign players, boasting substantial strength. Even with Wu Qian encountering injury troubles this season and his core status gradually diminishing within the team, Zhejiang has maintained a steady performance and winning momentum.
Especially when Wu Qian was temporarily out due to injury, other players stepped up, particularly supplementing the height inside and the firepower outside effectively. Notably, Zhejiang no longer relies entirely on Wu Qian's scoring, with other players' explosiveness and the foreign players' contributions allowing the team to operate efficiently even in tough times.
Challenges Ahead: The Upcoming Tough Schedule
Despite showcasing their formidable strength during the winning streak, starting mid-January, Zhejiang will face a more challenging schedule. Beginning January 11th, they will successively play against strong opponents like Beijing, Guangsha, Shandong, Liaoning, and Guangsha again. This stretch of matches will undoubtedly pose a significant challenge to Zhejiang.
Facing these strong teams, Zhejiang's roster depth and overall strength will be severely tested. Beijing and Liaoning are undeniably powerful, and Guangsha and Shandong are also formidable opponents this season. Against these teams, Zhejiang's injury issues, foreign players' form, and overall tactical execution will all be subject to higher demands.
In the upcoming games, if Zhejiang can maintain their current form and continue to leverage their roster depth, they have the potential to stand out among these strong opponents and maintain their leading position in the league. However, if they encounter unfavorable situations during this tough schedule, they may face pressure or even suffer consecutive losses. Therefore, how to adjust the team's state, stay healthy, and especially in the absence of Wu Qian and foreign player Bass, how to effectively utilize the power of other players will be crucial for Zhejiang to extend their winning record.
Conclusion: Zhejiang's Rise Requires Constant Vigilance
In summary, Zhejiang's ability to secure the current 9-game winning streak is undoubtedly due to the easy schedule, but the roster depth and the gradual decline of Wu Qian's importance also kept the team competitive. However, in the coming season, Zhejiang will face even more severe challenges, especially the tough schedule filled with strong opponents that will demand higher combat capabilities from them. If Zhejiang can promptly adjust their state and address issues with injuries and absent foreign players, they will have the opportunity to continue occupying a favorable position in the league and even launch a championship assault.
Regardless, Zhejiang Men's Basketball Team's rise remains full of suspense. The upcoming games will determine whether they can truly achieve their goals at the beginning of the season and continue to progress further.