Shenzhen's Cold Snap, Long-Drought Meeting the Timely Rain Defeats the League's First Guangsha, Let's See What the Head Coach Says After the Game
Shenzhen's performance in this game was like a thunderous punch from the sky, delivering a crushing blow to Guangsha and leaving them disoriented. Initially, it seemed that Guangsha was invincible this season, firmly seated at the top of the league. However, they suffered a significant setback on Shenzhen's home court.
The scoreline left everyone stunned as Shenzhen triumphed over Guangsha with a decisive 101-77 victory, toppling the league leaders from their throne. This win served as a morale booster for Shenzhen, temporarily lifting them out of their difficulties.
This victory meant more than just a single game win for Shenzhen. It was a powerful statement of their resilience, declaring to the world that they were not ready to give up.
Facing the league-leading Guangsha, Shenzhen not only played brilliantly but also completely stifled Guangsha, leaving no room for doubt in the match.
Looking at the score, one could describe it as a foregone conclusion; Guangsha had no chance of a comeback!
Firstly, Shenzhen's overall performance was outstanding. From the opening tip-off to the players' relentless hustle, Shenzhen was everywhere on the court.
Especially Johnson, who played like he was injected with adrenaline, soaring throughout the game. In 31 minutes, he scored 22 points, grabbed 4 rebounds, and dished out 7 assists, becoming the team's engine!
He controlled the game's rhythm impeccably, especially on defense, where his steals made Guangsha's players want to cry.
Congratulations to Shenzhen for finding their star player; with Johnson's support, the other players played with increased confidence.
Then there was He Xinjing, a true workhorse on the court. In 38 minutes, he scored 17 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, dished out 7 assists, and made 4 steals, showcasing his versatility on both ends of the court.
Seeing him constantly running and securing key rebounds, helping the team improve on both offense and defense, was truly exciting!
Thompson was another pleasant surprise, dominating the game with 15 rebounds in just 29 minutes, along with 13 points, leading Shenzhen to out-rebound Guangsha.
You must know that Hu Jinqiu of Guangsha is a formidable inside player, but Thompson acted as an impenetrable barrier, neutralizing Guangsha's inside attack.
Simply put, it was almost impossible for Guangsha to challenge Shenzhen inside.
As for Zhou Peng, the veteran's performance was also commendable. In 16 minutes on the court, he scored 12 points and grabbed 3 rebounds. Although his playing time was not extensive, his impact was significant, especially with his crucial scores that stabilized the game.
Despite his age, Zhou Peng's experience and stability shone through in this match.
In contrast to Shenzhen's strong showing, Guangsha presented a stark contrast. As the current league leaders, Guangsha appeared caught off guard by Shenzhen.
In the first two quarters, their defense was completely disrupted by Shenzhen, with frequent misses on outside shots and no breakthroughs in inside attacks.
Although Brown tried his best, he couldn't carry the team alone. His 30 points were in vain without adequate support from his teammates.
Hu Jinqiu, despite his tenacity, found no easy scoring opportunities against Shenzhen's staunch defense, watching helplessly as the score widened.
Initially, Guangsha seemed relaxed, leading Shenzhen by just 1 point in the first quarter. However, the game's trajectory hinted that Shenzhen was not ready to concede defeat.
In the second quarter, Shenzhen suddenly surged, overwhelming Guangsha with a scoring spree that they couldn't keep up with.
By the third quarter, Shenzhen was unstoppable, comfortably extending their lead into double digits.
By the fourth quarter, Guangsha had no energy left to catch up. The game became a formality as Shenzhen maintained control, ultimately securing a shocking victory with a 101-77 scoreline.
After the game, Shenzhen's head coach, Zheng Yonggang, also gave an interview, highly praising the victory and expressing gratitude for the players' fighting spirit.
Zheng Yonggang stated: "This victory is the most important of our season, especially against a strong team like Guangsha. I am very proud of the players' performance."
"Everyone has made tremendous efforts, and this victory has greatly boosted our morale," he added, acknowledging that although there were some turnovers, they were offset by excellent defense.
Zheng Yonggang's analysis was incisive, highlighting how their defensive success stifled Guangsha, particularly in limiting their outside shooting, preventing Guangsha from exploiting their usual strengths.
He also emphasized that the team's advantage in rebounding created more counterattack opportunities, controlling rebounds well and providing more fast-break chances, which was key to widening the score gap.
Indeed, Shenzhen's rebounding in this game nearly overwhelmed Guangsha, with a total of 50 rebounds compared to Guangsha's 35, a significant difference.
Shenzhen capitalized on every counterattack opportunity, continuously expanding their lead.
Undoubtedly, Shenzhen's defense was impeccable today, especially in restricting Guangsha's perimeter players, completely disrupting their offensive rhythm.
Besides Zheng Yonggang's summary, post-game comments were varied, with many netizens sharing their thoughts.
Here are some fans' impressions:
One netizen said: "This game was a complete turnaround for Shenzhen!"
"Perhaps their previous performances weren't great, but today they exploded with energy, especially Johnson, who went wild!"
"This victory sends a big signal to Shenzhen, showing that they don't give up easily and are still striving."
This netizen's viewpoint is reasonable; Shenzhen's performance indeed surprised us, with Johnson's exceptional display being the highlight of the game. Shenzhen presented themselves as underdogs.
Another netizen commented: "Guangsha really lost unjustly today."
"Brown did his best, but his teammates didn't step up, and Hu Jinqiu didn't perform at his level. The team's overall offense lacked vitality, and Shenzhen's defense completely stifled them."
"Guangsha must summarize the issues from this game."
This netizen viewed the problem from Guangsha's perspective, pointing out their inability to break through Shenzhen's defense in critical moments.
Yet another netizen opined: "I don't think Shenzhen's win was entirely unexpected."
"They do have some strength, but their state hasn't been good recently. Today, they performed well, unleashing their potential, and winning against Guangsha was entirely possible."
This netizen believes that Shenzhen had this potential all along, just not previously demonstrated. Today, it finally erupted.
Undoubtedly, this game marked a strong rebound for Shenzhen, giving them more confidence and lifting them out of their previous slump.
For Guangsha, although they suffered a loss in this game, it also exposed some issues they face when confronted with staunch defense. In future games, they may need to make adjustments to maintain their position at the top of the league.
Through this game, we witnessed Shenzhen's tenacious fighting spirit and Guangsha's vulnerability under pressure.
Perhaps, this game will become a turning point for Shenzhen this season; who knows?