In the CBA this season, a team that possesses the following characteristics is undoubtedly a strong contender. What are these characteristics?
Characteristic One: Vigorous domestic players. The policy of allowing seven foreign player appearances across four quarters accelerates the physical exhaustion of players during the first three quarters of the game. With more foreign players and a faster pace, greater stamina is required. This is also why Liaoning Men's Basketball Team struggles in the fourth quarter this season; the "Two Elders of Xuanming" are too exhausted after the first three quarters.
Characteristic Two: Foreign players with exceptional individual abilities. In the fourth quarter, when only one foreign player is allowed on the court, their level will to some extent determine the direction of the game. After all, there aren't many domestic players with the "big heart."
Characteristic Three: Domestic players capable of consistently scoring. In games dominated by foreign players, teams will naturally focus their defensive strategies on the opposing foreign players. If domestic players can capitalize on the attention drawn by the foreigners and have outstanding scoring capabilities, the team's points won't be lacking. Otherwise, they won't score.
Considering these factors, the three strongest teams in the CBA this season are as follows:
First Team: Shanghai Men's Basketball Team
Shanghai's domestic lineup is young, with Li Tianrong and Li Hongquan under 25 years old, and Wang Zhelin at just 31. Moreover, he can consistently score effectively.
Foreign players Lofton and Bradley are NBA-level athletes with outstanding individual abilities, making them perfect for critical scoring roles in the fourth quarter.
Second Team: Guangsha Men's Basketball Team
Guangsha's domestic trio of Hu Jinqiu, Sun Minghui, and Zhu Junlong are top performers in their respective positions domestically, which is an advantage. Their foreign players can both score and share the load with the domestic mainstays, avoiding injuries. Guangsha has finally found the right rhythm, and this season is their most promising chance to win the championship.
Third Team: Shanxi Men's Basketball Team
Shanxi's foreign player Goodwin has outstanding individual abilities, with big center Liu Chuanxing in the middle. Shooters like Jia Mingru and Yuan Shuai are confident, and Zhang Ning, the local workhorse, can elevate Shanxi's defense even further in the fourth quarter.
Why isn't Liaoning Men's Basketball Team among them? Here are the reasons:
Losing Morand, temporarily missing Zhang Zhenlin, and Zhao Jiwei's sharp decline in form after returning from injury. Changes in the rules for using foreign players, the club and coaching staff sticking to old methods without adapting. These factors combined mean Liaoning is still within the top eight, but the playoffs haven't started yet, so everything is uncertain. However, Liaoning's situation is not easy to adjust; they are rowing upstream, and if they don't advance, they will retreat, especially since they are still relying on old methods and refusing to change.
Dear basketball fans, what are your thoughts on this? Welcome to leave your comments and discuss in the comment section!