Why Did a Weakened Liaoning Beat Guangdong with Four Foreign Players? Han Dejun's Nine Words Deeply Impressed Young Players from Both Teams
The grand "CBA Spring Festival Gala" match between Liaoning and Guangdong has concluded, with Liaoning defending their home court once again using a weakened lineup of only seven main players. They defeated Guangdong by a margin of six points, securing their fourth consecutive victory and improving their recent record against Guangdong to eight wins and two losses in ten encounters. This was the 100th meeting between Liaoning and Guangdong in history, with Liaoning achieving their 47th victory. Currently, Liaoning ranks fifth in the standings with 41 points, tied with fourth-placed Xinjiang and just one point behind third-placed Zhejiang, aiming for a top-three position. Meanwhile, Guangdong remains outside the top eight, facing a less optimistic situation.
Both Liaoning and Guangdong have not been in great form recently, but Liaoning's lineup is even more depleted. At present, Guangdong only has Hu Mingxuan as a long-term injury concern (Zhang Hao has recovered), while Liaoning has four key players out due to injury: Zhao Jiwei, Zhang Zhenlin, Cong Mingchen, and Liu Yanyu. There are also players playing through injuries, such as Fergie, who has been battling illness recently. With the big foreign player Ture being benched by Yang Ming, Liaoning can be said to be playing without their main lineup against Guangdong. Given such a weakened lineup, why is Liaoning still able to defeat Guangdong, who have greater depth in their squad?
Let's take a look at what Han Dejun had to say after the game. After defeating Guangdong, many media reporters approached Han Dejun and asked him three questions. The first question was: Congratulations on winning the second battle of the tough schedule. We saw that when you made the second free throw in the final moments, what was your mood?
Han Dejun replied: You call it a tough schedule? It's just slightly challenging. Every team faces the same situation; it's just that our numbers may be reduced, and the opponents are a bit stronger, making them harder to beat. But there's nothing to worry about; as long as we maintain a level-headed approach and face the challenges head-on, it's fine. As for the second free throw, it's a test for anyone in such a critical moment. Whoever makes it will naturally be very happy.
The second question was: As the captain of the team and the oldest player, do you feel a sense of responsibility when you step onto the court?
Han Dejun answered: I carry the name 'Liaoning' on my back. When I wear this uniform and step onto this court, not only me but everyone on the field will give their all. It's a responsibility for all of us. It may not be as grand as a soldier's duty, but we want to make contributions to Liaoning Province!
The third question was: After the final game, it will be the New Year. Do you have any wishes? Han Dejun responded: I hope these injured players recover soon so we can reassemble our strongest lineup.
Han Dejun's answers were straightforward and honest, especially the phrase "I carry the name 'Liaoning' on my back," which lives up to his reputation among fans as the soul of the Liaoning team, earning respect and perfectly explaining why Liaoning could continuously defeat Guangzhou, Xinjiang, and Guangdong.
Han Dejun did not boast; he indeed acted in accordance with his words, giving him the authority to command other young players to give their utmost and fulfill their responsibilities for Liaoning. In this game, Han Dejun played for 37 minutes, scoring 16 points, grabbing 12 rebounds, providing 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block. Looking at the statistics, there's hardly anything to criticize. It's worth noting that Han Dejun is already 37 years old yet still managed to secure a double-double in such high-intensity competition, running tirelessly across the court. This level of endurance alone is enough to make his younger teammates, like Zhang Chenzhifeng, and even Xu Xin from the opposing team, feel inadequate.
The true gap between Guangdong and Liaoning in this game lies in the frontcourt. In the opening stages, Du Feng tried hard to use Morand to attack Han Dejun, causing him to pick up two early fouls. However, Han Dejun withstood the pressure. In the middle of the quarter, Du Feng brought on Bazley and Wang Shaojie, attempting to exploit Han Dejun with their mobility, but Han Dejun held firm, not only defending well but also assisting Fu Hao inside. In the final quarter, Guangdong could only field a single foreign player, with Jilunwate repeatedly taking on individual matchups, fouling out Li Xiaoxu (six fouls). In the crucial moments, Han Dejun once again became Liaoning's anchor in the paint, supporting both ends of Liaoning's offense and defense.
In the final two minutes of the fourth quarter, the decisive stage of the game, Liaoning was able to maintain their lead until the end, largely thanks to Han Dejun. It was he who, with 1 minute and 32 seconds remaining, set a high pick-and-roll, dribbled, and dished out a key assist for a three-pointer to Fu Hao lurking at the baseline, helping Liaoning extend their lead.
During Guangdong's last-ditch comeback attempt, Han Dejun blocked Jilunwate's layup, reminiscent of the Houston Rockets' defense.
With only 46 seconds left in the game, it was Han Dejun who grabbed a crucial defensive rebound, stabilizing Liaoning's morale.
Finally, when Guangdong attempted to use foul tactics to gain a theoretical chance, it was Han Dejun's two successful free throws that sealed the deal, causing Guangdong to abandon their final struggle.
An old saying goes, "Having an elder at home is like having a treasure." This saying fits Han Dejun perfectly.