Welcome back to the No. 13 Ballroom. The season is more than halfway through, and it's time for a review. ESPN previously listed the top 8 most impressive players in the first half of this season, including: Towns, Cunningham, Wembanyama, Dyson Daniels, Lonzo Ball, Harden, Norman Powell, Cameron Johnson. In fact, there are quite a few overlaps with my own choices - but I wouldn't include Lonzo Ball and Cameron Johnson. Because the former's performance has always been far from people's expectations, more like sympathy points based on his repeated serious injuries; And the latter is after all in a team like the Nets, which is not very convincing in terms of data - Schroder also performed well before joining the Warriors, but then it was really hard to say that he was outstanding. So today, I want to share the top 10 players who impressed me the most in the first half of this season. Let's see if it matches your opinion - if not, feel free to leave a message to discuss and share ~ Next, let's talk about them one by one according to their current team records: Evan Mobley Last season's average: 15.7 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.4 blocks This season's average: 18.6 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.4 blocks Judging from the data alone, Mobley's progress seems insignificant. But if you watch a few more Cavaliers games, you will know how much his transformation and growth this season have helped the team. His defense has never been a concern, single…

With the official opening of the transfer window for the Chinese Super League (CSL) and China League One, teams are gearing up and actively seeking new signings to adjust their squads. The departure of Oscar from Shanghai Port marks the end of the era of big-money football in China, as he was the last remaining foreign player from that period. The estimated value of foreign players in the new season's CSL is around one million euros, a far cry from the glamour of previous years. However, with Song Kai taking over as the new chairman of the Football Association, measures have been implemented to relax restrictions on foreign players and prioritize youth training, reigniting interest among fans. The two newly promoted teams, Dalian Yingbo and Yunnan Yukuang, have been particularly active in the transfer market. As the champions of League One, Yunnan Yukuang has undergone a major reshuffle, with all 21 players from last season leaving upon the expiration of their contracts. Confirmed new signings include naturalized player Hou Yongyong and foreign player Oscar, who is currently being naturalized by the national team. Other additions include former Meizhou Hakka player Ye Chugui and former Henan Jianye player Li Songyi. The team's budget for the new season is expected to be in the hundreds of millions, with three sponsors announced, including Yunnan Huofa Group, Yunnan Yuxi Xianfu Steel, and Yunnan Yuxi Yukuang Steel Group, each contributing 2 million yuan. Yunnan is set to field a strong squad this season, with previous standout promoted teams like Wuhan Three Towns, Meizhou finishing eighth,…

Translation of the article content into English: This season, the Rockets have played 57 games with a record of 25 wins and 32 losses, ranking 12th in the Western Conference. Looking at their win rate and ranking, it is a significant improvement compared to last season. However, during the offseason, the team used up over $60 million in salary space, aiming to make a strong push for the playoffs. Unfortunately, based on the current situation, they have not been able to meet expectations. During the offseason, the Rockets hired Udoka as their head coach, who then signed players according to his preferences, with almost every signing exceeding market prices. Now, considering their performance and contributions to the team, are these signings worth it? Fred VanVleet: 3 years, $128.5 million, with a 15% trade kicker This season, he averages 16.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 8.1 assists, and 1.1 steals per game, with a shooting percentage of 40.9%, a three-point percentage of 37.5%, an effective field goal percentage of 51.8%, and a true shooting percentage of 55.8%. The Rockets' decision to sign VanVleet was out of necessity, as there were not many quality point guards available in the market. Morey had already damaged the team's reputation during his tenure with the Rockets, and without star power to attract big-name players, no top-tier athletes were interested in joining. VanVleet's market value was around 30millionannually,buttheRocketsofferedhim30 million annually, but the Rockets offered him 30millionannually,buttheRocketsofferedhim10 million more than the market price, with Udoka being the key factor. VanVleet, an undrafted player, joined the league with the Raptors…

During the off-season, four Chinese Super League (CSL) clubs have completed coaching changes. As a result, the head coaches for all 16 teams in the new season of the CSL have been basically finalized, setting the stage for a fierce competition among the top teams. In this article, the author will introduce the head coaches of the 16 teams in the new season based on their rankings from the previous season, listed in descending order. The head coach of Shanghai Port remains Muscat. During the off-season, the team experienced significant changes in its lineup, with two key midfielders, Oscar and Bargas, leaving the club. With the absence of these crucial midfield players and the difficulty in finding suitable replacements, it remains uncertain whether Muscat's attacking football strategy will still be effective in the new season. The head coach of Shanghai Shenhua is still Slutsky. Last season, Slutsky led the team to a runner-up finish in the league, an impressive achievement. However, behind this success lies an element of luck that has somewhat masked some of the team's issues. For instance, can the team find a more reliable striker than Malele? Will the remarkable Yu Han-chao continue his magic in the next season? The head coach of Chengdu Rongcheng is still Xu Zhengyuan. Objectively speaking, Xu Zhengyuan is indeed skilled, capable of orchestrating rich tactical combinations with ordinary domestic players and a few foreign players. The head coach of Beijing Guoan has changed from Suarez to Setien. Setien is Spanish and has coached at prestigious clubs such as Barcelona, advocating for…

In this season, Zhao Rui's situation is not very optimistic. It should be noted that he has missed many games of the Xinjiang team in the first place. And when he took to the court to play, his overall state seemed a bit off, as if his mind was not fully focused on the game, appearing somewhat distracted. Moreover, his temper is really fiery, and he can be easily provoked by the slightest incident. Just recently, didn't he get into a conflict with the referee and openly defy the referee, resulting in a suspension and a fine? In this season, there is another top-paid player, Zhou Qi, whose performance seems to be aligning with Zhao Rui's trend. In the first stage of the competition, Zhou Qi missed several games due to injury. When he returned in the second stage, his participation was intermittent and unstable. Take this round's match against Qingdao as an example; Zhou Qi actually received technical fouls one after another during the game, ultimately leading to his ejection from the court. During the matchup with Yang Hanshen, Zhou Qi's performance was far from outstanding. In the third quarter, when he faced Yang Hanshen, dissatisfied with the referee's decision, Zhou Qi directly vented his emotions at the referee, resulting in two technical fouls and being ejected from the court. On the verge of leaving the court, Zhou Qi played for 17 minutes. During this time, he made 10 shots and hit 4, scoring 10 points and grabbing 3 rebounds. However, what is quite comical is that Zhou Qi,…

During the off-season of the Chinese Super League, teams are busy preparing for the upcoming season, with personnel adjustments being a top priority. For teams aiming to win the championship or avoid relegation, the off-season reinforcements are crucial for achieving their goals in the new season. Qingdao Hainiu, a team that struggled to avoid relegation last season, has shown a positive attitude during the off-season, making significant changes to both their coaching staff and player lineup. The experience of avoiding relegation last season made Qingdao Hainiu realize the necessity of change. They first adjusted their coaching lineup, with the arrival of Li Xiaopeng, the former head coach of the national team, injecting new vitality into the team. Li Xiaopeng has rich coaching experience, and his joining has given fans hope for the team's survival in the new season. After taking office, Li Xiaopeng actively recruited players according to his team-building ideas. Recently, Qingdao Hainiu officially announced the addition of several new players, significantly enhancing the team's overall strength, and fans have high expectations for this team. After a series of adjustments, Qingdao Hainiu has been jokingly called "Taishan's Second Team" by fans. This is because there are many elements from the Taishan team within the squad. The coaching staff includes Li Xiaopeng, Hao Junmin, and Liu Zhenli, while the players include veterans such as Song Wenjie, Song Long, and Han Rongze, as well as young players like Luo Senwen, Li Hailong, Hu Jinghang, Liu Junshuai, and Cao Zheng, as well as promising newcomers like Jia Feifan and Yi Xianlong. With…

With the conclusion of the season, Beijing Guoan failed to secure the league championship as they had hoped, finishing only in fourth place. However, this did not hinder their progress towards a higher stage. With this ranking, Guoan qualified for the AFC Champions League, and next season they will face the challenge of competing on three fronts: the Chinese Super League (CSL), the Chinese FA Cup, and the AFC Champions League. To prepare for this, Guoan has been particularly busy during the off-season, dealing with the renewal of veteran players' contracts while actively recruiting new talent to enhance the team's overall strength. During this crucial off-season, several veterans within the Guoan squad, including core players such as Yu Dabao, Zhang Xizhe, and Wang Gang, have seen their contracts expire. The decision regarding whether these veterans stay or leave has become a significant challenge for the team management. These veterans have not only contributed immensely to the team but also carry the deep affection of Guoan fans. However, for the sake of the team's rejuvenation and long-term development, Guoan must make choices between sentiment and reality. After considerable effort, Guoan announced four key signings on December 30th, injecting new vitality into the team's future. Among them, Zhang Xizhe completed a two-year contract extension with Guoan, which will continue until the end of 2026 and includes an extension clause. Wang Gang and Chi Zhongguo renewed their contracts for one year, making significant salary reductions to demonstrate their loyalty and sacrifice to the team. Additionally, young player Bai Yang also chose to renew…

The landscape of the Chinese Super League (CSL) is set to undergo significant changes next season, with a three-way title race emerging among Shanghai Shenhua, Beijing Guoan, and Chengdu Rongcheng. Defending champions Shanghai Port are unlikely to contend for the title due to the departure of their two star foreign players, Oscar and Baljic, and the challenges posed by the salary cap restrictions. The team's aging core, known as the "Six Tigers of Chongming," may struggle to maintain their performance levels under coach Muscat's attacking football system. Wu Lei, whose playing style heavily relies on specific configurations, could see a significant drop in his effectiveness without the support of Oscar and Baljic. Beijing Guoan boasts an impressive domestic lineup featuring national team players such as Zhang Yuning, Lin Liangming, Wang Ziming, and Cao Yongjing, along with newly naturalized player Serginho. New head coach Setien's emphasis on ground play and ball possession aligns well with the team's roster. If Guoan can secure quality foreign signings during the offseason and effectively integrate them with the new coach's tactics, they will undoubtedly become strong contenders for the title. Shanghai Shenhua, who narrowly missed out on the championship last season by just one point, are expected to maintain their core squad and continue their title challenge next season. Coach Xu Zhengyuan has demonstrated his coaching prowess by leading Chengdu Rongcheng to third place despite limited bench depth. The team is expected to strengthen its squad significantly during the offseason, with potential signings of notable domestic players like Li Ke, Liao Lisheng, Liu Dianzuo, and…

During the off-season, Zhou Qi's departure significantly weakened Guangdong's defensive capabilities. However, the team hoped to mitigate this loss by securing the services of Wang Shaojie, the top draft pick from Beikong. Unfortunately, as the season progressed, Wang's performance has been less than satisfactory. In a recent match against their long-standing rival Liaoning, the young and energetic Wang struggled to assert himself against Liaoning's formidable duo known as the Yin-Yang Masters, showing no advantage. In this game, Wang came off the bench to play for 12 minutes, failing to score with one shot attempt and only managing to grab two rebounds. In contrast, Liaoning's Yin-Yang Masters, Han Dejun and Li Xiaoxu, scored 16 points with 12 rebounds and 8 points with 5 rebounds respectively. If Wang had performed better, Guangdong might have stood a chance to keep the game suspenseful until the final moments. Reflecting on Wang's career, he had previously led the Tsinghua-Peking University team to victory in the CBA All-Star Rising Stars Game before joining the league, earning him the MVP title. He achieved his best career stats of 11 points and 6.9 rebounds within just two years in the league. However, in recent years, his performance has not improved but rather declined. Initially seen as a key player for Beikong's frontcourt, Wang's position was challenged by the arrival of Zou Yuchen and the impressive performances of Chen Guohao. With the addition of Salingger and Shen Zijie to Beikong this season, the team decided to loan him out to Guangdong. It was hoped that he could be a…

The decision by the Clippers to part ways with Paul George during this offseason has been controversial, but from the perspective of long-term planning, financial flexibility, and team competitiveness, it may be a practical one. George's performance remained stable last season, but considering his age of 34 and injury history, coupled with his desire for a four-year, $212 million maximum contract, the Clippers' choice not to renew his contract was a wise move. Firstly, the Clippers' decision to let George go is a reasonable choice based on financial considerations. George's demands not only include high salaries but also come with a no-trade clause, which is a limitation for the Clippers. If the Clippers had accepted his demands, they would have faced greater salary pressure over the next four years. This would undoubtedly have been a huge burden on their future salary cap space. Despite the strong financial resources of the Clippers' owner, Steve Ballmer, even he must reassess spending due to the NBA's "second luxury tax threshold" system. The second luxury tax threshold is not just about high luxury tax penalties but also includes a series of operational restrictions, such as freezing draft picks, being unable to conduct multi-contract aggregation trades, having no mid-level exception or trade exception, etc., which limits the team's ability to operate flexibly. Secondly, the Clippers' choice also reflects their plans for the future. George's contract would have been one year longer than that of another core player, Kawhi Leonard, and the Clippers clearly do not want to invest too much energy in aging players. Instead,…