118-111, after an epic showdown with Guangdong, Xinjiang, who returned home, successfully won the 8th round of the 2018-2019 CBA League, ranking 6th in the standings with a record of 5 wins and 3 losses.
Looking at the score alone, many people may think that Xinjiang's victory over Shandong can be said to truly reflect the strength of the two teams. One team aspires to the championship, while the other is no longer a top team because the team changes owners and the core Ding Yanyu hangs the dream of the NBA.
In fact, the course of the game is far more exciting than the score presented.
This season, the Xinjiang team retained small foreign aid Adams, who currently averages 38.8 points per game, ranking third among all players, which can be said to show super personal strength. The last game against Guangdong under the 60+ triple-double is still full of energy, which has impressed many fans.
In terms of big foreign aid, the Xinjiang team chose the NBA's powerful center, Al Jefferson, known as the "Wolf King".
Jefferson was the no. 15 pick in the first round of 2004, with a strong body, outstanding strength, and especially proficient in interior footwork. He was once the boss of the team during his time as the Timberwolves and had the title of "Wolf King", averaging 23 points and 11 rebounds per game in his peak season. Although Jefferson never made an All-Star in his NBA career, he was recognized as an interior powerhouse player for his on-court performances.
Jefferson, 33, who is about to turn 34 (next January), played just 36 games with the Pacers last season, starting one game and averaging seven points and four rebounds per game. For the younger Pacers, Jefferson is not in their long-term plans. For the completely small-ball NBA league, Jefferson's old age and slow foot speed are obviously not adapted to the needs of the trend. This is an important reason why Jefferson left the NBA to join Xinjiang.
Xinjiang chose Jefferson, following the old path of one inside and one outside in the past. They certainly know that Jefferson today is no longer the same as it was at its peak. However, still pinning his hopes on the foundation of the Wolf King, the CBA, which is far less fierce than the NBA, can still kill the four sides.
Most importantly, Xinjiang's choice, the goal is very clear, pointing to last season's overall champion Liaoning. Liaoning, which has the first center in China, has the best CBA in terms of internal strength. After Zhou Qi joined the Rockets, Xinjiang suffered bratcher's lazy loss. Xinjiang looks up to Jefferson, one is the star strength, and the other is the old and steady. In the NBA's 14 seasons, Jefferson can say that there is not much negative news.
However, what caught Xinjiang off guard was that the wave of small ball suddenly became popular in the CBA in the new season.
Counting this game, Jefferson averaged only 12 points and 7 rebounds in 7 games. In the CBA, which is not 20+ in foreign aid, Jefferson's performance can be said to have broken everyone's glasses.
In the sixth round of the CBA League, Xinjiang away to Shenzhen, completed a 21-point reversal, but throughout the second half, Jefferson played the role of a spectator.
In this game, Jefferson was more embarrassed than unable to play.
When he was on the floor, the opponent's attack was in full swing, and the original double-digit point difference was quickly chased. And the attack of the other side seemed to come to an instant standstill.
When he was not present, Xinjiang sent a single foreign aid to fight against Shandong's double foreign aid, but it did not fall behind at all.
The third verse is even more dramatic.
Xinjiang coach Gore insisted on continuing to arrange Jefferson to start in the second half, and partner Adams to play a double foreign aid. At the same time, he also gave Jefferson strong support tactically, making him the end point of the team's basket.
For Jefferson, whose offensive strength is not reduced, it is simply a long drought, teammates give the ball in place, easily score points, and take 6 points in one breath to help the team widen the point difference to 15+.
However, the light on the offensive end could not hide Jefferson's inadequacy on the defensive end. Shandong insisted on finding a breakthrough from Jefferson, eating the weakness that Jefferson could not prevent, and the outside three-point line frequently fired cannons, one after another, and the score quickly narrowed to single digits. At the end of the third quarter, Shandong 94-88 surpassed Xinjiang.
In the live broadcast, even the commentators could not see the eyes, gore, which is practicing the double foreign aid lineup, is basically to tell the management of Xinjiang in actual combat: the old Jefferson has not even been able to adapt to the CBA.
It is worth mentioning that in this game, Jefferson is facing former Rockets player Motai Yunus with accurate projection.
If, in the past few games, Jefferson's defensive footsteps problem is still in the magnifying glass observation stage, this game, is placed under the microscope, people can't bear to look directly.
In stark contrast to Xinjiang is Guangdong, which has been eye-catching this season. Guangdong also booked the old acquaintance Morris early before the start of the league, taking the old road of one inside and one outside. Morris's injury gave Guangdong the opportunity to try, and this test opened up a world, counting this round, 8 consecutive wins to lead the league.
In the match against Fujian, Guangdong scored a high score of 142 points. Today, the nickname "CBA Warriors" has long gone.
In the first 8 rounds, Guangdong won two victories over Xinjiang, but has not yet met with the two final teams of last season, Liaoning and Guangsha. Guangdong will not meet Guangsha, who is unbeaten in the first seven games of the new season, until the 20th of December 15.
But for Xinjiang, perhaps, it will be difficult for them to wait until the middle of next month. It has long been reported that Xinjiang intends to replace Jefferson. The third quarter of Gore's game, perhaps, was deliberately played to the section of management that still had illusions about Jefferson.
CBA's foreign aid has gone through many stages.
From the rising quality of foreign aid to the landing of NBA big names, to the later poor performance of Francis, Martin and others in the CBA to return to rationality. It can be said that nowadays, teams choose foreign aid, and more and more value is strength, status, adaptability rather than fame.
When Jefferson's embarrassment lay in front of us, at least one pleasing signal was released: our league was getting faster and faster with the NBA.
You don't want old, slow centers, and here we are, too, it is difficult to have the soil to survive.