On January 27, Beijing time, the Shenzhen men's basketball team ushered in the challenge of the last opponent of the second phase of the Shougang men's basketball team, the two sides in the first stage of the encounter, Shenzhen once won the opponent with 7 points, but at that time Shougang was still the all-Chinese class, so this victory did not have any reference significance. And this time again, Shenzhen should have played by two, but Salinger sprained his ankle in the last game against Chouzhou, this battle chose to truce, Shenzhen can only use Booker's single foreign aid to cope. But even so, the two sides also fought extremely anxiously, and it was not until the last quarter that the winner was decided, and finally Shenzhen defeated Shougang again 104-97.
Booker started 36 minutes and finished in a quasi-triple-double of 35 points, 9 rebounds and 13 assists on 12-of-25 shooting. Although he once rested in the third quarter because of a neck injury, Booker, who was slightly injured and could not get out of the line of fire, returned to the field again in the last quarter, and bombarded 15 points, 2 rebounds and 5 assists in this quarter, which can be said to be the key to Shenzhen's ability to win the game.
Booker, who came to the CBA last season with the title of "La Liga Three-Point King", quickly integrated into the Shenzhen men's basketball team. Throughout the season, Booker averaged 26.2 points, 5 rebounds and 7.6 assists per game, shooting 42.7% from three-point range, and Shenzhen finally found a small foreign aid that was very suitable for the team after many years of absence, after all, the last one that could attack and pass was also traced back to "Mr. 74 Points" Bobby Brown. After the end of the season, Shenzhen did not hesitate to offer him a contract extension, and what is even more surprising is that Booker did not return to the United States to rest in the off-season like other teams' small foreign aides, but has been training with the team in China.
It is precisely because he has been with the team, Booker also followed Shenzhen to participate in all the games in the first stage, because the big foreign aid Salinger had not yet arrived at the team, Booker continued to show his fiery state last season, not only maintaining a stable fire output on the offensive end, but also assuming the heavy responsibility of Shenzhen's main controller at the organizational end, and successively delivering double-digit assists. Due to the internal line of Shen Zijie, an all-round big man, Booker is at ease in blocking and dismantling with him, plus He Xining, Gu Quan, Yang Linyi from time to time on the outside line to release cold arrows, after the end of the first stage, the Shenzhen men's basketball team once ranked in the top three of the league, and in the second stage just began, Shenzhen is even more rushed into the league's leading throne, the threat does make people see a lot of hope.
However, because of Salinger's return, Booker also gave up a large part of the right to shoot, and the playing time was further compressed. After entering January, Booker only scored in double figures in four games, and the aggressiveness of the offensive end can be said to have suffered a cliff-like decline. However, as long as the playing time is guaranteed, Booker can still contribute to the offensive and organizational ends, and this peak showdown with Shougang, Booker can also prove with practical actions that he is still the top foreign aid of the league.
After the end of the second stage, Shenzhen is still in the sixth position in the league with a record of 19 wins and 9 losses, and if Salinger's injury is not hindered, his combination with Booker inside and outside is definitely a great threat to other teams. However, how to make these two powerful foreign aides maximize their own functionality does require testing coach Qiu Biao's on-site adaptability.
(Luo Treasurer)