After the Hangzhou Asian Games, the Chinese men's basketball team ended with a bronze medal, and this achievement was accompanied by heated discussions about Hu Jinqiu's use in the World Cup. Serbia head coach Djordjevic was interviewed about Hu Jinqiu's performance and choice in the national team. The Chinese men's basketball team did not perform well in the World Cup, with its only victory coming against Angola, in which Hu Jinqiu played an important role. However, Djordjevic insists that Hu Jinqiu's experience and habits in futsal are related to Zhou Qi's preparation cycle, which may be the reason for his appearance at key moments.
Qiao Shuai explained that before Hu Jinqiu joined the national team, plans around the starting center position had been formulated to better coordinate with Zhou Qi. The decision to plan was based on a longer lead time, not a temporary move. He emphasized the importance of players' on-court habits in the game to performance, while noting that Hu Jinqiu had gained some experience in three-a-side basketball before, but this is fundamentally different from five-a-side basketball.
At the Asian Games, due to Zhou Qi's injury withdrawal and Wang Zhelin's poor form, Hu Jinqiu played a key role in the inside. His outstanding performance has left Qiao Shuai with some regrets, saying that if he had the opportunity a few years ago, he might have considered using Hu Jinqiu for the number four position, but now it has become more difficult to help him adapt to this change.
However, Djordjevic's explanation did not eliminate the controversy. Some netizens questioned his choice, speculating whether he chose Hu Jinqiu because he saw his performance in three-man basketball. This view expresses doubts about Hu Jinqiu's use in different positions.
On this issue, we see that Qiao Shuai's decision-making has been influenced by different opinions. In fact, Hu Jinqiu's basketball road is full of twists and turns, and it is worth exploring in depth.
Hu's basketball career began in three-man basketball, a basketball variant with fewer players on a smaller field. He has achieved a lot in this field, showing excellent basketball skills and flexibility. However, when he entered the field of futsal, he faced a series of challenges.
On the one hand, five-a-side basketball is fundamentally different from three-a-side basketball. In futsal, the playing field is larger, the number of players is larger, and the tactical requirements are more complex. This requires players to have different skills and tactical understanding. Hu Jinqiu needs to adapt to these changes during the transformation process, which is not an easy task.
On the other hand, international competitions are highly competitive. The Chinese men's basketball team needs to do well on the world stage, and this requires excellent players in every position of the team. In this context, Hu Jinqiu is seen as a potential insider option, but he needs to overcome his own transformation difficulties to be qualified for this role.
In the course of the Chinese men's basketball team, Zhou Qi once became the first choice for the inside. He possessed excellent physicality and basketball skills, and was once an indispensable member of the team. However, due to injuries and other factors, Zhou Qi was unable to play in some games, which provided opportunities for Hu Jinqiu.
At the Asian Games, Zhou Qi's injury and Wang Zhelin's decline in form made Hu Jinqiu the main choice for the inside. He fully demonstrated his basketball ability and helped the Chinese men's basketball team win the bronze medal. This also brought Jordjevic's decision into the spotlight, why did he choose Hu Jinqiu over other interior players?
Djordjevic's explanation is that his decision is based on a longer lead time, not an ad hoc move. This means that they have already made plans for the position of the interior line before the game, and Hu Jinqiu's appearance is due to the consideration of the overall team tactics. He stressed the importance of players' on-court habits during games to performance, which is why he may prefer players who have become comfortable with five-a-side basketball.
Hu Jinqiu's three-man basketball experience also plays a role here. Although three-a-side basketball is fundamentally different from five-a-side basketball, it also develops his basketball skills and tactical vision. This is possible
He gives him an edge in some areas, especially in fast-paced and open-ended matches.
However, Jordjevic also admitted that it will not be easy to help Hu adjust to his changing role in five-a-side basketball. It takes time and effort, including adapting to more players, a larger playing field, and different tactical requirements. For Hu Jinqiu, this is a challenging process.
Some views on the internet questioned whether Jordjevic chose Hu Jinqiu because he saw his performance in three-man basketball. This view expresses doubts about the coach's decision-making, believing that he may have been too influenced by Hu Jinqiu's past performances. However, to fully understand a coach's decision-making, more factors need to be considered, including the team's overall needs and tactical plan.
In addition, Djordjevic's choice also makes us think about the transformation and development of the basketball field. Basketball is an evolving sport, with different variants and variations emerging. Players need to adapt to these changes and constantly improve their skills and tactical understanding. Hu Jinqiu's basketball road, from three-man basketball to five-a-side basketball, is the embodiment of this adaptation and development.
To sum up, Hu Jinqiu's basketball road is full of twists and turns. His three-a-side basketball experience has given him some advantages in futsal, but there are also transformational challenges to face. Djordjevic's decision is controversial to some extent, but it needs to be understood that it is based on longer-term strategic considerations. Basketball is an evolving sport, and players need to adapt to this change and constantly improve their skills. Hu Jinqiu's basketball journey is also part of the development of the Chinese men's basketball team, and he will continue to work hard to adapt to futsal and contribute to the team's success.