01 8 teams compete for the playoffs
The CBA regular season has come to an end and has entered the most intense sprint. At present, there are 9 teams that have basically locked up the qualification for the playoffs, and among them, the Xinjiang team and the Liaoning team have led the way and have become the focus of attention. At the same time, Guangdong, Guangsha and Zhejiang are fiercely competing for a place in the top four. It should not be overlooked that Qingdao have performed well this season and are expected to be the dark horses of the playoffs, while Shenzhen have also shown promising strength. Comparatively speaking, the Beijing Control team and the Shanghai team appear to be stable and decent, and they should not have much problem entering the playoffs.
However, there are still three spots in the thick of the competition. Guangzhou may be affected by foreign restrictions, while Beijing are at risk of falling out of the top 12 due to schedule issues, while Tianjin are in danger. At the same time, the Shanxi and Shandong teams are facing serious aging issues, which makes their prospects for the playoffs bleak. Nanjing is plagued by injuries, while Fujian and Jilin are working hard to reach the playoffs. The final three playoff spots will be contested by eight teams – Guangzhou, Beijing, Tianjin, Shanxi, Shandong, Nanjing, Fujian and Jilin – in a battle of life and death. On top of that, Ningbo, Sichuan and Jiangsu have lost their playoff hopes and can only fight for glory in the remaining games.
02 Zhu Mingzhen may be traded to Beijing Enterprises
Guangzhou Dragon & Lions FC is seriously considering a potential deal involving player Zhu Mingzhen in the squad. There are many considerations behind this decision. First of all, Zhu Mingzhen is not a player from Guangzhou, which puts him under pressure to renew his contract. In addition, Zhu Mingzhen took the initiative to apply to leave the team, providing an opportunity for the club to trade him out. Although the deal was initially planned to be completed within the current trading window, the reality is that Zhu's market performance has not met expectations, resulting in a relatively low offer received. Zhu Mingzhen, a mixed-race player who graduated from Peking University, was selected by the Guangzhou men's basketball team with the second pick in the 2020 CBA draft. Although he was once in the limelight, his performances have gradually become mediocre over the past season. This season, Zhu Mingzhen's average points per game dropped to 9.5 points, and his shooting percentage was relatively low.
It is worth noting that although Zhu Mingzhen has only played four seasons in the CBA, since he has reached the age of 27, the Guangzhou men's basketball team may think that his development potential is relatively limited. So, with that in mind, the club is now inclined to look for the right opportunity to trade it out. Zhu Mingzhen is expected to return to Beijing, his hometown. Among potential next homes, Beijing Shougang and Beijing Holdings are the most likely options. In view of financial considerations, it is more likely to join Beijing Holdings. And Min Lulei, the coach of Beijing Holdings, may have the ability to stimulate Zhu Mingzhen's potential, which is also a factor in considering joining Beijing Holdings. With the fierce competition in the CBA, clubs need to constantly optimize their rosters to ensure that their teams can perform better in the playoffs.
03 Ugo finds treasure
In recent matches, Liaoning managed to overcome the strong Guangdong team. However, the team's outside player Fogg did not perform as well as he could have done well in the second period, averaging just 17.7 points per game, shooting 41.5% from the field and 34.6% from three-point range. This could also be due to the fact that Ferg is entering the end of his career and his performance on the pitch is gradually suffering. In view of this situation, the Liaoning team urgently needs to strengthen the backcourt, especially in the search for a third foreign aid who is about 1.90 meters tall, and its agency revealed that it is an old acquaintance who plays in the CBA, and who is the official announcement. It is worth mentioning that Liaoning's Ferg and Moreland have been foreign players that other teams have been reluctant to keep in the past, but they have shown excellent performances in the Liaoning team and proved their value.
Considering that Fogg's form may not be as good as in the early stage, the Liaoning team has set out to ensure the introduction of a third foreign aid. In addition, the team also successfully signed Zhao Shuozhou, which further strengthened the lineup of the Liaoning team. This action shows that the team attaches great importance to the playoffs and is fully prepared for the fierce competition. In the team, even if the main player Guo Allen is not in good shape, the Liaoning team can still ensure that it has a strong combination of foreign players and has more coping strategies in the playoffs. This series of measures not only laid a solid foundation for the future of the team, but also alleviated the pressure that Fergus's poor form may bring to a certain extent. As Liaoning prepares for the playoffs, they will continue to fight hard for a third consecutive title, showing the determination and strength of the defending champions.