In the just-concluded CBA regular season, we witnessed fierce battles. The teams come and go, and the fighting spirit is high, showing the gratifying scene of the continuous progress and improvement of the Chinese men's basketball team. Among them, the Guangsha team and the Liaoning team ranked in the top three of the league respectively, and they were the main force on the field, and their performance was eye-catching.
The twin cores of Guangsha have come to the fore
As a veteran powerhouse, the Guangsha team has gained a lot this season. Not only did they move up two places from last season, but they also topped the pack with a 60% win rate. This is inseparable from the outstanding performance of the team's two core heroes, Hu Jinqiu and Sun Minghui.
Hu Jinqiu, as the team's scoring champion, can average 20+ points per game. The firepower in his hands has always been the magic weapon that Guangsha relies on to win. Unfortunately, in the latter stages of the season, he was injured and missed out on injecting more impetus into the team's final sprint. Even so, he was a key contributor to the team's success.
And Sun Minghui is another shining player. This season, he averaged 21 points, 10.6 assists and 2.4 steals per game, the most of any local player in the league in three statistics, while also recording 4.2 rebounds. He is undoubtedly the hero of the team's victory, and he is also a representative figure of the Chinese men's basketball team's guard line.
A member of history
Sun Minghui made history this season, becoming the first local guard in the CBA to score 20+10 in the regular season. This proud achievement has witnessed the continuous progress and growth of China's basketball guard group. The Chinese men's basketball team is gradually moving from relying on the inside line to a new era of balanced development.
In addition to his outstanding data, Sun Minghui has been selected as the best CBA team for four consecutive seasons, and his plus/minus score ranks first in the league, and his strength has been highly recognized by peers and authorities.
What's even more commendable is that compared with last season, Sun Minghui's efficiency this season has been greatly improved. Although his playing time was reduced by 3 minutes, his points, assists, steals and shooting percentages improved across the board. This fully demonstrates his continuous polishing of his own qualities.
Last season, Sun Minghui led the Guangsha team to five fierce battles with the Liaoning team in the semifinals, although he lost 2:3 in the end, but his dominance and determination to support the championship have been revealed. It's a pity that Hu Jinqiu, another core of the team, was accidentally injured and withdrew, resulting in a failure.
It is worth mentioning that Sun Minghui and Hu Jinqiu were both selected for the CBA Best Team this season, which makes Guangsha the only team in the league to have two best team players. The combination of double cores, the blossoming inside and outside, and the strength of Guangsha can be seen.
Zhao Jiwei's MVP missed
On the defensive end, Zhao Jiwei, the star of the Liaoning team, is also a horse. This season, he averaged 15.1 points, 8.6 assists and 1.9 steals per game, surpassing Sun Minghui in three-point shooting percentage and efficiency, and second only to Sun Minghui in assist statistics.
What's even more proud is that in the case of teammate Guo Allen's long-term injury, Zhao Jiwei still led the Liaoning team to win the top spot in the regular season standings. His leadership temperament and commanding skills have won the recognition and praise of countless people.
It's a pity that Zhao Jiwei only missed out on the final MVP selection with a slight disadvantage of 0.26 points. Xinjiang team's foreign aid Abdul Salamu won the MVP of this season's regular season. This result caused Moreland's dissatisfaction, and he bluntly said on social media, "Is there any reason why MVP is not Jiwei, please give a reasonable explanation."
In fact, Zhao Jiwei, Abdul Salamu and Sun Minghui were all selected for the best team of the season. Their stats and performance are beyond doubt, but in the face of small differences, they have to submit to the judgment of the formula.
The MVP race is evenly split for the time being, but for the trio, the more important thing is the next playoff journey. Because only by winning the playoff MVP and standing on the highest podium is the best interpretation and affirmation of strength. In contrast, the regular season MVP can only be regarded as a stage honor, and it is not enough to mark the final winner.
At that time, if the Guangsha team and the Liaoning team can break through the obstacles and enter the semifinals, then there will be a head-to-head duel between the center and the defender. At that point, whoever is more dominant will be crowned MVP.
If the Xinjiang team wants to meet with the two teams, they must first break through the encirclement and reach the finals. Only by standing on the highest stage can Abudu have the opportunity to compete with the two.
Therefore, for the three, there is no need to worry too much about where the regular season MVP will go now. What they should do is to calm down, go all out, and prepare for the upcoming more brutal knockout round.
Because, only winning the final championship is the best interpretation and reward for all their efforts. And at that time, the real MVP will also emerge naturally, and whoever wins the championship will be the best player who will live forever.
Therefore, now we are temporarily pressing the unevenness and waiting for the birth of victory and defeat. Let's wait and see the semi-finals of the East and West regions, and look forward to the collision of the three strong teams of Guangsha, Liaoning and Xinjiang, and see how they can do their best on the field and stage a drama of dragon and tiger fighting.
The grand finale will be the king
It will not be easy to reach the finals, and both the Guangsha team and the Liaoning team are facing many obstacles. The Guangdong team is eyeing the tiger and is likely to become the biggest obstacle to Guangsha's breakthrough.
Guangdong continued its strong season and ranked second in the league. The veterans and recruits in their formation are all strong teams, which can be described as busy and full of heroes. The Guangdong Legion coached by Du Feng is strong and strong, and it will always be the favorite to win the championship.
In order to defeat this veteran powerhouse, the Guangsha team must make an all-round effort and blossom inside and out. The duo of Hu Jinqiu and Sun Minghui will once again be the hope of the whole team, and how they will show their best on the road to the championship will be eye-catching.
In contrast, the path of the Liaoning team is slightly looser. They only need to beat one of the two weaker teams, Shenzhen and Beikong, to reach the semi-finals. But when that happens, it's still a mystery who will stand in their way.
There is no doubt that Zhao Jiwei will be the number one contributor to the Liaoning team. It will be interesting to see how the on-court commander will strategize and lead his teammates all the way to the finals. If he can lift the trophy, what kind of legend will he write?
As for the Xinjiang team, their goal is first to break through the encirclement and reach the finals. Abdul Salamu will take on the role of leading man. This foreign player has made many achievements this season, and he deserves to be the MVP of the regular season. Whether he can continue his courage and help Xinjiang break out of the encirclement and advance to the finals will be a major attraction.
Another foreign player, Moreland, will also play an important role. As a meritorious player in last year's finals, he has deep experience in the team's journey to the championship. If the Xinjiang team can give full play to the overall strength of both internal and external training, it may have the opportunity to go to the next city.
In any case, the collision of the three strong teams of Guangsha, Liaoning and Xinjiang will surely be the focus of attention throughout the playoffs. Every time they play on the field, every exciting battle will determine the final championship.
Who will finally stand on the podium and take the top podium? Who will be the immortal MVP? We'll wait and see as the curtain lifts on this pinnacle showdown to see the final champions shine from the shackles under the blazing sun.
Basketball has always been hot, and we have reason to believe that this year's CBA playoffs will also stage a thrilling and exciting show. The three strong teams can attack and retreat, and you come and go, and they will surely bring us a visual feast.
At that time, whoever can have the last laugh will become an eternal legend. So, now, let's wait for the stakes of this gorgeous battle and look forward to its arrival together!