In the fierce matchup of the quarterfinals of the CBA playoffs, the Liaoning men's basketball team won with a hearty 37 points, and started their series journey against the Shenzhen team. The one-sided victory certainly boosted the team's morale and showed the outside world how strong the defending champions are. However, behind this victory, Guo Allen's absence and the injury status of many players hung over Liao Basket like a dark cloud, making this crazy victory somewhat with a hint of "empty joy".
Allen Guo, the core player known as "Asia's No. 1 point guard", has always been the focus of attention of fans and the media. Although Zhao Jiwei has shown excellent leadership and competitive form during Guo Allen's absence, and his improvement over several consecutive seasons has allowed him to stand alone in key moments, no one can deny Guo Allen's irreplaceable role at both offensive and defensive ends. His ability to break through, his explosive scoring power and handling of key balls are often the key factors that determine the trend of a game. Especially on a high-intensity and high-pressure stage like the playoffs, Guo Allen's experience and talent are an important guarantee for the team to hit the championship.
Recently, Guo Allen revealed in the comment area of the article cheering for the team that the return date is uncertain, saying that he may not be able to return before May 1. The news hit the fans like a hammer in the hearts of fans who were looking forward to his early return. This means that even if Liaoning can make it to the semi-finals, they will still have to deal with the tougher challenges that lie ahead without Guo Allen. This is undoubtedly a huge test for Liao Basket, which is aiming to defend the title.
At the same time, the injury situation within Liao Basket is also worrying. The revelation of multiple injuries has revealed the injury plague that the team has endured behind the stellar record. Although the specific list and injury details are not detailed, it is foreseeable that the injuries of key players will not only affect the team's tactical layout and rotation depth, but also weaken the team's overall combat effectiveness. In the face of the increasingly fierce confrontation and intensive schedule in the playoffs, injury problems have undoubtedly become a major hidden danger on the road to the championship of Liao Basketball.
In the face of such a complicated situation, head coach Yang Ming had a showdown at the post-match press conference, clearly expressing the team's coping strategy and determination. He is well aware of the impact of Allen Kwok's absence and the injury wave on the team, but he firmly believes that the current squad is still competitive enough. Yang Ming emphasized the concept of team basketball, requiring every player to enhance their sense of responsibility and actively fill the vacancies caused by injuries. He pointed out that key players such as Zhao Jiwei and Fogg need to continue to play a leading role and lead young players to shoulder the heavy responsibility of attack and defense together. In addition, Yang Ming also revealed a plan to adjust the tactical system, aiming to maximize the advantages of the existing lineup, and make up for the impact of the absence of star players by strengthening the defense, improving the efficiency of the transition attack, and refining the tactical execution.
Yang Ming also called on fans to maintain patience and confidence, saying that the team will go all out to deal with every opponent and will not waver in the goal of winning the championship because of temporary difficulties. He promised that the coaching staff and the medical team will work closely together to provide the best rehabilitation environment and plan for the injured players, and strive to allow the injured players to recover and return to the game as soon as possible.
Although Liao Basket defeated Shenzhen in the first game of the playoffs, Guo Allen's uncertain return date and injury problems of several players undoubtedly cast a shadow on the team's playoff prospects. However, as Yang Ming said, the heritage and resilience of this team should not be underestimated. In the face of adversity, they will be more united and rely on the strength of the team to overcome difficulties and strive to continue the glory of last season. Fans have reason to believe that no matter how bumpy the road ahead is, the Liaoning men's basketball team will fight hard to continue to write their legendary chapter.