In a high-profile matchup in the CBA playoffs, Zhou Qi was directly sent out by the referee for elbowing Guangsha player Li Jinxiao. Liaoning media and fans reacted particularly fiercely, not only questioning the changes in the scale of Zhou Qi's actions after joining the Guangdong team, but also had a heated discussion about Li Jinxiao's "feigning illness" and Moreland's smashing behavior.
Zhou Qi's elbow strike: the focus of controversy
During the game, Li Jinxiao and Zhou Qi had physical contact during the confrontation, and Zhou Qi's emotions exploded instantly, and he responded with a powerful elbow. This action was clearly beyond what was allowed in the game of basketball, and the referee did not hesitate to eject him from the court. After the game, the Guangsha men's basketball team officially released a photo of Li Jinxiao being examined for a concussion in the hospital, saying that his symptoms were severe, which strengthened the public's criticism of Zhou Qi's excessive behavior.
Liao media spoke sharply: After Zhou Qi joined Guangdong, "bad moves" increased
Liaoning self-media "North Drift Boy Loves Liao Basket" pointed out: "Zhou Qi is not like this before, in the season after joining Guangdong, why are there more and more small and bad actions?" Another self-media "Director, Where Do I Lie" even listed the "four crimes" that Li Jinxiao may face in a joking tone - fake falls, pretending to be sick, pinching arms, and elbow strikes, in order to question the authenticity and motives of Li Jinxiao's injury.
Moreland's stumbling incident added to the chaos
Moreland, who was also ejected for accumulating technical fouls and physical fouls in the game, slammed the bench in anger as he left the court, an act that undoubtedly heightened the tension. The self-media "Director where am I lying" took the opportunity to ridicule, saying that Moreland's move may lead to a 6-game ban, on the grounds that the stool is regarded as a "sacred thing" in the CBA league. While there is obvious irony in this statement, it also reflects the strong antipathy of fans towards the non-sporting behavior of the players.
Du Feng's post-match remarks sparked associations
Guangdong head coach Du Feng made an intriguing assessment of the game at the post-match press conference, saying: "This game doesn't feel like a basketball game, and our team seems to have been affected by external factors. Although there was no direct mention of Zhou's elbow attack, the remarks undoubtedly deepened speculation that there may be complex factors behind the clash on the court.
CBA's choice under the pressure of public opinion
With the continuous heated discussion between the fan camps of Liaoning and Guangdong, Zhou Qi's elbow attack incident and the subsequent chain reaction have risen to the focus of attention at the CBA league level. When the CBA punished Zhou Qi and Moreland, it was not only necessary to consider the rules of the game and the safety of the players, but also to face pressure from a large fan base, and how to find a balance between fair law enforcement and calming public opinion has become an extremely challenging issue. Zhou Qi's elbow on Li Jinxiao was like a depth charge, which not only detonated the conflict on the court, but also sparked a big discussion on the players' ethics, the grievances between clubs, and the governance ability of the CBA league outside the court. The interweaving of forces from all sides makes the subsequent development of this matter even more eye-catching.