The annual CBA playoffs have opened a new chapter, and the most eye-catching is the semi-final showdown between Liaoning and Guangdong. The fact that these two strongest teams in history meet again on the playoff stage undoubtedly adds endless suspense and anticipation to this wonderful matchup.
The confrontation between Liaoning and Guangdong has always been one of the highest level of competition in the CBA. The two sides have faced each other as many as 11 times on the playoff stage, and their records are evenly matched. In this competition, the news of Zhou Qi's ban and the rumors of Guo Allen's suspected comeback have added more uncertainty to this focus battle. How will this semi-final play out?
It is worth mentioning that there is another interesting detail in the upcoming Liaoning-Guangdong battle - this will be the 10th consecutive season for the Liaoning team to reach the CBA semifinals.
Over the past two years, the northern powerhouse has gone all the way to winning the CBA championship in 2021-22 and 2022-23, becoming one of the most dominant teams in CBA history. In this semi-final, they will undoubtedly once again aim for the championship trophy hanging high and seek a historic opportunity for themselves to win three consecutive championships.
In the face of the Liaoning team, the Guangdong team undoubtedly has its own determination and belief. In the latter stages of the regular season, the South China Tigers showed extraordinary competitiveness and are expected to make a splash in the semi-finals. However, in this upcoming encounter, Zhou Qi's ban and Guo Allen's return have undoubtedly had a huge impact on the strength of the Guangdong team's interior and backcourt. It remains to be seen how the two teams will respond to this change of scenery.
Of course, in this focus battle, the core players of both sides will undoubtedly become the focus of contention. For the Liaoning team, the outstanding performance of players such as Zhao Jiwei and Zhang Zhenlin in the preseason has made them a key force in the team. For the Guangdong team, how to give full play to the offensive ability of defenders such as Hu Mingxuan, Xu Jie and even Waters will also become the key to determining the outcome of the game.
In any case, this upcoming Liaoyue semi-finals will undoubtedly be the most high-profile focus battle of this season's CBA playoffs. The disparity in strength between the two teams, the equal scores, and the existence of many variables will surely set off a fierce competition. As one of the most talked-about matchups in CBA history, this semifinal will undoubtedly be a highlight of this season's playoffs. Let's look forward to this top-level matchup and see who will have the last laugh in the end.
The dominance of this Liaoning team in the past two seasons can be described as terrifying, winning consecutive CBA championships and becoming one of the strongest teams in the CBA at the moment. They are undoubtedly the favourites in the upcoming semi-finals. Judging from the regular season record, the Liaoning team has always been in an advantageous position, especially in the last stage, they have shown super competitiveness.
What's even more remarkable is that in the just-concluded 1/4 finals, the Liaoning team not only easily eliminated the Shenzhen team with a total score of 3-0, but also created a good record of 11 consecutive wins across the season. This is undoubtedly a testament to the team's excellent form of recent times, and it also raises the hope that they can reach the finals again in the semi-finals.
It is worth mentioning that in the just-concluded 1/4 finals, the Liaoning team showed the advantage of the depth of the players' strength. The data shows that as many as 7 players have scored double-doubles per game, especially the excellent performances of Zhao Jiwei and Zhang Zhenlin, which are impressive. This shows that the Liaoning team not only has a strong core, but also has a number of players who can play at key moments, which is undoubtedly a big advantage for them in the upcoming semi-finals.
Of course, in the face of a strong opponent like the Guangdong team, the Liaoning team also needs to give full play to its advantages. First and foremost is their interior strength. Han's experience and Moreland's dynamism will undoubtedly be the key to their inside matchup. However, Guangdong are not without the ability to fight back, and their defenders are equally good, with Hu Mingxuan, Xu Jie and even Waters all expected to carry the burden of Guangdong's attack in this semi-final.
In addition, high-pressure pressing is also a big killer feature of the Guangdong team. So far in the playoffs, they have ranked first in the league in three-point shooting percentages per game and rebounds per game, which shows the team's excellent performance on the defensive end. This will undoubtedly become a key part of the Liaoning team's response.
On the whole, this Liaoyue semi-final will undoubtedly be a top-level matchup. There is a huge disparity in strength between the two sides, but they are in a five-five position in terms of track record, and a fierce contest will be staged. The inside advantage of the Liaoning team and the defensive characteristics of the Guangdong team will become the key to determining the outcome of the game. However, in the upcoming semi-finals, Zhou Qi's ban and Guo Allen's return undoubtedly add more suspense to this focus battle.
Will Liaoning be able to maintain their dominance, or will Guangdong rely on their own strength to win back a city? This will undoubtedly be the most eye-catching matchup of the CBA playoffs. Let's look forward to the excitement of this pinnacle showdown and see who will have the last laugh in the end.
In the upcoming Liaoyue semi-finals, the biggest attraction is undoubtedly the variables of the two stars, Zhou Qi and Guo Allen. The former was banned for his elbow action in the quarterfinals and was unable to play in the semifinals G1; Although the latter has not appeared in the previous playoffs, there have been rumors of a comeback recently. This undoubtedly adds more uncertainty to this focus battle.
The ban on Zhou Qi will undoubtedly have a huge impact on the inside line of the Guangdong team. As the core of the Guangdong team's interior line, Zhou Qi played a key role in both the offensive and defensive ends. In the absence of him, young interior players such as Zhang Mingchi and Zhang Hao must stand up and shoulder the heavy responsibility of the Guangdong team. But in comparison, the interior strength of the Liaoning team is undoubtedly better, with the experienced Han Dejun and the energetic Moreland, who will become the backbone of the Liaoning team.
For Guo Allen's return, it injected strong offensive momentum into the backfield of the Guangdong team. As the core scorer of the Guangdong team, Guo Allen's outstanding performance has always been the key to the Guangdong team's victory. If he does come back in this semi-final, it will definitely bring a huge test to the defense of the Liaoning team. Hu Mingxuan, Xu Jie and other defenders of the Guangdong team will also be driven by him, thus showing stronger offensive ability.
However, Allen Guo's return is not a foregone conclusion. At present, it is just rumors, and whether the Guangdong team will really use him at a critical moment needs to be further observed. After all, the recovery of players' form is often unpredictable, and the Guangdong team must also think carefully.
Overall, Zhou Qi's ban and Guo Allen's return have undoubtedly added more unknowns to this semi-final. The strength of the Guangdong team's interior line and backcourt will be affected to a certain extent, and the Liaoning team also needs to respond accordingly. The outcome of this key battle is likely to depend on the direction of these two variables.
In addition to these two highlights, the performances of other stars in this semi-final were also interesting. Zhao Jiwei and Zhang Zhenlin of the Liaoning team, as well as Hu Mingxuan and Xu Jie of the Guangdong team, will all play an important role in this pinnacle battle. Their performance could be the difference between victory and defeat.
On the whole, this Liaoyue semi-final will undoubtedly be the most exciting matchup in the CBA playoffs. The two teams are of equal strength, have a good track record, and with the presence of the two major variables of Zhou Qi's ban and Guo Allen's return, there will be a fierce and [and] suspenseful competition. Regardless of the final outcome, this spotlight battle is sure to be a highlight of this season's CBA playoffs. Let's look forward to the wonderful performance of this pinnacle showdown and witness another classic showdown in CBA history.