In the Chinese basketball world, the Liaoning team is known for its indomitable spirit and strong reversal ability. In this season's CBA playoffs, especially in the fierce confrontation with Guangdong, Liaoning came from the brink of almost elimination and finally advanced in an incredible way. This not only shows the resilience of the team, but also the mental resilience and tactical wisdom of the entire team.
Among the team's many stars, Han Dejun and Zhao Jiwei's performances are particularly eye-catching. Han Dejun was still able to score 23 points against opponents much younger than him, showing his veteran style and undiminished competitive form. And Zhao Jiwei, as the team's key defender, has continuously shown his ability to control the ball and score at critical moments in the playoffs. However, while their performances are unrivalled on the domestic stage, they have also faced skepticism and criticism, especially from the outside world, especially Zhao's international performances, which some critics believe are not enough to match the top defenders in history.
This criticism of individual players reflects a broader issue – the overall performance of the CBA and Chinese basketball on the international stage. Critics believe that despite the passion and competition in the CBA, there is still a gap between the overall level of competition in the league and the top leagues in Europe and the United States. In addition, veterans such as Han Dejun in the league are still able to dominate the court, which is seen as a major obstacle to the improvement of Chinese basketball. At the heart of the matter is how to effectively develop young players so that they can be more competitive in international competitions. The current CBA seems to be more focused on short-term results than long-term player development. This short-sightedness has led to the persistence of ageing stars, with the new generation of players not being given enough opportunities to prove themselves or develop their technical and tactical understanding.
In order to improve the international competitiveness of the league, the CBA and the Chinese Basketball Association may need to reconsider their strategic direction and development model. This includes increased investment in the youth system, improved technical training and psychological coaching for players, and more opportunities for young talent to work at a high level. For Chinese basketball, the goal in the future should be to succeed on a broader international platform, which requires a comprehensive reform from the league level to the national team level.
Zhao Jiwei's style of play is indeed different from that of his predecessors. Guo Allen is known for his explosive breakouts and physical confrontations, while Zhao Jiwei is more focused on intelligence and ball control on the court. His game relied more on reading the game and making passing decisions, which made his role on the field more of a playmaker than a pure scorer. It is this ability that allows him to distribute the ball effectively and control the tempo of the game against strong teams, which is the key to his ability to lead the team to victory when it matters most. Despite some skepticism, Zhao's technical and tactical understanding is indeed at the top of the CBA. His on-court composure and precise judgment of the game allowed him to find teammates in difficult situations and create scoring opportunities. This ability is an important criterion for evaluating whether a point guard is excellent, and it is also the reason why Zhao Jiwei can maintain a stable performance in volatile games.
Fans and media have extremely high expectations for the label of "No. 1 point guard," and those expectations often include excellence and continued dominance in key games. However, basketball is a team sport, and a player's performance is often influenced by a variety of factors, including the performance of teammates, the coach's tactical arrangements, and the opponent's defensive strategy. Although Zhao Jiwei performed well, the overall strength and teamwork of the Liaoning team were also key factors in their success. In addition, as basketball tactics continue to evolve, so does the role of the point guard. In modern basketball, point guards not only need to organize the offense, but also contribute on the defensive end and be able to take responsibility for themselves when it comes to scoring. Although Zhao Jiwei's performance in these areas needs to be improved, he has shown the potential and desire to keep improving, which is an important reason why he is known as the "No. 1 point guard".
In the face of criticism and praise from the outside world, Zhao Jiwei seems to have always maintained a peaceful state of mind. He has said in an interview that he is more focused on team wins and individual contributions on the field, rather than what the outside world says about him. This professional attitude is necessary for any top athlete and it helps him stay focused and continue to refine his skills in training and competition.
The success of the Liaoning team depends on the continued excellent performance of veterans such as Han Dejun, which indeed reflects the problem of Chinese basketball in the lack of talent. Although these experienced players are still able to perform well on the domestic stage, this dependence has also exposed the shortcomings of Chinese basketball in the youth training system and the development of young players. Liaoning and other CBA teams need to invest more resources and energy in the growth and development of young players to ensure that the future of the team and the entire league can have new blood to join and gradually complete the generational transition. In addition, although Zhao Jiwei has performed well in the domestic arena, his mediocre performances in international competitions have also highlighted the gap between Chinese players and the world's top in terms of skill and experience. The Chinese Basketball Association and the CBA League need to revisit their development strategies, not only to develop outstanding players in the domestic league, but also to give them the opportunity to hone and improve on the international stage at a higher level.
Although the media people's evaluation of Zhao Jiwei is harsh, his popularity and influence among fans should not be underestimated. Zhao Jiwei's skills and game wisdom have won the love and respect of many fans, who believe that he is not only an excellent player, but also a symbol of the team's spirit. This divergence of views between fans and the media also reflects the public's diverse expectations of sports stars. Fans are more inclined to support players who can lead the team to victory in key moments, even if those players may not be the most statistically stellar. However, in order to truly promote the development of basketball in China, it is also necessary for the media and the public to have a more comprehensive and objective understanding of the players. In addition to focusing on performance on the pitch, it is also important to pay attention to the professional attitude of the players off the pitch, the diligence of training and the influence they have on the young players. Through such a multi-dimensional evaluation, a player's true value and contribution to basketball can be judged more fairly.
For the Liaoning team, the next few years will be a critical transition period. The gradual retirement of veterans will provide more opportunities and responsibilities for young players, which is an important moment to test the achievements of Liaoning's youth training system. Team management needs visionary planning and strategy, including making informed decisions in drafts, trades, and training, to ensure the team remains competitive in the competitive CBA league.
Zhao Jiwei's stats on the international stage are indeed not as good as his performance at home, and this may be partly related to his role and tactical positioning in the national team. In the CBA, Zhao Jiwei plays the core role of the team, with more ball possession and shooting opportunities. However, in the national team, he needs to share the ball with other top defenders such as Zhao Rui and Hu Mingxuan, and this distribution may limit his room to play to his individual abilities. In addition, opponents in international competitions generally have higher physical fitness and technical level, which is another factor in Zhao's poor performance. Despite this, Zhao Jiwei's experience and consistency on the court still bring some value to the national team. His game intelligence and organisational skills can help the team control the tempo of the game and reduce mistakes when it matters most. For the coaching staff of the national team, how to make better use of Zhao Jiwei's advantages, while improving his performance in scoring and defense, will be a big challenge in the next game.
Public expectations for Zhao Jiwei on the international stage are high, partly due to his outstanding performances in the domestic league. However, in the world of athletic competition, an athlete may excel in one area and be mediocre in another. This phenomenon is especially common in basketball, where different game environments and opponents can have a significant impact on an athlete's performance. Although Zhao Jiwei's international competition statistics are not outstanding, this does not completely negate his efforts and contributions. In addition, a direct comparison with young defenders such as Zhao Rui and Hu Mingxuan, although the gap can be seen in the data, this should also be the driving force for Zhao Jiwei's future improvement. A basketball player's career is a process of continuous improvement and self-challenge. If Zhao Jiwei's international performance can be improved through harder training and competition experience, it is entirely possible for him to turn this situation around in future competitions and show an even better international level.