In the fierce matchup in the CBA finals, the Liaoning team defeated the Xinjiang team 97-86 with its steady performance and tactical advantages. The victory left Xinjiang 2-0 down in the series and facing unprecedented pressure. Historical data shows that teams that trailed 0-2 in the CBA Finals have never made a comeback, adding more adversity to the Xinjiang team.
The Xinjiang team performed well at the beginning, leading by 10 points at one point, showing strong competitiveness. However, as the game progressed, their offensive efficiency dropped sharply, and Liaoning seized the opportunity to gradually narrow the gap and eventually overtake. Xinjiang looked powerless at key moments in the game, with multiple mistakes on the offensive end, while Liaoning showed a consistent and efficient attack. Xinjiang's core players, including this season's MVP Abdul Salamu, have not performed well. Although he fought the court, he was unable to perform effectively, and his overall performance was well below the level of the regular season. This had a significant impact on the overall tactical execution of the Xinjiang team, making the team lack decisive attacking power at critical moments.
During the game, Liaoning's Moreland attracted a lot of attention for his fierce defense and controversial behavior. Some of his moves were deemed provocative, particularly the physical contact with Xinjiang's Abdul Salamu, which caused tension on both sides and sparked heated discussions among fans and the media. This interference from off-field factors made the game full of uncertainty and controversy.
Fans have expressed their dissatisfaction with Moreland's behavior, believing that such behavior violates the spirit of fairness in sports competitions. This situation not only affected the normal performance of the players, but also had a certain negative impact on the image of the CBA. The public's attention has gradually shifted to how to ensure the fairness of the game and the safety of players, and the CBA league has been called on to strengthen the enforcement of game rules and penalties for malicious fouls. This finals is not only a contest of basketball skills, but also a test of the implementation of CBA league rules. The focus of fans and pundits extends beyond the game itself to the maintenance of fair and ethical standards of the game. The challenge for the league is how to balance the intensity of the game with the fairness of the game, and how to deal with misconduct on the field.
Faced with the unfavorable situation of 0-2, the Xinjiang team had to carry out in-depth reflection and tactical adjustment. Although there has been no reversal in the history of the CBA, this does not mean that the Xinjiang team has given up. On the contrary, such adversity should be an opportunity for them to be excited. The coaching staff and players must carefully analyze the mistakes of the first two games, especially the shortcomings in defensive transitions and offensive options, in order to find effective countermeasures against Liaoning. At this time, psychological adjustment is equally important, and staying calm and confident is the key to turning the tables.
In this series, the leader of the Xinjiang team, MVP Abdul Salamu, played crucially. The sluggish performances in the first two games need to be shaken off as soon as possible, and he must return to the excellent form of the regular season in the following games. As the team's spiritual leader and scoring core, Abdu's performance will have a direct impact on the team's morale and pace of play. The team also needs to build a more effective offensive system around him, using his traction on the court to create more scoring opportunities for other players.
In response to the offensive of the Liaoning team, the Xinjiang team must redesign its defensive strategy. Part of the reason for Liaoning's high offensive efficiency is that they are able to play efficient coordination and quick counterattacks at critical moments. Xinjiang needs to strengthen the marking of Liaoning's main scorer, reduce the opposition's open opportunities outside the three-point line, and try to disrupt Liaoning's offensive rhythm by increasing the intensity of physical confrontation. In addition, there is an urgent need to improve the competition for rebounding, and controlling rebounding means controlling the pace of the game and reducing the opponent's secondary offensive opportunities.
In the face of tremendous pressure, the players of the Xinjiang team must show tenacious fighting spirit and team spirit. Although history is not on their side, every game is a new beginning, and there is the possibility of a turnaround. Team leaders and veterans need to step up and use their experience and resilience to inspire their teammates, especially when there is adversity in the game. More importantly, the whole team needs to maintain a positive mindset and believe that they can make a difference.
For the Xinjiang team, the psychological and technical adjustment is particularly urgent. As the team's core player and regular season MVP, Abdul Salamu's mentality on the court directly affects the performance of the entire team. The coaching staff needed personalised counselling to help him get out of the shadow of the first two games and regain his confidence and rhythm of the game. At the same time, his tactical use needs to be fine-tuned to ensure that he can find more scoring opportunities in the game, especially accurate shooting from beyond the three-point line.
In addition, the Xinjiang team should enhance the offensive strategy of the mid-range and interior line, and reduce the reliance on three-point shooting, so as to create a variety of scoring avenues for Abdu. Teams can create more space and shooting opportunities with quick player rotation and screen pick-and-roll, while also strengthening their integration with post players and using their height and stamina to disrupt the opposition's defensive layout. In this way, the Xinjiang team can make more effective use of the characteristics of each player on the field, so as to improve the scoring efficiency.
The overall performance of the team does not depend solely on individual players, but requires the joint efforts of all players. The performance of the Xinjiang team in key moments showed a lack of effective teamwork. The coaching staff needs to strengthen the team's coordination training, especially when supporting each other in fast break transitions and tight defenses. Each player's roles and responsibilities should be clearly defined to ensure that everyone is aware of their role during the game and executes it effectively.
The Xinjiang team also needs to find firepower support from the bench. When the main players are not performing well, being able to have a substitute player step up and contribute is crucial to change the tempo and outcome of the game. The coaching staff should consider giving substitutes more playing time and responsibility to show their abilities in training and games. By enhancing the depth and quality of the bench, Xinjiang can better cope with various situations in the game, especially when the main players are not in good shape.
In the CBA, the referee's decision has always been one of the points of controversy in the game. In this pivotal final, Moreland's excesses against Abdul Salamu were not duly punished, causing widespread discussion among the public and professionals. Inconsistent refereeing standards not only affect the fairness of the game, but can also have an impact on the physical and mental well-being of players. Faced with this situation, the league management needs to revisit the training and evaluation mechanism of referees to ensure that all matches are played in a fair and equitable environment.
In order to improve the fairness of the game, the CBA league may need to consider introducing more advanced technology to assist referees in decision-making, such as the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system. In addition, strengthening the on-site supervision and post-match evaluation of referees is also an important measure to ensure the fairness of the game. Through these methods, human errors and biases can be reduced, and the overall level of referees can be improved, thereby increasing the competitiveness and spectacle of the league.
In a high-pressure playing environment, the emotional management of players is equally important. Abdul Salamu was provoked and physically attacked during the match, which not only tested his technical ability, but also challenged his mental endurance. Xinjiang's coaching staff needs to provide psychological counselling to the players to help them stay calm and focus on the game itself when they are provoked and unfair. This kind of mental toughness will be one of the key factors in the success of the Xinjiang team.
In addition to the emotional management of individual players, the Xinjiang team as a whole also needs to develop a tactical strategy to deal with the opponent's provocation and refereeing unfairness. In terms of tactical deployment, the coaching team can protect the core players by adjusting the lineup and tactics to avoid them being overexposed to the aggressive defense of the opponent. At the same time, by strengthening communication and collaboration between teams, the rules of the game can be used more effectively and more favorable conditions for the team to play.
The reaction of fans and the public to the game is also an aspect that the Xinjiang team needs to pay attention to. In the face of unfavourable penalties and misbehaviour by opponents, the support of the fans can be a huge motivator for a team. Both the Xinjiang team and the CBA league should recognize that maintaining the fairness of the game and clear and transparent communication are essential to maintaining the trust and support of fans. Through social media and public statements, the Xinjiang team can maintain good interaction with fans and work together for a level playing field.