On May 13, Beijing time, the CBA playoffs feature a crucial game between the Guangsha Lions and the Shanxi Loongs. The series is currently tied at 1-1, and the winner will claim the final berth in the semifinals.
So far, three teams have advanced to the semifinals: Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Beijing.
Historically, Guangsha and Shanxi have met 55 times, with Guangsha winning 35 games. In playoff encounters, they have faced off 7 times, with Guangsha holding a 5-2 advantage. This season, they have played twice, with each team winning once.
Key storylines:
After losing Game 1 at home, Guangsha’s Sun Minghui did not play in Game 2 on the road due to injury. Head coach Wang Bo stuck with the same lineup, relying on Brown, Hu Jinqiu, and Tucker as the core. They managed to secure a 86-81 comeback victory in a must-win situation. Brown scored 19 points, while Hu Jinqiu contributed 17 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double. Wang Bo successfully turned the game into a defensive battle, and Guangsha’s playoff experience and key player performances were crucial to the win.
On the other hand, Shanxi’s loss of home court in Game 2 feels like a missed opportunity. Super foreign player Diallo played only 19 minutes, finishing with 16 points and 7 rebounds, and Zhang Ning added 13 points. However, the team struggled to stop the connection between Brown and Hu Jinqiu. Shanxi mounted a comeback attempt late in the fourth quarter but failed to defend their home floor.
For Game 3, the big question is whether Guangsha’s starting guard Sun Minghui will return. Wang Bo said the decision depends on his performance in practice. If Sun can play, it would be a huge boost for Guangsha, increasing their chances of winning the decisive game.
Shanxi, meanwhile, needs more local players to step up, especially Jiao Hailong and Jia Mingru. They must leverage their depth to create more advantages.
Regular season stats for key players this season:
Guangsha:
– Brown: Played 23 games, averaged 25.0 minutes, 21.6 points, 2.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.9 steals.
– Tucker: Played 40 games, averaged 23.1 minutes, 18.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 5.4 assists.
– Hu Jinqiu: Played 39 games, averaged 25.9 minutes, 16.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists.
Shanxi:
– Diallo: Played 38 games, averaged 21.9 minutes, 19.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.8 steals.
– Knight: Played 34 games, averaged 20.3 minutes, 14.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.6 assists.
– Jia Mingru: Played 40 games, averaged 25.9 minutes, 10.7 points, 1.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists.
Milestone watch:
Guangsha:
– Sun Minghui has 818 career steals, ranking 14th on the CBA all-time steals list, just one shy of tying Liu Zheng (819) for 13th.
– Hu Jinqiu has 429 career blocks, ranking 22nd on the CBA all-time blocks list, five behind Eric Moreland (434) for 21st.
Shanxi:
– Yuan Shuai has 1,207 career three-pointers, ranking 7th on the CBA all-time three-point list, three behind Wang Shipeng (1,210) for 6th.
