On July 17, the NBL regular season continues with a match-up between Shijiazhuang Xianglan and Henan She Store Liquor.
Shijiazhuang currently stands at 7 wins and 6 losses, ranking fourth in the league. Over the past 10 games, they’ve secured 6 victories and 4 defeats, achieving expected results. With Weims and Ndoye as their leading foreign players, Shijiazhuang’s fast-paced whirlwind basketball style has gained recognition from the outside world. There is a high probability that they will make it into the playoffs this new season.
In their previous loss against the reigning champion Anhui, Weims scored an impressive 29 points with 6 assists and 5 rebounds, while Ndoye added 27 points and 8 rebounds. Both performed up to expectations on both ends of the court. However, when faced with the rampaging Jackson, Shijiazhuang encountered significant issues in the second half. When Dakari and Zheng Qilong continuously attacked the basket, causing damage, Shijiazhuang’s defense was unable to contain Anhui’s multi-point offensive explosion, ultimately leading to their defeat.
To defeat Henan in this game, the performance of Weims and Ndoye will be crucial for victory. Whether Ennis can take on more responsibility in the second lineup and if Shijiazhuang’s domestic players can make substantial adjustments and changes in defense and open three-point shots will also be key factors.
Henan, currently at 4 wins and 9 losses, ranks seventh in the league. They have been embroiled in controversy due to a streak of 7 consecutive losses, with major problems evident on both offense and defense. The team’s over-reliance on foreign players has become even more exposed. When Marcus, the leading core foreign player, fails to maintain a convincing performance throughout the entire game, Henan’s domestic players are shouldering too little responsibility, often ending up in a “utility man” position, tasked only with defense and fouls.
To pull off a win against Shijiazhuang during this low point, Henan still needs Marcus to shoulder the heavy offensive burden. In their previous loss to Hefei, Marcus went 15 for 25, scoring 39 points and grabbing 2 rebounds, virtually delivering a satisfying offensive performance. However, the team only managed to secure 21 rebounds, while Hefei’s trio of foreign players grabbed 22 alone. Si Kun and Wu Longhao also had double-digit scoring performances, resulting in Hefei pulling off an upset victory.