On the evening of August 25, the NBL quarterfinals will continue, with Hefei’s furious team hosting Anhui Wenyi. In the first match, Anhui Wenyi easily defeated Hefei’s furious team with a score of 112-77, leading with a 1-0 record.
Anhui Wenyi performed exceptionally well during the regular season, entering the playoffs with a top ranking of 23 wins and 3 losses. Including the last game, Anhui Wenyi has now achieved five consecutive victories, demonstrating outstanding performance. They possess superior capabilities on both offense and defense, with particularly explosive offensive performance; the team averages 101.9 points per game, ranking first in the league. Furthermore, Anhui Wenyi is very adept at outside shooting, boasting a three-point shooting percentage of 37.8%, also topping the league. Excellent offense is a crucial asset for Anhui Wenyi’s championship pursuit. At the same time, they are experienced in defense, averaging only 18.2 fouls per game, making them the best fouling team in the league.
Hefei’s furious team entered the playoffs as eighth place with a record of 9 wins and 17 losses in the regular season, barely making it into the playoffs. In the final two games of the regular season, Hefei’s furious team managed to secure two consecutive victories, which was no easy feat considering they had previously suffered six consecutive losses. Therefore, there is a noticeable gap in both strength and performance between Hefei’s furious team and Anhui Wenyi.
Last season, Hefei’s furious team entered the playoffs with a record of 9 wins and 13 losses in seventh place in the regular season. They were swept 2-0 by Shanxi Xinda in the first round of the playoffs and did not advance to the semi-finals. If there are no surprises, they will again be eliminated in the first round of the playoffs this season. Despite some adjustments made during the off-season, including welcoming their first foreign head coach Murray, the team focuses on younger players. Hefei’s furious team mentioned that they have made great efforts to invite excellent players for trials. The team needs to embark on a new journey in the new season. Head coach Murray also talked about focusing on strengthening physical training and improving fitness, emphasizing defense and technical skills on the court. He further stated that he brought a new system to the team, which is still in the process of gelling.
Hefei’s furious team’s performance on both offense and defense is not impressive, especially on defense, which seems almost non-existent. Their defensive efficiency is 121, ranking third from the bottom in the league. Additionally, their outside shooting performance is also quite poor, with a three-point shooting percentage of only 31.8%.
The two teams met four times during the regular season this season, with Anhui Wenyi winning all matches. In the previous game, Anhui Wenyi easily defeated Hefei’s furious team 112-77, maintaining a lead in all quarters. Whether it’s rebounds or shooting accuracy, Anhui Wenyi held an absolute advantage. The combined effort of the two foreign players Jackson and Gillenwater resulted in 46 points, with all 12 Anhui players scoring. Jackson contributed 24 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists, while Gillenwater scored 22 points and 7 rebounds. Johnson added a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds. On the other hand, only Arnosk from Hefei’s furious team scored over 20 points, with the other players performing poorly. Two starters, Liu Qi and Zhang Yu, scored zero points, which was indeed disappointing.
Considering both the strength and recent form of the two teams, even if Hefei’s furious team returns to their home court, it remains difficult for them to pose much trouble for Anhui Wenyi. Of course, if Hefei’s foreign players deliver superlative performances, Hefei might keep the suspense alive.
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