The Guangzhou Loong Lions kicked off the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) season on a challenging note, suffering a significant 109-80 loss to the Qingdao Eagles in their season opener.
Absent from the court was star guard Guo Ailun, a recent acquisition for Guangzhou. His absence left the Loong Lions without a crucial offensive player, impacting their performance as only three players scored in double digits.
From the outset, Qingdao dominated the game, securing a double-digit lead in the first quarter and maintaining their momentum throughout. The Eagles demonstrated exceptional teamwork and fluid ball movement, with five players hitting double figures. Wang Ruizhe was a standout, leading Qingdao with an impressive 26 points.
Qingdao effectively leveraged Yang Hansen's strength in the paint and capitalized on their perimeter shooting, sinking 13 three-pointers. This offensive strategy proved too formidable for Guangzhou's defense to handle.
Davion Warren stepped up for the Loong Lions, contributing 22 points. However, his efforts were not enough to offset the team's overall struggles, particularly in the absence of Guo Ailun. The lack of depth and offensive spark led to Guangzhou's 29-point defeat.
As the season progresses, the Loong Lions will look to address these challenges and build a more cohesive and supportive team dynamic to improve their standing in the league.
Reference(s):
Guangzhou stumble in CBA season opener with huge loss to Qingdao
cgtn.com
