The CBA playoff quarterfinal Game 3 saw Beijing defeat Guangdong 88-73, clinching the series 2-1 and advancing to the semifinals. After taking the lead in the second quarter, Beijing maintained pressure on Guangdong and extended their advantage in the final quarter to secure the victory. Here’s what the basketball community had to say.
Media personality @HaiJun’sBlueDot highlighted Zhou Qi’s impact:
“He dominated on both ends of the floor. It’s been a while since we’ve seen this version of Zhou Qi. Unfortunately, we haven’t seen enough of it over the past two seasons.”
Zhou Qi not only scored efficiently but also made it impossible for Guangdong to operate inside or outside on defense, while grabbing crucial rebounds. Looking ahead to the matchup against Shanghai, he will face Hassan Whiteside, which poses a significant challenge. It will be interesting to see who comes out on top.
Duan Ran discussed the value of Zeng Fanbo:
“Zeng Fanbo is finding his rhythm at the right time. His contributions on the wing will be vital against Shanghai.”
Zeng’s primary value lies in his three-point shooting, as he broke out in two of the three games. His defensive coverage is also impressive, and his duel with Zhang Zhenlin is sure to be a highlight.
Guangdong’s interior issues were widely criticized by fans, media, and commentators alike. The team lacks depth in the frontcourt, with Wang Shaojie unable to shoulder the load alone. Foreign players Lako and Salinger underperformed on both ends, making the frontline too weak against Beijing. This situation is largely self-inflicted, as Guangdong failed to develop Xu Xin properly.
Media personality Fu Zhenghao pointed out that two players—Cui Yongxi and Jiao Boqiao—have not integrated into Du Feng’s system:
“Both are returning from serious injuries and have yet to fully adapt to Coach Du’s tactical schemes.”
Cui Yongxi, in particular, had little impact throughout the series. Jiao Boqiao also struggled to make a difference after joining Guangdong. Both are key players, but their output has been insufficient. It remains to be seen if they can deepen their understanding of the system during the offseason, as otherwise their acquisitions would be wasted.
