On July 14th, the NBL regular season continues with Anhui taking on Shijiazhuang.
Anhui currently holds a record of 10 wins and 2 losses, ranking second in the league standings. In their last 10 games, they’ve achieved an 8-2 record, largely meeting expectations. However, following a narrow 107-108 loss to Hong Kong Golden Bulls in a top-of-the-table clash, head coach Zheng Wu was relieved of his duties, with assistant coach Li Jun stepping up to lead Anhui Wenyi’s men’s basketball team. The impact of the changes was immediate as Zubcic dominated with 43 points and 11 rebounds against Jiangsu’s interior, while Dakari contributed 18 points and 10 rebounds. Adding to that, Yang Wenbo scored 24 points with 6 assists and 5 rebounds, leading Anhui to a commanding 119-84 victory over Jiangsu.
In their first match since the coaching change, Anhui displayed a fierce offensive momentum and relentless team effort, reminiscent of the reigning champions’ style. Zheng Wu’s son, Zheng Qilong, however, received only 2 minutes of playing time and has largely faded from the core rotation.
As Anhui travels to face Shijiazhuang, their primary task will be how to defend against Shijiazhuang’s fast break counterattacks, particularly the impact of Willis who is currently in scorching form. Whether Anhui can leverage their interior advantage while also limiting Willis’ effectiveness could be key to securing a win.
Shijiazhuang, with a record of 7 wins and 5 losses, stands fourth in the league standings. Over their past 10 games, they’ve gone 6-4, achieving what was expected. Emphasizing transition play between offense and defense, Shijiazhuang averages 93.9 points per game, placing them among the league’s top scorers. In their last match against the weaker Hefei Whirlwind, they relied on Willis and Ndoye’s explosive combined 46 points, 16 rebounds, and 14 assists to secure a 93-86 victory.
Facing the reigning champion Anhui, the condition of Shijiazhuang’s dual foreign players will determine the lower limit of the match’s competitiveness. How they handle Anhui’s strong interior attacks will place additional defensive responsibilities on Ndoye. In this narrow encounter, it’s the brave who shall prevail, and a showdown between foreign players seems inevitable.
