Liaoning VS Shenzhen Preview: Foster Temporarily Back with Team; Shenzhen Settles for One Big and One Small Foreign Player; Liaoning Aims to Win at Home

On September 20, the CBA preseason match in Dandong District of Liaoning sees Liaoning host Shenzhen.

Last season in the regular league, Shenzhen ranked eighth with a record of 31 wins and 21 losses, advancing into the playoffs. They defeated Beikong 2-1 in the first round of the playoffs but were swept 0-3 by eventual champions Liaoning in the quarterfinals. Despite this, Shenzhen performed quite well overall last season. During the off-season, the team made some adjustments to its lineup. Zhou Peng became the new head coach, and not long ago, He Xining passed the physical test to secure his eligibility for the new season. In terms of foreign players, Shenzhen signed American center Perry and French guard Otelle.

Perry played for the Zhejiang Chouzhou team in the CBA last season, averaging 13.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per game over 17.6 minutes. He is skilled in organizing plays and sharing the ball, boasting a three-point shooting rate of over 40%. Having represented the French national team multiple times, their addition significantly boosts Shenzhen’s strength. However, due to personal reasons, Marshan is temporarily unable to join the team, so Shenzhen currently has Perry and Otelle as their one big and one small foreign player combination.

In the summer league, Shenzhen won six out of eight matches, making a strong start under Coach Zhou Peng. Although they suffered two consecutive losses against Jiangsu and Xinjiang, they quickly rebounded, defeating Nanjing Tongxi 100-90. In this game, Shenzhen had a considerable advantage in rebounds and offensive efficiency, with four players scoring in double digits. All ten players who took the court scored, demonstrating a team effort. Hu Xiaolong came off the bench to lead the team with 21 points and 5 rebounds, while He Xining contributed 19 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists, and Lu Pengyu added 16 points and 5 assists. Despite not fielding their starters, Shenzhen’s performance in the summer league was commendable. Including the preseason games, teams are primarily focused on lineup integration, but as the final warm-up before the regular season begins, it’s expected that all teams will give their best efforts.

On Liaoning’s side, as the champions from last season, their strength cannot be underestimated. Facing an excellent Xinjiang in the finals, Liaoning won without much difficulty. Their goal for the new season is undoubtedly to defend their title. During the off-season, Liaoning signed Shaiyuek, who previously played for Shandong, and new foreign player Achu has also arrived in Shenyang to join the team. Currently, only Foster has yet to return. Last season, Shaiyuek was selected for both the regular season best lineup and the best international lineup. He played 43 games for Shandong, averaging 19.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.2 steals in 23.2 minutes per game, with a shooting percentage of 47.8% and a three-point shooting percentage of 41.1%, showcasing his remarkable performance.

Achu previously played for Nanjing Tongxi in the 22-23 season, appearing in 38 games and averaging 18.3 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.7 blocks per game, with a two-point shooting percentage of 55.7% and a three-point shooting percentage of 22.7%, demonstrating solid ability. Liaoning’s performance in the summer league and club friendlies was subpar, but they managed to avoid a four-game losing streak by beating Qingdao 83-79 in their most recent game. For this preseason game, it’s believed that Liaoning will cherish this opportunity to integrate before the start of the new season.

The two teams met five times last season, with Liaoning maintaining a perfect record, showing a clear advantage. This time, playing at home, Liaoning will surely not let go of the chance to continue their winning streak against Shenzhen.

>>”>For more predictions on this game, click >>>