NBL Finals Game Preview: Hong Kong on the Verge of Championship with a Match Point, Can Anhui Make a Comeback?

On September 24th, the NBL Finals will continue with Game 5, as Hong Kong Golden Bulls challenge Anhui Wenyi away from home. Currently, Hong Kong Golden Bulls lead the series 3-1, and if they can defeat their opponents in this game, they will be crowned NBL champions for the first time.

Hong Kong Golden Bulls have been very aggressive in the playoffs, winning 8 out of the last 10 games, including three consecutive wins against Anhui after losing the first match. The main players, led by Jones, are highly motivated and eager to win.

In the last game, Hong Kong Golden Bulls overcame a deficit of up to 22 points to beat their opponents 94-83. Jones scored an impressive 34 points and 11 assists, while March added 18 points. The team had a 44% shooting percentage from beyond the arc, which contrasts with the significant issues Anhui faced on both offense and defense, making Hong Kong’s victory expected. Despite playing away, Hong Kong Golden Bulls won their previous three matches with an average margin of 14.3 points.

The biggest issue facing Anhui is their inability to restrict Jones’ playmaking, especially since too few local players have stepped up to solve problems. Yang Wenbo shot only 1 out of 7 from beyond the arc in the last game, and Tang Jie and Xue Bowen also failed to contribute much. While relying on Dakari and Gilbert might resolve many offensive issues, failing to capitalize on open three-point opportunities falls short of the standards required in the Finals.

To bounce back at home, Anhui must demonstrate sufficient defensive aggressiveness, particularly since a large portion of Jones’ scoring comes from drives to the basket or mid-range shots following screens. Compared to other small foreign players with strong shooting abilities, Jones’ strengths and weaknesses are clear. Anhui needs more local players to apply defensive pressure on Jones; otherwise, if he continues to distribute as he did in the last game, driving Hong Kong Golden Bulls’ offense into multiple scoring opportunities, it becomes nearly impossible to defend.

The fifth game of the NBL Finals means both teams are familiar with each other’s core strategies and lineups. Beyond demonstrating expected strengths, minimizing mistakes is crucial. In terms of depth, as defending champions, Anhui has a stable core lineup, but they lack effective solutions to counteract the impact of experienced foreign players like Jones.

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