Guangdong vs Shanxi Preview: Morand’s Addition Boosts Team, Du Feng Aims for Home Revenge

On November 1, the CBA regular season continues with Guangdong hosting Shanxi. Before the game, according to the official CBA announcement, Guangdong has activated Morand, while Shanxi has registered Schewe. Given the outstanding performances of these two foreign players last season, their addition to their respective teams is expected to create interesting chemistry. Guangdong currently has a record of 5 wins and 3 losses, placing them ninth in the standings. They have achieved a convincing 4-game home winning streak, defeating Xinjiang, Fujian, Nanjing, and Sichuan. Compared to the early part of the season, Bezley and Gillenwater have shown significant improvement, and Hu Mingxuan and Xu Jie have taken on more responsibility in the backcourt. With the addition of Morand, Guangdong now has four foreign players. In their last matchup against Shanxi, Guangdong was outmatched in all aspects, particularly in the fourth quarter where they were overwhelmed. As a result, Guangdong suffered a decisive loss to Shanxi, failing to secure an opening victory. This time, returning to their home court, Guangdong’s team chemistry and cohesion are gradually reaching expectations. With Morand anchoring the interior, can Du Feng achieve revenge at home? This is a highly anticipated match. Key player performances for Guangdong include:

– **Gillenwater**: Has played 8 games this season, averaging 25.8 minutes per game, scoring 21.9 points, grabbing 6.9 rebounds, and dishing out 2.0 assists.
– **Hu Mingxuan**: Has played 5 games this season, averaging 33.0 minutes per game, scoring 17.2 points, grabbing 4.0 rebounds, dishing out 4.8 assists, and making 1.4 steals.
– **Bezley**: Has played 8 games this season, averaging 31.0 minutes per game, scoring 15.1 points, grabbing 8.6 rebounds, and dishing out 5.0 assists.

Shanxi, the dark horse of the first stage, currently holds a record of 7 wins and 1 loss, ranking very high in the standings, competing for the top spot with Beijing and Guangsha. Under Coach Pan Jiang, Shanxi has maintained the league’s top offensive firepower and made significant improvements in defense. They have defeated popular teams like Guangdong and Liaoning, with their only loss being an away game against Jilin. With Goodwin and Diallo as the core foreign players, Shanxi is now capable of competing with most playoff teams. Prior to facing Guangdong, Shanxi also activated Schewe, aiming to increase the flexibility and resilience of their backcourt. If they can double down on Guangdong away from home, it will further solidify Coach Pan Jiang’s coaching credentials. Key player performances for Shanxi include:

– **Goodwin**: Has played 8 games this season, averaging 31.5 minutes per game, scoring 21.8 points, grabbing 5.1 rebounds, dishing out 7.6 assists, and making 1.8 steals.
– **Diallo**: Has played 8 games this season, averaging 22.9 minutes per game, scoring 19.9 points, grabbing 6.3 rebounds, dishing out 1.9 assists, and making 1.5 steals.
– **Zhang Ning**: Has played 8 games this season, averaging 28.1 minutes per game, scoring 16.9 points, grabbing 4.3 rebounds, dishing out 2.3 assists, and making 1.1 steals.

Historical head-to-head data:
– Guangdong Dongguang and Shanxi Fenjiu have met 42 times historically, with Guangdong Dongguang leading 37-5.
– Last season, the two teams faced each other 3 times, with Guangdong Dongguang winning 2 and losing 1.
– This season, the two teams have met once, with Guangdong Dongguang losing 99-110 away from home.