Remnants of Xinjiang VS Heyday Liaoning: A Trio of Injuries, Miracles and Futures

When the flight of the Xinjiang men's basketball team landed at Shenyang Airport, fans found a worrying picture: Zhao Rui, Li Yanzhe, and Qi Lin, the three core players, were collectively absent. The runner-up team in last season's finals is about to face defending champion Liaoning after eliminating Tongxi in the first round of the playoffs. However, the twin storms of injuries and strategic adjustments have made this matchup full of drama.

Wounded soldiers full of camps: Xinjiang's "three-core black hole"

Zhao Rui: The soul of the backfield cursed by injury

As the backcourt engine of the Xinjiang team, Zhao Rui's knee injury has been troubled for many years. He played just 1 regular-season games this season, but fell to the ground in pain after colliding with his opponent in the play-off G0 and was stretchered off the field. Although there are rumors that he may "rush to Shenyang alone", he was not seen in the arrival footage filmed by Liaoning media, and fans joked: "Zhao Rui's injury history is more eye-catching than his assist statistics." ”

Li Yanzhe: The inner railway gate collapsed suddenly

Li Yanzhe, who has 3 games in the regular season, is the defensive pillar of Xinjiang's inner line. However, he left the field with a serious ankle injury in the play-off G0, and he still limped while walking in the video, completely missing G0. Losing this fierce player who averaged 0 points and 0.0 rebounds per game, Xinjiang faced the impact of Han Dejun and Li Xiaoxu inside, and it may become a "no man's land".

Qi Lin: The fatal blow of the scoring king's broken wings

Qi Lin, who averaged 1.0 points per game in the play-offs, was the biggest firepower point of Xinjiang against Liaoning, but he accidentally broke his foot in training. Despite the minor injury, G0's absence is a foregone conclusion. Fans ridiculed: "Xinjiang's scoring king curse - just play at the peak, you have to sit on the cold bench." ”

The Last Stand: Liu Wei's "Remnant Philosophy"

In the face of the absence of three cores, head coach Liu Wei's lineup has become the focus. Foreign player Hagens may have been forced to carry the burden at the back, but his performance in the play-offs was assessed as "qualified, but hardly amazing". Up front, Thornwell may replace Qi Lin, but this will squeeze the playing time of foreign players, resulting in a shortage of squad rotation.

However, Liu Wei has led the remnants to defeat Zhejiang, Shanxi and other strong teams this season, and his "Tianji horse racing" style tactics once amazed the league. Some fans analyzed: "If Xinjiang wants to cause an upset, it must drag the game into a chaotic battle and use high-frequency offense and defense to consume the physical strength of Liaoning veterans." And Liaoning coach Yang Ming has already warned about this: "Liu's adaptability is always worth being vigilant about." However, for Liu Wei, the most realistic thing is that Zhao Rui will rush to Shenyang by himself, and it is very likely that he will make a comeback.

**Future layout: the general manager's "secret crossing Chen Cang"**

When the team was preparing for the game in Shenyang, the absence of general manager Guo Jian sparked heated discussions. It was revealed that he was secretly contacting defender Wang Yibo, whose contract for the Zhejiang team had expired, to pave the way for reinforcement next season. The move was interpreted as a double signal: both a compromise to the realities of the season and a statement of ambition for the future.

If Wang Yibo's joining can come true, it will greatly ease the pressure on Xinjiang's backfield. This season, his average performance of 1.0 points and 0.0 assists per game may complement Zhao Rui. Fans jokingly said: "Mr. Guo is 'the game can be lost, the transfer must be won'!" ”

The 4-0 defeat in the finals last season is still a hidden pain in the hearts of Xinjiang fans. Now that the remnants are fighting again, it is widely predicted that Liaoning will advance easily. But there seems to be an atmosphere of "mourning soldiers must win" within the Xinjiang team: **"Even if you win one game, it is a victory to break the demons." ”**

Although the Liaoning team has a neat lineup, there are still hidden dangers. Zhao Jiwei's ups and downs in state and the physical management of veterans may become breakthroughs. And if Xinjiang can play a "mad dog" defense in G1, it may be able to replicate the miracle of eliminating Tongxi in the play-offs.

**Epilogue: Starlight in the Dark**

This season's Xinjiang men's basketball team is like a tragic sports epic - Abdul Salamu's state is slipping, Wu Guanxi is reimbursed for the season, and the three cores have fallen one after another...... However, the transfer of the general manager, Liu Wei's tactical toughness, and the hard work of the young players still reserved the spark of hope for the team.

As a Xinjiang fan left a message: "We are not afraid of losing, we are only afraid of admitting defeat." As long as the Flying Tiger flag is still flying, next season's revenge script is worth looking forward to! This seemingly unbalanced matchup may be the starting point of the rebirth of Xinjiang basketball.