What surprises does the Chinese men's basketball team have after winning all three matches?

After completing three matches in the Asian Cup group stage, the result of the Chinese men's basketball team winning all three was somewhat expected. The three opponents, Saudi Arabia and India, proved to be tougher than anticipated, while Jordan, whom I previously considered the strongest opponent in the group stage, was less competitive in this Asian Cup.

In last night's game, the opening score was 17-0, with Jordan's offense lacking organization and their defense leaking players. Once our three-point shooting started, the game began to flow smoothly. I don't understand why their strongest player, Tucker, was placed on the bench; the starting five struggled to score and fell behind early in the game.

After Tucker came in, Jordan's offense gradually improved. They then played almost the entire game in a zone defense, which brought back some suspense to the match. Our men's basketball team essentially received a practical lesson on breaking through the zone defense.

To be honest, we don't have many strategies for breaking the zone defense; otherwise, we wouldn't have allowed the opponent to play it for almost the entire game. We often found ourselves unable to push the pace, and the opponent's transition defense was very disciplined. Our guards couldn't penetrate and were left to pass the ball around the perimeter ineffectively.

Breaking the zone defense through ball movement essentially relies on three-point shooting accuracy. Our offense was a mess in the latter half of the first quarter, but it gradually improved after the starting lineup came in during the second quarter, with Zhao Rui and Hu Mingxuan providing the necessary firepower from the outside.

Especially Zhao Rui, who played the entire second quarter, made two three-pointers, drew a three-point foul and converted all three free throws, and scored on a drive, ending the quarter with 11 points, helping the team through the toughest stretch.

Zhao Rui is the type of leader who can change the game when the team faces difficulties. For instance, in the opening match, when everyone was unsure how to play, he scored five points in a row. When faced with last night's zone defense, he took the initiative to break the deadlock. In contrast, in the second match against India, he didn't contribute much.

Despite the 17-0 lead at the start, by halftime, the lead was reduced to just nine points. However, it was clear that coach Guo Shiqiang made tactical adjustments during halftime, increasing the emphasis on driving to the basket and crashing the boards, putting pressure on the opponent's zone defense and preventing them from staying in their comfort zone.

At the same time, Cheng Shuai Peng was on fire from beyond the arc, shooting 5 out of 10 from three-point range, becoming the second player after Hu Mingxuan to explode in three-point shooting. In fact, his shooting touch has been good throughout the three games, scoring a team-high 20 points last night.

After Wang Shipeng and Zhu Fangyu, it's rare to see a passionate three-point shooter like Cheng Shuai Peng in the national team. He can hit consecutive three-pointers, truly deserving the nickname "China's Klay." With such outside shooting support, the men's basketball team found it much easier to break the zone defense in the second half.

When Jordan's Tucker ran out of energy, their ability to resist essentially vanished. In the end, the score was 90-68, and the men's basketball team celebrated another big win. However, despite the victory, the team still lacks effective strategies for breaking the zone defense. When three-point shooting isn't consistent, what should we do against the zone? This is a critical issue for the men's basketball team to address.

Overall, after completing three group matches, this men's basketball team has brought many surprises. Firstly, their three-point shooting has continued the excellent accuracy shown in the warm-up matches. Over the three group matches, they made 35 out of 81 three-point attempts, achieving an impressive shooting percentage of 43.2%, combining confidence and accuracy.

The improvement in three-point shooting accuracy has directly transformed the men's basketball team into one that no longer relies solely on inside scoring, making it more modern and in line with international basketball standards. Previously, the team's offensive rhythm often started by handing the ball to the post to grind out plays, resulting in a slow offensive tempo, and there were times when several guards would fail to score a single point collectively.

Now, with the offensive strategy shifting towards the perimeter, the guards initiate the offensive plays, and aside from the center position, everyone else has three-point shooting capability. The offensive spacing for the men's basketball team has become excellent, and ball movement has naturally improved. Last night, Cheng Shuai Peng scored 20 points, Zhao Rui 15 points, and Hu Mingxuan 14 points, with the top three scorers all being guards.

This is a men's basketball team that excels in offense but struggles defensively. Their poor rim protection has been evident throughout the three group matches, yet they scored 93, 100, and 90 points in the three games, suggesting that their ample offensive firepower can compensate for the points conceded on defense.

Another surprise comes from the players, especially Wang Junjie, who has brought different surprises in each of the three group matches. In the first match, his enthusiasm and shooting accuracy stood out; in the second match, after being promoted to the starting lineup, he achieved 100% shooting efficiency; last night, he continued to start and not only shot well from three-point range but also made two impressive mid-range jumpers that reminded people of Yi Jianlian.

It's worth mentioning that in the second half, he was tasked with defending against Tucker, the opposing team's offensive spearhead. Coach Guo Shiqiang clearly relies heavily on Wang Junjie's physique and athleticism, hoping he can contribute more on the defensive end.

He is still positioned as a blue-collar player; the ball primarily resides in the hands of the guards, and the offensive strategy is initiated by them. However, Wang Junjie clearly has some ball-handling skills, though there haven't been many opportunities for him to showcase them yet.

The final surprise comes from the entire men's basketball team. After the game last night, coach Guo Shiqiang stated, "This Chinese men's basketball team is the most united, cohesive, and selfless team." I completely agree with this perspective.

When the team was first formed, many said it was the weakest national team in the history of men's basketball. Yet this team has delivered unexpectedly strong three-point performances, shown a resilient defensive spirit, and embodied a commitment to teamwork.

No one is playing solo; everyone is fundamentally focused on the team. Daqiu's character is well-known; he is always the most selfless person on the court. Zhao Rui, as the captain, steps up when the team is in trouble, always ready to shoulder the responsibility when needed.

Hu Mingxuan withstood the pressure, regaining his form after a rough first game; Cheng Shuai Peng maintained his confidence throughout, trusting his teammates on every pass; Wang Junjie, as a newcomer to the national team, humbly accepts criticism and bravely takes on responsibilities.

Moreover, Yu Jiahao, despite not being in great form, fights for every rebound; Gao Shiyan's hustle on the floor, Liao Sanning's passing, and Zhao Jiayi willingly giving up his starting position for Wang Junjie without complaint, while Lei Zi and Li Xiangbo, though they don't play much, are always ready when called upon.

Seeing such a national team, it’s not an exaggeration to say that regardless of the final outcome, I am very satisfied.