Champions Guangdong too strong for Sharks
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Shanghai Daily, January 16, 2012
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Liu Ziqiu of Shanghai Sharks makes a jumper in front of Guangdong's Su Wei during a CBA game on Jan. 15, 2012. |
The Shanghai Sharks kept up with the top-ranked Guangdong Tigers for one half, but fell apart in the second, losing 85-101 yesterday.
James Singleton scored 27 points and brought down 10 rebounds for the Tigers. Former Houston Rocket's Aaron Brooks controlled the pace of the game, dealing out 6 assists while putting up 17 points of his own. Zhu Fangyu knocked three-pointers from the corner and mixed it up inside for 21 points.
The Sharks came into the game holding their last 13 opponents under 100 points. Guangdong meanwhile had put up more than 100 in three straight games, including a 133 point explosion against Tianjin in its last game.
Someone had to give way and Shanghai's poise, pace and defense fell short against the fast-paced Tigers.
But it seemed to work in the first half. Playing without Mike Harris, who is in the United States dealing with a family illness, Marcus Landry stepped up. In the forward's first half at home this season he scored 17 points including two threes.
Tseng Wen-ting tallied 11 points knocking down some long jumpers and Feng Tian hit some tough shots in the lane. By halftime the Sharks found themselves down just one point and smelling an upset.
But there was a lot less to cheer about in the second half, however, as Guangdong showed why they were the defending champion. Zhu bullied his way inside for easy layups and Singleton knocked down two threes. Both scored 11 points in the quarter.
Meanwhile for Shanghai, Landry registered just one point and Tseng made only one shot. When the 12 minutes were over the Sharks found their potential upset had become a 20-point blowout.
Liu Wei provided a bit of hope for the anxious home crowd in the fourth quarter scoring 16 points, but the Sharks never got the lead under single digits. A fadeaway from Singleton and a step-back jumper from Brooks put the game away and sent the crowd home.
Landry finished with 23 points and 9 rebounds. Liu had 19 points and Tseng had 15 points. Zhang Zhaoxu had a disappointing showing with just 2 points and 2 rebounds in 12 minutes of game time.
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