In Game 2 of the CBA playoffs quarterfinals, Shanxi fell to Guangsha 86-81, leveling the series at 1-1. Shanxi struggled throughout the game, trailing from start to finish, ultimately leading to the loss.
Two players stood out with strong performances. Faye was the only starter who played consistently well, securing rebounds and protecting the rim, stabilizing the interior defense. Unfortunately, his minutes were limited. Liu Chuanxing also had an efficient game, scoring 6 points on 3-of-3 shooting, adding 2 rebounds and 1 assist, but he played only 7 minutes—far too short to help Shanxi dominate the boards, which suffered badly.
Ge Zhaobao, Jiao Hailong, and Zhang Ning delivered average performances. Ge Zhaobao scored 13 points on 5-of-10 shooting, a respectable efficiency, but his rebounding and defense remained weak. Zhang Ning shot well from beyond the arc, and Jiao Hailong added 10 points on 3-of-7 shooting. Both reached double figures, though they need to control their physical play to avoid criticism.
Jia Mingru, Nate, Yumiti, Nix, and Han Peiyu all underperformed. Jia Mingru struggled defensively and committed turnovers as a ball-handler, failing to contribute on either end. Nate and Nix completely collapsed; previously reliable for playmaking and scoring, they couldn’t generate offense for teammates, leaving Shanxi without rhythm. Nate, in particular, seemed fatigued, raising questions about his adjustment for the next game. Yumiti, who hit the game-winner in the previous match, shot 0-for-4 from the field and fouled excessively on defense, needing to improve his accuracy. Han Peiyu was a liability in his minutes, missing shots, committing turnovers, and failing defensively—offering nothing positive.
