NBL Round 17 of Regular Season

The games at this stage are more interesting as they can be crucial for the final standings in Regular Season. Despite we already know who is stronger and who is weaker, there may be still last minute surprises and upsets. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Sixth defeat of league's leader Shaanxi (12-6) against second ranked Anhui W. (13-5) 108-102 was the most important game of the last round. It was a key game for the top position in the league. Anhui W. keeps a position of league leader. Shaanxi lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the second place with six games lost. They were replaced at the leadership position by Anhui W.. Shaanxi will play next round against Hefei trying to make it back to the top of the standings. Anhui W. will try to continue on its current victory against tenth ranked Wuhan on the road.
Very important is a road loss of third ranked Liaoning Y. (11-7) against fifth ranked Hunan (11-7) on Sunday night. Visiting Liaoning Y. was crushed by Hunan in Changsha 122-95. Hunan moved-up to third place, which they share with Guangxi and Liaoning Y. Hunan will play against Jiangsu YS (#11) in Yannan in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Liaoning Y. will play against HK JinNiu (#9) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Bottom-ranked Jiangsu YS managed to get a seventh victory, breaking the series of nine consecutive losses on Sunday night. This time they edged ninth-ranked Wuhan in Yannan 117-114. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Wuhan. Jiangsu YS (7-11) moved-up to eighth place, which they share with 3 other teams including defeated Wuhan. Jiangsu YS will meet higher ranked Hunan (#5) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Wuhan will play against the league's leader Anhui W. and will have a slim chance for a victory.

In the last two games of round 17 Henan was smashed by Hefei on the road 135-113. Jiangxi lost to Guangxi on its own court 105-115.

Jiangsu YS - Wuhan 117-114

Bottom-ranked Jiangsu YS managed to get a seventh victory, breaking the series of nine consecutive losses on Sunday night. This time they edged ninth-ranked Wuhan in Yannan 117-114. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Wuhan. Jiangsu YS (7-11) moved-up to eighth place, which they share with 3 other teams including defeated Wuhan. Jiangsu YS will meet higher ranked Hunan (#5) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Wuhan will play against the league's leader Anhui W. and will have a slim chance for a victory.

Anhui W. - Shaanxi 108-102

Sixth defeat of league's leader Shaanxi (12-6) against second ranked Anhui W. (13-5) 108-102 was the most important game of the last round. It was a key game for the top position in the league. Anhui W. keeps a position of league leader. Shaanxi lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the second place with six games lost. They were replaced at the leadership position by Anhui W.. Shaanxi will play next round against Hefei trying to make it back to the top of the standings. Anhui W. will try to continue on its current victory against tenth ranked Wuhan on the road.

Hefei - Henan 135-113

No shocking result in a game when eighth ranked Hefei (8-10) crushed at home bottom-ranked Henan (6-12) 135-113 on Sunday. Hefei moved-up to sixth place, which they share with Hebei. Newly promoted Henan dropped to the bottom position with 12 games lost. Hefei will meet league's second-placed Shaanxi in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Henan will play against Jiangxi (#8) and hope to secure a win.

Jiangxi - Guangxi 105-115

Rather expected game when 7th ranked Jiangxi (7-11) lost at home to fourth ranked Guangxi (11-7) 115-105 on Sunday. Guangxi have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to third place, which they share with Hunan and Liaoning Y. Jiangxi lost third consecutive game. Newly promoted team dropped to the eighth position with 11 games lost. They share it with 3 other teams. Guangxi will meet Hebei (#6) on the road in the next round. Jiangxi will play against Henan and hope to secure a win.

Hunan - Liaoning Y. 122-95

Very important is a road loss of third ranked Liaoning Y. (11-7) against fifth ranked Hunan (11-7) on Sunday night. Visiting Liaoning Y. was crushed by Hunan in Changsha 122-95. Hunan moved-up to third place, which they share with Guangxi and Liaoning Y. Hunan will play against Jiangsu YS (#11) in Yannan in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Liaoning Y. will play against HK JinNiu (#9) and hopes to get back on the winning track.