NBL Round 13 (Regular Season): Hunan lose to Hebei

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The game between second ranked Hunan (9-6) and fifth ranked Hebei (8-7) was the most important one in the last round on Wednesday night. Hunan was crushed by Hebei in Hebei 87-112. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Hunan. Hebei made 21-of-23 free shots (91.3 percent) during the game. They outrebounded Hunan 49-29 including 17 on the offensive glass. Hebei shot the lights out from three sinking 17 long-distance shots on high 51.5 percentage. Worth to mention a great performance of American center Trevor Thompson (210-1994, college: Ohio St., agency: Octagon Europe) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 21 points, 15 rebounds and 7 assists. Center Refukati Jiang (204-1998) contributed with 23 points and 12 rebounds for the winners. American power forward Dakari Johnson (213-1995, college: Kentucky) answered with a double-double by scoring 24 points and 12 rebounds for Hunan. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Hebei moved-up to fourth place. Hunan at the other side keeps the second position with six games lost. They share it with Hefei. Hebei are looking forward to face higher ranked Hefei (#3) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Hunan will play against Jiangsu YS in Yannan and is hoping to win this game.
NBL top team - HK JinNiu (14-1) had no problems winning another game. This time they crushed eighth ranked Hubei (1-14) 102-75. American power forward Josh Carlton (209-1999, college: Houston) stepped up and scored 26 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists for the winners and Kevin Cross chipped in 24 points and 9 rebounds. At the losing side Serbian center Dejan Bjelic (209-1990, agency: Octagon Europe) responded with a double-double by scoring 11 points and 14 rebounds. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. HK JinNiu have an impressive series of twelve victories in a row. They maintain first place with 14-1 record. Hubei lost fifth consecutive game. They stay at the bottom position with 14 games lost. HK JinNiu will play against Jiangxi (#6) in the next round which should be theoretically another easy game. Hubei will play against Guangxi and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
The game in was also quite interesting. Third ranked Hefei (9-6) played at the court of 6th ranked Jiangxi (6-9). Hefei defeated Jiangxi 93-78 on Wednesday. Gerry Blakes nailed 37 points (!!!) and 5 assists for the winning side. Isaiah Briscoe came up with 31 points and 7 rebounds for Jiangxi in the defeat. Both coaches used bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Hefei moved-up to second place, which they share with Hunan. Loser Jiangxi keeps the sixth position with nine games lost. They share it with Guangxi. Hefei will meet Hebei (#4) on the road in the next round. Jiangxi will play against the league's leader HK JinNiu and hope to secure a win.

In the last game of round 13 Guangxi beat Jiangsu YS on the road 101-89.
The most impressive performance of 13th round was 32 points and 17 rebounds by Vladimir Brodziansky of Jiangsu YS.



Jiangxi - Hefei 78-93

The game in was also quite interesting. Third ranked Hefei (9-6) played at the court of 6th ranked Jiangxi (6-9). Hefei defeated Jiangxi 93-78 on Wednesday. Hefei dominated down low during the game scoring 62 of its points in the paint compared to Jiangxi's 38. American Gerry Blakes (193-1993, college: Arizona St.) nailed 37 points (!!!) and 5 assists for the winning side and Greek forward Dimitrios Agravanis (208-1994, agency: Diamond Sports) accounted for 19 points and 10 rebounds. American point guard Isaiah Briscoe (190-1996, college: Kentucky) came up with 31 points and 7 rebounds and the other American import center Robert Upshaw (213-1994, college: Washington) added 12 points and 12 rebounds respectively for Jiangxi in the defeat. Both coaches used bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Hefei moved-up to second place, which they share with Hunan. Loser Jiangxi keeps the sixth position with nine games lost. They share it with Guangxi. Hefei will meet Hebei (#4) on the road in the next round. Jiangxi will play against the league's leader HK JinNiu and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Jiangxi: B.Isaiah 31+7reb+3ast, L.Junwen 16+2reb, U.Robert 12+12reb, F.Jr. Melvin 8+4reb+1ast, L.Shusen 5+1reb, W.Yixiong 4+5reb+1ast
Hefei: B.Gerry 37+4reb+5ast, A.Dimitrios 19+10reb+1ast, C.Zeang 11+1reb, P.Radoslav 8+10reb+2ast, L.Zihao 8+8reb+1ast, Y.Wenbo 5+1ast

Hebei - Hunan 112-87

The game between second ranked Hunan (9-6) and fifth ranked Hebei (8-7) was the most important one in the last round on Wednesday night. Hunan was crushed by Hebei in Hebei 87-112. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Hunan. Hebei made 21-of-23 free shots (91.3 percent) during the game. They outrebounded Hunan 49-29 including 17 on the offensive glass. Hebei shot the lights out from three sinking 17 long-distance shots on high 51.5 percentage. Worth to mention a great performance of American center Trevor Thompson (210-1994, college: Ohio St., agency: Octagon Europe) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 21 points, 15 rebounds and 7 assists. Center Refukati Jiang (204-1998) contributed with a double-double by scoring 23 points and 12 rebounds for the winners. Five Hebei players scored in double figures. American power forward Dakari Johnson (213-1995, college: Kentucky) answered with a double-double by scoring 24 points and 12 rebounds and the other American import guard Grant Sherfield (188-1999, college: Oklahoma, agency: Octagon Europe) added 22 points in the effort for Hunan. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Hebei moved-up to fourth place. Hunan at the other side keeps the second position with six games lost. They share it with Hefei. Hebei are looking forward to face higher ranked Hefei (#3) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Hunan will play against Jiangsu YS in Yannan and is hoping to win this game.
Top scorers:
Hunan: J.Dakari 24+12reb+1ast, S.Grant 22+4reb+3ast, J.Pierre 15+1reb+3ast, L.Zhanglin 9+3reb+2ast, L.Jiaxin 6+3reb, M.Guodong 4+3reb
Hebei: A.E.J. 24+7reb, J.Refukati 23+12reb+2ast, L.Marcus 22+3reb+3ast, T.Trevor 21+15reb+7ast, P.Eric 14+3reb+2ast, S.Wenhao 4+1reb

HK JinNiu - Hubei 102-75

NBL top team - HK JinNiu (14-1) had no problems winning another game. This time they crushed eighth ranked Hubei (1-14) 102-75. HK JinNiu forced 19 Hubei turnovers. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 29 assists comparing to just 8 passes made by Hubei's players. American power forward Josh Carlton (209-1999, college: Houston) stepped up and scored 26 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists for the winners and his fellow American import forward Kevin Cross (201-2000, college: Tulane) chipped in 24 points and 9 rebounds. At the losing side Serbian center Dejan Bjelic (209-1990, agency: Octagon Europe) responded with a double-double by scoring 11 points and 14 rebounds and guard Wantong Lu (190-2006) scored 18 points. Four Hubei players scored in double figures. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. HK JinNiu have an impressive series of twelve victories in a row. They maintain first place with 14-1 record. Hubei lost fifth consecutive game. They stay at the bottom position with 14 games lost. HK JinNiu will play against Jiangxi (#6) in the next round which should be theoretically another easy game. Hubei will play against Guangxi and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Hubei: L.Wantong 18+2reb+3ast, X.Haoyu 16+5reb, B.Dejan 11+14reb+1ast, L.Zhenhao 10+5reb, S.Yuzhuo 8+2reb, W.Boyang 7+1reb+2ast
HK JinNiu: C.Josh 26+9reb+6ast, C.Kevin 24+9reb+2ast, E.II Michael 20+3reb+4ast, H.Tianyi 8+2reb+2ast, Y.Ruiqi 7+1ast, L.Yiwen 5+1reb+2ast

Jiangsu YS - Guangxi 89-101

There was a small surprise when seventh ranked Guangxi (6-9) beat 5th ranked Jiangsu YS (7-8) in Yannan 101-89 on Thursday. Guangxi made 18-of-23 free shots (78.3 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. American guard Javion Hamlet (193-1998, college: N.Texas) nailed 32 points and 7 assists for the winning side and guard Zhenglin Pang (183-1971) accounted for 16 points and 7 assists (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field). Guangxi's coach used a ten-player rotation and allowed the starting five to get some rest. Slovakian power forward Vladimir Brodziansky (210-1994, college: TCU, agency: Octagon Europe) came up with a double-double by scoring 32 points and 17 rebounds and Czech center Ondrej Balvin (217-1992, agency: Octagon Europe) added 22 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists respectively for Jiangsu YS in the defeat. Four Jiangsu YS players scored in double figures. Guangxi moved-up to sixth place, which they share with Jiangxi. Loser Jiangsu YS keeps the fifth position with eight games lost. Guangxi will meet bottom-ranked Hubei (#8) in the next round. Jiangsu YS will play against the league's second-placed Hunan and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Jiangsu YS: B.Vladimir 32+17reb+2ast, B.Ondrej 22+12reb+4ast, S.Jianhua 11+5reb+3ast, G.Devonte 10+1reb+3ast, Y.Xiang 9+2ast, L.Jiange 5+2reb+2ast
Guangxi: H.Javion 32+2reb+7ast, P.Zhenglin 16+4reb+7ast, W.Qingming 14+1reb, Y.Kai 12+1reb+1ast, L.Joe 11+5reb, G.Djordje 9+9reb+7ast