NBL Round 15 (Regular Season): No surprise as #1 HK JinNiu defeats Guangxi

The teams have now bigger motivation at this stage of Regular Season. Every game can be crucial and decide about teams' position at the end of Regular Season. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

NBL top team - HK JinNiu (16-1) had no problems winning another game on Saturday. This time they crushed sixth ranked Guangxi (7-10) 95-74. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Guangxi. HK JinNiu dominated down low during the game scoring 68 of its points in the paint compared to Guangxi's 42. HK JinNiu forced 22 Guangxi turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 26 assists comparing to just 13 passes made by Guangxi's players. It was a great evening for American power forward Josh Carlton (209-1999, college: Houston) who led his team to a victory scoring 16 points and 8 rebounds (on 8-of-10 shooting from the field). Hong Kong guard Ruihong Yang (186-1997) helped adding 15 points and 6 assists. The best for the losing side was American Joe Lawson (200-1992, college: Indianapolis) with 30 points and 6 rebounds. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. HK JinNiu have an impressive series of fourteen victories in a row. They maintain first place with 16-1 record. Guangxi at the other side dropped to the fifth position with ten games lost. They share it with Jiangsu YS. HK JinNiu are looking forward to face Hebei (#3) at home in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Guangxi will play against Jiangsu YS and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
The game in supposed to be also worth to mention about. Second ranked Hunan (11-6) played at the court of 8th ranked Hubei (1-16). Hunan smashed Hubei 109-87. It was an exceptional evening for American guard Dominique Jones (193-1988, college: S.Florida) who led the winners and scored 33 points (!!!) and 7 rebounds. Dakari Johnson accounted for 20 points and 9 rebounds. Serbian center Dejan Bjelic (209-1990, agency: Octagon Europe) came up with a double-double by scoring 17 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists for Hubei in the defeat. 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. Hunan maintains second place with 11-6 record having five points less than leader HK JinNiu. Hubei lost their seventh game in a row. They stay at the bottom position with 16 games lost. Hunan will play against Hebei (#3) on the road in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Hubei will have a break next round.

In the last two games of round 15 Jiangsu YS lost to Hefei on the opponent's court 82-97. Hebei managed to outperform Jiangxi in a home game 104-100.
The most impressive stats of the last round was 42 points (!!!) and 7 rebounds by EJ Anosike of Hebei.



Guangxi - HK JinNiu 74-95

NBL top team - HK JinNiu (16-1) had no problems winning another game on Saturday. This time they crushed sixth ranked Guangxi (7-10) 95-74. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Guangxi. HK JinNiu dominated down low during the game scoring 68 of its points in the paint compared to Guangxi's 42. HK JinNiu forced 22 Guangxi turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 26 assists comparing to just 13 passes made by Guangxi's players. It was a great evening for American power forward Josh Carlton (209-1999, college: Houston) who led his team to a victory scoring 16 points and 8 rebounds (on 8-of-10 shooting from the field). Hong Kong guard Ruihong Yang (186-1997) helped adding 15 points and 6 assists. Five HK JinNiu players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was American Joe Lawson (200-1992, college: Indianapolis) with 30 points and 6 rebounds and Serbian center Djordje Gagic (210-1990, agency: Alti Sport) produced a double-double by scoring 13 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. HK JinNiu have an impressive series of fourteen victories in a row. They maintain first place with 16-1 record. Guangxi at the other side dropped to the fifth position with ten games lost. They share it with Jiangsu YS. HK JinNiu are looking forward to face Hebei (#3) at home in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Guangxi will play against Jiangsu YS and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
HK JinNiu: C.Josh 16+8reb+2ast, Y.Ruihong 15+2reb+6ast, Y.Wenxue 14+4reb+2ast, D.ZhanWang 13+3reb, E.II Michael 11+9ast, S.Chenran 10+1reb
Guangxi: L.Joe 30+6reb+2ast, G.Djordje 13+12reb+5ast, P.Zhenglin 10+2reb+4ast, W.Hang 9+3reb, L.Qingbo 4, H.Javion 4+1reb

Hubei - Hunan 87-109

The game in supposed to be also worth to mention about. Second ranked Hunan (11-6) played at the court of 8th ranked Hubei (1-16). Hunan smashed Hubei 109-87. They outrebounded Hubei 45-34 including a 36-25 advantage in defensive rebounds. It was an exceptional evening for American guard Dominique Jones (193-1988, college: S.Florida) who led the winners and scored 33 points (!!!) and 7 rebounds. His fellow American import power forward Dakari Johnson (213-1995, college: Kentucky) accounted for 20 points and 9 rebounds for the winning side. Four Hunan players scored in double figures. Serbian center Dejan Bjelic (209-1990, agency: Octagon Europe) came up with a double-double by scoring 17 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists and guard Wantong Lu (190-2006) added 18 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists respectively for Hubei in the defeat. 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. Hunan maintains second place with 11-6 record having five points less than leader HK JinNiu. Hubei lost their seventh game in a row. They stay at the bottom position with 16 games lost. Hunan will play against Hebei (#3) on the road in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Hubei will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Hunan: J.Dominique 33+7reb+3ast, J.Dakari 20+9reb+3ast, F.Qiurui 14+2reb, D.Yuxin 10+3reb+3ast, S.Grant 9+5reb, L.Zhanglin 8+7reb+1ast
Hubei: L.Wantong 18+6reb+6ast, B.Dejan 17+13reb+4ast, X.Haoyu 16+4reb+1ast, Z.Yiming 9+2reb, L.Zhenhao 9+2reb, W.Xiaoming 8+2reb+3ast

Hefei - Jiangsu YS 97-82

The game between closely ranked teams ended with 5th ranked Jiangsu YS's (7-10) road loss to fourth ranked Hefei (10-7) 82-97. Hefei dominated down low during the game scoring 52 of its points in the paint compared to Jiangsu YS's 24. It was an exceptional evening for American Gerry Blakes (193-1993, college: Arizona St.) who led the winners and scored 31 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists. Forward Zihao Liu (198-1993) accounted for 14 points for the winning side. Four Hefei players scored in double figures. Hefei's coach allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. Czech center Ondrej Balvin (217-1992, agency: Octagon Europe) came up with a double-double by scoring 22 points and 17 rebounds and American guard Devonte Green (190-1997, college: Indiana) added 14 points and 6 assists respectively for Jiangsu YS in the defeat. Hefei moved-up to third place, which they share with Hebei. Jiangsu YS lost their fourth game in a row. They keep the fifth position with ten games lost. They share it with Guangxi. Hefei will play against Jiangxi (#7) in the next round. Jiangsu YS will play against Guangxi and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Hefei: B.Gerry 31+6reb+7ast, L.Zihao 14+4reb+2ast, Z.Xiran 14+3reb+3ast, P.Radoslav 11+4reb+3ast, M.Tianyi 9+3reb, Y.Wenbo 8+4reb+2ast
Jiangsu YS: B.Ondrej 22+17reb, G.Devonte 14+3reb+6ast, S.Jianhua 14+6reb+1ast, H.Zhang 8+3reb+1ast, Y.Xiang 7+1reb+3ast, G.Yuxiang 6

Hebei - Jiangxi 104-100

Rather predictable result when third ranked Hebei (10-7) defeated at home 7th ranked Jiangxi (6-11) 104-100. However just four-point win is not that big difference and the fans of host team counted on more convincing victory. Hebei made 22-of-29 charity shots (75.9 percent) during the game. Hebei outrebounded Jiangxi 40-28 including 20 on the offensive glass. It was an exceptional evening for Nigerian-American swingman EJ Anosike (199-1998, college: CS Fullerton) who led the winners and scored 42 points (!!!) and 7 rebounds (on 16-of-21 shooting from the field). American center Trevor Thompson (210-1994, college: Ohio St., agency: Octagon Europe) accounted for 23 points and 10 rebounds for the winning side. American point guard Isaiah Briscoe (190-1996, college: Kentucky) came up with 43 points (!!!) and the other American import center Robert Upshaw (213-1994, college: Washington) added 20 points respectively for Jiangxi in the defeat. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Jiangxi's coach tried various players' combinations and tested in total eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. The victory was the third consecutive win for Hebei. They maintain third place with 10-7 record having six points less than leader HK JinNiu, which they share with Hefei. Jiangxi lost their third game in a row. They keep the seventh position with 11 games lost. Hebei will play against league's second-placed Hunan in Changsha in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Jiangxi will play against Hefei (#4) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Hebei: A.E.J. 42+7reb+2ast, T.Trevor 23+10reb+3ast, P.Eric 13+4reb+4ast, L.Marcus 11+1reb, S.Yanbo 6+6reb, S.Wenhao 4+1reb+1ast
Jiangxi: B.Isaiah 43+2reb+3ast, U.Robert 20+3reb+2ast, L.Junwen 12+1reb+1ast, F.Jr. Melvin 10+6reb, W.Xiangbin 7+5reb, L.Shusen 5+2reb+2ast