BEIJING, March 22 (Xinhua) -- For those teams who have a shot at the CBA playoff berths, the just-concluded All-Star Weekend is not time off, but a golden period to regroup and embrace the upcoming fourth stage matches that are decisive in the quest for the playoffs.
The CBA league has finished 47 rounds of play, with the Guangdong Southern Tigers, the Liaoning Flying Leopards and the Zhejiang Golden Bulls already having secured top four finishes, meaning they will enjoy a bye in the first round of playoffs that decides the last eight teams.
Fourth-ranked Xinjiang Flying Tigers have also sealed one playoff spot with an insurmountable gap to the 13th-placed team Shanghai Sharks.
For the fifth-ranked side Zhejiang Lions down the ladder to Shanghai, and even the Guangzhou Loong Lions one place further back, the remaining eight berths are up for grabs over the next nine rounds.
Among them, last season's semifinalists the Beijing Ducks emerged as the best performer in the third stage of regular season despite captain Zhai Xiaochuan's absence due to injury. Since head coach Yannis Christopoulos' return, the Ducks have recorded 7-1 at this stage and moved up to eighth.
The defensively-minded Ducks rediscovered their style of play under Christopoulos' stint. It was highlighted by conceding only 66 points against Xinjiang that boasts a formidable paint duo of Zhou Qi and Donatas Motiejunas.
But the Ducks (23-20) still have to be wary of their followers, as the Sichuan Blue Whales, the Jilin Northeast Tigers and the Qingdao Eagles all have a 24-21 record.
Coached by Stephon Marbury, the Beijing Royal Fighters (22-23) are at risk of falling outside top 12, as Shanghai (21-24) is only one game behind them.
The capital side only won two matches from seven outings, and will meet Liaoning, the Shandong Heroes and Qingdao twice respectively in the fourth stage.
Guo Haowen's arrival provided much firepower in the guard position for Shanghai, as the former Bayi player averaged 14.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.4 steals over the past eight matches.
Shanghai received a boost as the overseas duo of Jimmer Fredette and Marcus Denmon found a better way of leading the way.
But Shanghai's path to the playoffs will not be smooth either, as they take on the Golden Bulls, the Ducks and Shenzhen.
Another side that can effectively threaten the Royal Fighters' playoffs quest is Guangzhou, coached by former Liaoning coach Guo Shiqiang.
In his first year in Guangzhou, Guo led the side's comeback from a seven-game skid to 14th position. After winning five matches from eight in the third phase, Guangzhou (19-26) is now three matches behind the Royal Fighters.
In light of their schedule, including two matches apiece against the league's minnows the Nanjing Monkey Kings and the Tianjin Pioneers, Guangzhou can expect something, and a head-to-head against the Royal Fighters on April 4 will be pivotal.
As at the All-Star Weekend, limited spectators will be allowed to enter the venue starting from the fourth stage, which should boost players' morale in striving for playoffs spots. Enditem
