On the 16th, the Shanxi team defeated the Guangzhou team 108-102. In this game, Chang Lin played 41 minutes in total, scored 12 points, 14 rebounds and 6 assists in 4 of 12 shots.
Up to now, the data of Chang Lin’s three games after the start of the new season are 13 points, 10 rebounds and 2 assists respectively; 23 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists; 12 points, 14 rebounds and 6 assists. Chang Lin averaged 16 points, 10.7 rebounds and 4 assists in the new season, all of which were the highest in his career.
Of course, the new season league only played three rounds, and the comparison of such data samples is still a little small, but in any case, Chang Lin has proved that there is still a lot of oil in his body so far, he still remains competitive enough on the court. So why did Chang Lin, who was once unable to enter the 12th people in Shougang team, usher in his own outbreak moment in Shanxi team?
Chang Lin played for five seasons in Shougang team before. In fact, he played a certain role in the first three seasons of Shougang team. At that time, Chang Lin moved back to Shougang team from Jiangsu team, and his confidence and skills in the game were maintained very strong. At the same time, Shougang team was always short of people at that time, so Changlin still maintained a certain position on the field in Shougang team. However, in the latter two seasons, Chang Lin’s position in the team’s tactical system was gradually marginalized. In the last stage of the regular season last season, he did not go to the competition area with the team, but stayed in Beijing for training.
There are many reasons for this: the first-hand Shougang team, through the introduction of players in recent years, has reserved many powerful players inside, and the position competition is fierce. Including Li Muhao, Fan Ziming, Zhu Yanxi, Qiu Tian, internal and foreign aid Hamilton, etc. Second, Changlin’s technical characteristics focus on attack and defense is weak. Shougang team attached great importance to the demand of players, especially in the case of Yanis coaching at that time, so Chang Lin did not take advantage in the position competition. Third, some differences between Chang Lin and head coach Yannis, etc.
All these factors caused Chang Lin’s position to be gradually marginalized in the last two seasons of Shougang team. After the end of last season, Chang Lin did not get the renewal of Shougang team.
During the off-season this year, Changlin first tried the training in Shanxi team and then got a two-year contract with good performance. Changlin, the Shanxi team, ushered in the outbreak. There are several reasons for this:
First, Changlin still maintained a good competitiveness. Especially in attack, Chang Lin can still have strong internal aggressiveness. Chang Lin said in an interview earlier: “I think I can still play basketball. I still have a lot of oil in my body. I think I am still competitive.” One thing is like this. After the end of last season, although Shougang team had informed Chang Lin not to renew the contract, he did not leave the team immediately, but kept training with Shougang team, he hopes to maintain his state and prepare for new opportunities. And this is also the reason why he was able to take a better state immediately during the trial training in Shanxi team.
The second Shanxi team is currently very short of insiders. GE Zhaobao, the main internal line of Shanxi team, was reimbursed in the first stage due to the operation of pneumothorax. Meanwhile, Yan Pengfei also transferred to Shanghai team. In addition, Shanxi team currently has no internal or external assistance, therefore, Chang Lin has got more opportunities in the current Shanxi team.
Since the return of the third Shanxi team’s head coach Yang Xuezeng last season, the team once again led the offensive banner. What they advocated was attack-driven defense, which was completely different from Shougang’s thinking and requirements, and this is exactly in line with the characteristics of Changlin playing.
Yang Xuezeng, the head coach of Shanxi team, told the reporter of Beijing Youth Daily: “Chang Lin has been practicing very well since he arrived at the team. He works very hard and hopes to prove himself again. At present, the inner line of Shanxi team is short of people, and we also hope that Chang Lin can play a greater role in helping the team. For example, our No. 5 position is currently in short supply. We hope Chang Lin can go in more, including rebounds and defense, while Chang Lin is gradually adapting and integrating.”