LIAONING FLYING LEOPARDS VS SHENZHEN LEOPARDS PREDICTION, PICK, TEAM NEWS, H2H 4/20/24

Despite securing the last two CBA titles and dominating the league in the regular season, doubts loom over the Flying Leopards’ prospects this year among basketball pundits. However, they swiftly silenced skeptics by showcasing their prowess in a dominating victory over the Shenzhen Leopards (124-87) in the first game of the CBA playoff quarterfinals. Our Liaoning Flying Leopards vs Shenzhen Leopards prediction is available below.

With the quarterfinals operating on a best-of-five format, the Flying Leopards will enjoy a home-court advantage for the second game, and Shenzhen will have to step up if they want to create an upset and tie the series. The article below details our analysis of the upcoming CBA playoff quarterfinals.

LIAONING FLYING LEOPARDS VS SHENZHEN LEOPARDS Prediction and Expert Pick

The first half of the opening game showcased a closely contested battle, mostly due to Shenzhen’s impressive 50% shooting from beyond the arc and a stellar performance by Sullinger. However, in the second half, coach Yang Ming made necessary adjustments, and they dominated Shenzhen in the third quarter 38-13. It seems that coach Ming solved the Shenzhen puzzle, and they have every right to be optimistic about the second game. 

The stark contrast in pre-playoff form heavily favors the Flying Leopards. The home team enters the playoffs riding a wave of momentum, having secured victories in five consecutive matches and 14 of their last 16 outings. Conversely, Shenzhen’s form has been below average, with only three wins out of seven and five out of 12 matches leading up to the playoffs.

Moreover, we do not have any faith in Shenzhen’s capabilities away from home. Apart from the loss to Liaoning, Shenzhen has suffered defeats in four of their last five away fixtures, including a surprising loss to the Beijing Royal Fighters (99-94) in the previous playoff round, where they were heavily favored.

Considering Liaoning’s dominant performance in the first game, their historical head-to-head matchups, the advantage of playing on the home court, Shenzhen’s poor away record in recent outings, and the significant gap in form, all indicators point towards another commanding victory for the defending champs.

LIAONING FLYING LEOPARDS VS SHENZHEN LEOPARDS GAME INFO

• Date: Saturday, 20th April, 2024
• Time: 13:35 CEST
• Arena: Liaoning Gymnasium
• Location: Shenyang

LIAONING FLYING LEOPARDS TEAM NEWS

Recent developments have revealed that one of the Flying Leopards’ pivotal players, Guo Ailun, will definitely be absent from the playoffs. The 30-year-old guard posted videos of his recovery in Spain on his social media. This year, he played only three matches but was a key factor in the previous title run with 15.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.3 steals in 29.5 minutes.

However, just ahead of the playoffs, the team acquired foreign assistance in the form of Sharife Cooper. The American guard made an immediate impact in the first game, showcasing his skills by contributing nine points, along with one rebound and one assist, in just ten minutes of play.

SHENZHEN LEOPARDS TEAM NEWS

According to Chinese media reports, two important players are playing through injuries. He Xining suffered a fracture in his hand while Shen Zijie was playing with a strained shoulder. Although both are expected to step on the court, it’s worth noting that they are not 100% ready.

An additional problem for the Leopards is the lack of foreign help. Yes, Sullinger is one of the best players in the league, but he cannot play the entire 48 minutes. He can play a maximum of 38 to 40 minutes, and those minutes without him are an absolute disaster for Shenzhen. The other foreign player, Kasey Hill, who arrived just before the playoffs, is still adapting and does not have an important role. 

LIAONING FLYING LEOPARDS VS SHENZHEN LEOPARDS H2H

The reigning champions, Liaoning, swept the season series 2-0 against Shenzhen and clinched victory in the first playoff encounter. Notably, they also managed to cover the point spread on all three occasions:

• Apr 18th, 2024 – Liaoning Flying Leopards vs Shenzhen Leopards – 124:87
• Mar 12th, 2024 – Liaoning Flying Leopards vs Shenzhen Leopards – 109:98
• Jan 24th, 2024 – Shenzhen Leopards vs Liaoning Flying Leopards – 119:123 (after OT)

Looking further back, Liaoning have been dominating Shenzhen for a long time, winning the last 12 h2h encounters. The previous time Shenzhen won against Liaoning was back in January 2019, more than five years ago!

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