No person looms larger in Chinese basketball than Yao Ming, and that’s especially true in his Shanghai hometown. Since retiring, Yao has gone back to school, dabbled in politics, led an effective campaign against shark-fin soup and started selling his own wine. After this off-season, he’s also become the default face of the Shanghai Sharks.
Since saving the Shanghai Sharks from bankruptcy four years ago, the team has been the model of consistent inconsistency: one playoff season would be followed by a horribly disappointing year. Last season was the latter, with the club finishing second last as high profile import – and two-time NBA All-Star – Gilbert Arenas suffered an injury in the season opener, playing in just 14 games overall.
Ironically, the Sharks worst season since their ignominious last-place finish in 2008 offered the fastest route to a quick turnaround. Due to an odd league quirk, the four worst CBA teams are allowed to add a third Asian import player to the roster. Last season, Shandong took advantage of this rule by adding Jordanian forward Zaid Abbas en route to a second place finish and a trip to last year’s CBA Finals.
As NiuBball writer Andrew Crawford notes on his Shark Fin Hoops blog, Yao has been a longtime opponent of the rule, citing it as hastening the development of young Chinese players. This summer, Yao has put (or rather not put) his money where his mouth is, as the Sharks became the first ever CBA team to not take advantage of the rule.
While it’s noble for Yao to stick to his principals, questions remain on how this will play out on the court. Since a teenage Yao led the team to their lone CBA title in 2001-02, the Sharks have been a mess – making the playoffs three times while boasting a total 147-219 record in that time.
Ironically their best season came in 2010, when they did take advantage of the import rule buoyed by a typically fantastic Zaid Abbas season. That was Yao’s first season as owner, which made this year’s decision all the more a mystery.
This season marks a few more changes in the team’s philosophy. Head coach Wang Qun is the Sharks’ first Chinese coach under Yao, and reflects a move away from the rigid offensive systems put in place by past coaches Bob Donewald and Dennis Pannagio.
Like previous seasons though, the Sharks offense will be propelled by their two import signings. The team was able to fend off big money offers from Beijing and Xinjiang in resigning their 7’3” center Zhang Zhaoxu. However, while the 26-year-old center is entering his prime, the rest of the Sharks’ Chinese core is aging. Last season, only two Chinese players averaged over 10 points per game: 31-year-old forward Ziqi Liu (10.3 points per game) and standout point guard Liu Wei, who continues to put up big numbers (21.3 points per game) as a 33-year-old.
While last year’s surprising dalliance with a former big name NBA star didn’t work out, the Sharks will try to continue their recent pattern of making the playoffs every two years under Yao’s ownership.
// The CBA season starts on Nov 8. Shanghai Sharks play at Yuanshan Stadium, 655 Yuanshen Lu, by Zhangyang Lu, 源深路655号, 近张杨路, nearest Metro Yuanshen Lu Line 6. For more CBA news, including the as of yet unpublished fixture list, make sure to read the essential CBA blog NiuBball at www.niubball.com
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