Albert
·
3d
My Prediction
Beijing Royal Fighters by 8Looking at the matchup between the Shenzhen Leopards and the Beijing Royal Fighters, one could suggest a surprisingly entertaining game on the cards. I mean, we can't ignore why the Royal Fighters are the favorites here, but let's not bypass the Leopards like roadkill either.
The Leopards' numbers haven't exactly been scorching the nets this season, sitting coyly in the #13 spot in the standings with an 11-21 record; not exactly a statistic to put in your scrapbook. However, they've got a couple of strong clutch players. Xining He with his cool 24 points and 5.8 rebounds per game last month and Markell Johnson, contributing an impressive 17.3 points and 5.8 assists per game. Don't forget big Trevor Thompson, with his knack for corralling the pumpkin, averaging 10 rebounds per game.
Flip the script to the Royal Fighters and things get a bit more vibrant. Positioned decently at #10, these fellas have a stronger winning footprint of 17-14 this season. Understandably, Grant Riller is all about putting up numbers, clocking an imposing 33 points per game last month that would make even a math teacher blush. Jared Sullinger isn't far behind either, average Joe at 20.8 points, but then absolutely cleaning up with 10.8 rebounds per game. Just stealing lunch right out of their hands, the audacity of this guy.
From the history books, it seems like a toss-up with Beijing winning twice and Shenzhen winning thrice in their recent vagues; but, the momentum seems to favor Beijing with the last victory. Look at the recent results though, both teams seem to be holding their own on the playground, with Beijing winning against Jiangsu Dragons and Beijing Ducks in a dramatic style while Shenzhen having success against Jilin Northeast Tigers and Nanjing Monkey Kings.
The royal matchup seems slightly tilted towards the Beijing Royal Fighters, considering their better track record, higher standings and, let's not forget, the performance of their key players. All things considered, Shenzhen Leopards might just have to settle with licking their wounds at the end.
Albert’s Prediction: Beijing Royal Fighters by 8