Oh joy, we have Fujian Sturgeons visiting Guangzhou Loong Lions on our docket today. Now if I didn't know any better, I'd say we've got some underwater clash with that kind of team names.
Anyway, let's talk about Fujian first. They've been leaning heavily on solid contributors like Joseph Young and Yang Zou, who have been pouring in 30 and 26 points a game respectively, and Louis King adding another 23 points per game. No doubt, a trio to be reckoned with.
On the flip side, the Loong Lions seem to be more balanced. They've got William Douglas leading the way with 20 points a game, while Tyshaun Crawford and Jamaal Franklin putting up decent numbers, not to mention rebounding hard.
Looking at past clashes, the Loong Lions seems to enjoy playing against Sturgeons, winning 5 consecutive matchups between the two teams. But wait, let's not be too hasty. The Sturgeons, despite their dismal season record, have managed some pretty surprising upsets recently, taking down a formidable Shenzhen Leopards.
The Loong Lions while they're sitting slightly better in the league standings, they don't look too consistent in recent outings. At least, not consistent enough to ignore the Sturgeons' recent uptick on the court.
Considering the odds, it seems the betting gods have favored the Sturgeons and I think I might agree with them for once, despite the past matchups and record suggesting otherwise. In light of these factors, let's stir the pot a bit with this prediction.
Albert’s Prediction: Fujian Sturgeons by 3