Guangzhou Loong Lions rely on a balanced offensive and defensive strategy this season, employing a pragmatic tactical approach. Their primary concern is the injury situation in their interior. Key center, Jia Baqiao, is sidelined with a left knee injury requiring extensive recovery, and he is expected to miss several games, significantly impacting the team's depth in the paint. The backup centers are primarily functional players with limitations in height and rim protection. They lack the all-around ability of Jia Baqiao, who can both score and protect the rim. Facing the strong inside play of Ge Zhaobao from Shanxi, the outside shooting threat of their three-headed offensive unit, and the opportunities for second-chance points, Guangzhou is likely to struggle with rim protection and defensive rotations. Shanxi Loongs have maintained an outside-driven offensive strategy this season, with their scoring averaging over 98 points per game, placing them among the league leaders. Their three-point shooting is their main weapon, averaging 13.8 three-pointers made per game with a 38.6% success rate, both ranking in the top five in the league. The offensive threat comes from the trio of Yuan Shuai, Zhang Ning, and Schvied. Yuan Shuai, a top-tier shooter, is in excellent form this season, averaging 5.2 three-pointers per game with a 45.3% success rate. His catch-and-shoot percentage exceeds 50%. In the first encounter against Guangzhou, he was heavily guarded yet still managed to score 26 points, including 6 three-pointers, becoming the team's most consistent scorer. Match prediction: Shanxi Loongs -9.5