The curtain has closed on the Chinese Basketball Association’s (CBA) 30th regular season, and the stage is set for what promises to be an electrifying playoffs. Guangsha secured the top spot with a commanding five-game lead over Shanxi, showcasing dominance throughout the season.
Behind them, a fierce battle unfolded as Beijing, Liaoning, Xinjiang, and Shandong all concluded the season with identical 32-14 records. Their final rankings came down to tiebreakers, highlighting the intense competition among the league’s elite teams.
Guangdong edged out Qingdao for the seventh seed based on head-to-head results, followed closely by Zhejiang, Shanghai, Beikong, and Nanjing rounding out the playoff spots.
The playoff matchups promise thrilling encounters. Top-seeded Guangsha awaits the winner of the opening round clash between Qingdao and Zhejiang. Three-time defending champions Liaoning are set to face either last year’s runners-up Xinjiang or the postseason newcomers Nanjing.
On the other side of the bracket, second-seeded Shanxi will prepare for the victor between Guangdong and Shanghai, while Beijing gets ready to challenge either Shandong or Beikong. The playoffs kick off this Friday, featuring four best-of-three first-round series that are sure to keep fans on the edge of their seats.
Basketball enthusiasts across the nation eagerly anticipate the start of the playoffs, as teams vie for the coveted championship in this milestone season for the CBA.
