CHN - CBA playoffs preview

SHANDONG (Chinese Basketball Association) - The eight-team CBA playoffs will begin on Wednesday 24th March.

The first round will be in 1-2-2 format with the higher ranked team playing at home first.

Playoff games will be played on Wednesdays, Fridays and Mondays.

Here is a look at the match-ups.

(1) Guangdong vs (8) Army
Three years ago, these two met in the 2006-07 finals with Army beating Guangdong 4-1. After that, they went in different directions. Guangdong won the Championship twice in 2008 and 2009 while The Army lost in the semi-finals two years ago and failed to make it to the post-season last year.
Regular season: Guangdong won series 2-0 (Army 87 Guangdong 108; Guangdong 105 Army 99).

(4) Shanghai vs (5) Liaoning
These teams have strong ties to the national team: Yao Ming invested in Shanghai Sharks while national team head coach Guo Shiqiang has been in charge of Liaoning since mid-February. The captains of the two teams (Liu Wei and Zhang QuingPeng) make up the starting backcourt for the China's national team. The teams are well matched-up. It won't be a surprise if the series goes the full five games.
Regular season: Shanghai won series 2-0 (Liaoning 95 Shanghai 106; Shanghai 83 Liaoning 76).

(2) Xinjiang vs (7) Fujian
Xinjiang, last year's losing finalist, are looking forward to a sweep of their first round opponent. And they are justified in thinking that way as they have the reigning two-time regular season Most Valuable Player Mengke Bateer and are led by former Chinese national team head coach Jiang Xingquan.
Regular season: Series tied 1-1 (Xinjiang 94 Fujian 83; Fujian 118 Xinjiang 92).

(3) Guangsha vs (6) Jiangsu
Things haven't gone exactly well for Jiangsu of late. They fired their US head coach Jason Rabedeau prior to the final round of the regular season and then they lost starting point guard Hu Xuefeng due to a finger injury.
Regular season: Series ties 1-1 (Jiangsu 110 Guangsha 106; Guangsha 115 Jiangsu 95).

Marbury takes home All-Star Game MVP
The CBA All-star Weekend was held in Beijing's Olympic venue of Wukesong Gym, on Saturday and Sunday, with the Northern team beating their Southern counterparts 133-121.

US player Stephon Marbury won the MVP trophy after leading the Northern stars with 30 points - including six made three-pointers - 10 assists and three steals. China national team players had their part in the win, with Li Xiao Xu getting 10 points, Yang Ming had six points and Bateer had two.

Rodney White led the way for the Southern team with 32 points and nine rebounds and John Lucas had 30 to go with six rebounds. Like Marbury, he too connected on three long bombs. Gong Song Lin added 16, Wang Zhi Zhi had 12 points, Wei went for 11 and Yi Li finished with four.

FIBA