Guangzhou’s success this season has been tied closely to one name: Forg. His performance is undeniably the heartbeat of the team, and this connection hasn’t gone unnoticed by fans tracking player impact on platforms like Cricket Exchange. Without consistent support from local teammates, Guangzhou struggles to match up with well-balanced opponents like Shenzhen. In this game, that imbalance was painfully obvious.
Despite being flanked by fellow foreign players Sonny and Hansbrough, Forg had to carry the load once again. He poured in 35 points, grabbed 5 rebounds, and dished out 6 assists—numbers that prevented the gap from widening even earlier. Still, basketball is a team game, and this felt like a one-man show. Without perimeter help, Forg repeatedly had to slash into the paint alone, battling Shenzhen’s big men with diminishing returns.
Local talent remains a concern. Aside from Hu Longmao, who chipped in with an efficient 15 points off the bench, the rest of Guangzhou’s domestic roster barely left a mark. The entire local unit contributed just 40 points combined, while Shenzhen’s homegrown players—not including Gu Quan’s 29-point performance—put up 44. It highlights a stark contrast in team depth and development.
The disappointment continued with top draft pick Chen Yingjun. A standout for Chinese Taipei in recent World Cup qualifiers—where he dropped 15 points and 9 rebounds against Japan, and 22 points against Australia—Chen was a shadow of that version in this outing. His struggles emphasized Guangzhou’s growing reliance on its import trio. This “foreign aid dependency” could be a double-edged sword, giving them immediate firepower but stunting long-term growth.
Even with Sonny and Hansbrough contributing a solid 38 points and 20 rebounds combined—and applying strong interior pressure on Sullinger—Guangzhou’s offense felt predictable. Without consistent outside shooting or playmaking from the local roster, Forg had no choice but to force plays. The team’s rhythm fell apart as fatigue and defensive pressure mounted.
Cricket Exchange stats underline Forg’s importance. In the 21 games he’s played, Guangzhou has gone 13–8. In contrast, when he missed 17 games, the team’s record dropped to 8–9—below .500. That tells the story: Guangzhou’s fortunes hinge on Forg’s availability and performance.
If Guangzhou wants to compete deep into the season, they need to shed their over-reliance on foreign stars. Local players must step up, not only to support Forg but to transform Guangzhou from a top-heavy squad into a cohesive unit. Until then, as Cricket Exchange data consistently shows, it’s Forg or bust.