Marbury's first coaching season ends as Beijing loses to Xinjiang
Updated 22:43, 03-Aug-2020
CGTN

Stephon Marbury's first season coaching came to an end Monday as his team, the Beijing Royal Fighters, lost to the Xinjiang Flying Tigers 91 – 103 in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) playoffs in Qingdao to reach the semifinals.

The failure was as expected since Xinjiang, even when playing with all domestic players, outclassed Marbury's Beijing in many aspects from the number of national team players to playoffs experience.

The gap in terms of the two teams' prowess was best shown in the third quarter when Xiralijan Muhtar's four three-pointers enlarged Xinjiang's lead and center Zhou Qi seemed impossible to defend in the restricted area throughout the whole game. 

Zhou Qi of the Xinjiang Flying Tigers handles the ball during a CBA playoffs game against the Beijing Royal Fighters in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, August 3, 2020. /VCG

Zhou Qi of the Xinjiang Flying Tigers handles the ball during a CBA playoffs game against the Beijing Royal Fighters in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, August 3, 2020. /VCG

Even though the Royal Fighters managed to maintain the losing gap within ten points, no one was capable to reverse the score throughout the game. Xinjiang controlled the pace from the beginning, leaving no chance for Beijing. 

Kyle Fogg collected a game-high 31 points, Arnett Moultrie grabbed 14 points and 16 rebounds, Wang Zirui and Zhang Fan notched 12 points apiece. But still, the Royal Fighters needed more players to step up and deliver a stable performance.

Stephon Marbury, head coach of the Beijing Royal Fighters, gives instructions from the sideline during a CBA playoffs game against the Xinjiang Flying Tigers in Qingdao, Shandong Province, China, August 3, 2020.

Stephon Marbury, head coach of the Beijing Royal Fighters, gives instructions from the sideline during a CBA playoffs game against the Xinjiang Flying Tigers in Qingdao, Shandong Province, China, August 3, 2020.

This is going to be Marbury's homework for his next coaching season. Even though the team didn't make to the semifinals, what they have achieved for their first season since founding of the team last year is still satisfying to many – a seventh ranking for the chunked regular season and a narrow win to enter the playoffs.

The team may not be good enough for the second round of playoffs this season, but we have every reason to look forward to their performance next year.

In the last quarterfinal match, Liaoning Flying Leopards sealed a narrow victory over all-domestic-player Zhejiang Golden Bulls 127 – 123 to win the last ticket to the semifinals.