Yang Ming (C), head coach of the Liaoning Flying Leopards, celebrates with the CBA championship trophy after defeating the Zhejiang Golden Bulls 4-0 in the CBA Finals in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, May 15, 2023. /Xinhua
It has been four years since Yang Ming took over as CBA's Liaoning Flying Leopards head coach. The team has never missed the CBA Finals in any of the four seasons. They won the title last year and did it again this year after sweeping the Zhejiang Golden Bulls 4-0 in the series.
"It's a very difficult year and a very difficult season filled with many variables," Yang said in an interview with Xinhua News Agency. "But we have worked our way out of multiple rough situations to win the championship. It's not easy, but out team have refined themselves and risen to a new level."
As the defending champions, the Flying Leopards were put under the microscope even before the 2022-23 season had begun. Not only did they compete with long-time foes like the Guangdong Southern Tigers and the Zhejiang Lions, they also had to watch out for the rising forces including the Golden Bulls and the Shenzhen Leopards.
Zhao Jiwei (#3) of the Liaoning Flying Leopards dribbles in Game 1 of the CBA Finals against the Zhejiang Golden Bulls in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 8, 2023. /Xinhua
Moreover, Liaoning had to endure the injuries of their aces Guo Ailun and Han Dejun in the middle of the season. Their American forward Eric Moreland joined the team later than expected. The team were in a very poor form in the third stage of the season.
The Flying Leopards encountered one of the biggest challenges in Game 4 of the CBA Semifinals against the Zhejiang Lions. They trailed 2-1 in the series and by eight points after the first half.
"I told our players during the halftime break to play the following 24 minutes like they were the final 24 minutes we've got this season. I asked them to get out every last drop of their energy," Yang said. Liaoning outscored the opponents 56-28 in the second half of Game 4, tying the series 2-2 before ending it with a 95-84 victory in Game 5.
Han Dejun (#55) of the Liaoning Flying Leopards looks on in Game 1 of the CBA Finals against the Zhejiang Golden Bulls in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 8, 2023. /Xinhua
Though the Flying Leopards swept the Golden Bulls in the CBA Finals, they did it nearly without starting guard Guo. Zhao Jiwei not only continued to shine as the team's playmaker, he also shouldered a great part of the scoring duties.
"We have nothing to worry about when Zhao was on the court. No one deserves the Finals Most Valuable Player Award better than he does," Yang told Xinhua.
Yang also praised Han and Li Xiaoxu, who have combined to play 34 seasons for Liaoning in the CBA, for their key contributions to the team. "Both finished the campaign carrying injury risks. That's how much they love the team and how self-discipline and daily practice build their endurance," Yang said in the interview. "Han and Li have great remarkable abilities and rich experience and both are hungry for victory. They make a solid big men pair that makes us feel safe during clutch time."
Guo Ailun of the Liaoning Flying Leopards misses many games during the 2022-23 CBA season because of injuries. /Xinhua
When a team appears in the CBA Finals in four straight seasons and wins back-to-back titles like Liaoning did, they understandably make people think a new dynasty has been built in the league. However, Yang doesn't pay much attention to this topic. Instead, he wants to keep the team's veterans as healthy as possible for as long as possible via scientific training and practice. Meanwhile, he wants the young generation to grow fast so they can take over leadership of the team.
"We have a mechanism of competing for your role in the team," Yang told Xinhua. "There may be more young players joining the race to fight for a spot this summer. We will select our roster based on the players' form and what the team needs."