Shanghai's sizzling stretch does in Ducks

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With the new First Round of the CBA Playoffs only featuring two best of three series, the four teams involved have to approach Game One like their backs are already against the wall.

Shanghai Sharks took on Beijing Ducks on Sunday at Shougang Gymnasium stadium, Beijing. But even though the Sharks didn't find their feet until the fourth quarter, that was just the right time to put away Beijing as they grabbed 104-95 win and took a 1-0 lead.

The last time Beijing and Shanghai met in the CBA Playoffs was 17 years ago, with the Sharks eliminating the Ducks on their way to the second of three straight Finals appearances, a run keyed by the one and only Yao Ming prior to his 2002 move to the NBA.

These days Yao Ming is running the CBA, and one of his latest reforms has been tacking an additional round onto the Playoffs ahead of the Quarter-Finals, which this year means the seventh through tenth place teams are facing a challenge which the top six got to skip en route to the Round of Eight -- and time is not on their side.

Jimmer Fredette of Shanghai Bilibili in action. /VCG photo

A best-of-three series, as opposed to a seven or even five game scenario, always figures to be a much more difficult hill to climb for the side that loses Game One, so putting together a strong start – or at least a finely tuned finish –is crucial.

"Yeah. We knew it was gonna be like that. We knew probably the first half would be ugly, like I said, because that three weeks off and not playing an actual game, you get out there, you have nerves," said Shanghai Sharks player Jimmer Fredette.

"Obviously playoffs are even more heightened and important," Fredette added. "The crowd's into it and so you have a little bit of nerves, a little bit of adrenaline, but both teams settled down in the second half. It was a much better game for all of us. Fortunately, in the fourth quarter, we made a lot of shots, and it was great for my team."

Lu Wei(R) celebrates Shanghai’s 104-95 win over Beijing Ducks on Sunday. ‍/VCG Photo

All four squads competed over the weekend with Shenzhen facing Guangzhou in the other First Round set. The team went into the game knowing they needed to shake off any rust from the three-week break that followed the end of the regular season.

"We wanted to take care of business at home. You always wanna get that first game, but for us, we just gotta make the adjustments," said Beijing Ducks Center Justin Hamilton.

"I thought it was a good game," he added. "They hit some shots at the end and we just have to come back and make those adjustments that are needed to win."

The Ducks will have to adjust on the fly with Game Two set for Wednesday in Shanghai, where the Sharks hope to follow up their 104-95 victory in the opener with a home court clincher. While the Capital Crew attempts to force a winner-take-all third contest back at Wukesong next Saturday.