CBA playoff quarterfinals Game 3 saw Guangdong lose 73-88 to Beijing, bowing out 1-2 in the series. Throughout the season, Guangdong fans worried about the team’s foreign player acquisitions, as the overall signings underperformed, leaving them at a disadvantage in this area.
Among the small guards, only Quinn showed consistency. He erupted in both recent games, earning admiration and keeping his team afloat. However, Quinn’s three-point shooting remains unreliable. Despite this, he has been the best of Guangdong’s four imports and should be retained next season, providing a reliable foundation.
McColl, on the other hand, struggled badly. Before his return, fans hoped he would be a dual-threat guard capable of scoring and playmaking. But after coming back, he was too selfish on offense, often going solo. This resulted in minimal scoring output, frequent collapses, and negative impact on teammates.
The two big men provided little help. Salinger managed just 5 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal in Game 3, shooting 1-of-6 from the field and 1-of-3 from three. His decline has been steep since leaving Shenzhen, and he was even a liability in Beijing last season. When his offense falters, his defense crumbles.
Lakovic also failed to impress. A journeyman in the CBA, his play was soft at both ends. In 8 minutes, he scored 6 points and grabbed 3 rebounds on 3-of-8 shooting, with a plus-minus of -5, showing little impact.
Samner, however, showed promise as a scorer and may stay. If Guangdong can pair Quinn and Samner next season, along with a suitable big man, their foreign lineup could be workable.
