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Sharks aim for playoffs in new season
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LOCAL Chinese Basketball Association side Shanghai Sharks have set a goal of reaching the playoffs in the new season that will kick off later this year.
The team, owned by China’s best-known basketball player Yao Ming, finished 12th in the 20-team league last season and missed the playoffs for the second successive year.
“It’s a basic target that the club must achieve!” said Liu Peng, Sharks head coach. Liu told a media briefing yesterday that the team has already kicked off summer training, and some adjustments had been made in its coaching set-up.
American Brian Goorjian has been named the new assistant coach to help the Sharks achieve their goal. Goorjian is the most successful coach in Australian basketball history, having won six championships Down Under. He joined CBA side Dongguan Leopards in 2009 and became assistant coach of Guangdong Southern Tigers last year, leading the team to the 2015-16 CBA playoffs semifinals. He was also the technical adviser to China’s national team.
“We got connected to Goorjian when looking for new foreign players,” said Liu. “He is extremely experienced and Sharks is a young team that needs experience.”
Having been in China for eight years, the American was looking forward to working with Yao’s team.
“It’s a young team with a young coach, and these are exciting times for them,” said Goorjian. “I want to help Yao and the team to move towards the playoffs.
“Talent-wise, Sharks are similar to Dongguan. They are in the similar process regarding bringing young talents to the team. I’m excited to be in this city and about working with the Sharks.”
Goorjian will also be meeting an old acquaintance in Liu Xiaoyu, who played for a while for Sydney Kings when Goorjian was head coach. Liu joined Shanghai from Guangdong last year.
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