The team’s season has been full of misfortune, and Liu Wei feels the pressure, but injuries have become his biggest adversary. Rebuilding is not a foreign concept to Liu Wei. After Yao Ming went overseas, Liu Wei carried the Shanghai Sharks through their darkest times, eventually leading them to brighter days.
However, the situation with the Sichuan team is different. They now face a bigger challenge in rebuilding and need more time to adjust. This year, Sichuan has revamped half of its roster with new players, many of whom have never played together before. In Shanghai, the team was more familiar with one another, and the cohesion and atmosphere were much stronger. But now, with many new faces, the team is experiencing challenges, and the chemistry is still developing. A lot of things are new, and it will take time to build that chemistry. During the game against Beijing Enterprises, Liu Wei’s knee took a knock, resulting in some bruising, but he adjusted and carried on.
At the beginning of the season, Liu Wei felt optimistic, but injuries are unavoidable. Despite being sidelined with injuries, Liu Wei didn’t stay idle on the bench. He invested more energy into mentoring and communicating with the younger players. Since the start of the season, he has focused on fostering these relationships through training and discussions. However, when it comes to the actual games, Liu Wei believes it is the coach’s responsibility to manage the game and make the tactical decisions. For Liu Wei, it doesn’t matter which team he’s on; he remains focused on his role.
He enjoys maintaining communication with younger teammates because only through frequent communication can the team develop. From barely making the playoffs last season to now being near the bottom of the standings, Sichuan has been one of the most surprising teams this season. The departure of key players like Zhang Chunjun and Wang Ruheng, along with poor decisions regarding foreign players, has left the 2019-2020 CBA champions in an awkward position. The team’s structure has changed significantly compared to last year.
The players are still adjusting to each other, and their chemistry must be rebuilt. With younger players beginning to step up in the new season, Sichuan has tried to rebuild, but the only domestic player they can truly rely on is Liu Wei, the veteran. Nearly half of the roster from last season left, and the team added six or seven new players. For these new players, it is their first year in the CBA, which can be very challenging as the pressure on them is immense.
Rebuilding a team requires paying a lot of dues, and Liu Wei hopes those dues are worthwhile. He believes this experience will serve as valuable training for the team, shaping their performance in the future. Despite the team’s current struggles, he remains optimistic that they will bounce back stronger.