By Xiang Bin
Smush Parker got 18 points and 3 steals in his second CBA league match to help the defending champions Guangdong beat Shandong Gold, extending their winning streak to 10, sina.com reports.
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Parker scores 18 points in his second CBA league match to lead the defending champions Guangdong past Shandong Gold. |
More and more former NBA players have chosen to play with CBA clubs in China, among them Wells and Harris. Former LA Lakers' player Parker joined them recently after signing with the defending champions Guangdong.
The former Lakers' player won fame as the starting point guard for the Lakers under coach Phil Jackson, playing alongside superstar Kobe Bryant.
His debut for Guangdong on Wednesday was not as impressive as anticipated, and Parker started the game off the bench yesterday. He scored 18 points, including 13 in the third quarter and turned the fourth quarter into garbage time.
Parker replaced starting point guard Liu Xiaoyu with 6 minutes left in the first quarter, when Guangdong trailed by 5 points. His aggressive defense destroyed the opponent's rhythm and a crucial performance in the third quarter sealed the victory for Guangdong.
"We are satisfied with his performance, he proved he can fit in very well," said Li Chunjiang, head coach of Guangdong.
Unlike former Houston Rockets' players Wells and Harris, who are leading scorers in the CBA, Parker seems more willing to be part of the team, something that has won his teammates' approval.
In Sunday's other games, Jiangsu beat Qingdao 125-123, Fujian beat Beijing 98-92, Zhejiang beat Shanghai 138-99, and Changchun beat Liaoning 79-78.
(China.org.cn January 19, 2009)
