The fierce CBA playoff quarterfinal series between Beijing and Guangdong concluded with Beijing winning 88-73 at home, taking the best-of-three series 2-1 to advance to the semifinals. 
However, the victory was bittersweet for Beijing fans. Zhao Rui struggled heavily in Game 3, managing just 2 points and 1 rebound in 12 minutes with a team-worst plus-minus of -9. His temporary injury in the second quarter actually sparked Beijing’s 18-0 run that turned the game around. 
More concerning were the performances of foreign big men JaVale McGee and Omari Spellman. McGee played 13 minutes, going 0-for-6 from the field with only 2 points and 5 rebounds, while Spellman went scoreless in 8 minutes on 0-for-3 shooting. During a timeout with 5:07 left in the second quarter, coach Xu Limin tried to instruct the duo on defensive discipline, but McGee appeared disinterested and Spellman deliberately looked away, chewing gum nonchalantly.
This sparked outrage among Beijing fans and media alike. Fan comments criticized McGee for being too slow and refusing to pass, while spellman’s attitude was described as “unacceptable.” Sports commentator Fu Zhenghao wrote that McGee and Spellman showed “no brains and no happiness,” wearing their emotions on their sleeves. He noted that after they left the court, Beijing mounted an 18-0 run and took the lead.
Looking ahead to the semifinal clash against Shanghai, Beijing faces a daunting challenge. Shanghai boasts a formidable frontcourt of Wang Zhelin, Lofton, and Whiteside, while Beijing’s own big men—Zhou Qi aside—have been inconsistent and unmotivated. Given McGee and Spellman’s current form and attitude, Beijing is likely to struggle against Shanghai’s interior power. In the regular season, Shanghai swept Beijing, including an 88-83 win in Beijing without Whiteside and Lofton.
