CBA has just announced a 22-men roster for the men basketball national team, out of which the final team will be picked for 2008 Olympics. Yao Ming is on the roster. And they also announced the plan for this summer, with lots of overseas tournaments, so as to train and gel this team, with an average age of 23, and average height of 6ft 7 in (2 meters) to be prepared for 2008 Olympics. http://sports.sina.com.cn/k/2007-03-28/11002832150.shtml It is confirmed that Yao Ming will rejoin the national team in July, and will play in the NBA Summer League in USA in July in the 3rd FIBA Stankovic Continental Cup in Hangzhou and Zhengdu, China July 28 ~ August 2 featuring Angola, Slovenia, Venezuela, New Zealand and China In an European trip in August (There will be at least 2 4-Nation tournaments during this trip; one in Germany, one in Turkey. A 3rd tournament is being lined up in Spain. As to the October tournaments in China (with CSKA Moscow of Russia, Benetton Treviso of Italy and Sydney Kings), Yao Ming most probably will skip as the new NBA season will begin by then. What do you guys think ? Is it advisable/wise for Yao Ming to substitute rest and training in the summer to play through such a hectic schedule for the new NBA season ?
China doesn't have to qualify for the Olympics this year correct? And VSpan doesn't either, correct? Cause his team won the FIBA Basketball Championship? He better not get hurt. He better see limited time. It's not like China's going to medal.
As the host country, China does not have to qualify for the 2008 Olympics, but I think Greece needs to qualify for 2008 Olympics. Greece won the 2nd FIBA Continental Championship in China (which was irrelevant to qualifying for Olympics), but they lost in the 2006 World Championship to Spain. So Spain automatically qualifies as World Champion for the 2008 Olympics, but not Greece. So VSpan has to play for Greece in the European Championship this summer to qualify for 2008 Olympics.
We'll see, my friend, we'll see. From Pryuen's link, the article did mention that CBA Official, Hu, doubted the actual date Yao would join his CNT teammates since the Rockets are probably going deep this playoff. And he also mentioned that Yao needs time to rest. Considering that our season ends in June this year, in addition to the celebration events, Yao may not have good rest until end of July. I would say Yao should just join his CNT teammates for practices and skip all those Summer League games. He would not learn much from his Summer League opponents and it also leaves a precious sport for his teammates to learn and develop. He should play in those European games though provided that he will be playing against their A teams.
Well I guess you're right that his play minutes should be minimal or even DNP for the Summer League to leave the chance for his team mates to learn and develop. As to the European tour, since Eurobasket 2007 (i.e. European Championship) will be held in Spain from September 3 ~ 16, alot of the European countries will be participating in these 4-nations tournaments in July/August so as to serve as warm-up/team gelling for the Eurobasket 2007, and therefore the teams that China will meet and play in those German and Turkish tournaments are very likely the A teams of the respective participating European countries.
I don't know about yall but I want Yao to play every possible bastketball game out there until he can't play no more. That just makes sense to me!
yep. and Yao playing in the summer league? Bunch morons, CBA officials. I really love to see China do well in the 08 olympics, but this is not type of planning that will make them do well. Have Yao rest well, let young puppies play in the summer league. Hire Dream as the assitant coach to coach Yao and Yi. Then we are talking about medals.
By having Yao playin the Summer league a year before the 08 Olympics? What China need is Quality games. Let inexperienced players play in the summer league. Hire good coach to train hard. That's the key. China has been doing this year over year, improvements hardly seen.
Same old craps...who cares anymore ! As much as i want Yao to stay here , get some rest and hone his skills by playing with other NBA players, i know it ain't gonna happen !
the Euro and FIBA trips I don't mind - Yao Ming is an <b> international </b> baller after all, not just an NBA star. However, I find it questionable that he's going to play in the summer league where people like John Lucas III can average 28 points a game.
I'm confident that the line on Yao playing in the NBA Summer League was simply an ill-informed assumption. The European trip sounds like some worthwhile games. If he plays in the Continental Cup, I doubt he'll have to work very hard at all.
