Yao in All-Athens first team

http://www.nba.com/athens2004/top_players.html

Top hoopsters of men's Olympic tournament
These Guys Ruled Athens

By Randy Kim

This is just one editor's opinion, but after attending the 2004 Men's Olympic Basketball Tournament in Athens (read my Athens Blog), here are the players I'd include were I asked to list my All-Athens first and second teams. Enjoy.
STARTING FIVE:

Tim Duncan, C, USA (28 years old)
Stats: 12.9 PPG, 9.1 RPG, .567 FG%
No one had an answer for Duncan inside. Did whatever he wanted on the boards. Hampered by consistent foul trouble, but still best player on U.S. team. Also embraced leadership role on young team without any international experience.

Pau Gasol, F, Spain (24)
Stats: 22.4 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.86 BPG, .614 FG%
Size, agility and skill were always there. Now the intensity is there to match. The most dominant player in the tournament. Playing with tremendous confidence, especially on offense. If he isn't exhausted after his play in Athens, could be primed for monster season in Memphis.

Manu Ginobili, G, Argentina (27)
Stats: 19.3 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 3.3 APG, .576 FG%, .405 3P%
Came into the tourney as one of the NBA's top young players. Coming out of Olympics as one of world's most deadly scorers. Goes inside and out with ease, and showed tremendous range in Athens. Could make a case for either Manu or Pau as the top hoopster of the 2004 Games.

Sarunas Jasikevicius, G, Lithuania (28)
Stats: 14.1 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 5.6 APG, .393 3P%
Runs point with impressive combination of flash and dependability. Tremendous passer who also has excellent touch from perimeter. Intense leader on the floor. Only setback was his nine-point outing in Lithuania's loss to Italy.

Yao Ming, C, China (23)
Stats: 20.7 PPG, 9.3 RPG, .559 FG%
Carried China into quarterfinals without any consistent help from the perimeter. Absolutely dominant in China's two wins. Scored consistently despite facing double- and triple-teams. Also played with passion, which can only bode well for China's future.


SECOND TEAM:

Carlos Arroyo, G, Puerto Rico (25)
His dribble-drives to hoop were breathtaking. Faded at end, but had one of best individual performances of tournament in opening-game win over U.S.

Arvydas Macijauskas, G, Lithuania (24)
Could be best pure shooter in world. Macijauskas' release is pure reflex. So confident, he'll even pump fake from 3-point range.

Lazaros Papadopoulos, C, Greece (24)
This 6-11 center has skills to go along with size. More than held his own against Duncan in hard-fought loss to U.S. Not afraid to get physical.

Gianmarco Pozzecco, G, Italy (31)
Very difficult to single out one player on such a balanced Italian side, but Pozzecco gets the nod because he was the one most responsible for getting his teammates such great perimeter looks. Also one of most exciting players to watch in tourney, whether he was on floor or bench.

Luis Scola, F, Argentina (24)
Whirling dervish in low post who showed very impressive agility and touch around the hoop. One of top scorers in tournament.


HONORABLE MENTION:

Larry Ayuso, G, Puerto Rico (27); Gianluca Basile, G, Italy (29); Andrew Bogut, F, Australia (19); Jose Manuel Calderon, G, Spain (22); Jorge Garbajosa, F, Spain (26); Allen Iverson, G, United States (29); Phillip Jones, G, New Zealand (30); Stephon Marbury, G, United States (27); Juan Carlos Navarro, G, Spain (24)