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Yao, China ousted by Greece at World Basketball Championship

Discussion in 'NBA Draft' started by #1draftpik, Aug 27, 2006.

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  1. #1draftpik

    #1draftpik Member

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    New Rocket Spanoulis scores 15 points off the bench in a 95-64 rout

    http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/4144101.html

    SAITAMA, JAPAN — When Yao Ming finally met his newest teammate, it was like running into a meat grinder.

    Vasilis Spanoulis and Greece used full-court pressure to climb out of an early hole and blasted China 95-64 on Sunday at the World Basketball Championship.

    The win sends Greece into a quarterfinal matchup with France on Wednesday and sends China home to begin preparation for a deeper run at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

    "I cannot say it was a great success for our team," said Yao. "All we did was to make our lowest goal. We made it out of the first round and reached the first elimination game. Then we were eliminated."

    China did not leave before giving 12-minute scare to the defending European champions by getting out in the transition game, slicing to the hoop for layups and nailing outside shots to build a 27-17 lead with 7:45 left in the second quarter.

    But that's when Greece turned up the heat with their fullcourt pressure and the Chinese backcourt was simply not up to the task. China's guards repeatedly turned the ball over trying to cross the midcourt line and Greece eventually swept them away in a 50-15 wave that extended all the way to the end of the third quarter.

    Yao, who entered the game as the leading scorer in the tournament with a 28.4 average, was held to just 10 points as Greece double- and triple-teamed him and the guards could not get him the ball.

    Spanoulis, as is his custom, was a firecracker off the bench, making bullrushes to the hoop and hitting a pair of treys to score 12 of his 15 points by halftime.

    "I don't think I had to prove anything to him," Spanoulis said. "Yao is gonna see me now for the whole year in Houston. I was just playing today to do the things I do to try to help my team to win."

    Spanoulis used a head-faked on one possession to split Yao and Zhu Fangyu on his way to a layup. Another time down the floor, he pulled up and hit a jumper from the baseline over Yao.

    "I told him that maybe I will send my shoes to his room and make him carry them for me to Houston," said Yao with a grin. "That's a joke.

    "I had seen Spanoulis play on video before. But this was the first time I saw him live. Now that this game is over, I wish him well in the rest of his professional career."
     
    #1 #1draftpik, Aug 27, 2006
  2. rocketsmetalspd

    rocketsmetalspd Member

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    Well, I hope the CNT gets its act together by 2008. I hope that Yao will be in Houston to rehab and get ready for the NBA season. Isn't T-Mac getting married in September? Maybe Yao will in Houston at that time.
     
    #2 rocketsmetalspd, Aug 27, 2006
  3. hooroo

    hooroo Member

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    the gold colour on the chinese jerseys looks good better than the previous normal yellow.
     
    #3 hooroo, Aug 27, 2006
  4. A_3PO

    A_3PO Member

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    Didn't see the game but the result was predictable. I knew the Greece press would destroy the CNT. The only way the CNT will get better is for their players to play outside of China. Otherwise, they are spinning their wheels a lot without moving very much.
     
    #4 A_3PO, Aug 27, 2006
  5. D-rock

    D-rock Member

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    KillBill, Meat Grinder, Firecracker, et al.

    I love all these descriptions/nicknames for Spanoulis. It appears that the attitude missing since Sura's injury is on its way back.

    I am ecstatic that Spanoulis is showing all this talent, productivity AND killer instinct.

    It bodes well for the future success of the Houston Rockets.
     
    #5 D-rock, Aug 27, 2006
  6. win2k

    win2k Member

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    #6 win2k, Aug 27, 2006
  7. MrButtocks

    MrButtocks Member

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    Sure it is, Yao. Sure it is. :cool:
     
    #7 MrButtocks, Aug 27, 2006
  8. Lobo

    Lobo Member

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    #8 Lobo, Aug 27, 2006
  9. Mordo

    Mordo Member

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    #9 Mordo, Aug 27, 2006
  10. zcity

    zcity Member

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    #10 zcity, Aug 27, 2006
  11. RocketForever

    RocketForever Member

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    When the guard finally tried to make an entry pass, the Greece team had three guys surrounding him. And then when he got the ball, he was swamped by four guys. You would wonder what his teammates were doing at that time.
     
    #11 RocketForever, Aug 27, 2006
  12. rockets fan

    rockets fan Rookie

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    He's not the quickest guy, but great body control. The way he changes speeds, changes direction is pretty impressive. I really expect him to be our starting point guard come mid-season, but it might be better to save him for a spark off the bench. We really need to keep at least one high energy guy on the court at all times, especially when Yao and Mac are resting.
     
    #12 rockets fan, Aug 27, 2006
  13. Champ06

    Champ06 Member

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    ....resting on the floor watching Yao play. :rolleyes:
     
    #13 Champ06, Aug 27, 2006
  14. kmart9419

    kmart9419 Member

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    That is such a blatant foul not called. The guy literally wrap his arms around Yao's chest and pulling him back. You can see china's coach screaming at the refs. Is Yao that hard to referee?

    You can see why Yao only got 10 points. Quadruple teamed in that video. Probably got the treatment all day. Poor Yao.
     
    #14 kmart9419, Aug 27, 2006
  15. BayAreaG510

    BayAreaG510 Member

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    A lot of times when the Rockets are playing, the rest are on the floor chilling and watching Yao play. It pisses everyone off when there's 3 guys guarding Yao and the rest of the Rockets are chilling, standing there doing nothing.

    I hope this coming season, things will change. Go Rockets!
     
    #15 BayAreaG510, Aug 27, 2006
  16. chris_Rocket

    chris_Rocket Member

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    CNT need a legit PG to feed YAO!!
     
    #16 chris_Rocket, Aug 28, 2006
  17. A_3PO

    A_3PO Member

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    They need a lot more than that.
     
    #17 A_3PO, Aug 28, 2006
  18. Flamescreen

    Flamescreen Member

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    Actually, I was surprised too by Yao not getting that call. Don't know why they didn't give him one. I can assure you though, that Greek defence is legit, this might have been the only instance a blatant foul wasn't called for. Yao couldn't score much, cause the guards couldn't pass the ball. That's not up to the guards solely, Yao is pretty good at passing assists, but couldn't use that weapon either. It's the Greek defence, and coaching.

    Some Greek players have huge hands for their body size and generally the team is high tempo in that area, by European standards anyway. Have no clue if this will work against teams like USA or Argentina. This site is awesome by the way, the have some of the best videos, thanks for sharing.
     
    #18 Flamescreen, Aug 28, 2006
  19. Tigerknee

    Tigerknee Member

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    I think they need some flaxseed oil and cream too.
     
    #19 Tigerknee, Aug 28, 2006
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