Another Sina Article about Celtic game - Francis also has love from Sina

Here is a news article from Sina.com.cn news about Houston Rockets. If you really think Sina news source is not worthy the time to read, please leave this thread. I just want to show some reporters in China love Steve Francis as well as Yao.

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Link: http://sports.sina.com.cn/k/2004-01-16/1012738194.shtml


Title: Big Yao finished Eastern Trip with Perfect Performance
Leader Francis Revealed Play-Off Ambitions in his Joke


Three days ago, Celtics surrounded Yao and let him disappeared from the game with only 6 points. After 3 days, Yao came to Boston and continued his good performance in Washington last night, finished with 21 points and 15 rebounds, with addition of 4 blocks, to a 95-80 triumph over the Celtics.

Rockets had a very good game plan in this game. They entered the Fleet Center only 90 min before the game and Yao told the Report that they have had been in the hotel to prepare the game since getting up so he was very hungry and had grabbed lot of food on the table when they were having the meeting. He was ¡°hungry¡± too in the game, scored 19 points in the first half of the game.

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(Some game description here and some comments by Yao, JVG, and Steve. Everybody has read them already, I guess so I ignore translating them)

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Since Cato spanked his ankle last game against Wizards, Yao had more defense assignment in the middle and his 4 blocks proves that he got the job done. ¡°Cato is one of our defense focusing point in the middle. Because he can¡¯t play tonight, everyone needs to work harder than usual and share part of his responsibility on defense¡±, Yao said, ¡°This is one of the reasons I played better than usual.¡±

Houston has been working on how to against fronting defense for sometime without much success. Today they defeated Celtic with authority. This will be a relief to the issue so every player had a good mode after this victory. They accepted the interview after interview patiently this time, not like they did before ¨C leaving very soon after the game when they are visitors. In the end, Yao¡¯s translator left earlier for some other things, and Yao was still interviewed by some local reporters with good English.

Yao finished his eastern trip perfectly this time and Reporter (I) will be back to China as well. When I was saying good ¨Cbye to players, WARM-HEARTED Steve Francis grasped my hand and smiled, ¡°Buddy, you must come back for our play-offs. This will be my first play-off!¡±

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I don¡¯t know if he made up the story about Francis but obviously he likes him!!

Lionel