China vs. Greece (Yao vs. VSpan) - who do you pick?

I know the highest points scored by 1 person in the World Basketball Championships was 62 points by some Korean guy, wonder if Yao will dominate by scoring 63 points, pull China out of the hole and win the game by 1 point, and grab around 15 rebounds.

 

Then are you already satisfied with an automatic Olympic berth in 2008 ??

Even before he was injured, Yao Ming has already stated that he wanted to play in the World Championship, as this will be the last international competition at the highest level before the 2008 Olympic; he wanted to see where he and his team mates are, as compared to the various basketball powerhouses in Europe and Latin America. Then he and his team mates can build on the experiences to seek improvement in the next 2 years in search for his life-long goal for an Olympic medal for China in 2008.

After the win over Slovenia, when reporters asked him how he compared it to the win against Serbia & Montenegro back in the 2004 Olympics, he said the win over Slovenia was even GREATER achievement than that in the Olympics.

He said people should not just look at the final results, but they should also look into the processes. China may end their journey in their next game....but throughout the past 5 games, the China team is getting better and better, gelling and adhering as a team. Other than a 30 point loss to an NBA-All Star US national team, every of the other losses to Italy and Puerto Rico were close affairs. He admitted that there are still alot to be improved in Chinese basketball, but at least this current team is still very very young and inexperienced, and they require such games against the better and much stronger teams such that they will know where they are weak, and where to improve.

This is similar if you view it from the NBA perspective. We are all disappointed last season about Rockets failing to win in a game of 7 over the Mavericks in the playoff, and this year, it was even worst, that due to all the illnesses and injuries, the Rockets failed to reach even the playoff. But those playoff experiences and games where players need to step up and lead and fight like men are also extremely important to players like Yao Ming and TMAC (and whoever is still remaining on the Rockets roster) in order for them to succeed in future for bigger glory and achievement...........

Do you think so ??

 

I am Chinese but I root and support all Asian athletes. I don't get the animosity of the Japanese fans towards the Chinese national team. Everytime a Chinese player screws up a play or missed a shot, the Japanese fans screams and cheer with joy. Whenever China scores, they boo. What the hell was that crap? Shouldn't Asians stick together?

Some stupid Japanese fans must be jealous because Japan's basketball team is even worst than team China. Maybe that's where the animosity came from.

 

that's not true.

if you look around, country by country, which country is *REALLY* friendly to china? (I am not referring to individual persons)

the answer is none.

 

I am not sure that's what's happening. I also heard boos and jeers when China's opponents missed a shot or had a turnover......and you could not really tell whether the boos and jeers were from Japanese or Chinese or fans from any other nationalities..........

The Japanese Basketball Association is so grateful that China advances into the second round, and they hope China can advance further to salvage the gate receipts for this World Championship.

In the 4 cities where the 4 groups of preliminary games were hold, Sapporo is the best in term of audience and gate receipts because Group D (comprising USA and China) played there.

Now their hope vest with China continues their magical journey, if they can further beat Greece and move into the Final 8.

 

Actually Span will be the 4th Greek NBAer. The first was Antonis Fotsis who is a member of the national team and spent a season with the Grizzlies. Efthimis Rentzias had a very minor passage from the 76ers and then of course there's Jake Tsakalidis. He practically begged to be on the team this year but the basketball association and the coach decided to not disrupt the balance of the team because Jake had caused some problems the last time he had played for Greece. It would have been interesting to see him against Yao though...

As mentioned above there's also Baby Shaq who's making a comeback this year (the Clippers asked him to join them but he decided to stay in Europe for the time being) and Diamantidis who could easily play in any NBA team (best defensive player in Europe 2 years in a row) but thankfully for us Greek fans doesn't want to

 

Thanks.....Tauntaun13 for pointing out my oversight.

I guess I mixed V Span up with the other rookie that Rockets got in the draft.............Lior Eliyahu, who should be the first Iraeli signed for NBA.

 

LOL what you are getting at ?

China was voted official member of the UN instead of taiwan despite heavy pressure of the US all those years ago.

And which team received the most boos in the 2004 olympics ???

 

i like your idea. if it's for a guard, maybe. for a centre, even as dominant as yao is, there is just no way he can do it with those guards on the cnt roster.

 

I'm rooting for Yao...he is our guy...he has been a Rocket for 5 years...he has given us everything he's got.

Even the Rockets web site downplays the accomplishment that Yao and Team China achieved. They are too busy riding Team USA jocks and aligning themselves with Shane Battier.

Shane battier is on Team USA... and they have dominated the world's so far. But Shane Battier has not played 1 second for the Houston Rockets and he is all over their website. It is a shame.

Yao has played for the Rockets for 5 years. He deserves to get alot of credit for what he has done and even for what Team China has done (even though it fails to compare to the great Team Usa of hand picked All-stars).

But as usual the Rockets are selling out in order to tie themselves to a winner for promotion...even if it is a slap in the face to a man who has been loyal, hard working, and has committed himself to the cause by even going so far as to play in games (and get injured) that meant nothing (all of the games after playoff elimination last season).

Shane Battier may well indeed be a great addition and a fantastic personality in the public, but as of right now he hasn't done sh*t. But check the Rockets website...he and Team USA are all over it.

 

Kind of got off the subject. And the same goes for VS. hasn't even put on a Rockets uni.

Pull for Yao even if there is no chance to win. He is ours.

 

I'm a Texan...


..but I damn sure ain't pullin' for Dallas!

 

I think you might be over-sensitive here. Rockets is, after all, a US basketball club. It's so obvious and natural that they are pulling for team USA. A new Rocket in Shane, is a member of team USA, so he naturally gets some coverage there as well. Just imagine Shanghai Shark team website, at this time, are they going to cover CNT more, or US team (assume there is a US player plays for the club, who gave his best for a few years blah blah), or Russia team (assume you have a Russian player blah blah). Yao doesn't need to get all the attention all the time, even on a Rockets website, or CNT site.

 

Yao has more than enough attention. He does not require any extra attention. More attention means more pressure. So relax. BTW, ClutchFans has given sufficient attention to Yao since his recovery, although it not a media center but it the Rockets fans center

 

This is the front page of the Match (a daily sports newspaper that is published in Larisa, Spanoulis' hometown).

 

It's called Eighth-Finals, buddy.

 

hahahha

thanks for the pic

I love both of our players...I would be satisfied if they both play well, thats all

go rox!

 

There is no dependency of fans reactions and the business view of The Japanese Basketball Association.

But who cares about the boos? Team China should play harder if they hear any boos in Japan. I am glad Team China is already doing it.

 

Haha Kill Bill haha......!

I hope China wins.
If China lose and the scrub teammates do play like ****, Yao should start screaming at them, and smack some senses into their big heads (treated and acted like ****ing superstars in local leagues but actually just a bunch of best-of-the-worst ball players).

 

Why do the anti-China trolls refuse to understand patriotism? While they're the same ones who say "America: Love it or Leave it?" How hypocritical.