Official Thread on Yao Ming's Summer Activities 2006

Even though this tournament was conceptualized by Carl Cheng Menky ( The current President / Secretary General for FIBA ), who is from Hong Kong, it is absurd for you to think that this tournament is specifically designed for improving China's basketball status in the world. This is a FIBA organized event, similiar to the European Champion League in soccer, whereby continental champions or semi finalists from the various continental championships are entitled to participate. Do you think FIBA, the world basketball governing organization will organize such a tournament specifically for the purpose of improving Chinese basketball ??

It is just co-incidence that China hosted the 1st and 2nd tournaments.

 

Maybe you are still too stubborn to understand what I'm trying to tell you. There is no way that FIBA the world basketball governing organization will specifically design a tournament just for the purpose of improving the basketball level or status of China.

 

http://sports.sina.com.cn/k/2006-08-10/18202389568.shtml

More photos of Yao Ming and the China national team in team practice today in Nanjing Olympic Stadium.

According to the above article, China's head coach Jonas Kazlauskas said that for tomorrow's game against Germany, Yao Ming will definitely be starting, but will not play long minutes.

As for Wang Zhizhi, even though he can now run and join the team practice, he will sit out tomorrow's game, and will probably be playing in the game with Brazil on August 13.

Please Click Here For More Photos

 

No. In tomorrow's game with Germany, Wang Zhizhi won't be playing.

In today's 5 vs 5 team practice, Yao Ming was teamed with Yi Jianlian, Zhu Fangyu, Du Feng, Xie Libin, Chen Jianghua. Wang Zhizhi was teamed with Mo Ke, Zhang Songtao, Wang Shipeng, Sun Yue, Liu Wei.

So it is very likely Yi will be starting together with Yao Ming in tomorrow's game with Germany. And very probably, Jonas Kazlauskas will start Chen Jianghua as the starting point guard, so as to give him more trial and opportunity so as to over-turn the internal CBA decision of dropping Chen Jianghua from the final roster for the World Championship.

 

Naaaaaaah, Sun Yue will definitely make the Final 12.

The current unsolicited rumour spreading in China is that out of the current 14 players, the 2 young and inexperienced guards, Xie Libin and Chen Jianghua will be dropped, despite the excellent performance of Chen Jianghua in the game versus the US national team.

There had been huge reactions and controversies within Chinese basketball circle now hotly debating whether CBA is too short-sighted and stupid to leave out Chen Jianghua, and leave Zhang Songtao, a traditional centre and low post player as a back up centre in case Yao Ming or Wang Zhizhi could not sustain the 2-week long World Championship.

Jonas Kazlauskas, the head coach, however, has different opinion to CBA. He persisted that Chen Jianghua should be given an opportunity to demonstrate his capability; he did not think age or seniority should deprive Chen Jianghua a spot on the final roster, if he can help to make this team better. He will give alot of play minutes to Chen Jianghua in the 2nd FIBA Stankovic Continental Champion Cup tournament to further test him out.

 

Just a head-up for you guys if you're interested to watch this game.

The game pitching China against Germany will be broadcasted tonight (August 11 Friday) live on CCTV5 at 20:00pm. It will be like 05:00am (West Coast), and 08:00am (East Coast).

So, if you have CCTV5 on your TV, you should be able to watch this game. If not, go for some of these streaming TVs.....pplive or ppstream.

 

Photos of the last team practice of the Chinese national team this morning, before playing against Germany tonight in the 2nd FIBA Continental Champion Cup tournament.

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According to what was described in the articles of most of the Chinese websites, Yao Ming is almost back to his 100%. He is running at full speed at the strength and conditioning training during the team practice; he is shooting and blocking shots (repetitively from Yi Jianlian) during those 3 versus 3, 4 versus 4 and 5 versus 5 team practice; he is converting shots and dunks from passes from Chen Jianghua; he is yelling and shouting on court, passing out instructions to his team mates.

He is ready and hungry to play against Germany & Dirk Nowitzki !!

Head Coach Jonas Kazlauskas said Yao Ming will start, but for precaution, he will not have long play minutes.....maybe 15 minutes or so.

Wang Zhizhi took off his protector today, but still could not run very quick, or play too physical during the team practice.

Liu Wei will not play in the next 2 matches against Germany and Brazil to prevent him from further injuries. This means either Sun Yue or Chen Jianghua will start as point guard for China.