OT: Del Harris on China's Chance in 2006 World Championship

pryuen · Jan 20, 2006

Del Harris talked to Zhu Junwei, the TITAN/Sina.com Houston based reporter about China's chance in 2006 World Championship and Houston Rockets' chance for making the playoff !!!

http://sports.sina.com.cn/k/2006-01-20/11202004375.shtml

"I believe China can beat Senegal, Slovenia and Puerto Rico to be 3rd placed in their group and get past the preliminary group phase." ~ Former Head Coach of China National Team, and current assistant coach for Dallas Mavericks, Del Harris.

The silver-haired Del Harris had bid farewell to Chinese basketball for 15 months now, but within the heart of this old man, he still has special care, enthusiasm and passion as before regarding Chinese basketball. So I met Del Harris (who led China into the Final 8 in the 2004 Athens Olympics) in the player's corridor of Toyota Centre, and started to chat about Chinese basketball, the Dallas Mavericks he currently coaches, as well as about tonight's match with the Houston Rockets.

TITAN: You've left Chinese basketball for a year and half now; so do you still care about what's happening there ?

Harris: I am a nostalgic man who particularly like to recollect happy old times. I really enjoyed myself very much while I was there in China. I still frequently took out and reviewed the video tape of the Olympic Games. When I had dinner with Yao Ming yesterday evening, I also asked after the current situation of the Chinese national team. I also follow the CBA closely over the Internet. I knew Guangdong (Hongyuan Tigers) is currently leading the league. That is what I expected, because this is when Zhu Fangyu, Du Feng and Yi Jianlian are in their prime.

TITAN: For this year's World Championship, China is grouped with USA.........

Harris: (Did not wait for the reporter to finish) Also Italy, Slovenia, Puerto Rico, Senegal. When we entered the Final 8 in the Olympics, there were only 12 teams, but there are 24 teams in the World Championship. Moreover, there are many teams of relatively same quality level. If China is to enter the Last 16 or the Final 8, it will have to depend on an injury-free Yao Ming. If just based on the strength of the teams, I believe China can beat Senegal, Slovenia and Puerto Rico to be 3rd placed in their group and get past the preliminary group phase.

TITAN: In your opinion, which positions in the current Chinese national team need to be strengthened or to be supplemented ?

Harris: First, it has to be the point guard position, and next, the power forward position. Yao Ming is the absolute nucleus of the China team, but he will not be the soul. A team's soul is the point guard, and Yao Ming needs ball-feeding from his team mates. According to my experience with the team, the best candidate for the point guard position is still Liu Wei; he has speed and he can penetrate; if he can further improve on his court vision and control of match tempo, there is no one that can replace him in that position in the national team. And there is Sun Yue; he is a player of great potential. With 2008 Olympics in mind, China needs to include him for the World Championship.

TITAN: After the Athens Olympics, many Chinese players gave you high appraisals. Are you willing to help the China national team once more this time round for the World Championship ?

Harris: I am afraid I can't, because I have my own work for this summer; I must lead my team for the NBA summer league. If Chinese Basketball Association still requires my service for the 2008 Olympics, I am willing to help. After all China will be the host for 2008 Olympics. If they play good, maybe the national basketball team can spring up a miracle.

TITAN: Let's chat about the Houston Rockets; so far they had a pitiful season.

Harris: I think it is not the faults of the coach or the club for the Houston Rockets in their current plight. Now, even if we switched our places, i.e. the coaching staff of the Mavericks taking over, or you throw in Phil Jackson, the results will probably be the same. The Rockets may still have the strength to compete with the other teams, if only either Yao Ming or Tracy McGrady playing. But with both of them resting for their injuries, then it will be extremely difficult for the Rockets to win.

TITAN: So do you think the Houston Rockets can still make the playoff ?

Harris: There is still hope, but the prerequisite is that both Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady have to be healthy and compete simultaneously on court. Moreover, the Rockets have to win at least 30 some matches in the later phrases of the season, and that is going to be extremely tough. But in NBA, nothing is impossible.
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cenbo416 · Jan 20, 2006

I'm not sure about the China's final place in this Championship, but I know US once again will not win this one.

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OT: Del Harris on China's Chance in 2006 World Championship

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