Yao Ming Leads China to Beat New Zealand 89-74

He only took 9 shots and scored 21 points. That is amazing.

 

Thanks, windandsea. We really appreciate the update on Yao.

 

Still not good enough for the nay-sayers I bet.

 

Thanks for the update windandsea. In 26 minutes, Ming only took 9 shots?

I'm sure that Cat Mobley would be glad to hear that Ming is not a ballhog. After all, we know that Cat doesn't like ballhogs.

See Cat, you can have Ming on the team and still take your 25-30 shots a game!!

 

Here's the Kiwi take on the game (can't believe their national team is called the Tall Blacks!):

http://www.bbnz.org.nz/news.html?oid=2036348325

With the eyes of the world upon him, the 2.28m (7ft 6in) Chinese giant simply overpowered the Burger King Tall Blacks as his national side defeated their guests 89-74 at Lushan in the first of three tests.
Expected to be the top pick in this month's NBA draft, Yao wiped out any lingering doubts the Kiwis might have had about his claims on that spot, scoring 25 points from 8/9 field goals and 10/11 free throws, claiming 11 rebounds and swatting seven shots from their path.
One of the chinks in his armour was supposed to be a reluctance to take the ball strongly to the basket on offence, but he slammed home four monstrous dunks among his 11 first-quarter points to blow that theory right out the door early.
"We certainly have to keep him further away from the basket," observed Tall Black coach Tab Baldwin afterwards. "When he's close to the hoop, he is unstoppable for us.
"He actually surprised us with how strong he was in his lower body and how he uses that strength to get through our defence. We obviously need to use strength against strength more."
The Tall Blacks sprang out to an early 9-6 lead behind some defiant work from centre Robert Hickey. At that stage, the Kiwi centre, standing 18cm shorter than his opponent, was actually outscoring Yao, courtesy of a nifty little left-hand hook shot and a couple of baskets from behind the defence.
But as Yao spread his wings, the Chinese went on a 12-2 run to grab a lead they would never lose again.
Trailing 15-23 after one quarter, New Zealand drew within five points soon after the break, the closest they would get for the rest of the match, and quickly had China's lone NBA player on duty, Mengke Bateer, in foul trouble.
But any chance they had of remaining in contact suffered from wayward shooting throughout the court, but especially from the charity stripe. The Tall Blacks conspired to miss five consecutive free throws at one stage and reached halftime 36-47 behind with a woeful 7/15 success rate.
They again drew first blood in the third quarter, naturalised America Ed Book somehow winning the jump ball off Yao and Phill Jones converting a layup. But three three-pointers from Li Nan (two) and, who else, Yao again allowed the Chinese out to a 21-point advantage, their biggest of the match.
If there was a sliver of hope for the Kiwis, it came in the final quarter, which they won 20-18 to close the final margin to 15 points, the exact difference last time these two teams met at the Sydney Olympics. Considering the 26 hours' travel to get to Lushan, the surprisingly physical style of the Chinese and the Tall Blacks' terrible shooting percentages (31% FG, 14% 3pt and 46% FT), the result was probably respectable.
It left a lot of room for improvement, though.
"It was our first game in a long time with a relatively new team," said Baldwin. "The best thing for us is we know we can improve significantly on that game and we will learn a from that defeat.
"We will come back tomorrow very determined."
Jones led the Tall Blacks' scoring with 15 points, including three treys, while Hickey had 14 and Book 12. Captain Pero Cameron and point guard Mark Dickel, two who need to contribute if their team are to compete, shot a combined 2/16 from the field.
After Yao, Mo Ke chimed in with 19 points, while Mengke and Li had 10 apiece.
"We didn't play with a purpose," Baldwin told his team. "That game just occurred and we were part of it.
"These Chinese are beatable."

Now, I now the New Zealanders aren't known for their basketball prowess, but they're not a team of "5 foot nothings" either. These Hickey and Book guys are both 6'11" (which makes it somewhat worrisome Book won a jump ball against Yao):

http://www.bbnz.org.nz/news.html?oid=2036347490

Tall Blacks and Chinese square up over dinner table
May 31, 2002


Strange how extremes can give things a new perspective.
At 6ft 11 ¾in ("Just don't call me 7ft"), Book, with Robert Hickey, is the tall timber in the Burger King Tall Black basketball team to take on China in a three-test series, starting later today.
But they got their first chance to post up the home team's "Great Walking Wall" (or at least two of the famed Chinese trio) at the buffet table yesterday, and it soon became obvious the Kiwis could not rely on size or bulk to compete with their rivals.
Every single player in the Chinese lineup seems taller than 6ft 5in (1.95m) and NBA prospect Yao Ming, at 2.28m, could easily earn a spot in the next Jurassic Park sequel and not as a paleontologist. Team-mate Mengke Bateer (6ft 10in/2.08m), already with the Denver Nuggets, immediately appeals as a tough customer, who won't take many backward steps this series.
Only Wang Zhizhi (7ft/2.13in) of the Dallas Mavericks failed to make an appearance during the Tall Blacks' first day at the Lushan Hotel, but apparently he is around somewhere.
"They are big units," acknowledges Book, the Buffalo, New York native making his debut for his adopted country. "Quite a few of them are quite large, but I think that's good. I enjoy playing guys my size or bigger.
"I'm used to being the biggest person and checking guys my size, not bigger."
Book has some experience against big names and big bods back in the United States where he has faced NBA performers like seven footers Patrick Ewing and Manute Bol. In fact, Bol was even taller than Yao, though clearly not as wide.
"These guys will take a bit of getting used to," says Book. "I knew about them, now I have a feel for them and what I need to do against them." ...

But I'm sure the naysayers will say that US high schoolers could have taken the New Zealand squad with their two 7 footers.

 

out of the 24 turnovers the sharks had how many did ming commit, how many fouls assists?

 

That's excellent. I guess a treasure must emerge from all trash. In the 2000 Olympics, China was 10th at 2-4 and New Zealand was 11th at 1-5. There were 12 teams....

 

9 Fg attempts and 25 pts is pretty good. Ming had an excellent game in my opinion. Put any High Schooler in this game in Mings place and he wouldn't have had nearly those stats. I think this game proves a little. Look for more updates from you, wind and sea. Thanks.

 

No, that is a very good thing. It means he probably only takes shots when he is open and does not try to force anything by taking difficult shots. This sounds very good to me!

 

windandsea,

Don't bother trying to understand it. Personally, I've given up. It's one thing to think Ming will be a bust, but some of the posters on this board seem to hate the guy. For some reason, they just really resent the fact that the Rockets are even considering drafting him.

But a lot of us appreciate your continuing to post info from the Asian press. Keep it up. We'll have the last laugh when Ming is successful in the NBA!

 

Wind and Sea you are doing a great job.
Even though New Zealand isn't all that good by international standards they are better than any of the Asian teams that Yao has played against in the past.I was happy to hear that he went strong to the rim to dunk the ball.If he can improve his upper body like his lower body than he can become a good player.

 

way to go Ming...

 

If the Rockets can get through the red tape, draft Ming. Even if he pans out to have only half his projected superstar talent, the Rockets are still ahead of 75 percent of the other NBA teams as far as the center position goes. A Ming/bulked-up Griffin under the basket sounds like it would be a frightening prospect for other teams. If Ming tuns out to be overrated, life will go on...Besides, the Rockets still have the 15th pick. Drafting a potentially great center is not the kind of opportunity the Rockets get every day. Unless the Rockets can somehow nab Duncan or Shaq (wont happen), it's a chance worth taking.

 

way to go windandsea...