After reading this board for the last couple of weeks i've come to the conclusion that most of you see Yao's participation with the Chinese national team a detriment to his progress as a basketball player, and an unneccessary distraction in what should be an offseason of rest. i believe i've seen it suggested a number of times that he should pass up this opportunity in order for him to participate in more intensive training in the US. I was just wondering if the reaction would be the same if Steve Francis or any other Rockets player were selected to play for the US national side? If Steve Francis was playing in the tournament of the Americas would anyone be suggesting that Francis pass up the opportunity to represent his country, instead staying back in Houston working out at Fonde with NBA players to improve his game? Now i realise that the tournament of the americas is a higher standard than that of the asian games and an American player selected will be playing alongside some of the best players in the NBA, but it just seems like a contradiction to me that most rocket fans want Francis on the US olympic squad but not Yao on the Chinese. I don't know if Yao ever dreamt of playing for the Houston Rockets when he was just an emerging talent but i'm sure he had the desire to represent China at an olympic level. For most countries international basketball represents the highest level a player can aspire to. (for those players not extraordinarily talented enough for the nba) I think that this should be respected and players free to represent their national sides without undue criticism if they wish.
As a Rockets fan, I'd much rather see him rest this off-season. Dude has been going non-stop for like three years now. But Yao is a man who hasn't run from his responsibilities, or his duty to his country. For that, he should be commended. (Just don't get hurt!)
Good topic, but I don't believe the U.S. Practices are quite as rigorous (sp?) and the players get more rest than the CNT. I don't know for sure though, but I don't see AI going through that amount of practice.
What has Iverson done so far to indicate he would not practice hard and tough? Iverson has had his problems in the past, but he has matured a lot this last year or so. He has said he studied tapes of the dream team and would love to play for USA before they choose him. For any player to agree to play for team USA is great and proves they do not mind work, they are playing basketball and not getting paid. How many players would do that. Not the "best" player in the NBA right now Shaq, so don't go sayin Iverson would not work hard and practice hard, he has shown this summer he is willing to do anything to win these tournaments. As for the original thought, very good post agree 100%
There are a couple of points here:- Steve Francis has never shown any signs of lacking stamina during games Steve Francis has not played for his National Team regularly over the past several years Steve Francis wouldn't be subject to the Chinese NT's training regime Which is not to say I'd criticise Yao, or any player, for representing his country. But I believe the reasons I've stated are why this board shows concern about Yao's NT participation.
We must not forget that it was that participation that developed Yao into the No.1 draft pick that us Rockets fans adore so.
I apologize about my ignorance on AI, you have good points Blitz. But didn't he used to hate practice?
but he has matured a lot this last year or so. where have i heard that before? oh yeah now i remember, about every year for the last 5 years, if iverson does mature alot every year, he should be as mature as a grandfather by now. he also has that whole thing: Practice we are talking about practice? against him. i wil not believe he is a mature player, i used to believe it, but he does nto show it, he can talk like a mature player but he also has to act like one. i think it is strange that every good scoring player that played with iverson got traded (stackhouse,Hughes, van horn). i'm looking forward to the moment Big dog decides not to pas to iverson, and iverson wil complain to the front office that he wants big dog traded. iverson is a ball hogging cry baby. yes i do not like the basketbal player iverson, does it show
how do you know he ran those players out of the team? good scoring player? please. hughes and van horn hasn't done **** to warrant them a good anything. stackhouse was only good during that one year in detroit just right before mj traded him for rip hamilton. if you dont like iverson the person, that understandable, but the player? jeez. he's amazing on court and you can see he tries hard to win.
i do not know if he ran those players out of that team, i just said that i think it is interesting that every scoring threat who played with him gets traded. I thought somebody would say something about hughes. if you remember it the same way i did, he was a verry talented player. he would be a great scoring player, atleast alot of people thought so. Van horn can score. he is a good second scoring option. I totaly disagree with you about stackhouse. he is a good player, and he is also a great scoring player. I do not want to judge a player about his personality, so i can't say i dislike iverson as a person. i think that the personal life of players doesn't concern me. They play basketbal, they should not be a role model, i verry dislike people worshopping singers movie stars or Athlets. So i coudn't care less about the personality of iverson. I do not like him as a basketbal player. al he can do is score. and i hate it when i see a game where iverson shoots 6 out of 29. that is pathetic. he keeps shooting even if they do not fall. and he losses alot of games that way.
There are two issues: 1. NBA players playing for the US National team only need to commit at most 1.5 month for the event. They started training early this month and already are playing for the tournament. Chinese players playing for the NT get to commit at least 4 month for the Asian game, starting from June until early October. That's just too much wasted time. If Yao only gets to spend 2 month on the NT duty starting from early August, I don't think Rox fans will be so worried. 2. Training method is much better for the US team while the Chinese coach is not a modern coach, plus you get to waste 4 month with some incapable coach. enough said.
