Yi Injury May Be Ruse to Fool Unsophisticated Chinese Media and Fans - Sep 3, 2010 (by Arthur Volbert)
A FIBA story on the Chinese National Team dated today, August 3, quotes Jianlian Yi (212-C/F-87) but makes no mention of his Achilles tendon injury.
This leads to the suspicion that this injury may be a ruse, made becuase of the lack of sophistication of Chinese basketball fans and the Chinese media. Coach Bob Donewald Jr. did as I suggested, and as any sophisticated Western basketball coach would have done, and gave valuable experience to his reserves in the game against Turkey [read more]
A FIBA story on the Chinese National Team dated today, August 3, quotes Jianlian Yi (212-C/F-87) but makes no mention of his Achilles tendon injury.
This leads to the suspicion that this injury may be a ruse, made becuase of the lack of sophistication of Chinese basketball fans and the Chinese media. Coach Bob Donewald Jr. did as I suggested, and as any sophisticated Western basketball coach would have done, and gave valuable experience to his reserves in the game against Turkey. For that he was harshly criticized by Chinese basketball fans and the Chinese basketball media. So he needed to tell his domestic audience that Jianlian Yi was injured when held out against Turkey and could not admit that this was merely rational thinking.
The Chinese fans and their media nevertheless still condemned Donewald for bringing humiliation upon China for its huge loss to Turkey. They have absolutely no understanding of proper strategy in FIBA tournaments. The cultural milieu of China is one of the problems that Chinese basketball faces. It causes the Chinese teams to make wrong decisions, especially in developing their young players. This is a major reason that Chinese basketball is not developing as fast as it should develop.
China Shockingly Reaches Round of 16 When Cote d'Ivoire Defeats Puerto Rico by 9 - Sep 2, 2010 (by Arthur Volbert)
China made the Round of 16 at the FIBA 2010 World Championship when Cote d'Ivoire defeated Puerto Rico earlier today 88-79. The nine point margin gave China the edge as all three teams finished with 1-4 records. But China was +2 in point differential while Puerto Rico and Cote d'Ivoire were each -1.
Cote d'Ivoire had to defeat Puerto Rico by between 7 and 11 points for China to advance. More than 11 and Cote d'Ivoire would advance. Less than 7 and Puerto Rico would advance [read more]
China made the Round of 16 at the FIBA 2010 World Championship when Cote d'Ivoire defeated Puerto Rico earlier today 88-79. The nine point margin gave China the edge as all three teams finished with 1-4 records. But China was +2 in point differential while Puerto Rico and Cote d'Ivoire were each -1.
Cote d'Ivoire had to defeat Puerto Rico by between 7 and 11 points for China to advance. More than 11 and Cote d'Ivoire would advance. Less than 7 and Puerto Rico would advance. Since Puerto Rico almost defeated Turkey yesterday, it seemed unlikely to lose to Cote d'Ivoire at all. Sometimes it is better to be lucky than to be good.
Coach Bob Donewald then sent out China's reserves, as I suggested yesterday that he might do. The reserves gained valuable experience. Turkey gained an 87-40 victory. Yi Jianlian, Liu Wei and Wang Zhizhi did not play at all. Wang Shipeng played three minutes. So the four veterans on the team will be well rested when China plays Lithuania on Tuesday. Yi Jianlian sat on the bench in street clothes. Coach Donewald revealed after the game that an MRI would be needed to see the extent of an Achilles injury. If the injury hinders Yi on Tuesday then China stands no chance of winning. But if the injury is minor there is hope that China might defeat Lithuania.
While undefeated, organized and disciplined, Lithuania is no athletic powerhouse. It only defeated winless Canada by 2, 70-68. It's a lot more likely that China could defeat Lithuania with a healthy Yi than that Cote d'Ivoire would defeat Puerto Rico by 7 to 11 points.
Sun Yue led China today with 15 points on 6 of 12 shooting in 24 minutes. He had 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and a block. He also had 5 turnovers. Yu Shulong (185-G-90) had 9 points in 34 minutes but only hit 3 of 9 shots. He had 1 rebound, 2 assists, 3 steals and 2 turnovers. He hopefully will see significant action as backup point guard Tuesday, giving Liu Wei some needed rest. Ding Jinhui had 4 points and 8 rebounds in 24 minutes but only hit 2 of 11 shots. Zhou Peng had 4 points, 3 rebounds and 5 turnovers in 26 minutes and hit 2 of 9 shots.
Zhang Zhaoxu had 4 points, 2 rebounds and 3 blocks in 21 minutes. Su Wei had 4 points on 2 of 10 shooting in 34 minutes. But he had 9 rebounds and could be effective in Tuesday's game when he won't be asked to score. Jin Lipeng was scoreless in 21 minutes and Guo Ailun was scoreless in 14. Both will likely be sitting at the end of the bench on Tuesday unless the game is a blowout.
Final First Round Standings Group A 1. Serbia 4/1 9 2. Argentina 4/1 9 3. Australia 3/2 8 4. Angola 2/3 7 5. Germany 2/3 7 6. Jordan 0/5 5
Group B 1. USA 5/0 10 3. Slovenia 4/1 9 2. Brazil 3/2 8 4. Croatia 2/3 7 5. Iran 1/4 6 6. Tunisia 0/5 5
Group C 1. Turkey 5/0 10 2. Russia 4/1 9 3. Greece 3/2 8 4. China 1/4 6 5. Puerto Rico 1/4 6 6. Cote d'Ivoire 1/4 6
Group D 1. Lithuania 5/0 10 2. Spain 3/2 8 3. New Zealand 3/2 8 4. France 3/2 8 5. Lebanon 1/4 6 6. Canada 0/5 5
Today's Scores Cote d'Ivoire 88 Puerto Rico 79 Spain 89 Canada 67 Australia 76 Angola 55 USA 92 Tunisia 57 Russia 73 Greece 69 Lithuania 84 Lebanon 66 Serbia 84 Argentina 82 Slovenia 65 Iran 60 Turkey 87 China 40 New Zealand 82 France 70 Germany 91 Jordan 73 Brazil 92 Croatia 74
P. S. I guess Cote d'Ivoire deserves to be called Cote d'Ivoire in English, as it prefers, after the favor it did for China today, defeating Puerto Rico by enough points but not by too much.
Turkey won Group C to remain the only team in it undefeated, China grabs the last ticket - Sep 2, 2010 (by Eurobasket News)
Turkey-China 87:40
Turkey won Group C to remain the only team in it undefeated. The hosts of the World Championship rolled over China 87:40 as the latter finished fourth with 1-4 record.
China needed the win more the hosts in order to advance however even with the enormous loss managed to advance. Zhang Zhaoxu gave the points for the Asian team and unfortunately for them China never stayed in front anymore. Turkey replied with 12-0 run and Su Wei closed the period at 15:6 [read more]
Turkey-China 87:40
Turkey won Group C to remain the only team in it undefeated. The hosts of the World Championship rolled over China 87:40 as the latter finished fourth with 1-4 record. China needed the win more the hosts in order to advance however even with the enormous loss managed to advance. Zhang Zhaoxu gave the points for the Asian team and unfortunately for them China never stayed in front anymore. Turkey replied with 12-0 run and Su Wei closed the period at 15:6. Omer Asik (213-C-86) made the first two points in the second period, while Semih Erden (211-C-87) posted for 23:13. Turkey exploded with 16-0 run to close the half as Oguz Savas (208-C-87) made it 39:13. Zhou Peng and Oguz Savas exchanged the baskets early in the third period and again Oguz Savas made three for 52:19. Omer Asik delivered for 57:22, while Semih Erden brought the hosts 64:25. Omer Asik made a dunk to close the third period as it was clear Turkey would benefit from the game. Yu Shulong (185-G-90) nailed three to open the last period and Sinan Guler (193-G-83, agency: 1x1 Sports, college: Carroll (MT)) responded from the perimeter for 71:30. Semih Erden scored for 76:33 and Oguz Savas made the final score at 87:40. Oguz Savas paced all the winners with 20 points and Semih Erden added 18. Omer Asik nailed 17, while Baris Ermis (194-G-85) and Sinan Guler scored 9 each. Yue Sun (206-G/F-85) ended up with 15 points in the losing effort and Yu Shulong posted 9.
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