Chinese Big Boys Wants to Block HighOne day after their 119-72 loss to the United States Dream Team, China's 2.27-meter Yao Ming, the tallest athletes in the Sydney Games, thought they would cut the margin narrow if they were not full into fouls troubles so early."Everyone can be blocked in a basketball game," said Yao Ming, who blocked off a driving shot by American Vins Cater, the 2000 NBA slam dunk title winner, with just two minutes into their Sunday's group A match in the Sydney Olympic Games. "But the referees might never seen those NBA stars were blocked like what we did to them in the beginning of the game, so they were too sensitive to that." Yao said. Known as the "Walking Great Wall", Yao Ming and his teammates Wang Zhizhi (2.15 meters) and Menk Bateer (2.11) form the tallest front lineup in all the 12 men's basketball team in the Sydney Games. Yao and Wang shocked the sluggish American NBA stars when they helped China to lead 13-7 and 17-16 in Sunday's game but the leading only stood for some five minutes when Wang Zhizhi picked up his fourth personal fouls and Yao collected two, most of them were called on their blocks. The two young talents, with an average height of 2.20-meter, whipped off four American shots in five minutes. "We were surprised by those calls because we thought they were good and clean blocks, the height of the rim can not be changed and we know how to protect it under the baskets." the 20 year-old Yao said. China were called for 14 fouls in the first half and 12 of them were against the three big boys. "The calls changed the things and otherwise we could play a close game against those NBA stars, at least in the first half." Wang Zhizhi said. When asked if they can beat the American Olympic team formed by 12 NBA super-stars, the 23-year-old Wang Zhizhi said, "It would be a work of ours and the next generation to catch up with the Americans in basketball, but I'm so glad that we had these chances to learn from them." Wang Zhizhi was picked up by the Dallas Mavericks in the 1999 NBA draft but He did not go since his army club need him for 2001 China National Games. |
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