End of the Line for Yao, China

Loss to Lithuania knocks China out of Olympic tournament

Jason Friedman
Rockets.com Staff Writer

HOUSTON - There's a reason the Olympic Games are one of the world's great sports spectacles. Very few events, if any, have the capacity to simulataneously shine a spotlight on the ectasty and agony of competition the way the Olympics do. They reveal the best -- and the worst-- of the human spirit. They unite and they divide. And while they produce their fair share of heartwarming stories, they can also be exceptionally cruel as well.

After all, how else would one describe an event which so often rewards an athlete's lifetime of hard work and sacrifice by dashing their dreams in the blink of an eye?

In the case of Yao Ming and his Chinese teammates, "blink of an eye" must be loosely redefined as a week and a half. Yet that should not diminish just how quickly these Games flew by for the host nation. Ten days ago, the Chinese men's basketball team was basking in the glow of an adoring crowd while opening play in prime time against Team USA. There was Yao, playing with his heart on his sleeve, imploring his club from the court and the bench. For a brief while, China even enjoyed a second quarter lead against the superstar-laden American squad. But there would be no fairy tale finish for the hosts that day. The superior talent of the U.S. won out, and China fell 101-70.

Today, Yao and Co. came full circle. After a solid first half against the heavily-favored Lithuanians, China was undone by yet another team which simply possessed far more skill and experience. Final score: 94-68. And with that, their Games were done. There would be no best-ever finish, no miraculous medal moment. That dream gets placed on hold for at least another four years. For players, like Yao, who spent the past seven years preparing for this coming-out party before their homeland, it's a bitter pill to swallow.

But there is plenty of hope to be had, too. Not only did China show it could momentarily hang with elite teams like Lithuania and the U.S., it also had the world champs from Spain on the ropes in what has thus far been the game of the tournament.

"You know what, I really feel proud for my team this year," said Yao in an exclusive interview with Rockets.com. "When we talked about this team four years ago, everybody said, ‘It’s Yao’s team; he has to do everything.’ But this year I really feel everybody stepped up and tried to make a difference. I feel really less pressure now.

"I think the first couple games [of the Olympics] we made a lot of threes. Because they made those shots, the rest of the teams started thinking they had to cover our perimeter guys. So it’s not easy to keep making those shots when teams start paying attention [to China’s shooters]. Against Angola, Germany and even against Greece, I feel that I really had a lot of space inside because they knocked down those shots at the beginning of the tournament and spread teams out."

"We just need to play more games against high quality European teams. The reason I say European teams is because in World Championship and Olympic games they use the FIBA rules. And when you play with the FIBA rules, the best opponents to play against are the European teams."

As for the more immediate future, Yao is focused on continuing to work himself back into game shape following the foot fracture he suffered back in February.

"My foot is in better shape. The last three games, the physical level feels almost like playoff games so that’s really helped me get back into shape.

"I think I’m going to have a couple days off, maybe less than a week. Just a couple days and then I’m back to work right away because the Rockets’ preseason begins in early October. So I think I cannot relax too much."

Therein lies the true Olympic spirit: Work. Sacrifice. Suffer. Overcome. Then work some more. There are always more mountains to climb. It is both the blessing and the burden every Olympian must bear.

And one gets the feeling Yao wouldn't have it any other way.

Have a comment, critique or suggestion for Rockets.com? Contact Jason Friedman via email at: jasonf@rocketball.com

Q&A with Yao Ming

Rockets superstar savoring his Olympic moment in Beijing

Jason Friedman
Rockets.com Staff Writer

HOUSTON - He's carrying the hopes and dreams of a basketball-mad nation on his back. He's still nowhere close to 100% after suffering a broken foot in February. He is deluged daily with requests, demands and other Olympic obligations since he is, in effect, playing host to the world. No matter. This is the moment Yao Ming has dreamed of for seven long years and now that it's here, he's having the time of his life.

What has the experience been like so far? To find out, Rockets.com's Jason Friedman spoke with Yao following China's 85-68 victory over Angola -- a game in which Yao led the way with 30 points, 7 rebounds and 4 blocked shots.

JCF: Tell me a little bit about the game today. I know it's a huge win for you guys, especially coming off the heartbreak of that overtime loss to Spain.

Yao: Yeah,you know the Spain game showed us we can play against the best teams, since they're the world champions. Up until the overtime, we really did a great job stopping the ball, and making our open threes. We played a great 35 minutes, so it really hurt that we let that game go. But after that game, we also gained a lot of confidence, playing that way against such a great team. So we knew we just had to concentrate more in order to do what we're supposed to do throughout.

JCF: I imagine that lesson came in handy today, because Angola made a similar comeback against you. Was that Spain game in the back of your mind when Angola made their run?

Yao: Yeah, of course. After the Spain game, it really hurt. You don't want that to happen again. We got an early lead against Angola, but then in the second quarter we looked a little bit too casual and started playing undisciplined. But then in the third quarter we came out strong and played really well.

And also, the reason I got a lot of open looks in the paint this game is because our guards did a really, really great job of hitting their open looks in the first two games of the tournament. So Angola had to respect that.

JCF: There's been a lot of speculation about your health; everyone wants to know how much the injury is affecting you, and what kind of shape you're in.

Yao: I'm not worried about my injury, I'm just worried about my conditioning. I was off the court about five months and only came back to play about a month ago. So I think it's a little bit rushed, but I don't want to miss this game and you always want to try your best in the Olympic Games at home.

JCF: I think it's interesting that you mentioned how pleased you are with your team's guard play, because they're the ones who tend to receive the most criticism on your club.

Yao: I think our point guards have been under pressure for a long time; people point at them as the weak position on our team. I think they really did a great job in the summer trying to improve and this time I think they have risen to the challenge.

JCF: One of the best things about watching you play in these games has been the emotion you've displayed on the court and on the bench. It's just been so much fun to see you so excited out there.

Yao: It sort of feels like an NBA playoff game in China. That's what I feel. It's not just like a homecourt advantage in Houston. I'm not trying to say that China is my true homecourt or something. I'm just saying that it feels like the intensity of the playoffs we've had in Houston, combined with the passion of the fans in China. So put those together, and that makes me how I am on the bench and in everything that I do.

JCF: How does the reality of this Olympic experience compare with what you've imagined in your mind over the course of the last seven years?

Yao: I've been waiting for a long time. And when the day was coming, I was thinking, "Is this true?" But I was really thinking that all those seven years when we're working on our basketball skills to try to improve, and also all those people trying to build the stadium, build the arena and prepare for the Olympics, it all comes down to these sixteen days. It's on us. We can't make any excuse like saying, "Hey, I cannot do anything," or "I cannot make us good in these Olympics." I think that's how I feel.

JCF: Now looking ahead, you've got a huge game coming up against Germany. You've known all along that this would probably be a key game for you. Is your team ready for the challenge?

Yao: I think it's definitely the key game for us. Because everybody knows if we want to make our goal, we have to beat at least two teams in our pool. Of course, Germany has Dirk Nowitzki, who is a very tough matchup for us. Also, they have Chris Kaman. That's interesting, because on the court, they're not speaking German, they're speaking English.

JCF: Well you know Chris Kaman said that he'd be able to take care of you defensively.

Yao: Well, you know he is very good player. Last year with the Clippers he really improved and had a good game against me. I think I need to play well. I need to get my mind prepared for a really tough game.

JCF: What are your thoughts on Team USA so far?

Yao: You know, the game over here is a little bit different. Their best way to score is to penetrating and lay-ups. But I think the perimeter shooters like Michael Redd can really help the team. The game against us, they shot 1 for 12 from three in the first half, and that's why they cannot stretch the game. Against some of the good teams, I think they'll really need Michael Redd or a couple of strong shooters. I know Kobe and all those players can shoot, but they're best talent still is to drive, not to be shooters.

I'm not saying I'm not respecting them, but still FIBA is a totally different game because there is no illegal defense, and I know how that feels. Every time I catch the ball in the low post, it's very crowded around me; I'm afraid to put the ball down on the floor.

JCF: Last question before I let you go: It's been a big offseason for the Rockets. Are you starting to get excited about the upcoming NBA season, or have you simply been too busy with the Olympics to give it much thought?

Yao: I think it's been a very good summer for us. We've added players with a lot of talent and experience. I think they'll really help us. Right now I'm really focused on the next Olympic game. But for the coming season I think we're going to have a great year.