Australia puts focus on itself instead of Yao Ming before China game
30/7/2008 17:31
Chinese star Yao Ming will not be the concern for the Australian men's
basketball team in Nanjing today, the second day of the FIBA Diamond Ball
Tournament when it meets host China.
Brian Goorjian, the Austalian head
coach, is putting the focus on his own team rather than 2.26m NBA All-Star Yao
and the Chinese team. "We're focusing totally on us," Goorjian said before the
Boomers' first game at the tournament that serves as a warm-up for the upcoming
Beijing Olympics.
Yao poured in 21 points to lead his teammates in an 83-74
victory over Angola yesterday.
"We're working on our sets and we're trying to
get Andrew Bogut and David Andersen comfortable in them and we'll make
adjustments on the game against China.
"Obviously we'll try to double and
rotate on Yao but, again, it isn't a focus point for us.
"We're trying to get
good at what we do - we want to press them, we want to run and we want to look
at our interior offense in the half court that we've worked on for eight
days."
Australia, China, Angola, Serbia, Iran and reigning Olympic champions
Argentina are contesting the third FIBA Diamond Ball Tournament in Nanjing,
China with all teams except Serbia gearing up for the Beijing
Olympics.
Argentina, a loaded team containing five NBA players, beat Iran
81-71 in the opening game yesterday with Houston Rockets forward Luis Scola
scored 23 points and San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili 15.
Xinhua
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