With the Beijing Games less than a year away, China's coach Jonas Kazlauskas seems to have taught his most important player, Yao Ming, one thing - how to play defense.
Yao called the media "grass atop a wall swaying in the wind, when you won some games, they cheered for you, but when you lost, they went to the other side."
Coach Kazlauskas of Lithuania is "a good coach" says Houston Rockets star Yao.
Yao speaks down on the reporters (he speaks down to everyone), "I am sure he is a great man, he unites the team, of course he should stay and lead us at the
Beijing Olympics."
China's national team has lost 18 straight games to European teams since the Athens Olympics.
Without Yao, who recovered from an injury this summer, got married and went on a honeymoon, the team is 4-13 in three major campaigns.
When detractors say that the coach is relying to heavily on the return of Yao, he responds..
"I think what delights me most in Europe is Yi,(Jianlian)" said the coach of his 20-year-old star. "He is a harvest for the team. The boy made tremendous improvement as he played great games against top teams in the world.
"I am very happy to see his confidence and technique have moved to a higher level. I'd say he is a role model for the rest of the team."
With a goal of making the top 6 at the Games...China is going to need a lot more than Yao and one year in the NBA with Yi Jianlian.
What do you think?
