Friday, July 15, 2011
Injuries force Yao to retire from NBA
The Houston Chronicle, ESPN and Sports Illustrated reported that Yao has decided against trying to make another comeback after injuries limited him to playing in only five games over the past two NBA seasons.
The Chronicle reported that Yao told the club a month ago he was not coming back.
With NBA players locked out by owners in a contract dispute, there was no immediate confirmation from the Rockets or the league regarding the status of Yao, whose groundbreaking career helped the global growth of basketball.
The 30-year-old from Shanghai made his debut for the Rockets in 2002 after a stellar career for the Chinese national team and the Shanghai Sharks.
While Yao was not the first Chinese player in the NBA, his engaging personality made him a favourite for sponsors seeking a way to attract interest in China and for NBA fans across Asia.
Beyond that, there was a formidable set of skills.
Yao had a shooting touch for shots away from the basket, a quickness with the ball that enabled him to baffle even the best of rival centres, including NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal, who himself retired last month.
"Ni hao, brother," O'Neal said in a video posted on Twitter.
"You are one of the greatest players ever to come out of China, one of the greatest players period.
"I'm going to miss you bro. Enjoy retirement. Let's go on vacation, bro me and you."
Yao's former Rockets team-mate Tracy McGrady paid tribute to Yao on Twitter as well, saying, "Join me with standing ovation for yao ming. I wish Yao continued success in all his ventures in life.
"yao ming absolutely instrumental in the growth and popularity of our game abroad."
Yao's NBA career with the Rockets had been plagued by numerous injuries, the most recent of them a stress fracture in his left leg suffered in a November 10 loss last season at Washington which proved to be his farewell bow.
In 486 NBA games over eight seasons, Yao averaged 19.0 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.9 blocked shots and 1.6 assists.
But because of broken bones in his left foot, Yao missed the entire 2009-2010 season and played only five games last season before what was originally diagnosed as a high ankle sprain was found to be a career-ending stress fracture.
It came in the first NBA meeting between Yao and countryman Yi Jianlian that Yao wound up losing to Yi, although Yao barely made an impact before exiting in the opening minutes.
Yao was the top selection in the 2002 NBA Draft by Houston, becoming the first player from outside the United States to be selected as the top choice.
With tremendous support from his fans in China, Yao was voted an NBA All-Star Game starter eight times.
His 2007 initial NBA match-up against Yi was seen in more than 200 million Chinese homes.
-AFP
Tags: sport, basketball, china, united-states First posted July 9, 2011 12:06:00Episode 5
Denzel Washington hosts this golden anniversary look at the game, players and coaches who help create NBA history. From Mikan, to Russell, to Chamberlain, to Dr. J, to Bird, to Magic to Jordan. New to DVD.Price:
36ers begin pre-season training
Adelaide has welcomed back Darren Ng and Nathan Herbert from serious injuries while captain Adam Ballinger continues his recovery from an ankle injury.
Tags: nbl, adelaide-5000Opals missing WNBA stars for China
Dual Olympic silver-medallist Suzy Batkovic will headline an under-strength Opals squad for a three-game series against China later this month.
The team, missing several big names including WNBA stars such as Lauren Jackson and Penny Taylor, will take on China on July 24 in Logan, on July 28 in Townsville and in Cairns on July 30.
The series will serve as perfect preparation for September's FIBA Oceania Series against New Zealand, the winner of which will gain direct entry into the 2012 London Olympics.
Batkovic, along with 2010 FIBA world championship team members Abby Bishop and Marianna Tolo, will provide key international experience for the team.
Coach Carrie Graf said Bishop, Tolo and Batkovic will complement Australian-based players such as Jessica Bibby and the team's youngest player Tess Madgen.
"This is certainly an emerging talent group, but there is also a great deal of experience in this list, and great depth particularly at the post," she said.
"Players like Abby Bishop and Marianna Tolo, both members of our 2010 World Championship team, will be looking to continue their great form, and Elyse Penaluna is another talented tall who has performed well in camp and on tour recently.
"Then you add a 'big' with the experience and skill-level of dual Olympian Suzy Batkovic and we feel confident that we have the size to give the fans in Queensland a good showing against China.
Australia: Suzy Batkovic, Abby Bishop, Jessica Bibby, Stephanie Cumming, Cayla Francis, Rachael Flanagan, Tess Madgen, Elyse Penaluna, Marianna Tolo, Kristen Veal, Carly Wilson, Hanna Zavecz.
- AAP
Tags: basketball, sport, china First posted July 13, 2011 20:14:41Thursday, July 14, 2011
Episode 4
Denzel Washington hosts this golden anniversary look at the game, players and coaches who help create NBA history. From Mikan, to Russell, to Chamberlain, to Dr. J, to Bird, to Magic to Jordan. New to DVD.Price:
Friday, July 8, 2011
All-American Basketball: The Fundamentals of Scoring
Coach Godwin gives you step by step insight of how to score the basketball. While most instructional basketball videos focus on what drills you have to do to become a better basketball player, they often miss the most important part. Coach Godwin elaborates on which moves you must master to take your game to the level and the drills associated with every move. This DVD series will provide proven scoring tactics that are timeless and effective.This product is manufactured on demand using DVD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply.
Price: $24.99
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Boomers take down China in thriller
The under-strength Boomers side, which featured just three members of the team that competed in last year's World Championships, struggled against their more experienced opponents at times but held off a late comeback to earn the win.
China trailed by seven points with just two minutes left in regulation time, but tied the score with 23 seconds remaining to send the game to overtime after Daniel Kickert missed his attempted game-winner as time expired.
But it mattered little as China's Shipeng Wang's three-point attempt to win the game at the end of overtime bounced off the rim and Australia held on.
In an experimental line-up from Australian coach Brett Brown, which was missing the likes of Andrew Bogut and Patrick Mills, it was some of his more experienced players who led the Boomers to victory.
Perth Wildcats guard Damian Martin impressed in front of his home fans, helping Australia to victory with 11 points, eight rebounds and five assists.
Melbourne Tigers centre Luke Nevill (20 points and 13 rebounds) also played well as the Boomers warmed up for September's qualifying series for the London Olympics against New Zealand.
Wang's outside shooting proved a major thorn in Australia's side, hitting four three-pointers on his way to 22 points for a China team which was without NBA stars Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian.
Australia was impressive early and jumped out to a five-point quarter-time lead, but China, which is ranked 10th in the world, just one place behind the Boomers, lifted its game late in the second to cut a nine-point deficit to just one at the half.
China carried its momentum into the start of the third quarter to extend its advantage to six early in the period.
But the hosts fought back with 17 of the first 23 points in the final quarter and appeared to be on course for a comfortable win before China's miraculous comeback sent the game to an overtime period where Australia narrowly held on.
Game two of the series is in Singapore on Sunday.
- AAP
Tags: sport, basketball, australia, wa, perth-6000, chinaCavaliers draft Irving with first pick
Kyrie Irving was born in Melbourne and has become the first NBA draft pick for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Tags: basketball, melbourne-3000, united-statesBoomers overcome China
Australia has defeated China in the first of a two-match international basketball series in Perth.
Tags: basketball, australiaPellow heading to World Championships
Yesterday the Australian Women's Under 25 wheelchair basketball side was announced in Canberra.
Wagga Wagga's Jess Pellow was selected to head to Canada with the team.
The 18-year-old will travel overseas in her first Australian team for the World Championships in two weeks.
It will be a special trip for the teenager as this is the first International Wheelchair Basketball Federation event for the Under 25-age group and will feature eight countries.
Australia's pool features Mexico, the United States and Great Britain.
The competition will be held July 15-21 in Ontario, Canada.
Riverina Grandstand's Shannon Byrne spoke to Jess Pellow from the AIS this morning ahead of final training session.
[an error occurred while processing this directive] [an error occurred while processing this directive]Jackson facing long sideline stint
She will have an operation to repair the labrum in her left hip in Colorado.
The three-time WNBA Most Valuable Player was injured last week in a victory over the Tulsa Shock.
"This is a really, really tough decision, but after talking with my doctors and my family, we felt that immediate surgery is the best course of action," Jackson said.
"With something painful like this hip injury, I want to be especially proactive.
"I plan to stay in Seattle to be here with my team and try my best to be back on the court as soon as possible.
"My goal is to be at full strength by the end of the season."
- AFP
Tags: sport, basketball, united-statesBoomers win against China
The Australian men's basketball team has taken a 2-0 win in the two-match international series against China in Singapore.
Tags: basketball, australia, china, singaporeBoomer Andersen returns to Europe
With a labour lock-out looming in the NBA, Andersen opted to take his talents back to Europe where he made a name for himself in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Andersen, 31, starred in Europe for a decade before taking his game to the United States in stints with Houston, Toronto and New Orleans.
He was selected 37th overall in the 2002 NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks, but he continued to play in Europe until the Rockets purchased his rights from the Hawks in 2009 to use him to shore up their frontcourt in the absence of star centre Yao Ming.
The Frankston, Victoria-born power forward previously played for Montepaschi Siena in 2003/04, helping the club to the Final Four in Tel Aviv.
Andersen also contributed to Virtus Bologna's 2001 Italian and Euroleague title campaigns and was named to the All-Euroleague first team in 2004/05 during his time with Russian club CSKA Moscow.
He has won three FIBA Oceania championships with Australia in 2003, 2005 and 2007.
Tags: sport, basketball, australia, italy First posted June 30, 2011 19:39:00Bulleen retains Cambage's services
And Cambage will also miss the early WNBA games for her US club Tulsa Shock next year to prepare with the Australian Opals for the London Olympics in July.
The 19-year-old centre, who has made a bright start to her rookie WNBA season, will be back in Australia time for the start of the WNBL on October 7.
After the WNBL finals she will join fellow WNBA star Lauren Jackson and other members of the Opals to prepare for the Olympics as a group from March.
Cambage, the WNBL's Most Valuable Player, said she had rejected a number of international offers in favour of returning to play again with Bulleen.
"After winning the grand final last year, there is nowhere else I want to be," Cambage said.
"I've been getting offers from all over the shop since I was 16 but I always knew I wanted to come back to Bulleen."
Cambage said she would have no difficulty playing a full season at home following her US season.
Bulleen has also lured back Rachel Jarry, the only other Australian drafted into the WNBA this season.
Jarry was taken by Minnesota at number 18 overall.
Cambage was the number two pick.
- AAP
Tags: sport, basketball, wnbl, vic, bulleen-3105Stern locks out NBA players
NBA commissioner David Stern announces that a lockout will go ahead as NBA labour negotiations break down in New York City on June 30, 2011.
Tags: sport, basketball, united-statesBoomers set to lose Bogut
Basketball Australia is resigned to Bogut missing the September series against New Zealand because of the American NBA wages dispute and an inability to insure the Boomers star for the tournament.
NBA team owners and the players' union have been unable to reach consensus on a new wages agreement, which keeps all players off the court until a resolution is reached.
And that means Milwaukee Bucks star Bogut has no insurance to play anywhere, including the three-game series from September 7 to 11 which will decide whether Australia makes next year's London Olympics.
Basketball Australia boss Larry Sengstock said Bogut would be disappointed to miss the series because he is committed to the national program.
"Bogut has always held his national commitments and the Boomers' program as a high priority throughout his career," Sengstock said.
"It's disappointing for us that we may not have him for the New Zealand series but it also highlights the level of player that he is."
Last season Bogut battled an elbow injury which required late-season surgery, as well as back and wrist problems.
Basketball Australia privately remains hopeful the NBA lockout can be resolved before the series.
That would then free Bogut to take part.
But Boomers head coach Brett Brown is confident other players can fill the gap left by their star centre, should he miss the matches in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
"The NBA lockout has made his insurance issues impossible for Basketball Australia and Andrew to feel comfortable that his contract would be fully insured in the event of injury and, as a group, we understand and support Andrew," Brown said.
"I am however excited to compete against New Zealand with the current group of players that are more than capable of representing Australia from a talent perspective and a spirit perspective that we all expect."
NBA team owners ordered a lockout of players to start on Friday as last-ditch talks failed, setting up a shutdown which threatens the 2011-12 season.
The first NBA work stoppage since the 1998-99 season was reduced to 50 games will also halt trades, free agent signings and contract talks.
It also prohibits players and clubs from having contact until the issue is resolved.
-AAP
Tags: sport, basketball, australia, united-states First posted July 1, 2011 15:27:00Boomers seal 2-0 series win over China
The Boomers capitalised on an error-strewn performance by China to add to Friday's narrow 67-65 win in Perth.
Captain David Barlow crashed a series of three-pointers as Australia were on top 32-26 at half-time.
China turned over the ball 17 times in total as they failed to find a way back into the game.
"As a team we're stoked to come out and not only be able to compete at a high level but to be able to beat China, which is such a powerful team, in two games," said Barlow, who was named player of the game.
China did not field ex-NBA star Wang Zhizhi on Sunday and are missing giant Houston Rockets centre Yao Ming due to a long-term foot injury which threatens to end his career.
The games, which serve as a build-up to this year's Asian and Oceania championships, will expand to a three-match series played in Australia, China and an as-yet-unconfirmed Southeast Asian venue next year.
- AFP
Tags: sport, basketball, australia, china, singapore First posted June 28, 2011 08:03:00Power's Brogan calls it quits
Port Adelaide ruckman Dean Brogan has announced he will retire at the end of the 2011 AFL season.
Tags: australian-football-league, nbl, adelaide-5000, port-adelaide-5015All-American Basketball: The Fundamentals of Ball Handling
To become a Master ball handler you must have a off-season regiment that will increase your hand eye coordination. This DVD presents the drills and moves that will make you a better ball handler. The All-American Basketball series teaches everything you need to become a complete basketball player.This product is manufactured on demand using DVD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply.
Price: $24.99
Aussie-born Irving first draft pick
Blazers stand by Mills, Oden
The qualifying offer means Mills and Oden become restricted free agents, so the Trail Blazers can match any offer made for the two by other teams in the off-season.
Boomers guard Mills, a Canberra product, starred for Saint Mary's College in California before being selected 55th overall in the 2009 NBA Draft.
He has appeared in 74 games in his two seasons in Portland and has averaged 5.1 points, 0.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.
But despite Mills' limited output he has become a fan favourite in the Rose City.
Oden's offer is a one-year, $US8.8 million deal for the seven-foot centre who was selected with the first overall pick of the 2007 draft, but whose career has been derailed by injuries.
Knee surgeries shelved Oden for his entire rookie season and all of last season.
The 23-year-old has managed to play a total of just 82 games in four years with career averages of 9.4 points and 7.3 rebounds.
"We've stood behind Greg Oden every day since he became a Trail Blazer and that continues with today's announcement," Portland president Larry Miller said on the team's website.
"Despite the setbacks he's experienced, he continues to be resilient in working tirelessly on his rehabilitation. We're all very encouraged with not only his progress, but with his commitment and determination to return to the basketball court."
Portland also exercised its team options on back-up forward Luke Babbitt and guard Elliot Williams.
- ABC/Reuters
Tags: sport, basketball, australia, united-states