ABC Basketball: Great

Australian basketball great Luc Longley has warned Chinese giant Yao Ming could be headed for a "dead end" as he struggles to shake off long-term injury.

Longley, who won three straight NBA championships alongside Michael Jordan at the Chicago Bulls, said Yao's situation reminded him of when his playing days were ended by a persistent ankle problem.

"We're just getting so well fed and the population's getting so large that the occasional giant like Yao Ming or myself comes along," the 7'2" Longley said.

"But it's hard to keep a body of that size and weight injury-free for a long period of time. That's probably the biggest challenge I had in my career. I imagine if Yao Ming is anything like me, it's frustrating no end.

"You spend your whole time searching for solutions and ways to keep your body in shape, and sometimes you run into a dead end like I did. But I'm sure he's doing everything he can."

Longley was speaking before this month's two-match Youyi Games friendly series between Australia and China, which the 7'6" Yao is missing as he recovers from a broken foot which sidelined him for most of the NBA season.

Longley, 42, played 11 NBA seasons before being forced to quit in 2001 while Yao, who also plays centre, has been at the Houston Rockets since 2002.

Yao, 30, says his injury is improving but he will not know whether he can return to the NBA next season until August or September.

Australia hosts China in Perth on June 24 before the second game in Singapore on June 26.

The games will expand to a three-match series played in Australia, China and an unconfirmed South East Asian venue next year, organisers said.

- AFP

Tags: sport, basketball, australia, china

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Monday, June 6, 2011

Permanent Basketball Systems - How to Build a Great Home Basketball Court

There is nothing better than turning your driveway into basketball central with a permanent basketball system. You won't just have a great way to improve you basketball skills at home and maintain your fitness, you will also have a fun place to hang out with your family and friends and play basketball.

Start with a Great Basketball Hoop - It all starts with the permanent basketball system. You want to get the biggest backboard that you can fit within your budget, preferably a seventy two inches and made of glass. If that's a little out of your price range you can still get fifty four or even sixty inch backboard systems at very reasonable prices. You should also try to get the largest basketball pole that you can get, four, five, six or even eight inches if you can do it.

Buy a Court Stencil Kit - There are plenty of places that you can buy a really affordable court stenciling kit to go with your permanent basketball system. Some of the best ones are made of cardboard and just unfold on your driveway, allowing you to spray pint your court lines down. You will have a three point line and free throw line marked perfectly right on your driveway. While the better court stencil systems usually come with white paint, you can supplement your own paint to make your court lines any color that you wish.

Get a Composite Leather Basketball - A high quality composite leather basketball is ideal for home courts. Don't make the mistake of buying an all leather basketball, like used in competitive arenas. All leather balls are meant for indoor use, and they just won't perform quite as well when dribbling outdoors. You might even think about buying a couple and a ball holder that you can attach to your permanent basketball system.

Roll Back Nets - If you want to make sure that your basketball time is as fun as it can be, you should also think about buying a rollback net that you can attach to your backboard. This is just some netting that hangs from the back of your rims and keeps airballs from getting away from you. This cuts down on the amount of time that you spend chasing after basketballs and increases the amount of time that you spend playing on your permanent basketball system.

Make Sure you Get a Good Deal - The trick to stretching your budget and making sure that you build a great home court around your permanent basketball system. The more your educate yourself on all of the kinds of basketball hoops that you can get, the more cash you will have in your pocket at the end of the day.

Pro Dunk Hoops is the web's top resource for learning about permanent basketball systems. They have information on everything from the best kinds of basketball brands out there to the right kind of nets to attach to your rim, plus tips on how to save cash on your next basketball hoop purchase.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Basketball Kits and Jerseys - Why They Are Central to the Great Basketball Appearance

Truth of the matter is basketball is never without a great basketball uniform, and the way the basketball kit is built will spell a look of admiration or a look of dismay for the spectators. There are many kinds of basketball kits out there in the market; the ones that are popular are the ones that represent the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the States.

From kids to adults alike they don the NBA superstar basketball jersey as if there is some kind of power that emanates from it. Some say wearing a Larry Bird basketball jersey is to equal the Birdman's deadly shooting touch. Others say it adds a fashion statement to street wear.

Whatever it is basketball jerseys have become a pillar of fashion not just in basketball but everywhere where basketball is played. Taking a look at the different kinds of basketball jerseys that have invaded the market through the years you can tell that basketball not only revolutionized the way we play the game but also how we look while playing the game. Some teams have incorporated the retro uniforms in which they show up with uniforms of the past.

In the NBA since it has been with us for a very long time basketball uniforms have gradually changed their look and incorporating it in the present times brings us memories of basketball yesteryears. Being a great fan of the NBA or any league in particular means trying to get hold of the same basketball jerseys out in the market but since the real thing is expensive they go for replica basketball jerseys. These are composed of cheap materials available for budget constrained consumers.

But in case you have the cash to buy the genuine stuff then go for the authentic basketball uniform. These are the same ones which the players usually throw out to the audiences after the game (case in point: Dennis Rodman of the Chicago Bulls usually does this antic). The material would be of high standard and shrunken down to the average person's size. If you're a collector then the authentic pro cut player's basketball jersey is for you.

These basketball uniforms are exactly the ones which the player dons but exactly the same with regards to the size. So if you get the uniform of tallest NBA player (as of the moment) Yao Ming (standing at 7 feet 6 inches in height) you also get the exact size of his basketball kit.

Jackie writes about the importance of kits in the world of basketball. A central part of basketball respect as well as a style in itself on the street, the design of basketball kits it all important. Jackie recommends getting your all important custom basketball kits at Team Colours.
http://www.team-colours.co.uk/basketball/