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Argentina uses defense to rout China
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Argentina used its press and passing to negate Yao
Ming's size Thursday, earning an 82-57 victory over China. Forcing turnover
after turnover with its fullcourt press and then moving the ball around quickly
on the offensive end, Argentina made sure the 7-foot-5 Yao was never a
factor.
Both teams came into the matchup with 1-1 records, and the
loss put China into a must-win situation for a chance to reach the
quarterfinals.
Andres Nocioni had 17 points for Argentina, while Luis
Scola added 15 and Manu Ginobili, who plays for the San Antonio Spurs, had 14.
China committed 15 turnovers and Yao was 1-for-7 from the field as
Argentina took a 41-21 halftime lead. Argentina didn't let up as the 6-8
Nocioni, who just signed with the Chicago Bulls, went right at Yao and dunked
for Argentina's first points of the second half.
Yao came into the game
averaging 25.5 points and 10.5 rebounds. The center for the Houston Rockets
finished with 15 points on 6-for-13 shooting against Argentina. China had a
total of 23 turnovers and Argentina had a 40-29 rebound advantage.
"Obviously we knew China's biggest offensive weapon is Yao and they have
good perimeter shooters, and we were able to stop Yao," Argentina coach Ruben
Magnano said.
Argentina, the runner-up in the 2002 World Championships,
finishes pool play against New Zealand and Italy.
China is one of four
teams in Group A with a 1-2 record and it finishes against two of the others ¡ª
Italy and reigning world champion Serbia-Montenegro. China must win at least one
to advance to next week's quarterfinals, something it has done only once in
seven previous Olympic appearances.
"Their team played excellent
basketball on both ends of the court, maybe a little better on defense than
offense and their was offense was very good," said China coach Del Harris, the
longtime NBA coach who took over the program earlier this year.
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(Editor:Caroline) (From:Agencies)
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