Manila, August 26 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese men's basketball team ushered in the first game of the 2023 Basketball World Cup on the 26th. Facing Serbia, a traditional powerhouse in world basketball, China suffered a crushing defeat, losing by 42 points. On the whole, the gap between the Chinese men's basketball team and the opponent in terms of physical fitness, technical and tactical level is quite obvious, and it is reasonable to lose. However, this game is not completely fruitless for the Chinese team, this team in the stage of alternating old and new, to a certain extent, played its own characteristics, but also accumulated experience for future matches.
Chinese player Zhao Jiwei (second from left) communicates with his teammates during a match on August 26. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wu Zhuang
Compared with the World Cup held on the doorstep four years ago, the lineup of the Chinese men's basketball team has changed significantly. Only four players currently on the team have competed in the 2019 Basketball World Cup. The rotation of players has added fresh blood, but it has also brought problems in running-in, and the Chinese team has made as many as 21 mistakes in this game, which confirms this from the side. Taking advantage of these mistakes, Serbia scored 39 points, while China scored only 11 points through opposing errors.
The surprise of this match was striker Li Kyle, who was expected to be high before the start of the World Cup. However, in this game, Li Kyle's desire to attack was not strong, and he hit no shots and scored no points in all 9 shots. This is something that few people can predict before the game.
Regarding Li Kyle's performance, Chinese team head coach Jordjevic said: "Li Kyle is currently integrated into the team, the other party has focused on defending him, and his shooting feel today is not ideal. It's his first basketball World Cup game and everything needs a process and we need patience sometimes. Serbia coach Pešić also said of Li Kyle: "He's a good player, he's smart and has good ball skills, but this is his first FIBA World Cup game and I feel like he's still looking for his rhythm. ”
On August 26, China's Li Kaier (first from left) attacks during a match. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Meng Yongmin
Li Kyle himself did not stop for interviews in the mixed interview area after the game. In the follow-up game, Li Kyle, as an active player of the National Basketball League (NBA), is still one of the scoring points that the Chinese team relies on the most, and how his condition adjusts will be the biggest challenge facing the Chinese team at this stage.
The gap between the two sides' benches is also evident. In this game, the Serbian substitute scored 60 points, while the Chinese substitute scored only 16 points. In the first quarter, the Chinese team's starting lineup could still compete with Serbia in the first half, but after the personnel rotation between the two sides, the Chinese team fell into an offensive mute and the score was opened. In subsequent matches, how to get the substitutes into shape as quickly as possible will be another problem that head coach Jordjevic needs to solve.
Although the Chinese team lost by a big score in this game, compared with the warm-up match before the start of the World Cup, the Chinese team has made relatively positive changes in the following aspects.
The first is rebounding. According to the official data of FIBA, the average height of the Chinese team is 2.02 meters, while the Serbian team is 2.03 meters, facing European opponents of similar height and stronger body, the Chinese team is equal to the opponent in rebounding 33:33, which is not unrelated to the Chinese team's rebounding protection in the backcourt and the active fight in the front court. In the next two rounds of the group stage, the performance of the Chinese men's basketball team in rebounding may become one of the key factors that will determine the victory or defeat.
China's Wang Zhelin (right) scrambles for a rebound during a game on August 26. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Meng Yongmin
Second, the Chinese team has gained new experience in defending opposing arrow figures. Serbia's Bogdanovic is a long-established scorer at the basketball World Cup and the current ace of the Serbian team. In the face of this star player, the Chinese team made full arrangements before the game, and used Zhao Rui, who has good physical fitness and fast movement, to keep a close eye on him at the beginning; When Zhao Rui left the court, the Chinese men's basketball team also made targeted arrangements. Throughout the game, the Chinese team did not allow Bogdanovic to score consecutive points. China's opponents in the next two matches, South Sudan and Puerto Rico, have a clear core on the field, and the quality of China's focus will be particularly critical in these two matches.
The next game of the Chinese men's basketball team is scheduled for the 28th, against the South Sudanese team. The South Sudan team completed the team's first appearance in the basketball World Cup on the 26th. Facing Puerto Rico, the traditional powerhouse of American basketball, South Sudan led most of the time, losing to their opponents after extra time. South Sudan is strong, physically fit, and shoots from the outside with great precision. The next game of the Chinese team is not destined to be easy.
Source: Xinhua News Agency