Five losses in eight games, such is the record of the Chinese selection since the beginning of its preparation for the World Cup. The training led by Aleksandar Djordjevic is experiencing a rise in power visibly more complicated than expected, like his knockdown received against Germany this weekend (107-58).
The short success pocketed since against New Zealand (69-68) has not really dispelled the shortcomings of the Chinese collective with still unequal talent, which lacks benchmarks and a clear hierarchy. Propelled as a superstar of the selection, Kyle Anderson had to struggle to secure the blow, with 18 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and above all an interception on a throw-in 10 seconds from the end to secure the victory.
“It is clear that we are at a stage where we are preparing for a competition. The defeat the day before was difficult, but we showed our character as a team by giving it our all. I’m really proud of our guys.” said Kyle Anderson, who calls himself Li Kaier in China, after the narrow victory over the Tall Blacks.
The countdown begins
Beyond the commitment and rigor, the players are still learning to evolve together and still lack cohesion, a point on which Kyle Anderson insisted to help bring China closer to the competition. “I think communication, organization and physicality contributed a lot to our success against New Zealand,” he added.
This is particularly the case for him who finds himself immersed in a whole new environment, in which he still has to tame his teammates. The Wolves winger is a player who can excel in a team provided the collective is well oiled. With the difference that this time, he has to manage a new element: the language barrier.
“We met just two or three weeks ago and we are still working. We have to make sure that we play physically and together on the pitch,” he continued. “You just have to bond with the guys off the pitch. We are together a lot, so you have to make sure that I talk to them off the field, that I start having conversations. I’m trying to learn some Chinese and they’re trying to learn some English. It’s fun to work with them off the pitch. It will translate to the field.”
Ten days before the start of the World Cup, time is running out for China, which will meet Serbia, South Sudan and Puerto Rico in Pool B, and whose primary objective will be to emerge as the best Asian nation, since this will be the only way to directly ensure its place for the Olympic Games in Paris next year.
