Sports thread: Everything sport related here.

jshw31

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Of course being good at football is what's wanted as the end goal. But more importantly, I think the big lesson is to find a model/template to develop a team sports infrastructure. Once you have a working model, you can use it for other team sports.

That's why China always has these "breakthroughs" and afterwards success at a mass level follows.
I completely agree. Since finding success in these team sports requires being able to develop systems and infrastructure from the ground up, as well as adapt to change, the lessons learned will apply and resonate throughout, not just sports. China has certainly done well in this regards when it relates to other fields such as military and technology, but the fact that team sports struggles this much collectively as a whole indicates there is still room left on the table as a society.

For me, basketball has been almost as dissapointing as soccer. Chinese basketball is comparatively much better than soccer, but has completely stagnated, and even potentially regressed. Naturally, Chinese basketball has tried to emulate American basketball, with a focus on iso ball, but Chinese basketball is mature enough now to develop a better fitting style. There seems to be a lack of evolution in the game compared to other organizations. Case in point is European basketball, whose play style is completely different. There is a much more team focus, with very little iso ball. There aren't these video game box scores in Euroleague, and this style has helped European teams and players which often have less overall athleticism, stay competitive.

The American system/society is hyper team sports focused at every level, and isn't one that China can/should emulate, however there is 0 fundamental reason China can't develop players and teams at a European caliber.
 

Randomuser

Senior Member
Registered Member
I know you are joking, but there are not even any major African-Chinese athletes. There are probably more African Japanese athletes. Again it’s ridiculous because just statistically there has to be more in China. There are probably more in Jamaica than Japan, lol (ie. Kyle Anderson/Li).


The system is complete garbage. The former Yugoslavia continues to produce NBA level players despite the country completely falling apart and killing each other for a good 10 years. It goes far beyond teamwork. If you were just bad at developing teamwork, then the naturally you can still produce elite singular talents. Basketball requires a good team to be elite, but an elite player has a far bigger impact than other team sports. China has neither a good team, nor elite talent.


This part shouldn’t matter. To get to those levels of excellence requires a certain kind of commitment and dedication. A Chinese Messi wouldn’t be happy being a big fish in a small pond, they would go play in the European leagues. That is how to get better. That is the kind of attitude that it takes to be the best. If they don't have that attitude, they will never achieve to the highest levels.


At some point you need to get better at identifying the elite traits. You can train 95% of physical abilities, lift weights, eat right, cardio, etc. It is that 5% that makes the difference. Almost all elite athletes are playing multiple sports when they grow up, and dominate their regular peers until they hit the mid-teens (running faster, jumping higher, etc.). At that point, that small difference will push them into one sport over the other. You look at the former Canadian basketball payer Steve Nash, he loved football (soccer) and was the best in his high school, but in the end he is in the basketball hall of fame.
The more I think about it, the more I realize bad teamwork is actually a red herring and is the wrong thing to focus on first. Almost like people say it with ulterior motives. I mean the teamwork is poor but before you even talk about that, you need to talk about players having strong fundamentals which are lacking.

In football, it is very common that Chinese players have poor control over the ball and lose it easily, they struggle to pass cleanly, they keep getting fouls due to poor form in tackling, lack of stamina to keep a strong pace for at least one half etc. in basketball, players care more about dunking in a fancy way over strong fundamentals. I remember China played Taiwan and actually lost. How? This guy who was like only 5'10 kept lobbing balls into the basket at a distance and the players had no clue how to mark him and cut off his offense. For both sport, a lot of time when the opponent is tough, the Chinese team just freezes up coz they really do not know what to do.

So yeah, talking about teamwork when these basic issues are not resolved is laughable. I don't believe it's a genetics thing considering China has a silver Olympic medal in triple jump and a good medal at world champ level in high jump. Stuff even Japan or Korea cannot get. It's just inability to get even basics right.
 
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henrik

Senior Member
Registered Member
The more I think about it, the more I realize bad teamwork is actually a red herring and is the wrong thing to focus on first. Almost like people say it with ulterior motives. I mean the teamwork is poor but before you even talk about that, you need to talk about players having strong fundamentals which are lacking.

In football, it is very common that Chinese players have poor control over the ball and lose it easily, they struggle to pass cleanly, they keep getting fouls due to poor form in tackling, lack of stamina to keep a strong pace for at least one half etc. in basketball, players care more about dunking in a fancy way over strong fundamentals. I remember China played Taiwan and actually lost. How? This guy who was like only 5'10 kept lobbing balls into the basket at a distance and the players had no clue how to mark him and cut off his offense. For both sport, a lot of time when the opponent is tough, the Chinese team just freezes up coz they really do not know what to do.

So yeah, talking about teamwork when these basic issues are not resolved is laughable. I don't believe it's a genetics thing considering China has a silver Olympic medal in triple jump and a good medal at world champ level in high jump. Stuff even Japan or Korea cannot get. It's just inability to get even basics right.

How come they cannot get their stamina and skills upgraded, when these can usually be fixed by practicing diligently?
 

Randomuser

Senior Member
Registered Member
How come they cannot get their stamina and skills upgraded, when these can usually be fixed by practicing diligently?
I have no clue either.

I heard though in the past, they just focus on physical attributes like how big you are or something. Someone like Wu Lei was originally rejected for not being tall enough and only got in from recommendation.

So you have a lot of big guys who don't actually have any potential skill wise. Thats why they look big big clumsy oafs on the field.
 

bd popeye

The Last Jedi
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Players of China pose for a group photos after their match against France on June 7, 2025. (Photos: China News Service/Zhang Xiangyi)

Host China thrilled the home crowd with a dominant straight-set victory over France on Saturday at the FIVB Volleyball Nations League (VNL) in Beijing.

China swept France 3-0 (25-17, 25-18, 25-11) in the evening session, delivering a commanding performance in front of a packed home audience at the National Indoor Stadium.

Chinese and French volleyball players compete at the Women's Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 2025 Beijing at the National Indoor Stadium in Beijing, China, June 7, 2025. (Photos: China News Service/Zhang Xiangyi)

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