CHN - Kazlauskas offers thoughts on Yao and Yi

BEIJING (Olympics) - China’s veteran coach Jonas Kazlauskas admits he is pleased with the form of his NBA All-Star center Yao Ming.

And he is also impressed by Wang Zhizhi, who played for Bayi this year in the CBA.

But Kazlauskas says at least one key member of his national team that will play at the Beijing Olympics has a lot of work to do.

When asked about Yao, NBA rookie Yi Jianlian and Wang, Kazlauskas said: "They are in very good form and maintaining good performances, but Yi Jianlian should practice some strength training in the NBA because we want to him to be more aggressive in games."

Kazlauskas has offered praise for the Guangdong players who won the CBA title this season, which bodes well for the national team players in that squad like the team’s MVP Zhu Fangyu, a national team player.

The Lithuanian was also impressed by Liaoning but refuses to name any of the players who stood out in his eyes.

"Because they are too young," Kazlauskas said to the Morden Express.

"Naming they will only spoil them, and it's not a good thing to spoil the youngsters.

“They need to improve themselves in the league games and then they are able to enter the national team."

National team players will be called up on March 8 while the Guangdong players will be given an extra week off.

FIBA