SALON

Tuesday, Oct 9, 2012 1:45 PM UTC

Heat arrive in China for preseason games

By

Topics: From the Wires,

Heat arrive in China for preseason gamesMiami Heat forward LeBron James (6) is defended by Atlanta Hawks' Josh Smith in the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Todd Kirkland) (Credit: AP)

MIAMI (AP) — LeBron James is visiting China for the ninth time, which makes him one of the resident Miami Heat experts about the world’s most populous nation.

Specifically, the food choices there.

“If anyone comes back with any body fat from this trip, then I don’t know what they were doing on their free time,” said James, the NBA’s MVP.

So maybe it’s fortunate that the coming week won’t exactly include a ton of free time for the Heat, who arrived in Beijing on Monday night for a weeklong trip. The reigning league champions play the Los Angeles Clippers twice during the NBA China Games, starting in Beijing on Thursday and then again Sunday in Shanghai.

“Should be fun,” James said. “It’s a very long trip to be bonding together, but we’re going to use it and not waste an opportunity.”

The itinerary is hectic, with VIP receptions, a trip to the Great Wall of China and other excursions planned. The Heat are trying to ensure that players and personnel have time to experience some elements of Chinese culture on their own.

“You only have these type of opportunities so often,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “You want to take advantage of it. This is the preseason. We understand the big picture. It’s a great program that the NBA runs when you have an opportunity to play overseas. Our last trip was tremendous when we went to Europe. Great team-building, and you get to see another part of the world and do it together.”

The Heat played games in France and England during the 2008 preseason against the Nets, who then called New Jersey home.

Miami left on Saturday for Atlanta, played the Hawks there in the preseason opener for both teams on Sunday afternoon, then boarded a charter for the flight to Beijing, one that lasted a little more than 14 hours. The Heat landed around 9:30 p.m. local time.

Heat guard Mario Chalmers remembered to turn his phone’s international plans on before leaving the U.S. Apparently, he forgot to account for the time difference halfway around the world — tweeting that he slept for about 11 hours on the plane, meaning he was rested and refreshed around what would have figured to be bedtime in China.

“I ain’t gettin no sleep tonight,” Chalmers wrote.

If he was groggy Tuesday morning (still Monday night in the U.S.), when the Heat held their first practice in China, it didn’t show. Photos posted to social media sites by the team showed Chalmers was just fine when he left the team hotel for the buses. Later Tuesday, the Heat were planning to take about six hours to visit the Great Wall.

“We’re looking forward to the opportunity,” Heat guard Dwyane Wade said. “I think as an organization, as players individually, once we get over there it will be a great opportunity to continue to grow our game.”

Wade did not play in Atlanta on Sunday as he continues recovering from offseason knee surgery. He is hopeful of playing at least once in China, and went for a late-night workout after the plane landed Monday night. He remembers what those Nets-Heat games were like in Europe four years ago, and said the element of facing the same team twice in the span of a few days helps raise the competitive bar a bit, even in an exhibition.

“The second one was a little bit more of a grind-out game, where you really wanted to win,” Wade said. “The first game will be fun and will give the fans a show. The second one’s going to be a little more intense. Guys will want to get at it and try to win. No doubt, you need some competitive situations. You need to be pushed, you need to feel fatigued, all those things.”

It would seem like he’s ready for his preseason debut. Another photo released by the Heat on Tuesday morning showed Wade dunking in practice — a sign that his knee is just fine.

The NBA allows teams that are traveling internationally during the preseason to open camp a few days earlier than everyone else, which Spoelstra said was helpful.

Sure, it’s a logistical challenge, but Spoelstra isn’t worried.

“There’s a lot of good things about trips like this with the NBA, and that’s why we’re looking forward to it,” Spoelstra said. “If we didn’t have this training camp I’d be thinking that this is a tough thing, a lot of distractions and so forth. But we’ve had a full training camp. Now we get to go away, together, and spend an inordinate amount of time around each other in a place that’s a little bit out of our comfort zone. That usually is good for team-building.”

Those meals might create a team memory or two as well.

Chinese culinary options can seem unique — even though some on the trip are quick to point out there are American fast-food restaurants all over Beijing. But for those with more adventurous palates, some unusual choices can be had.

“I’m sure we’re going to eat some funky meals where we can all say, ‘Oh, that was nasty,’” said Heat forward Shane Battier, who has endorsed the Chinese shoe brand Peak since 2006. “Those experiences are good. And for guys who have never been to China before, it’ll be fun to see their reaction. And those things, I think, can build a team.”

___

Follow Tim Reynolds on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ByTimReynolds

Tim Reynolds

More Tim Reynolds.

Next Article

You Might Also Like

More Related Stories

Featured Slide Shows

Gripping photos: The people of the Turkey protests (slideshow)

close X
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Facebook
  • Thumbnails
  • Fullscreen
  • 1 of 11
  • The protests take on a festive element as police forces move out of the park and square. Wearing a gas mask, this young man dances to traditional Turkish music in front of Taksim Square’s Ataturk Monument.

  • In Gezi Park since March 31st, this protester, originally caught off-guard by the Government’s teargas and water cannons, went out and bought a Russian army mask from WWII, preparing for what was to come.

  • This rambunctious boy seems to be enjoying the chaos. After taking this picture he threw a stone at the already destroyed building in the background.

  • Forming a line, the police face off directly with protesters in Taksim Square. After a while, they retreated and there was a general cheer – a back-and-forth dance that has been common since the beginning of this protest.

  • An elderly woman in Gezi Park reads the news. The tent community occupying the park was violently destroyed on June 16th.

  • Many different groups had set up booths to promote their cause in Taksim Square and Gezi Park. Standing in front of one, this man waves his flag while posing with conviction.

  • Many home-remedies are used to minimize the effects of tear gas. This woman has put a milky solution on her face, removing her mask after the tear gas dissipated. Before sunrise, the police came again for another round of teargasing.

  • People capitalize on the uprising -- selling flags, beer, gas masks, sky lanterns and spray paint to name just a few of the popular items.

  • On Monday morning, June 11, the police execute a strong offensive. Many plain-clothed police officers, like the ones seen here, clash with protesters in the side streets away from the main stand-off in Taksim.

  • The authorities seem to be most aggressive in the night, pushing protesters away from the square and park. After being teargassed this young woman catches her breath with other protesters on Siraselviler Street.

  • Recent Slide Shows

  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Facebook
  • Thumbnails
  • Fullscreen
  • 1 of 11

Related Videos

More Related Stories

Comments

 0 Comments

Comment Preview

Your name will appear as username ( settings | log out )

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href=""> <b> <em> <strong> <i> <blockquote>

follow salon

Most Read

Video of the Day

Watch More Here »

Popular on Reddit

links from salon.com

From Around the Web

Presented by Scribol
listener_new_rect The Listener: "We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves": Growing up primate

Recommendations