Stephon Marbury‘s journey in the Chinese Basketball Association continues and it gets more interesting. In his second game with Shanxi, Starbury’s overall performance is much improved as he finishes with 15 points and 15 assists, despite some poor shooting, but it is the crowd that brings the most interest. Marbury along with team mate Maurice Taylor took on the Southern Tigers of Guangdong, a team that includes Smush Parker and David Harrison.
As was the case in his first game, the Chinese crowd grows unruly with perceived bad calls by the officials and they proceed to throw projectiles (particularly cigarette ligthers) onto the court. The blogger simply known as “The Tao” at Heart of Beijing has some great and detailed reporting on the game and this video of the violence unfolding, causing players to leave the court:
Some excerpts from the match report at Heart of Beijing:
7:32: Let there be no doubt: Marbury is a different player today. The first two possessions he has taken it hard to the hoop, converting an and-one the second time. He is being face-guarded (by a taller player) yet still just got the ball in possession No. 3, and immediately fouled.
4th possession: Marbury is stripped by Smush Parker, who converts a layup on the other end to give Guangdong an early 4-3 lead.
1:50: Marbury reaches in and commits a silly foul. He immediately goes to the ref and complains about a non-call on the other end, when he got mugged at the basket.
The crowd begins getting angry, and we’ve seen what happens when they get angry.
“Calm down, please calm down,” the PA announcer says.
Marbury subs out.
About a minute left: Guangdong’s big man just hit the deck, drawing a foul call. The fans next to me scream, “Faker!” Man they’re brutal.
10:10 left in 2nd: Seriously, CBA refs are AWFUL. Smush Parker looked like he wanted to punch the ref after the latest blown call. (Two blown calls in one: Parker was victim of an over-the-back, and then the other guy knocked the ball out of bounds.)
Now Taylor is barking at a ref, cursing. He just got whistled for a flagrant after getting tangled up with a Guangdong player.
Something might go down tonight. Stay tuned.
PA: “Fans, please, don’t disrupt the opposing players when they’re trying to shoot free throws.”
The sarcasm is not lost on the fans. They cheer louder.
8:16 left in 3rd: Shanxi making a run…
Marbury brings a different energy level to the court, and every one of his passes is oohed and aah’ed over, and when it results in a bucket the crowd goes wild.
On an unrelated note, the cop just tried, not for the first time, to tell a group of people sitting on the stairs next to me to move up to their seats. They’re not budging.
Marbury’s final stat line: 43 minutes, 15 points, 3 for 11 shooting, 1 for 7 3PT, 4 rebounds, 1 block, 3 steals, 15 assists, drew 8 fouls, committed 3 fouls and 3 turnovers.
10:27 p.m.: One last update. Apparently a group of angry fans surrounded the referees’ locker room after the game, and the refs were too scared to leave. The cops were called in to shoo away the crowd, at which point the refs made their getaway from a back door.
If the Shanxi team were any good at all, I don’t know how any opposing team could win in this place. Such hostility.
Great reporting there. A pleasure to read and it really gives you a feeling that you are part of the game. On a side note, I wonder how Starbury’s shoe sales are going in China?
It’s also worth checking out this video of Marbury being a constructive force in practice, the day before the game:
