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Randy Belice/NBAE/Getty Images
NBA China will collaborate with the Chinese Basketball Association to further the NBA's relationship with China's immense basketball community.
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By Lauren Brill
The Global Top 10 is your weekly guide to NBA global news. In this week's edition find out about the formation of NBA China, who had an explosive fourth quarter and who provides a promising future for their franchise.
NBA Announces NBA ChinaAfter months of preparation and hard work the NBA has announced the formation of NBA China. Former CEO of Microsoft Greater China, Tim Chen, will lead NBA China in managing all of the NBA's business affairs in Greater China. While the NBA has had a strong presence in China for many years, NBA China will collaborate with the Chinese Basketball Association to further the NBA's relationship with China's immense basketball community. Five companies including, ESPN, a division of The Walt Disney Company, Bank of China Group Investment, Legend Holdings Limited, Li Ka Shing Foundation and China Merchants Investments have partnered with the NBA in its effort to successfully execute its plans for the populated country. NBA commissioner David Stern explained, "The opportunity for basketball and the NBA in China is simply extraordinary. The expertise, resources and shared vision of these immensely successful companies will help us to achieve the potential we see in the region."
1. NBA Announces NBA ChinaAfter months of preparation and hard work the NBA has announced the formation of NBA China. Former CEO of Microsoft Greater China, Tim Chen, will lead NBA China in managing all of the NBA's business affairs in Greater China. While the NBA has had a strong presence in China for many years, NBA China will collaborate with the Chinese Basketball Association to further the NBA's relationship with China's immense basketball community. Five companies including, ESPN, a division of The Walt Disney Company, Bank of China Group Investment, Legend Holdings Limited, Li Ka Shing Foundation and China Merchants Investments have partnered with the NBA in its effort to successfully execute its plans for the populated country. NBA commissioner David Stern explained, "The opportunity for basketball and the NBA in China is simply extraordinary. The expertise, resources and shared vision of these immensely successful companies will help us to achieve the potential we see in the region."
2. Steve Nash Defies DescriptionWhile Steve Nash was the one still recovering from the stomach flu, it was the Milwaukee Bucks who left the arena Saturday night feeling ill. Registering a season-high 35 points to go along with seven dimes, the two-time MVP was an indomitable force as the Suns defeated the Bucks 122-114, marking the Suns' 20th consecutive win over Milwaukee in Phoenix. Captain Canada hit 13-17 from the floor and 5-7 from downtown. Disappointed Bucks coach Larry Krystkowiak told HOOPSWORLD in reference to the five time all-star, "It's (Steve Nash) the head of the snake. We knew coming in that he wasn't a participant in the last game. We were stepping into a bit of a buzz saw. When he's rested up, he plays a lot of minutes and anytime you can get two or three days off, you're kind of stepping into the lion's den and that's what happened tonight with us."
3. Ginobili: From Zero to HeroManu Ginobili lit it up the floor in the fourth quarter Monday night, helping the Spurs seal an 89-82 win over the Sixers. After shooting an uncharacteristic 0-of-6 from the field in the first three quarters, the Spurs' super sub scored 14 of his 20 points in the final period, including four treys in a 2:24 time span. Meanwhile teammate Tim Duncan admitted to encouraging Ginobili to dish the ball to his teammates, since his shots earlier in the night were not falling. Good thing he did not listen. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich told the San Antonio News-Express, "We really need to thank Manu for tonight's win. Obviously, he was the one who stepped up and made big shots."
4. Jose Calderon Refuses to Lose
Jose Calderon played with a refuse to lose mentality in Toronto's seesaw battle with Portland on Sunday, Jan 13. After the Spanish-native drained a three with nine seconds left in regulation time, Portland's Brandon Roy responded by nailing a shot from downtown, sending the game into overtime. With both teams logging 11 points in the first overtime period the game's final verdict came down to a second overtime. Crucial in securing a win, the Spanish import hit two shots from the charity stripe at the end of the second overtime. While Toronto's coach Sam Mitchell told the Toronto Sun, "They snatched a win from us a couple of times, but we just kept on fighting.You just have to be proud of them because that was an unbelievable win for us," with 22 points and 10 dimes on the night, the Raptors' guard deserves recognition for his contributions in the 116-109 victory.
5. Darko Milicic: Block of the Night It wasn't meant to be on Jan. 10 for the Memphis Grizzlies who faced the Sacramento Kings on the road. With Memphis ahead, 113-111, the Kings' Francisco Garcia nailed a three-pointer with 7.9 seconds left on the clock. The Kings then sealed the deal with 2.5 seconds left when Brad Miller sank two shots from the charity stripe. Despite losing the game 116-113 in the final seconds, the Grizzlies' Darko Milicic gave a commendable defensive performance with two steals and three blocks. For a rejection early in the fourth quarter, the Grizzlies' center received the Block of the Night honor.
 Video:
Check out Milicic's Block of the Night
 6. Yi Means Big Bucks for Bucks "Big Buck Means Big Bucks," is the headline for an article in the Journal Sentinel. Writer John Schmid discusses the Rockwell Automation Inc.'s, a Fortune 500 engineering company, efforts to cash in on the young Chinese import, Yi Jianlian. Advertising courtside during Bucks games, Rockwell spokesman John Bernaden explained to the Journal Sentinel, "We're doing this solely to target our Chinese customers." According to Bucks business manager John Steinmiller, Yi, last months Rookie of the Month winner, serves as an influential athlete who has an immense amount of marketing potential when specifically targeting a Chinese audience. Taking advantage of its popular rookie, the Bucks continue to seek and welcome advertisers who wish to use the Mandarin language to capitalize on Yi's following in China. .
7. Horford Provides Promise Young with plenty of potential, the Atlanta Hawks players are still developing in the NBA. While the team lost Friday night in overtime to the Wizards 102-98, the amount of talent on the team was still apparent. Rookie Al Horford has been a staple in the Hawks' starting lineup this season. Averaging near a double-double with nine points and 9.8 rebounds, the third overall pick of the 2007 NBA Draft seems to be continuously improving. Despite a disappointing loss against Washington, the Dominican Republic-native registered a career-high 19 rebounds. While Horford's play was not enough to secure a win, his performance does provide promise for the future.
Video:
Go Behind the Scenes with the Hawks (Part I)
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Go Behind the Scenes with the Hawks (Part II)
8. Less is More For DalembertThe old adage, "sometimes less is more," proved to be true for the 76ers' Samuel Dalembert. Registering 20 rebounds in the previous two losses, the former Seton Hall Pirate logged only 19 points and six rebounds to help put an end to his team's seven-game losing streak and defeat the Rockets 111-107 Tuesday night. Philadelphia recovered from a 16-point deficit in the second half. "We had to come back. I kept talking to the guys," the Sixers' center told HOOPSWORLD. "'We can win this game. There's still a lot of time on the clock,'" he said to his teammates. As Dalembert attempted to motivate his teammates he successful inspired himself as he dunked the ball with 36 seconds left on the clock and then seconds later rejected Luis Scola, helping Philadelphia end an ugly streak and claim the victory.
9. Stojakovic Helps Hornets in Win "We haven't played that well at home so far, but we can turn that around and prove people wrong," said Hornets Peja Stojakovic to the Times-Picayune. 2-2 in their previous four home games while on seven-game win streak on the road, the Hornets intensity in their 123-92 win over the Sonics reflected their desire to improve their play in their host city. Coming off a meager two-point performance Sunday night against Houston, the Serbia-native led the Hornets in scoring with a game-high 23 points including four treys, greatly contributing to the Hornets' high-scoring home victory over the Sonics. Beginning a five-game homestand Wednesday night against Seattle, Stojakovic inspiring performance aimed to set the tone for the next four games in New Orleans.
10. Andrew Bogut: Dunk of the Night Consistently registering double-doubles this past week, Monday night was no different for the Aussie-native, Andrew Bogut. Facing the Jazz in Utah, the Bucks' center logged a team-high 23 points and 10 rebounds. Receiving the Dunk of the Night honor for his one-handed jam in third quarter, the former Utah Ute scored a scant three points in the forth while his team went 2-for-18 from the field in the fourth. At the end of the game Utah walked away with a 98-87 victory. Bogut reasoned to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "We weren't doing what was working for us in the first three quarters. And whenever you do that and you change the flow of the game, it's hard for it to get back to where it was."
Video:
Check out Bogut's Dunk of the Night
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