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BEIJING, July 23 (Xinhua) -- China coach Thomas Maher expected a good memory from his team's performance, while showing his deep concern about injuries at the Rio Olympic Games on Saturday.
"What we remember from the Rio Olympics is how this team plays, and hopefully we have some good memories," he told Xinhua.
China is placed in Group B in Rio, along with five-time defending champion USA, world No. 3 Spain, Canada, Serbia and Senegal. The team will kick off its Olympic campaign against Canada, who won all of three warmup matches between the two sides recently.
Dating back to the fifth-place matchup at 2014 World Championships, China has lost five times in a row against Canada. Maher was much impressed by Canadians' physical play and passing.
"They are a very good team. Their physicality is above us, and their basketball IQ is very high. They are very physical.
"In WCBA, we don't play a physical league. Our players are naturally physical. Canada may be the most physical team in the world. International basketball is physical, so we have to make that level," commented Maher.
"The other thing is that they may be the best passing team in the world." he added.
"Their media, coach, players are talking about winning the medal. They have a very high opinion of their abilities, which I think is quite reasonable. Recently they beat France, Australia, and they beat us. But we still have a good chance to beat them."
The Rio Olympics is Maher's sixth appearance at the quadrennial sporting event. However, what he coached is an inexperienced team, with 9 of 12 players welcoming their debut on Olympic stage.
"It's part of their basketball life. They have to handle it. We can't make an excuse. Of course, it's a reality. If we have more experience, we will be better.
"As what I said, this team is prime for the next Olympics, but I think this team is a nice team, and we can play nice basketball. Hopefully we can win a couple of games," said Maher.
Undoubtedly, Chinese girls' hope in Rio is based on their health condition. Injury is what Maher worries about the most.
"I always worry that our players get injured. It's a horrible thing if someone has her Olympic messed up by injuries, so I hope that every body stays healthy," he said.
"We want to make sure that our style of game is fundementally correct, and our thinking is right."
Maher was reminiscent of the London Olympics four years ago, when the hosts Britain didn't win a game under his coaching stint, but he still felt impressed by the team's decent plays.
"What is special for me is our team's plays. At the London Olympics, I coached Britain. We didn't win a game, but we played vehemently and decently. The team was not even in world rankings, but we got an overtime game against France, who won the silver medal. That was a notable performance," said Maher.
"I cherish that moment. What we remember from the Rio Olympics is how this team plays, and hopefully we have some good memories," he added.
