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Ratliffe excited to face Clarkson
Posted on: August 17, 2018 at 09:03:08 CT
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http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/2018/08/17/0200000000AEN20180817001800315.html
The prospect of facing an NBA player at the Asian Games men's basketball tournament doesn't faze Ricardo Ratliffe, the U.S.-born basketball player representing South Korea in Jakarta. If anything, he thinks it's going to be a fun experience. That he has a collegiate connection with one NBA guard at this tournament has only added to Ratliffe's excitement and anticipation.
With one preliminary match against Thailand remaining, South Korea is largely expected to win Group A, in which case it will face the runner-up from Group D in the quarterfinals. And that may well be the Philippines, whose lineup will be bolstered by the arrival of Cleveland Cavaliers guard Jordan Clarkson, who has averaged 14.1 points per game over his four-year career. He scored 13.9 points per game in the 2017-2018 season, which he split with the Cavs and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Ratliffe said going up against Clarkson "will be fun."
"Jordan Clarkson, he's an NBA star. He averaged 14 points a game in the NBA. That tells you he's one of the best players in the world," Ratliffe told Yonhap News Agency Thursday, after helping South Korea beat Mongolia 108-73 for its second straight victory.
About the personal angle: Ratliffe and Clarkson both attended the University of Missouri, though Clarkson transferred to join the Tigers in 2012 just as Ratliffe was about to graduate.
"I only got to play with him in friendly practice games," Ratliffe recalled. "He's gotten way better since then, but so have I. I am looking forward to that matchup."
"It's just basketball. They're men just like us," he said. "There's no reason to be scared (of them)."
Ratliffe also called on his South Korean-born teammates to play with more confidence, and said doing well against the NBA guys should help in that regard.
"The guys are a lot better than they think they are," he said. "Sometimes, they're afraid to pass and think they can't. But they really can, and they're just nervous. If they play well against NBA guys, they'll get a lot of confidence."
Ratliffe is an instrumental piece in South Korea's bid for a second straight Asian Games gold, and he has certainly done his part in the first two games. In a 104-65 opening win over Indonesia Tuesday, Ratliffe scored a game-high 30 points on 10-of-14 shooting and pulled down 19 rebounds, before sitting out the entire fourth quarter. Against Mongolia, Ratliffe only played the first half, but still scored 19 points and grabbed 14 boards.
Ratliffe said he believes South Korea should be considered among the elites in the competition.
"I feel like we have a good chance against anybody here. There are a lot of great teams here and I feel like we're one of them," he said. "On any night, I feel like we can beat anybody."
Can South Korea defend its title?
"Of course. That's our goal. That's why we came here," Ratliffe said.
The prospect of facing an NBA player at the Asian Games men's basketball tournament doesn't faze Ricardo Ratliffe, the U.S.-born basketball player representing South Korea in Jakarta. If anything, he thinks it's going to be a fun experience. That he has a collegiate connection with one NBA guard at this tournament has only added to Ratliffe's excitement and anticipation.
With one preliminary match against Thailand remaining, South Korea is largely expected to win Group A, in which case it will face the runner-up from Group D in the quarterfinals. And that may well be the Philippines, whose lineup will be bolstered by the arrival of Cleveland Cavaliers guard Jordan Clarkson, who has averaged 14.1 points per game over his four-year career. He scored 13.9 points per game in the 2017-2018 season, which he split with the Cavs and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Ratliffe said going up against Clarkson "will be fun."
"Jordan Clarkson, he's an NBA star. He averaged 14 points a game in the NBA. That tells you he's one of the best players in the world," Ratliffe told Yonhap News Agency Thursday, after helping South Korea beat Mongolia 108-73 for its second straight victory.
About the personal angle: Ratliffe and Clarkson both attended the University of Missouri, though Clarkson transferred to join the Tigers in 2012 just as Ratliffe was about to graduate.
"I only got to play with him in friendly practice games," Ratliffe recalled. "He's gotten way better since then, but so have I. I am looking forward to that matchup."
"It's just basketball. They're men just like us," he said. "There's no reason to be scared (of them)."
Ratliffe also called on his South Korean-born teammates to play with more confidence, and said doing well against the NBA guys should help in that regard.
"The guys are a lot better than they think they are," he said. "Sometimes, they're afraid to pass and think they can't. But they really can, and they're just nervous. If they play well against NBA guys, they'll get a lot of confidence."
Ratliffe is an instrumental piece in South Korea's bid for a second straight Asian Games gold, and he has certainly done his part in the first two games. In a 104-65 opening win over Indonesia Tuesday, Ratliffe scored a game-high 30 points on 10-of-14 shooting and pulled down 19 rebounds, before sitting out the entire fourth quarter. Against Mongolia, Ratliffe only played the first half, but still scored 19 points and grabbed 14 boards.
Ratliffe said he believes South Korea should be considered among the elites in the competition.
"I feel like we have a good chance against anybody here. There are a lot of great teams here and I feel like we're one of them," he said. "On any night, I feel like we can beat anybody."
Can South Korea defend its title?
"Of course. That's our goal. That's why we came here," Ratliffe said.
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Ratliffe excited to face Clarkson - FIJItiger MU - 8/17 09:03:08