Men's Basketball Day 1 Review: USA breaks 100, defending champs suffer last-second loss
Updated: 2008-08-11 01:50:21
Men's Basketball Day 1 Review: USA breaks 100, defending champs suffer last-second loss
Dwyane Wade goes up for a shot over Yao Ming. (Photo credit: Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
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Men's Basketball Day 1 Review: USA breaks 100, defending champs suffer last-second loss
Dwyane Wade goes up for a shot over Yao Ming. (Photo credit: Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
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(BEIJING, August 10) -- The most anticipated game on day one of Olympic Men's Basketball lived up to the hype for the first half, while another game went to an unpredictable final-second finish.
The big match of the day was of course China and the United States, which the US side won 101-70, but both teams brought their own style and flair to the game. When Yao Ming sunk a downtown three-pointer to start the action, he set the tone for a tight first half. China pushed the perimeter for four threes in the opening minutes, and the United States barely edged a 20-16 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The United States managed to pull ahead definitively in the second quarter, dunking their way to an insurmountable advantage, although China remained in good form. While China was shooting 50% from behind the arc in the first half,the United States had hit a pathetic one of 12 attempts.
"China couldn't have scripted it any better," US guard Jason Kidd said after the game. "In the second quarter, we actually started playing defense. Emotions were at an all-time high."
By game's end the Chinese three-point streak dried up and the US team evened out their three-point shooting percentage. In some ways, the game went well for both sides. The United States racked up 101 points to send out a powerful "can-do" message, while China's performance showed they have the grit to advance to at least the quarterfinal stage in these Games.
Men's Basketball Day 1 Review: USA breaks 100, defending champs suffer last-second loss
Ginobili (L), guard of Argentina passes the ball. (Photo credit: Xinhua)
The day one game that managed to stay exciting until the last second was Lithuania's 79-75 victory over Argentina. While the defending Olympic champions staged a dramatic comeback to tie the game in the final minute, Linas Kleiza sunk a three-pointer with 2.1 seconds left to propel Lithuania to the win. Along with the game-winning three, Kleiza had 13 points overall, while Argentina's Manu Ginobili and Andres Nocioni each could only hit one of seven attempts from behind the arc, although Ginobili did have the game-high 19 points.
Like China's team, World No. 20 Croatia relied on their outside game in their match-up against Australia, but with better results. Seven players combined their efforts to go 12 for 16 on three-pointers, beating Australia 97-82. Croatia's Marko Tomas and Zoran Planinic combined for six of six from beyond the arc.
In other day one games, Russia triumphed over Iran 71-49, led by 19 points from American-born J.R. Holden and 15 points from EuroBasket MVP Andrei Kirilenko. Russia had the dominant inside-game, scoring 42 of their points in the paint compared to Iran who only got 18 up on the Russians.
While Germany needed three overtimes to beat Angola at the 2006 FIBA World Championship, they managed to win this match 95-66 in four quarters, thanks in no small part to the addition of Los Angeles Clippers center Chris Kaman. Kaman scored 24 points for Germany, while superstar Dirk Nowitzki added 23.
Finally, Spain played against Greece in the FIBA 2006 World Championship minus an injured Pau Gasol and won their first world title 70-47. Spain's 81-66 win in their opening Olympic preliminary game was by a smaller margin but decisive nonetheless. Marc Gasol started instead of brother Pau, but Pau did play for 11 points and seven rebounds. Rudy Fernandez had 16 points to lead Spain.
USA breaks Chinese hearts, 100 points
Updated: 2008-08-10 23:56:54
United States breaks 100 points, Chinese hearts
Chen Jianghua of China drives past the defense of Chris Paul. (Photo credit: Phil Walter/Getty Images)
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(BEIJING, August 10) -- After a tight first quarter of Chinese three-pointers raining from the sky and fans cheering at full blast, the United States outclassed and out-dunked their hosts to a 101-70 victory in day one of the Olympic Men's Basketball tournament.
No one could deny the excitement when center Yao Ming put the first points on the board with a beautiful downtown three-pointer, giving a preview of China's game strategy of playing deep. Twelve of China's first 14 points came from behind the arc, and were sunk by different players around the key.
The United States' first basket was also emblematic of their style, a defiant Dwight Howard dunk off a Kobe Bryant assist. While the first quarter saw several lead changes, it came to a definitive end with two made free throws by Miami Heat shooting guard Dwayne Wade and another dunk from center Howard to come out of a tied score to a 20-16 United States lead at the end of the period.
Almost every US trip to the free throw line was met by a chorus of boos from the packed-stadium crowd, who cheered loudly for China but also couldn't help reacting to the United States' spectacular dunks, especially in the second quarter while the United States was building up their insurmountable lead. Bryant put up two consecutive slams to bring the score to 35-29, the second dunk coming after a steal by Lebron James who dished him a slick backhanded pass and inspired China to call a time-out.
Later in the second period Toronto Raptors forward Chris Bosh, who crashed the boards in some key moments for the US team, pulled a defensive rebound and got the ball to Wade, who had the assist on a one-handed dunk by James. He was fouled on the shot but missed the free throw, bringing the score to 41-32.
China was unable to continue their three-pointer streak by the end of the half, but the 2.14 meters-tall center Wang Zhizhi ventured inside the arc and hit a two-pointer to give the fans something to smile about again. The first half ended 49-37, with China making an impressive eight of their 16 three-point attempts, while the United States trailed with a mere one of 12 made.
In the second half, the United States was definitely playing their game, giving many of their starters a break and leading China in the third quarter 25-11, but only 27-22 in the fourth. The United States caught up in their three-point shooting, closing the game with seven of 24 made threes compared to China's 10 of 27. It was two-pointers where China fell behind in scoring, making only 13 of 41 attempts for a 32% shooting accuracy, while the US team managed to sink 31 of 46 for 67% accuracy.
The United States led the game in scoring with Wade sinking 19 points and Cleveland Cavaliers forward James with 18. Bosh pulled eight rebounds. They are the first team so far to break 100 points in the 2008 Olympic Basketball tournament.
China was led by Houston Rockets' Yao with 13 points in 31 minutes of play, also grabbing a game-high 10 rebounds. Forward Zhu Fangyu brought his team 11 points and made all three of his three-point shots, while Milwaukee Bucks star Yi Jianlian contributed 9 points.
The big match of the day was of course China and the United States, which the US side won 101-70, but both teams brought their own style and flair to the game. When Yao Ming sunk a downtown three-pointer to start the action, he set the tone for a tight first half. China pushed the perimeter for four threes in the opening minutes, and the United States barely edged a 20-16 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The United States managed to pull ahead definitively in the second quarter, dunking their way to an insurmountable advantage, although China remained in good form. While China was shooting 50% from behind the arc in the first half,the United States had hit a pathetic one of 12 attempts.
"China couldn't have scripted it any better," US guard Jason Kidd said after the game. "In the second quarter, we actually started playing defense. Emotions were at an all-time high."
By game's end the Chinese three-point streak dried up and the US team evened out their three-point shooting percentage. In some ways, the game went well for both sides. The United States racked up 101 points to send out a powerful "can-do" message, while China's performance showed they have the grit to advance to at least the quarterfinal stage in these Games.
Men's Basketball Day 1 Review: USA breaks 100, defending champs suffer last-second loss
Ginobili (L), guard of Argentina passes the ball. (Photo credit: Xinhua)
The day one game that managed to stay exciting until the last second was Lithuania's 79-75 victory over Argentina. While the defending Olympic champions staged a dramatic comeback to tie the game in the final minute, Linas Kleiza sunk a three-pointer with 2.1 seconds left to propel Lithuania to the win. Along with the game-winning three, Kleiza had 13 points overall, while Argentina's Manu Ginobili and Andres Nocioni each could only hit one of seven attempts from behind the arc, although Ginobili did have the game-high 19 points.
Like China's team, World No. 20 Croatia relied on their outside game in their match-up against Australia, but with better results. Seven players combined their efforts to go 12 for 16 on three-pointers, beating Australia 97-82. Croatia's Marko Tomas and Zoran Planinic combined for six of six from beyond the arc.
In other day one games, Russia triumphed over Iran 71-49, led by 19 points from American-born J.R. Holden and 15 points from EuroBasket MVP Andrei Kirilenko. Russia had the dominant inside-game, scoring 42 of their points in the paint compared to Iran who only got 18 up on the Russians.
While Germany needed three overtimes to beat Angola at the 2006 FIBA World Championship, they managed to win this match 95-66 in four quarters, thanks in no small part to the addition of Los Angeles Clippers center Chris Kaman. Kaman scored 24 points for Germany, while superstar Dirk Nowitzki added 23.
Finally, Spain played against Greece in the FIBA 2006 World Championship minus an injured Pau Gasol and won their first world title 70-47. Spain's 81-66 win in their opening Olympic preliminary game was by a smaller margin but decisive nonetheless. Marc Gasol started instead of brother Pau, but Pau did play for 11 points and seven rebounds. Rudy Fernandez had 16 points to lead Spain.
USA breaks Chinese hearts, 100 points
Updated: 2008-08-10 23:56:54
United States breaks 100 points, Chinese hearts
Chen Jianghua of China drives past the defense of Chris Paul. (Photo credit: Phil Walter/Getty Images)
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(BEIJING, August 10) -- After a tight first quarter of Chinese three-pointers raining from the sky and fans cheering at full blast, the United States outclassed and out-dunked their hosts to a 101-70 victory in day one of the Olympic Men's Basketball tournament.
No one could deny the excitement when center Yao Ming put the first points on the board with a beautiful downtown three-pointer, giving a preview of China's game strategy of playing deep. Twelve of China's first 14 points came from behind the arc, and were sunk by different players around the key.
The United States' first basket was also emblematic of their style, a defiant Dwight Howard dunk off a Kobe Bryant assist. While the first quarter saw several lead changes, it came to a definitive end with two made free throws by Miami Heat shooting guard Dwayne Wade and another dunk from center Howard to come out of a tied score to a 20-16 United States lead at the end of the period.
Almost every US trip to the free throw line was met by a chorus of boos from the packed-stadium crowd, who cheered loudly for China but also couldn't help reacting to the United States' spectacular dunks, especially in the second quarter while the United States was building up their insurmountable lead. Bryant put up two consecutive slams to bring the score to 35-29, the second dunk coming after a steal by Lebron James who dished him a slick backhanded pass and inspired China to call a time-out.
Later in the second period Toronto Raptors forward Chris Bosh, who crashed the boards in some key moments for the US team, pulled a defensive rebound and got the ball to Wade, who had the assist on a one-handed dunk by James. He was fouled on the shot but missed the free throw, bringing the score to 41-32.
China was unable to continue their three-pointer streak by the end of the half, but the 2.14 meters-tall center Wang Zhizhi ventured inside the arc and hit a two-pointer to give the fans something to smile about again. The first half ended 49-37, with China making an impressive eight of their 16 three-point attempts, while the United States trailed with a mere one of 12 made.
In the second half, the United States was definitely playing their game, giving many of their starters a break and leading China in the third quarter 25-11, but only 27-22 in the fourth. The United States caught up in their three-point shooting, closing the game with seven of 24 made threes compared to China's 10 of 27. It was two-pointers where China fell behind in scoring, making only 13 of 41 attempts for a 32% shooting accuracy, while the US team managed to sink 31 of 46 for 67% accuracy.
The United States led the game in scoring with Wade sinking 19 points and Cleveland Cavaliers forward James with 18. Bosh pulled eight rebounds. They are the first team so far to break 100 points in the 2008 Olympic Basketball tournament.
China was led by Houston Rockets' Yao with 13 points in 31 minutes of play, also grabbing a game-high 10 rebounds. Forward Zhu Fangyu brought his team 11 points and made all three of his three-point shots, while Milwaukee Bucks star Yi Jianlian contributed 9 points.