OS Beijing 2008 Paralympics Olympics Pekin

Spanish team stood tall in the 1^st half of the game, keeping the Dream team far from flying with the scores. Spaniards’ defensive strategy was starting to cause trouble for the States when it switched from Zone defense into court pressure putting the Americans into a state of tension, especially with the last 2 minutes of the 2^nd quarter. Europeans are fighting the Americans with their own weapon: pressure defense.

The Spanish NBA star Pau Gasol (Los Angeles Lakers) is leading Spain under the basket, and had earlier announced while being spotted on sport news and on TV that this is his last game with the National team because of pressured NBA schedule that’s not keeping him anytime to relax.

Calderon, injured during an earlier game, was pushed into the field for emotional purposes, not to mention that he scored a 3 pointer while bringing back his team into the game.

Both teams enduring from few annoying whistles blown by the referee, who was clearly trying to ease the tension; an excuse maybe for easy shrills?

As the 2^nd quarter came to an end, Spain’s players were decreasing the US lead that circled around the 15 points into only 6 with mad expressions on the faces of Lebron James and friends.

Navaro led the flamingos in the 3^rd quarter that was all about fighting over every single ball. His penetrations under the basket were hard to contain with Spain bringing the best of the game, as the lead came to a single basket of difference.

The last shift of the game wasn’t different at all. The States kept on heading the numbers but the toreros’ bid on wiping American smiles paid off! The game was so intense and close that none of the players had the occasion to show teeth before the last minute.

Spanish basketball players are worth respect: Rudy Fernandez’s slam over Dwight Howard was a spark for the crowds who were on feet as the arena trembled with cheering the 2 points difference in score. Spain and its NBA stars were a thin line away from creating the blow and seizing control over the game that appeared to be a confrontation between 2 NBA teams, but Kobe Bryant’s MVP title was put into action to show what he is really made off! Despite the group motion of the Europeans, USA’s skills out-put the European school and took back the gold into America… a moment that’s been much awaited since Sydney’s 2000; USA basketball Jerseys are the Olympic champions, a bet that’s been set, further more anticipated since the beginning of the Beijing games and just got cashed in gold.

What started like a simple bidding was turned into a matter of reputation and dignity for the NBA basketball that just showed who’s the MAN!!!

Absolutely brilliant game for the USA basketball jerseys in offense and defense, Americans were seizing control since the 2^nd quarter of the match, after trailing 13-10 in the 1^st shift.

While all were bidding on a close and intense game, Women NBA girls hushed all odds and suspicious sports news about the effectiveness against strong teams, and cruised with a score average of 27 points, to look like a winning bet for wearing gold!

USA has beaten Australia in 3 finals in 3 Olympics

Opals totally lost control in 2nd quarter, making turnovers and being out-rebounded while the score average was going uphill from 11 to 27 at the ending.

Stats show that US women’s average of field goals reached 63% in face of Opals’ 22%, a crystal clear image that shows how the Americans were better in the game, compared to the Aussies.

4 players were fouled out in the last quarter, 2 of each team including Lisa Leslie (USA) and Lauren Jackson (Australia).

USA just won 33 games in a row, unbeatable since the loss in Barcelona’s 1992.

Kara Lawson headed the US’ score sheet with 15 points, aside of Candace Parker’s 14; Australia-wise, Lauren Jackson made 20 points.

In the end, Lisa leslie and the rest of the team earned the gold medal, after an enthusiastic game apparently easy. Leslie declared that her Olympic’s participation is over for good, gladly on top of her performance and achievements. Start challenging your friends on bwin.com top basketball betting odds for FIBA and NBA.

Lisa Leslie and Teresa Edwards are the only basketball players to win 4 Olympic gold medals

Russian adventure finally came to an end, a happy ending! Most of all, Becky Hammon’s bet to go along with the Russian line up, instead of joining the Americans was in a way or another a winning bid; a bronze medal in Olympics is definitely an accomplishment.

On the other hand, Chinese players offered the crowds a fair show, looking good on TV. Despite many mistakes on defense, particularly in rebounding, the Asian team displayed a set of tactics starring and depending on Chen Nan’s 26 points but scarcely 3 rebounded balls. China who was trailing by 19 points in the 3^rd quarter managed to reduce the average into 11.

Russia’s main key to success was the long range lane, scoring nine 3 pointers of which Hammon achieved 4/6; a middling of 66.7% .

Becky Hammon earned the Russian Nationality, and joined Russia’s national team during this summer. The originally American in Russian basketball jerseys is being an ultimate leader by exemple to her team mates.

Tatiana Scshegelova hit 15 and center Maria Stepanova made 15 dots accompanied by 9 rebounds.

Leading scorer for the Europeans was Becky Hammon with 22 points; Russian bidding on Becky and vice versa turned out to be a winning bet.

Lithuanians have Reached 4 Olympic semi-finals in a row and that’s definitely an achievement to admire! Spain and its stars faced a really tough opponent in the semi-final, while missing on the lead several times; it was a very close game while injured Jose Manuel Calderon (NBA Toronto raptors) was just supporting from the bench seats.

Despite the presence of NBA star Pau Gasol (NBA Los Angeles Lakers), Lithuanians managed to keep up with the level and the score of the game. The leaders of Group A in preliminaries were really hard to overcome and Spaniards were having a real test, in addition to the threat of being brought down!

17 year-old Ricky Rubio absolutely fascinated the crowds, and some of the challenger’s players; TV viewers will be thrilled to see him grow up in Basketball jerseys.

During the game, Spain was aware of the need to cover the long range lane and showed a great balance between defense and offense. At the end, they were better and deserved to win in this intense battle (91-86)

Lithuania made 6 of 13(46%) from long range in the 2^nd quarter, taking the lead on the break.

Spanish coach Aito Garcia saluted the magnificent efforts of Lithuania who clearly evolved since the 2 teams were put face to face in what seemed like a massacre for Lithuanian Basketball early in the summer (91-66).

Finalist Spain’s bid on facing a sturdy and unbending Lithuania in this semi-final of Beijing was a wisely put bet but they allocated all their resources towards leaving the Olympics with a respectful image that suits the world champions: they are in the final game, in a rematch of their match with the USA’s Dream team.

What will Spain be betting on this time?

With or without Penny Taylor, Opals seem to be too strong and devoted. Smashing against the host nation China 90-56, they prove to be as strong on the field as on the bench seats.

For the Aussies, defense was as good as offense in this game against the dragons that fell into the trap of turnovers 20 times, and 10 stolen balls.

Despite a close 1^st quarter, the 2^nd part made the difference for the kiwi girls, who out-scored China by 14 points (21-7) and seizing control over the rebounded balls (56-34).

Biana Lan’s game high of 20 points led the scoring aside of Belinda Snell for Australia by 16, while Suzy Batkovic had 10 dots and 13 boards. The match’s star was point guard Kristi Harrower whose dynamism, energy and performance (10 pts., 8 rebounds, and 4 assists) motivated the whole team and sending it into a 1 sided game that ended with a score average of 34 points.

Opals’ average scoring is 84.7 per game (ranked 2^nd in Olympics)

China’s average in scoring is 70.01 (ranked 4^th in Olympics)

Despite the 3 points average of China that exceeds the Australian’s middling, the Aussies proved that they deserve moving on into a final battle before wearing the gold medals.

While China can play for a bronze, an achievement that Yao and friends couldn’t do, Kiwis have already guaranteed a medal, but it doesn’t seem enough for them; beating the eagles is Beijing’s primary goal for them.

Penny, who stayed on the bench seats, will be hittig the field against the States of America, on the clash for gold. Australians who had already vanished twice against the USA in Olympics, are betting on changing the records and turn around the odds. I wonder what the sports betting sites have to say about that!!!

The Russian team was playing aggressively, fighting over every ball and leading the game on many occasions all along 3 quarters. Despite a Russian lead over the 1^st quarter and a part of the 2^nd, the final minutes of the 3^rd period were a wake-up call for the Americans who knew that their only way to regain leadership is through a good defensive line up especially that bidding on shooting from long range (area of expertise) wasn’t much of a winning bet.

Out-rebounded Russians were starting to lose grip, while making plenty of turnovers allowing the Basketball jerseys of America to pull out 22 steals!!

Russia’s counting on American’s origin Becky Hammon to lead the score was a badly placed bet;

she scored 3 points with 0 out of 4 from long range.

Maria Stepanova led Russia in scoring with 14 points.

Diana Taurasi made the top of the scoring sheet with 21 points and

9 re

bounds, Tina Thompson hit 15 and 4 boards. Defensively, Silvia Fowles caught 10 recoveries next to Tamika Catchings’ sickly sweet defense.

Becky Hammon who gave up for the strength of Uncle Sam’s defense will face China for a bronze medal; USA moved into the final game against Aussies to play on gold.

A match that’s much anticipated by all fans, sports betting sites and sports news for being an ultimate attraction.

Coach Anne Donovan said that Russia has improved a lot, and that victory is due to the calm nerves. This was a very important introduction

to what the final game will look like against the Opals.

Thriller game joined the dual striped white and blue teams; maybe the most beautiful match in Beijing until now. Sports news will definitely talk a lot about it, while the thriller movie kept Sports betting sites confused about the winner’s identity.

Un-ended until the final seconds, everything was possible, especially an equalizer for Spanioulis whose ball rimmed out in his way to level the game and go into an over time. Unfortunately for the Greek star, Argentina’s efforts paid off in the end, winning by 2 points 80-78.

Ginobily led the game with 24 points, 6 of 13 from long range. Argentina scored 14 out of 32 from long range.

The semi final will place the USA in face of Argentina in a South American derby… although Argentineans’ chance of winning is scrawny, thus they will be determined to give their fans a first class basketball game.

Some are betting on surprises in the game, placing bids over Argentina who is definitely under huge pressure. Playing against the Dream Team is a bit unfair in the semi-finals; they think they deserve to meet in a final game.

Australia survived for 18 minutes, disallowing the basketball jerseys of America from flying with the game in their pockets. A good and organized defense was crowned by a strong finishing under the basket, with 20 year old Mills on the play making! Opals were magnificent on the ball movement and determined to walk along with the States in scoring. In a pre-game interview, Australians declared that they will the smiles off the Dream team’s faces, a betting that almost came true, but …. It was Kobe Bryant’s show time to start, saving the states from the stress that Uncle Sam was facing with the 2^nd quarter coming to an end.

After the break, Kobe and friends were already warm to start the show, cherishing the crowds is a must, leaving no space for Australians to breath. After missing a lot of free throws and 3 pointers in 1^st part of the match, luck was starting to smile to the Eagles. Kobe leading his Dream team with 25 points was performing the true displays of an MVP sending angry Aussies back home.

US out-rebounded the Opals 57 to 28 of which 9 “second chance” scored from 13 offensive boards.

Australia’s primary bet of embarrassing the States was whooshed far, and so did their plan B, which consisted on keeping the score divergence under the 30 points; a bid that they struggled to achieve: actually it’s too good to be true, and they had 2 losing bets in 1 night!!!

USA’s points’ average for winning is still over 30 points after today’s game

USA will face the winner of the game joining Argentina and Greece in semi-finals, and still has 2 more games to wear gold medals. Basketball tickets are definitely sold out with a Dream team that puts on the flame to the game. For the 1^st time since Athens 2000, bidding on Basketball games hadn’t been that easy!

It seems that Yao Ming’s suffering from Chinese sports news will not be over soon, blaming the NBA center of Houston Rockets and pointing at him as a disappointing out-performer.

Chinese Nation betting on Yao’s domination under the opponent’s baskets was surprised to see their local team struggle to go through into the quarter finals, after a very bad show in the 1^st round.

Lithuania, leader of group A in preliminaries and a favorite of playing the final game didn’t have much difficulty during the 40 minutes. The European team eased itself by taking the lead since the beginning, growing a difference of 9 points at the break, and increasing it to 26 dots within the final whistle while sending the Dragons out of the tournament.

Beijing’s semi-final is Lithuania’s 5^th final 4

In a row

3rd quarter was the game’s turning point as they broke free scoring and taking advantage of 2^nd chances while the Chinese defense was unorganized at all. Despite Yao’s 19 points and 7 boards, Lithuania’s team-play on offense was bringing down the China wall of giants, not to mention the long range shots of Sarunas rimming in  5 out of 6 and leading the scoring sheet by 23.

Downtown attempts:

Lithuania averaged 42% (13/31)

China averaged 19% (4/21)

2 points trials:

66% for Lithuania

47% for China

Lithuania’s triumph today, settles a European semi-final against Spain. Spanish line up is trying to preserve its image of world champions what makes the game promising and intense. Sports news in Spain are putting a lot of pressure on their national team, that earlier in preliminaries was facing severe critics due to their humiliating loss against the USA. Lithuania’s bid will be on stopping Pau’s domination, as a key to winning while the Spaniards’ concern will be the coverage of their 3 points lane.

Odds and expectations are wide open with both teams capable of creating “bolt from the blue” and playing for Beijing’s gold! Basketball tickets are on the way of being sold out, while some grapevines mentionned black marketing!

World cup winners Spain had to win this game against Croatia, to preserve their image and to move on into the semi-finals. What was bid on to be an intense and close basketball game, turned into a complete dominance for the Spaniards (12-1 run in 1^st quarter), leading in the 4 quarters and winning at the end 72-59.

Spain’s players just bought the 1^st basketball ticket into the semi-final game of the tournament here in Beijing’s Olympics, led by Pau Gasol’s 20 points and 20 rebounds.

Rebounding was in favor of the world champions (36-29), clearly jumping higher on defensive and offensive recoveries, allowing them to score many points under the basket, not to mention the 3 pointers; Juan Calderon made 2 out of 2 before being substituted, a growing injury that compelled the coach to replace him. Despite the Spanish worries of their team mate’s spoil, they kept on focusing on their game, taking advantage of the pre-built score difference.

Croatia’s betting on 3 points shots aimed to dislocate the Spanish defense under the basket, but with their razor-sharp shooter Marko Popovic on the injury list, every long range shot was twisting away

Croatia made 26% (5 of 19 shots) from long range,

And a field goals average of 38%

At the final shrill, Spain’s basketball jerseys celebrated jumping into the semi finals, to play against Lithuania.

In a TV interview ahead of this basketball game, Pau was asked about the match with the Dream team, where Spain was fiercely destroyed, giving the sports news a delight story to talk about. The NBA star Gasol said that he is over it now, and that his team wasn’t up to their usual level, assuring all the Spanish fans that if a 2^nd game against the USA was to be played, it will definitely have a different scenario. A bidding that looks a little bit provocative from the Spanish star, maybe a message to the Dream team from a side, and to the fans of betting to think twice before picking a side on the betting panels or on sports betting sites.