OS Beijing 2008 Paralympics Olympics Pekin

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!

China faced Czech Republic in the last group’s game, a game to fix the group’s standings. Leading from the beginning till the end, China’s ladies were a bit concerned about facing their opponents, after being beaten twice in practice games.

Unusually, Europe’s team wasn’t too much into the game, with only 35% from close range and 26% from the wide arc, giving the host nation a chance to lead the sport from the very 1^st minute until the final whistle: 79-63

Many Chinese ladies scored with double figures, raising their team into the final 8.

Belarus is known to be stubborn, and the game will be much anticipated. I bet it’s going to be real hot in the stadium as both teams are known to be fighters, not quitters!

Basketball tickets are almost out, that’s being the case for every Chinese game, and sports news are starring and headlining the dragon’s ladies in order to encourage them; China is trying to show the world its modern and civilized image!

As ferocious as the men’s team, ladies of the United States are showing no kindness against any team, giving everything they got to crash any opponent. This time, it was New Zealand’s time to get on knees.

96-60, a diversity of 36 points took the undefeated in group B and 3 times champion into the quarter finals in what’s expected to be a trouble-free game against Koreans.

Kiwis that were forced into 21 turnovers couldn’t stop the waves of offensive strength and smashing into their rim; 4 basketball jerseys from US ladies scored in double figures: Tina Thompson reached 15, Katie Smith 13, Seimone 12 and Catchings 11. Promising young Center Fowles added 8 points and 6 rebounds to support her team mates.

Anne Donovan, Yankees coach expressed her thrilled attitude towards her team, especially when it comes to the player’s concentration from the 1^st seconds until the last ones, despite the score’s difference. 

Looking at former results in Beijing’s Olympics, the USA looks much more trustful, and is definitely a winning bet in this game. Basketball tickets are almost sold out for the next games to come; sports news is highly contributing in sales, due to their effect on TV viewers and readers.

Dragons’ extreme defense drove Mali to commit 21 turnovers. China’s effort paid off finally, while moving up to the 2^nd place in group B, in a 69-48 triumph in the game. Basketball tickets who were sold out in Wukesong arena gave a special privilege to the crowded stadium, where supporters were cheering in favor of their hosting team. For Asia’s biggest nation who had beaten the United States during the Basketball testing event, winning a medal is definitely a good bet. TV and sports news in China are forming huge campaigns to encourage their local team looking good so far.

China who got motivated after beating the Spaniards, were looking forward to a 2^nd position in their group, in order to avoid a confrontation with the Australians, seizers of the world championship

Spaniards were playing to win! They wanted to show the world that it’s not always about the States and Australia. Spain’s women team influenced by the men’s world championship title, made out of the 1^st half a fierce battle with a strategy of “follow the leader”. At half time ESPANIA was only 5 points behind, 39-34.

3^rd quarter was a turning point, as US coach Donovan put a winning bet on her team’s defensive strength, keeping Spain scoreless for 2 minutes and 19 seconds. Latinas were looking tensed, unable to break the eagles net, followed by a suspicious foul on Montanana who couldn’t help sending a protest towards the referee. And as if it wasn’t enough, Spanish trouble was going together with 2 turnovers, which the Yankees transformed into valuable points, creating a comfortable lead.

At the end it was 93-55, with a huge Spanish disappointment and a happy American coach, who considered that her team was tested for the 1^st time in these Olympics and came out of it TALL.

From the other side, Spain’s coach gave no excuses and agreed along with her players, that playing against USA calls for 40 minutes of focus; we played for only 20 minutes.

Just like the men’s game, basketball tickets are out of being sold…. Sports news and TV gave a gigantic push for women basketball, that’s turning into a very popular sport.

America’s victory today, is a reply to the kangaroo’s smashing triumph against Latvia. Bets and odds are all circling around an Anglophonic final that joins Aussies and Yankees!

Deutch players clearly counting on the talented star of the Dallas Mavericks player Dirk Nowitzki, lost their bet on winning, while Greece’s mode of dealing with Germans, counted on team effort. The Dallas much loved Dirk, was double teamed, and closely watched by the blues, keeping him away from scoring as usual: 13 points!

Spanoulis’ 23 points (4 of 6 from 3points lane) were enough to front all of his team mates to a relaxing win, through 23 points of difference, where Nowitzki’s capabalities and  fitness under the basket, or from the 3 points lane were not enough and efficient  to rescue the German lineup. Blue captain Papaloukas gave credit to all of his team, saying that everyone of them contributed in a way or another, making it clear that their well organized defense and the good finishing in attack were behind their triumph.

When asked about facing the United States, he made it clear that the dream team is different!

Being the 2006-07 NBA’s MVP, Dirk averaged 22.3 points and rapidly became a fan loved player as he participated in many basketball camps and many beneficent humanitarian campaigns.

Dirk’s awaited on TV, picked by players in video games (NBA), and whose achievements are attentively watched on sports new by the analysts, reviewers and critics.

On the other hand, he made a huge impact on the sports betting concept and panes, on sports news and in books, not to mention the increase of basketball tickets sales in Dallas.