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!!!

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?

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!

The dreams of some are the nightmares of others…

Germany begging for sympathy while US warriors break up earth under German feet! What was that? A training session? Or a serious match? 49 points of difference to mark the outstanding formation of Coach Mike and honor his well respected being among the body built American basketball jerseys!

Crowd was on feet, the stadium was red hot, and it was Show time. This was beyond imagination, knocking down all the sports betting and odds. Sports news are definitely going to headline the German humiliation of Nowitzki and friends.

With swimming new legend Michael Phelps (8 gold medals) between the crowds, Dream Team saluted the new champion in the same impressive way! They offered him a MASTERPIECE game.

Lebron James scored 18 points, while Dwight Howard made 22 added to Bryant’s 13 marks.

This kind of domination in the Beijing’s basketball tournament has been witnessed back in 1992, the date of launching the Dream Team that uncluded the NBA’s most impressive players, such as Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Charles Barkley, etc.

German betting on Nowitzki was a total failure: he just completed a very stressful, yet substandard Olympics!

This Wednesday, Dream team will face Australia in quarter finals.

The game was tensed, full of nervousness, especially with the 2 foreign NBA stars placed head to head.

Yao ming who plays for the Houston Rockets had to lead China into a definite and urgent win against Dallas Macericks’ Dirk Nowtizki and team mates.

Played in the final seconds, the nerves exhausting game was being watched by millions, for its importance; a win qualifies the host nation into the quarter final.

Despite the Germans come back into the game, nowitzki’s 24 points weren’t enough to stop the 3 pointer of China in the final 18 seconds.

The difference was now of 4 points and is hard to reduce despite the NBA’s German final shot from long range, hopelessly unframed. Deutschland is unfortunately knocked out, while China passes into the next level.

German coach is proud of his team’s performance, despite the elimination and wished his team could keep up with leading the game, such as it was before the break!

From the Asian point of view, it was a huge enthusiastic moment, a bit hard, but after a long series of criticism on TV and sports news, they made it through. Their qualification posted them against Greece, a much anticipated game for the hosting nation this 18^th.

Domination remains, dream team nomination is finally for real. Eagles unleashed in a game of Eagles poles against Spain were incredibly thrilling and supernatural, sucking all the intensity out of the Spaniards and turning the game into their own approach. Yellow basketball jerseys were forced into 28 turnovers, in face of the most ferocious defense, talking of China’s wall!

Although including a number of NBA players, and European stars, Pau Gasol and Spanish mates were left behind in  keeping count, suffering from a poor field score percentage (6of 28 in long range shots), turnovers and slow movements! Americans were faster and better:

Lebron James scored 18, dwayne wade and Anthony (4 of 6 in 3 points shot) ended up with 16 points each. 8 of the US lineup were “score wise” double figured.

Pau Gasol uncertainty about the team’s performance during the game was faced by a relief in the Yankees side who made it clear that they are getting better!

The declaration can be understood in 2 ways:

• 1- The dream team can be much stronger and violent in tearing apart every opponent.
• 2- A clear alert and a loud warning for challengers to seek silver or bronze, nothing else.

As for the sports betting sites, the leader on sheets is way ahead of the others. USA looks like the best bet in men’s basketball tournament.

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.

Tens of million spectators, thousands of waving flags, and all eyes fixed on the tv sets, were not enough for Yao ming and friends, to compete against the American dream team, whose players announced earlier that a win in china’s Olympic is crucial and decisive.

The game started real close on scores, with a very excited Chinese team, showing a huge enthusiasm all over the basketball court and definitely counting on the leadership of their NBA’s giant Yao (Houston rockets), scoring 13 points under the well-built defensive strategies of the USA team, as other team mates weren’t so lucky in finding the net from the 3 points line, knowing that the downtown shots are a lethal weapon of the Chinese dragon.

In the 2^nd period, the game started to get loose from the Asian hosts, as Uncle Sam cruised on with the score difference, leaving a hopeless China way behind, with a gap that almost reached the 40 points, during the game, which later on, turned out to look like a training for the Yankees, and a Showtime blast for the 16000 Chinese fans cheering for their locals, and for their NBA idols such as the MVP ( most valuable player) Kobe Bryant, Lebron James and Dwaine wade, whose show kept the crowd on their feet, despite the massive defeat: 101-70

During a pre-match interview, coach mikes Krzyzewski declared that he’s counting on the talent, strength and nerves of steel, as a way to beat China. Kobe Bryant made it clear that the US has to bring gold back home. Other wise he’d rather change his family name and disguise into an Italian and stay abroad and away from the states.

Was it a joke?

The Americans were never as determined to bring back the gold and the glory to their home nation, (accompanied by their current and former presidents: Bush, and Bush senior), after earning only a bronze medal in Athens 2004 and a dramatic semi final loss in 2006’s world championship against the Greeks.

Betting reports, reported and gossiped that a large portion of the bets is in favor of the Spanish team, but came clean that the dream team is leading by a considerable integer. As bet sites and panes deal with results, I bet that there will be no vacant seats in the stadium, and definitely no left over when it comes to the basketball tickets sold in Beijing, for this particular game, that’s expected to fulfill all the corners and passageways of the stadium.

The next group B preliminary game will put the American persistence, in face of the world champions, the Spaniards, led by their NBA star, Pau Gasol (Los Angeles Lakers). This is definitely not a basketball game to be missed, especially that’s considered to be an early final! We expect to benefit from the basketball hoops, as it embraces the 2 poles of the game on the 16^th of august.