OS Beijing 2008 Paralympics Olympics Pekin

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!!!

Korea was really determined, realizing that they can’t win, thus they played very well in the 1^st quarter: 25-21 with a high percentage of 59% in field goals. However, the 2^nd and 3^rd quarters were very damaging to the Koreans, by being held in each of the 2 shifts to 9 points only, while US scored 26 in each to pull up the difference to 38 dots, with 1 quarter remaining.

Last part of the game was set on 27-21 with a good Korean performance to say goodbye for The Olympics.

Sylvia Fowles who was leading her team today, ended the game with a balance of 26 points and 14 rebounds (8 offensives); it was an emotional occasion for Fowles to let her team mates realize that she’s here, and she’s back on top after the knee’s injury.

USA jerseys’ victory tonight is the 31^st in a row, in Olympic Games. In Beijing’s tournament, Yankees are winning with an average of 43 points.

America should meet Australia in the final…a game as much awaited for fans, as  for bet lovers to start their gamble, at the same time as this event is already all over the Sports betting sites and sports news. With both teams having one step further to reach the gold medal, the USA basketball jerseys will face Spain in the semi finals; a game mostly anticipated by coach Anne Donovan, considering this match as the best test for finals in Beijing.

A wholesome African derby game, joining as one an unbelievable wonderful crowd betting on a happy ending, and hoping to be the very last team to join Brazil’s Selacao, Italy’s Squadra Azura and Argentina’s tango boys into the semi-finals, and benefit from winning at least a medal, and why not? A golden one!

As the 1^st half was going to an end, not much was happening on the game’s field, until seconds from reaching the break, when Peter Odemwingie stroke a VOLET shot into the elephants’ net, giving Nigeria the lead by 1 to null.

After the break, it was a bit different. Cote d’Ivoire managing a chance or two every few minutes, yet incapable of setting the game their way. Unwilling to get the fixture sweep away, the whole team was participating in building offensive strategies, leaving a vulnerable defense behind; scoring a goal was the last and only hope, it’s either that, or going home.

In the 82^nd minute, Cameroonian Chinedu earned a penalty after being brought down by the Orange defender; captain Obinna converted the shot into a 2^nd goal, killing any coasters’ hope of moving on in the Olympics.

Nigeria will face Belgium in the last game before the final! Both nations are eager to step into Beijing’s ultimate game and set a winning history. Sports news affirmed the similarity between Nigeria’s Olympic winners in 94 and Nigeria’s 2008 team. Will Africans win again, and beat any expected odds? Will the dream team of Africa be a nightmare for all Belgium efforts?

A new bluster in the Olympics! Belarus fronted by Anatoly Buyalski responded in “revolution” to their pre-lost game with Russia, and filled the crowds of Beijing’s Wukesong Arena with high spirits after beating Koreans by 10 points, 63-53; in tallness mismatched game while out-rebounding the shorter Koreans.

West Europeans have moved to the quarter finals, tossing 90% of the sports betting and odds, and will be playing amongst the best teams of the world.

The finest piece of the game was from the 2 knees ill-treated Yelena Leuchanka, who overcame the sting, scoring 10 dots along with 14 rebounds.

Belarus will have to work on reducing its turnover (30 turnovers against Korea) while facing the Brazilians in their next match.

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!

China’s usual key to win, is using the down town shots. With many skilled shooters on the team, the Asians concentrated on an open game, setting Yao Ming free under Angola’s basket.

Yao, China’s giant and Houston Rockets star, was out crying and asking his comrades to pass him the ball, knowing that he was free under the basket, many times. Scoring 30 points, giant dragon filled his team mates with energy and self-reliance and offered his host country a small hope of qualifying to the quarter finals.

He declared that it is really nice to win in the Olympics, in China his home land, with 17000 supporters cheering and enjoying the 1^st prevailed game.

Would China beat the odds, and make a blow? I would leave that to the betting sites, and for time to clear it up.

Spain keeps reminding all TV viewers, all crowds, that they didn’t get their title of world champions, by mistake! And that they worked really hard before and here for these Olympics. Pau Gasol scored 13 points, in what was a close, but tough game. Very physically entailing, it was a battle of giants of supremacy under the basket: Gasol Vs Nowitzki

The Spaniard, Lakers team player with the yellow basketball jersey, made 5 rebounds and scored 13 points. In defense he was covered by Marc Gasol, making 8 defensive rebounds and scoring 7 points.

From the German side, inflexible defense on Nowitzki kept him from playing freely under the basket, with 11 points on the count and 5 rebounds. The scorer of the game was Hamann, keeping count till 15.

In what seemed to be a defensive game, odds did not go wrong, and sports betting sites came clear that Spain had a slight advantage over the Germans.

In fact, what came to public views, on TV news and sports news wasn’t the sport result, or the performance of either teams. What mattered the most is a photo including all the members of the Spanish team, stretching their eyes to look like China Style.

Some found it disturbing, and full of roguery, as others said that it means no harm, and it is funny. Both ways, this shouldn’t affect Spain’s running for the gold in these Olympic Games.