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Yao Ming and China Won't be Winning Any Medals

CHN » True Hoop
August 20th, 2008 by CHN
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China's dream of joining the world's elite basketball programs on the medal stand has come to an end. Sarunas Jasikevicius made five of six three-pointers for dangerous Lithuania -- their only loss was a meaningless game to Australia -- which rolled to a 26-point victory. Yao Ming finished with 19 points and seven rebounds in 34 minutes. The Croatian team had impressed many onlookers in the qualifying rounds and had been talked about as dark-horse medal candidates. Yet their hopes are dashed in the first day of elimination competition, as Spain built an early lead -- Pau Gasol finished with 20 -- and hung on for the win. At halftime against Australia, the U.S. is leading by a dozen, but it's not a comfortable dozen. The team has already missed ten 3-pointers, while Australia has been keeping the game closer than the score would appear. If Deron Williams hadn't nailed a 3 at the half-time buzzer, Australia would have been within single digits which can make funny things happen. All told, though, a good start for Team USA. Being cold from the outside and having a lead? That implies good things about defense, rebounding, turnovers and the like. Plenty of reason for optimism there. UPDATE: Sign of progress: Carmelo Anthony -- one of the worst defenders of the 2006 World Championships -- just made a great read in a two-man game, and picked off a pass that would have otherwise been a layup for Australia. The U.S. has come out strong early in the second half, and now the lead is more than twenty. Andrew Bogut has left the game with a sore ankle. UPDATE: After Kobe Bryant nailed two shots from a combined 65 feet or so, this one is wholly over. Tough game coming up: Argentina vs. Greece. The winner gets Team USA in the semifinals. It's Spain vs. Lithuania in the other semifinal, and we're quickly to the point of the competition featuring nothing but the very best.

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