Redeem Team Routs Host China In Olympic Debut
Just five days ago, in their victory against Australia, the United States basketball team was just plain sloppy. There were lapses in defense, extended stretches of one-on-one play and terrible shooting. Considering Australia was playing without their best player, Andrew Bogut, there was legitimate concern about how the United States would react against China when the games counted. After their 101-70 blowout victory over the Olympic host country, the United States put those to rest… for one game at least.
The United States were led by Dwyane Wade who scored 19 points and was perfect from the field while LeBron James scored 18 points, grabbed six rebounds and blocked three shots. China was led by center Yao Ming who scored 13 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, and Zhu Fangyu who scored 11 points and grabbed eight rebounds of his own.
In the first half, it appeared as if China was feeding off the raucous home crowd. Twenty seconds into the game, Yao Ming drained a three-pointer from the top of the key and the crowd broke into a deafening cheer. That basket set the tone for China, as they hit seven three-pointers in the first half.
The United States looked like they were trying to figure out the strategy of China for the majority of the first half. Led by the pressure defense of Kobe Bryant and the offense of James and Dwight Howard, the United States played solidly, and their lead consistently hovered around three or four points. There were no sloppy or lackadaisical plays, they were simply trying to weather the emotional storm of China.
And then “it” happened.
With 5:32 left in the first half, the United States and China were tied at 29, and it appeared as if China would not go away. Then Bryant and James starting turning up the defensive pressure and it proved to be infectious. Bryant scored on consecutive dunks, James started getting fast break points and was seemingly all over the floor, Jason Kidd was throwing crosscourt assists, Chris Bosh was grabbing rebounds and following missed shots and Wade continued to be active on both ends of the floor.
Not coincidentally, China began to miss the three-point attempts which had been falling so easily in the first half and by halftime they found themselves down 49-37 points to the US. That was the closest they would be the remainder of the game.
The third quarter looked similar to the last five minutes of the first half as China continued to shoot poorly and the United States continued to play pressure defense. The shots that they been hitting with relative ease in the first quarter and the early part of the second were now coming up short. That, along with 14 points combined between James and Wade allowed the US to stretch their 12-point halftime lead to 26 points by the end of the third quarter.
By the time the fourth quarter started, garbage time was in full effect, and the majority of the starters were out of the game. Deron Williams and Michael Redd put on scoring exhibitions and prevented China from entertaining any notions of a come back. By the time Yao Ming left the game and saluted the home town crowd midway through the fourth quarter, the United States had the game well in hand.
The US’ next game will come on Tuesday when they take on Angola, who were torched by Dirk Nowitzki and Germany, 95-66. China’s next game comes against world champion Spain.
This article was written by:
Rashad Mobley - who has written 69 posts on Hoops Addict.
Rashad Mobley graduated with a B.S. in English Education, from Hampton University in Hampton, VA in 1996. He is a government consultant for the Department of Justice in Washington D.C., where he currently resides. Rashad is will be covering the Washington Wizards for HoopsAddict.com during the upcoming NBA season.