From Deseret News archives:
U.S. basketball team rolls to blow out China
A torrential rainstorm swamping the second day of competition at Beijing Summer Games. A Sunday night basketball game mixing a host of NBA superstar talent with halftime and time-out entertainment performances by two-man tandems dressed in ancient Chinese lion costumes and lines of young women dancing with hand fans. The standing room only Olympic Basketball Gymnasium crowd of 11,083 wildly cheering for both sides.
Oh, and a United States-China game that started off with a Yao Ming 3-pointer, followed by an early barrage of Chinese treys that kept host China even with the powerhouse Americans through the first 15 minutes of their Olympic opener.
But as the game's final seconds ticked away after midnight, the United States had restored some semblance of order and expectation with a 101-70 rout of China, overwhelming the hosts with nonstop athleticism and a stifling defense that camouflaged early offensive woes.
"I think the fans in China got a great show tonight," said Dwyane Wade, who led the U.S with 7-of-7 shooting and a game-high 19 points, showing no signs of last season's knee injury.
For the Americans, Sunday's game was to shake off opening-night jitters, learn how to make real-time adjustments against international foes and set a tone and tempo to dictate the game.
"We were a little wound up, a little sped up," said Deron Williams, the Utah Jazz guard who finished with nine points and four rebounds. "Once we settled down in the second quarter and especially in the second half, we were able to blow the game open, get some points in transition and finally start hitting some shots form he outside."
Carlos Boozer, Williams' teammate both on the Jazz and U.S. squad, agreed: "We're going to build off this game and continue to improve so that by the time we get to the final game, we're playing our best basketball."
Boozer finished with five points, three rebounds, an assist and a steal.
The Americans were at their best on defense, dominating the Chinese in steals (14-2) and then capitalizing on the other end with points off turnovers (a 12-2 margin) and scoring on the fast break (24-4).
"That's our main goal," Williams said. "Our defense needs to be there every night in case our offense isn't, and our offense wasn't really there in the first half."
Recent comments
While I could see why you would say "Big Deal" considering China...
RE: Big Deal! | Aug. 11, 2008 at 11:02 a.m.
When the average guy in China is 5'4 I just don't see what the fuss...
Big deal! | Aug. 11, 2008 at 9:46 a.m.
- NASA sets Monday shuttle launch 11:53 a.m.
- WVC robberies investigated 11:41 a.m.
- Funeral today for Utah soldier 11:16 a.m.
- Vaccination clinic set in St. George 11:15 a.m.
- $47B in suspect Medicare claims 11:11 a.m.
- 3 dead in Reno helicopter crash 11:02 a.m.
- Galaxy headed to MLS Cup 10:45 a.m.
- Veteran climber dies in Himalayas 10:36 a.m.
- Slovakia beats U.S. 1-0 10:30 a.m.
- Suicide attack kills 11 in Pakistan 10:28 a.m.
- Attack meant to kill apostle
- Williams leaves, won't play tonight
- Short-handed Jazz fly past Sixers
- Can BYU root for (ick) Utah Utes?
- Man killed during 3rd I-15 crash
- Bench proves fruitful for Y.
- D-Will home for daughter
- Trial begins in toddler death
- Born of water and the spirit
- Utes excited for 'dream' game
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
349 - Editorial: Mormons and gay rights
199 - Senators want food tax restored
162 - Will state consider gay rights law?
145 - Letters: Strange breed in Utah
129 - Utes remain silent about BCS
120 - S.L. vote pending on gay protections
113 - Can BYU root for (ick) Utah Utes?
105 - Celtics crush Jazz
104 - Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
103
The reason that won't be the case is because, unlike your teams line, our...
This freedom of speech issue is enough to make me want to remain as a private...
What is everyone talking about? Good luck next game? I could have sworn I...
yeah, TV might be rude. but springville isn't smart for trying to compare...
Thanks, Robinson, for a laugh-out-loud funny article which makes a point then...
WAC 1-0 vs the MWC this year, next week will be 2-0 for the WAC when Utah...
"Three Rivers" is an excellent program. I hope everyone will tune in!
A real man! What a pro that Mathis is! He's great! I thought Matthews played...
I wouldn't call Brown "big". Tall, maybe, but he's maybe the skinniest high...
Tobacco prevention saves lives and money.

