ISW

By Kellex

The United States showed the rest of the planet, that they not only have the best players, they have the best team. Team USA has won the Gold Medal in Basketball in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, defeating Spain 118-107. The victory puts Team USA back on top of the World of Hoops for the first time since before the 2002 World Championship Games.

As I have written before on these pages, the 2008 edition of Team USA was nicknamed the “Redeem Team” for a reason. Not only to win the 2008 Games but to restore the United States back on top of the heap of Basketball. A combination of factors put the United States in the also ran column, ten years after the original “Dream Team” rocked the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. The main two however, were the rest of the world’s players were catching up with the Americans in the talent department. And now they were good enough that if they played at their best, and Team USA played as five different players, rather than as a team other teams could beat them.

Team USA came out of the starting blocks strong in the first quarter amassing a 38-31 lead at the end of the period. That was the only quarter in the contest that the Americans, dominated, but it was enough to keep them on top throughout the game and give them their first Olympic Gold Medal since 2000.

Guard Dwyane Wade who proved throughout these Games, that he is fully recovered from the injury that kept him sidelined this past season led Team USA once again. D-Wade came off the bench and scored a game high 27 points, 2 assists, 1 rebound. Kobe Bryant scored 20 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 blocks, LeBron James had 14 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block. Carmelo Anthony scored 13 points, 1 rebound, Chris Paul also scored 13 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds, in the victory.

This was the second time the Spanish time during these Games, after losing earlier in the Tournament 119-82. However this time time they were without one of their major components staring point guard Jose Calderon. Without Calderon in the game for Spain to be as competitive as they were was quite impressive. Forward Rudy Fernandaez led his team with 22 points, Pau Gasol, in the loss. The loss gives Spain the Silver Medal.

Le Basketbawl