Olympic Games Final Standings  1. USA 8-0   2. Spain 6-2   3. Argentina 6-2   4. Lithuania 5-3   5. Greece 3-3   6. Croatia 3-3   7. Australia 3-3   8. China 2-4   9. Russia 1-4   10. Germany 1-4   11. Iran 0-5   12. Angola 0-5    Olympic Games Standings Group A  1. Argentina 4-1   2. Lithuania 4-1   3. Australia 3-2   4. Croatia 3-2   5. Russia 1-4   6. Iran 0-5  Group B  1. USA 5-0   2. Spain 4-1   3. Greece 3-2   4. China 2-3   5. Germany 1-4   6. Angola 0-5  Points Per Game  Pau GASOL   ESP   (214-F/C-80)   Avg: 19.6  1. Gasol, ESP 19.6   2. Scola, ARG 19.3   3. Yao, CHN 19.0   4. Ginobili, ARG 17.7   5. Holden, RUS 17.6   6. Nikkhah, IRI 17.2   7. Nowitzki, GER 17.0   8. Ehadadi, IRI 16.6   9. Kirilenko, RUS 15.8   10. Mingas, ANG 15.2 Rebounds Per Game  Hamed EHADADI   (218-C-85)   Avg: 11.2  1. Ehadadi, IRI 11.2   2. Nowitzki, GER 8.4   3. Yao, CHN 8.2   4. Yi, CHN 7.5   5. Scola, ARG 7.1   6. Gasol, ESP 7.0   7. Fotsis, GRE 6.7   8. Khryapa, RUS 6.5   9. Kirilenko, RUS 6.4   10. Nocioni, ARG 6.0  Assists Per Game  Sarunas JASIKEVICIUS   LTU   (192-G-76)   Avg: 5.6  1. Jasikevicius, LTU 5.6   2. Holden, RUS 4.8   3. Prigioni, ARG 4.3   4. Ginobili, ARG 3.9   5. Kirilenko, RUS 3.4   6. Bruton, AUS 3.0   7. Spanoulis, GRE 3.0   8. Papaloukas, GRE 2.8   9. Ukic, CRO 2.8   10. Costa, ANG 2.6  Steals Per Game  Andrei KIRILENKO   RUS   (205-F-81)   Avg: 2.6  1. Kirilenko, RUS 2.6   2. Maciulis, LTU 2.3   3. Prigioni, ARG 2.3   4. Bykov, RUS 2.0   5. Mills, AUS 1.7   6. Bruton, AUS 1.7   7. Yi, CHN 1.7   8. Delfino, ARG 1.6   9. Costa, ANG 1.4   10. Holden, RUS 1.4 Blocks Per Game  Hamed EHADADI   (218-C-85)   Avg: 2.6  1. Ehadadi, IRI 2.6   2. Kirilenko, RUS 2.2   3. Lavrinovic, LTU 1.6   4. Yao, CHN 1.5   5. Gasol, ESP 1.1   6. Lavrinovic, LTU 1.0   7. Javtokas, LTU 0.9   8. Scola, ARG 0.9   9. Khryapa, RUS 0.8   10. Sun, CHN 0.8

Kobe Bryant leads USA to Gold in Beijing (Photo: JumpBall)

Dirk Nowitzki (Photo: BasketNews)

   Final day - Aug. 24, 2008
FINAL GAME

Spain - USA 107-118
USA made it. After eight years without the Gold on the Olympic, USA grabbed it beating reining World champions in the final. Despite USA registered comfortable victory against Spain in Preliminary Round, this time it was a totally different story. Kobe Bryant (198-G-78) and his teammates were on their level scoring 118 points but Spaniards surprised everyone netting 107 also finishing the game with 6 rebounds more than USA.

Spain had a pretty good start. After four minutes in the opening quarter Juan Carlos Navarro (192-G-80) and Ricard Rubio (192-G-90) set the score on 15-11 extending it later to plus 5. In just four minutes Dwyane Wade (193-G-82, college: Marquette) led his team to impressive 21-9 run for 31-38 at the end of the first frame. After triple by Carmelo Anthony (203-F-84, college: Syracuse) USA touched plus 13 but Spain through Pau Gasol (214-F/C-80), Rudy Fernandez (197-G-85) and Carlos Jimenez (203-F-76) quickly get on 42-48. Chris Paul (183-G-85, college: Wake Forest) made two free throws at the USA's last possession in the first half for 61-69. Spaniards few times touched minus 4 in third quarter. They were so close but still far away from a turn. Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony were on fire at the end of this period which resulted with 80-91 but Juan Carlos Navarro made a lay-up at the buzzer closing the gap on nine points. After triple by Rudy Fernandez in 33rd minute Spaniards came one fantastic 89-91 and it seemed that they will finally tie the score but than NBA superstar Kobe Bryant stepped up for USA. He nailed 11 points...

   Semifinals - Aug. 22, 2008
SEMIFINALS

Spain - Lithuania 91-86
Reining World champion is the first finalist of the Olympic Games 2008 in Beijing. Spain was better than tough Lithuania mostly owing to Pau Gasol (214-F/C-80), Rudy Fernandez (197-G-85) and wonderful last frame. Thus Spaniards will wait the other semifinal game in order to find out which team will compete against them for the Olympic Gold.

Everything started good for Spain. After basket by Pau Gasol, Spaniards grabbed 9-4 after four minutes. Later Jorge Garbajosa (205-C/F-77, agency: Interperformances) confirmed 5-point lead with a triple but very soon Lithuanians made quick 5-0 run. Jorge Garbajosa and Carlos Jimenez (203-F-76) immediately answered with 6-0 but Marijonas Petravicius (207-F/C-79, college: S.Carolina) made it from the paint for 21-19 after ten minutes. Beginning of the second quarter belonged to Spain. In just three minutes Spaniards reached 28-20. Sarunas Jasikevicius (192-G-76, college: Maryland), Simas Jasaitis (202-F/G-82) and Ksystof Lavrinovic (210-C-79) woke up after that draining three triples as well as few free throws for a turn 34-39 with 1:29 to go in the first half. Until the end of it Lithuania reached plus 6 but Ricard Rubio (192-G-90) took care for 40-42 after 20 minutes. During the entire third frame Spain managed to take a lead just once and to tie the score three times. Lithuanians once again had plus 5 but they kept 62-66 until the crucial period. Pau Gasol led his team to impressive 19-8 run for 81-74 with 3:39 remaining. Felipe Reyes (203-F/C-80) ...

   Quarterfinals - Aug. 20, 2008
QUARTERFINALS

Argentina - Greece 80-78
Defending Olympic champion succeeded to get through the quarterfinal round recording tight victory against ex European champion Greece. It means that Argentina will take on powerful USA Dream Team in the semifinals of the Olympic Games in Beijing.

It was extremely interesting game until the very end. The bet was huge so both teams played it very concentrated. Greece touched plus four with 1:36 remaining in the first frame hut Carlos Delfino (199-G-82) hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer for 22-23 after ten minutes. Beginning of the second frame was totally leveled. Andres Nocioni (199-F-79) and Carlos Delfino took care for the points in Argentina while Theodoros Papaloukas (200-G-77, agency: Interperformances) and Vassilis Spanoulis (193-G-82, agency: Beo Basket) done the same in Greece. Mostly owing to Kostas Tsartsaris (210-F-79), Greece made 5-0 run setting the score on 31-34 and later 33-38. Argentineans made quick 4-0 coming on 39-40 at the half time. Argentina showed slightly better performance after the breather. Pablo Prigioni (186-G-77) shined and after his triple Argentina took 4-point lead in 26th minute. However, teams went into the last frame with almost tied score 56-55. Carlos Delfino drained two triples for Argentina 62-57 and it seemed it was a crucial period of the game but ...

   Last day of the Preliminary Round - Aug. 18, 2008
Preliminary Group A

Australia - Lithuania 106-75
Australia registered comfortable victory against Lithuania in the last game of the Preliminary Stage. Despite this victory, nothing has changed in Preliminary Group A. The Boomers remained on fourth place with 3-2 because Croatia outplayed Iran earlier today. It means that Australia will meet powerful USA in the quarterfinals. On the other side, first place in Group A was reserved for fantastic Lithuania already before this game. Lithuania's rival in quarterfinals will be China.

It was an extremely easy victory for Australia as Lithuania already secured top position before this game so its players decided to slow down in order to be 100% ready the quarterfinals. Anyway, Australia played impressive first half. Mostly owing to Andrew Bogut (212-F/C-84, college: Utah) and Patrick Mills (178-G-88), the Boomers ended first frame 28-14. After triple by Simas Jasaitis (202-F/G-82), Lithuania came on 33-27 at the half way of the second frame. In just four minutes before the half time Brad Newley (199-G-85) and Andrew Bogut resolved the question about the winner. They led magnificent 22-2 run for plus 26, 55-29. During the following 20 minutes some of the best players of both teams took a rest.

One more time hero of the game was

Preliminary Group A

Croatia - Lithuania 73-86
Lithuania remained perfect after four days on the Olympic Games 2008 in Beijing. This time Croatia was faced with Lithuania's power suffering real fiasco during the last ten minutes. With this victory Lithuania kept top of Preliminary Group A with 4-0 while Croatia dropped on 2-2 but still in the right track for the quarterfinals, especially after Russia's defeat against Australia.

Croatia showed slightly better performance in the first half. Actually thanks to Stanko Barac (217-C-86) and Roko-Leni Ukic (195-G-84) Croatia touched plus 7 in the opening frame. At the half way of the second period Croatia extended lead on 12 points and it seemed that sleepy Lithuania won't be strong enough to grab fourth consecutive victory. Same trend continued after the breather. Mostly owing to Mindaugas Lukauskis (198-G-79) and Sarunas Jasikevicius (192-G-76, college: Maryland) Lithuania made 18-9 coming on minus 3 with 1:57 remaining until the half time. Lithuanians grabbed the first lead on this game at the center of third frame and it was 51-52. However, Zoran Planinic (198-G-82) and Roko-Leni UkicPreliminary Group A

Lithuania - Russia 86-79
Lithuania continued with the fantastic results in Beijing. After victories against reining Olympic champion Argentina and Asian champion Iran, Lithuanians outplayed current European champion Russia. Nobody expected such good performances from Sarunas Jasikevicius (192-G-76, college: Maryland) and his teammates at the very beginning but Lithuania improved to 3-0 in Preliminary Group A. On the other hand Russia remained on just one victory, which happened in the first round against Iran.

Lithuanias most powerful weapon today were rebounds. Ramunas Siskauskas (197-G-78) and his teammates ended this game grabbing 13 +35 while Russia had 9 +25. After almost leveled first frame, Lithuania touched plus 6 with two triples by Rimantas Kaukenas (193-G-77, college: Seton Hall) and Ramunas Siskauskas. J.R. Holden (185-G-76, college: Bucknell) answered with successful long range stroke setting the score on 41-44 at the half time. Begging of third frame also belonged to Lithuania. After 3-pointer, but this time from

Preliminary Group A

Iran - Lithuania 67-99
Lithuanians grabbed second victory on the Olympic Games 2008 in Beijing. As a reminder, at the opening day Lithuanians made a surprise beating reining Olympic champions Argentina. On the other side Iranians faced with second defeat.

Except of the first stanza, Lithuania had total control on its opponent. Iranians entered into this game very motivated creating 14-6 at the early beginning. Lithuanians woke up in the second frame making impressive 18-0 run led by Sarunas Jasikevicius (192-G-76, college: Maryland), who scored 11 points during these few minutes. Iranians couldn't recover from this shock despite they had 15 minutes at the half time to do it. After the breather Linas Kleiza (203-F-85, agency: Interperformances, college: Missouri) and Rimantas Kaukenas (193-G-77, college: Seton Hall) joined Sarunas Jasikevicius which resulted with 41-64 at the center of third quarter. Lithuanians didn't stop until the very end taking care for comfortable victory 67-99.

Hero from the game against Argentina Linas Kleiza this time also showed pretty good performance for the winning side. He collected 22 points and 8 boards for 22 minutes. Sarunas Jasikevicius followed him with 20 points while Rimantas Kaukenas

   Olympics: Greece - Germany 87-64 - Aug. 12, 2008
Greece made its first win at these Olympic Games, very easy, against Germany. Panagiotis Yannakis made the first surprise at the game by starting the game with Andreas Gliniadakis (215-C-81), in order to face better Chris Kaman (213-C-82, college: Cent.Michigan), who also made the first basket for Greece. Germany made four early mistakes, after Greece's pressure, from which Greece took advantage and took the lead with 7-0, which was then extended to 12-2. The advantage remained for Greece (19-13), but Germany has started scoring, especially from 3-point line (3/4 successful attempts). However, this percentage increased to 5/7, with Dirk Nowitzki (211-F-78) having two successful consecutive attempts, and the first period ended at 23-21, with a 10-2 serie.
The second period started with an early 12-0 from Greece with Dimitris Diamantidis (196-G-80) scoring 6 points, to give a 8-point lead (33-23), while Germany hasn't scored for 5:06 minutes at this period. The picture of the game didn't change much until the end of this first half, although Germany reduced the difference at 6 points (39-33), due to the 3-point shots, before Greece with a 5-0 serie, took the final lead of 11 points (44-33). Theodoros Papaloukas (200-G-77, agency: Interperformances) appearance at this second period should also be mentioned (6 points and very good defense), without forgetting the general good percentage at free throws. On the other hand, Germany may had more rebounds and a very good percentage at 3-point shots, but its turnovers and Creece's very good defense (10 points at the second period) were proved important at this first half (Dirk Nowitzki had also three fouls).
At the second half the difference extended at 15 points for Greece (50-35), 7:21 before the end of the third period. Germany reduced it at 10 (50-40), but with the help of Vassilis Spanoulis (193-G-82, agency: Beo Basket) and mainly Andreas Gliniadakis (8 points) it was restored quickly (57-40), with 5 minutes till the end, and 66-45 later. The final difference at this period was shaped at 21 points (69-48).
The final period didn't change much at the whole picture. Greece's defense remained strong, Dirk Nowitzki and Chris Kaman were preferred to rest. The difference was increased even to 27 points (87-60), before its final shape at 23 (87-64).
Greece: Theodoros Papaloukas 15, Ioannis Bouroussis (212-C-83, agency: FCM) 5, Nikos Zisis (195-G-83) 2, Panagiotis Yannakis made the first surprise at the game by starting the game with Andreas Gliniadakis (215-C-81), in order to face better Chris Kaman (213-C-82, college: Cent.Michigan), who also made the first basket for Greece. Germany made four early mistakes, after Greeces pressure, from which Greece took advantage and took the lead with 7-0, which was then extended to 12-2. The advantage remained for Greece (19-13), but Germany has started scoring, especially from 3-point line (3/4 successful attempts). However, this percentage increased to 5/7, with Dirk Nowitzki (211-F-78) having two successful consecutive attempts, and the first period ended at 23-21, with a 10-2 serie.
The second period started with an early 12-0 from Greece with Dimitris Diamantidis (196-G-80) scoring 6 points, to give a 8-point lead (33-23), while Germany hasnt scored for 5:06 minutes at this period. The picture of the game didnt change much until the end of this first half, although Germany reduced the difference at 6 points (39-33), due to the 3-point shots, before Greece with a 5-0 serie, took the final lead of 11 points (44-33). Theodoros Papaloukas (200-G-77, agency: Interperformances) appearance at this second period should also be mentioned (6 points and very good defense), without forgetting the general good percentage at free throws. On the other hand, Germany may had more rebounds and a very good percentage at 3-point shots, but its turnovers and Creeces very good defense (10 points at the second period) were proved important at this first half (Dirk Nowitzki had also three fouls).

   Preliminary Day 1 - Aug. 10, 2008

Preliminary Group A

Lithuania - Argentina 79-75
Lithuania took care for the first surprise on the Olympic Games in Beijing. Despite majority of basketball public in the World expected victory by the reining Olympic champions Argentina, it didn't happen. Thus Lithuania started the Olympics with 1-0 in Preliminary Group A, where except of these two teams are also placed Australia, Croatia, Russia and Iran.
The main reason of this victory by Lithuania could be poor percentage from Argentina's superstar Emanuel Ginobili (198-G-77, agency: Interperformances), who missed almost 2/3 of his shots from the field. Emanuel Ginobili wasn't the only one with bad stroke today as Andres Nocioni (199-F-79) joined him making just 5 of 14 from the field. Despite 9 rebounds less than its opponent, Lithuanians compensated it with a team play and solid stroke for behind the arc (10 of 25). Both tames showed their nerves as it was the first game on this prestigious event, which resulted with 16 turnovers by Lithuania and 18 by Argentina. Lithuania showed better performance in the first half touching plus 6 couple of times. After the breather Luis Scola (206-F/C-80), Andres Nocioni and Emanuel Ginobili made quick 7-0 run taking 3-points lead. They succeeded to keep it until 2:40 remaining in the first half when Robertas Javtokas (211-C-80, agency: Interperformances, college: Arizona) together with...