Pete Thamel -- A Great Writer

United States 101, China 70
After Glimmer of Glory for China, U.S. Pulls Away

Chang W. Lee/The New York Times
Kobe Bryant and Chris Bosh of the U.S. defended against China's Chen Jianghua during their first preliminary round game.
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new_york_times:http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/11/sports/olympics/11hoops.html

By PETE THAMEL
Published: August 10, 2008
BEIJING — China’s basketball game with the United States on Sunday was billed as a seminal moment of these Olympics and one of the most important sporting events in this country’s history.
President Bush and his father watched from the stands, hundreds of millions tuned in on television and tickets were so hard to come by that even the United States Olympic wrestling legend Rulon Gardner struggled to get a seat.
But after all the camera flashes and breathless “ooooohs,” a simple reality set in: Sometimes a game can be more of an event than a contest. Both Bushes left early, Yao Ming looked winded and the United States basketball team showed there is still a gulf between itself and China in a 101-70 blowout.
The Chinese made it interesting early, using a flurry of 3-point shots and a tidal wave of emotion to play to a 29-29 tie late in the second quarter. The United States looked vulnerable for a stretch, opening the game 1 for 15 from 3-point range and playing passively against China’s zone defense. But in a decisive span of the second quarter, the United States had dunks on eight of nine field goals to turn the game into a rout.
“It’s a good win,” said Deron Williams, a reserve guard for the United States. “We won by 30 and struggled in the first half.”
Dwyane Wade led the United States with 19 points off the bench, making all seven of his field goals and all five of his free throws, and LeBron James had 18 points.
The eyes of China were fixed on Yao, and fans gasped when he dunked in warm-ups, but he struggled in his first game since February, when a stress fracture in his foot caused him to miss the end of the N.B.A. season. Yao finished with 13 points, on 3-for-10 shooting from the field, and 10 rebounds.
The Chinese showed enough pluck to emerge as a contender to reach the medal round, which would be a significant milestone for a program with designs on becoming one of the top teams in the world within a decade.
“We’ll be more confident after tonight,” said forward Zhu Fangyu. “After all, they are the American team and we acted very tough.”
While frontcourt players like Yao and Yi Jianlian have become solid N.B.A. players, the Chinese national team must drastically improve its backcourt to seriously contend for a medal. China’s guards were overmatched and struggled to dribble with their left hands. No play better epitomized that than when James pinned a shot from Liu Wei against the backboard with two hands, leading to an easy breakaway dunk for Wade.
Williams said an opportunistic defense that leads to easy baskets is America’s game plan for this Olympics. “That’s our main goal,” he said. “Our defense needs to be there every night.”
Just moments after President Bush arrived amid the popping camera flashes, Team China was introduced to a roaring crowd. Yao led the squad out of the tunnel, and the crowd roared at his first dunk during warm-ups. Yao appreciated the intensity of the atmosphere.
“This is a personal Olympics for me,” he said. “Everyone is proud. It felt great, all the flags and people cheering. It was a great game, great atmosphere.”
As vigorously as the crowd cheered for Yao, they also gave consistent rousing ovations to the United States.
This marked a significant departure for Team USA from the Athens Olympics, when the players were consistently booed and branded as spoiled prima donnas as they sputtered to a bronze medal.
In China, there is a passion for the N.B.A. The Americans will not face any hostile crowds here as they attempt to win their first gold medal in international competition since 2000.
“I think we’re more known here than we are in the States, as far as fans go,” Williams said. “The fans have been wonderful here. Everywhere we go they know all our names.”
N.B.A. stars — especially Bryant — are treated with awe and reverence. Even thought Bryant struggled against China, shooting 6 of 14 from the floor and 1 of 7 from 3-point range, he was showered with cheers. James said China’s love of Bryant is indicative of the nation’s passion for basketball.
“People try to run and go through security to get to Kobe,” he said. “You better be ready.”
After a slow start that could foreshadow problems shooting over the zone defenses of more formidable teams like Spain and Greece, the United States finally looked ready. And with the United States leading, 84-50, with 6 minutes 54 seconds remaining, both Bushes headed for the exit.
They had seen and experienced enough. Midnight was rapidly approaching, and this most anticipated event had long since ceased being a contest.