Day 3 Scoreboard
Group A
Pat Mills helps Australia to their first win in Pool A action vs Iran
Australia 106 Iran 68
Lithuana 86 Russia 79
Argentina 77 Croatia 53
Group A Standings
Luthuania 3-0
Argentina 2-1
Croatia 2-1
Russia 1-2
Australia 1-2
Iran 0-3
Group B
Revenge is sweet even 4 years later as Chris Bosh and Team U.S.A blowout Greece who defeated the Americans in Anthens in 2004.
Spain 72 Germany 59
U.S.A 92 Greece 69
China 85 Angola 69
Group B Standings
U.S.A 3-0
Spain 3-0
Germany 1-2
Greece 1-2
China 1-2
Angola 0-3
Raptors In China
Chris Bosh Spending his off Day at “The Cube” watching Micheal Phelps and the Americans in the Pool.
Day 3 Raptor Recap
Jose Calderon 15 points(5-8 FG) 3 Rebs, 0 Ast
Chris Bosh 18 points(Tied For Team High) 7-8 FG, 5 Rebs, 2 Blks, 2 Stls
Geogios Printezis 0 Pts (0-1 FG)
Roko Ukic 5 points ( 2-8 FG 0-3 3pt) 2 ast, 3 rebounds
Looking Ahead To Spain Vs U.S.A
Here is something interesting. Normally on Jose Calderon’s Website you can get an English Version and a Spanish one. On the Eve of game vs United States the English version comes out as Spanish. Honest mistake or making it little harder to find out what he is thinking prior to big game vs U.S. Luckly I found a Spanish to English translator program online. So here is some of what Jose had to say based on translation I was able to get.:
Jose Calderon ( Translated From Website )
On Playing U.S
I believe that we are going to confront it calmly and without pressure. They are a big team but our intention is to play them of ” you to you ” and to do a good basketball. I believe that the important thing comes later: quarters, semis, finals and what could come. We will try to win, of course, but we have to go divided to part and not to forget that the key is always the part of quarters. This is the fundamental part, which separates the success of the defeat in any championship.
I admit that is a bit rough around the edges but basically seems Jose is saying that it is more important to win when it matters. The key to me will be the fact the United States can watch the tape of this game win or lose and form a gameplan on how to attack this team when it matters most in a Gold Medal Rematch. I think that will mean a lot for the United States to have that advantage. Spain will have that advantage as well but I think the United States have a lot of smart people who can break down that tape and use it to thier advantage more.
When you look at the teams heading into this Game the Americans have rolled along while Spain has done enough to win but struggled at times. Both have played China and the United States beat them by 31 and Spain had to make a huge comback and eventually win in overtime. That speaks to the difference in play between the two so far. If the Americans beat Spain and do it in a big way it will be interesting. Will that crush the Spanish spirit and make them feel they can not beat the U.S? Could it make the Americans over confident in the event of a re-match? Those would be to interesting questions. If Spain did win what would that mean? Could they do that twice?
The one thing that is clear is United States vs Spain is the biggest match-up of the Round Robin play at these games. The United States should have a home court advantage as well. China loves the U.S team and is less than wild about Spain after all the photo business.
This is likey a preview of the Gold Medal Final and it should be very interesting. Chris Bosh and Jose Calderon will be on opposite sides of the court and the two Raptors will be battling hard for a Gold Medal. Bosh has looked more impressive than Calderon so far to this point in the tournament. Bosh as it says above comes into this game off a tremendous performance against Greece. Calderon also had a good game scoring wise vs Germany. Both will want to do well in this one as the face each other. It should be fun for them and Raptor Fans.
Update 4pm
Nothing earth shaking but I did stumble onto Chris Bosh’s latest blog from China which I found over on Alt Raps.com. It is a good read to hear Bosh’s thoughts on his China/Olympic Experience so far.
Tags: Chris Bosh, Jose Calderon, Olympics 2008, Olympics Basketball Results, Patrick Mills, Raptors At The Olympics, Spain Baskeball, U.S Basketball
August 14, 2008 at 1:25 pm |
Go Canada!!!
August 14, 2008 at 1:28 pm |
I’d agree if we were in the tournament. As Raptor fans I guess we have 4 shots at a medal in basketball. As for the rest of the Olympics I am totally frustrated with the fact we have yet to win a single medal. Last night we had a guy on swim team miss a medal by .09 seconds I mean that hurts like a buzzer beater in B-Ball
August 14, 2008 at 1:40 pm |
I have this feeling that they’re postponing the rowing just so the Canadians won’t get their first medal!!
August 14, 2008 at 1:44 pm |
LOL funny stuff Eric but the rowing races cancelled were not finals so no medals would be handed out. The idea of rowing in lightning is not exactly a wise one. There has been a lot of funny buisness in China but this is not among it.
August 14, 2008 at 3:58 pm |
Added link To Bosh’s Blog from his website. It was good read so thought I’d add it.
August 14, 2008 at 5:10 pm |
Good job USA! But the question I’d like to ask is how far a gold medal for the redeem team can go towards revamping Kobe’s legacy. Obviously it’s tarnished since he failed to show up in this year’s NBA Finals.
August 14, 2008 at 6:21 pm |
iamsati-
Kobe can always win a championship next year. And he has many other chances with that young Laker core. Kobe already has 3 anyways. The olympic gold medal means a lot to athletes around the world than the NBA championship. A lot of foreigner born basketball players dream of winning olympic gold and not of an NBA championship. Dirk Nowitzki was in tears when his Germany team qualified for the olympics. And Yao Ming did the same when China won. Winning a olympic gold medal shows that Kobe Bryant is an all around winnner. That he is a championship in the US and around the world. Though first he has to win one. But for the Boston fans I would like to say. Hey, how come Paul Pierce has no gold medal? The best player in the world?
PS The Lakers this year were predicted to not even make the NBA playoffs. Kobe was demanded a trade. It was a miracle that the Lakers even made the NBA finals. The Boston Celtics once they got Garnett and Allen were expected to win. And not winning one meant disappointment.
August 14, 2008 at 8:46 pm |
James, one of your options is correct, according to words from team staff, Spain won’t fully use its tactics repertory, in other words, they won’t show “everything”. Remember Athens, an impressive Spain fell to struggling USA. The apparently struggling Spanish team we are watching this time will be hard to handle when it really matters.
About the photo “thing” many of Spain’s sponsors are Chinese, no Chinese media has said a word about the photo, most Chinese people at the arena have no idea about the photo, Spain was booed simply because the home team was on the court lol and if you people knew something about the rest of the world, yes there is a world out there, you would really understand how stupid to calle that photo a racist act is! And finally the key to this pretty stupid thing: The US media just wants to hit Madrid as a potential host for 2016 olympics, they want the games back in the USA.
And last thing, remember this pic?
http://estaticos01.jjoo.marca.com/2008/imagenes/2008/08/14/1218698005_g_2.jpg
It was in Japan, that ridiculous military hand salute felt great in Japanese people’s hearts, forgot the 2nd world war already? Oh yes the US double morale lol.
August 14, 2008 at 9:02 pm |
Well as far as if people in China knew or not I am not sure but the story had made it’s way to China by the time that game tipped off. In the China vs U.S game the Americans were not booed at all.
It is clear to me that the attitude in Spain to all of this is much different from here. I do agree this issue has got far more attention than I even thought it would. Bottom line it will help the United States play the roll of good guy in a battle vs Spain.
I wanted to note as well Kobe Bryant has been scouting himself and been in attendance for ever game Spain has played so far including the game vs China.
I think this whole picture thing has a lot of angles to it but it really was taken in a negative way here as in North America our society has become very much a one of political correctness( That may not be a word but what the hell ) Ultimately it should be interesting to watch this basketball contest with Spain and U.S. I am staying focused on basketball or trying too. I do think the Spanish Basketball Federation is more at fault than any individual player. They should have understood that this could happen. But in the end I do not think anyone in Spain meant this to be a act of racism. If Spain was going to attack anyone with an act of controversal nature it would make sense it would be the United States not China. China was and is no threat to Spain in a basketball sense despite a great game played by China it is clear Spain is a better basketball nation at this point.
August 14, 2008 at 10:17 pm |
About the photo “thing” many of Spain’s sponsors are Chinese, no Chinese media has said a word about the photo, most Chinese people at the arena have no idea about the photo, Spain was booed simply because the home team was on the court lol and if you people knew something about the rest of the world, yes there is a world out there, you would really understand how stupid to calle that photo a racist act is! And finally the key to this pretty stupid thing: The US media just wants to hit Madrid as a potential host for 2016 olympics, they want the games back in the USA.
Spaniard
-I know people should just take a joke and are a little bit sensitive to this stuff. But that Spain photo was definitely racist. http://i.usatoday.net/sports/_photos/2008/08/13/spain-topper.jpg Yeah people making those Chinese eyes. As a Chinese American this is very racist to me and very hurtful. Chinese people are not Aliens. This is what a elementary kid does to bully asian kids. I don’t except this kind of stuff from professional athlethes some of which are in the NBA. Hey your Spanish but if somebody went up and took a photo wearing stuff like this http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn53/goldeneye123/Mexicans.jpg You would probably call that racist. What if the olympics was held somewhere in Africa and Gasol and Juan Carlos Navarro painted their faces black like Al Jolson http://www.subvulture.com/archive/white_xmas_al_jolson.jpg. Would you call that racist? I know it was done as a harmless joke but its still racist.
And finally the key to this pretty stupid thing: The US media just wants to hit Madrid as a potential host for 2016 olympics, they want the games back in the USA.
-Your Spanish national team make racist photos. What the hell did the US do? Why are you attacking them? They were not involved at all. You seem racist yourself for saying something like that. The US was not involved at all. Whats pathetic about the whole thing is I don’t think the Spainish National Team even apologized. They just denied the thing and said it was all done in fun and people need to take a joke. And dumbass Jose Calderon says I know a lot of people with chinese decent in Toronto.
August 14, 2008 at 10:22 pm |
And last thing, remember this pic?
http://estaticos01.jjoo.marca.com/2008/imagenes/2008/08/14/1218698005_g_2.jpg
It was in Japan, that ridiculous military hand salute felt great in Japanese people’s hearts, forgot the 2nd world war already? Oh yes the US double morale lol.
- And this whats wrong with the American athlethes saluting? Theres nothing wrong with that. They didn’t go to Japan and try to make alien eyes. It’s not racist at all.
August 14, 2008 at 10:34 pm |
TIME OUT!!! Ok I love all of the comments and I do my best not to censor anything that comes my way. But let’s try not to be throwing around term’s like people being racist on here.
Part of what makes these topics so heated is I think many of us seldom share are feelings about race and culture and when something like this comes along we all speak out and find out that there are many different views in the world we live in.
However you feel on this issue. I ask you to remember that we are all here because we are Raptor Fans. Please do your best to respect that fact. I think the comments made by Spaniard are painting a lot of folks with the same brush. I don’t see what the problem with the photo he displayed a link to would be. if anything it was more mocking the United States Media who had been all over the American Team for under performing.
But all that being said let’s try to be good to each other and let’s not take one questionable act and turn it into a bunch more based on our comments. I really try my best to keep a happy mood to this blog. Make everyone feel that they are a part of it. I would ask that you all try to embrace that concept in your comments.
I am just saying this so we don’t have these things get to far out of hand.
Thanks Your Dino Blogger ( The Ref )
August 15, 2008 at 12:17 am |
Obviously Travis is taking this way too personally. Like I responded in another post, I was in disbelief when I saw the photo but I don’t have the same overwhelming sense of hatred that Outlaw seems to feel. By the way, I’m Chinese-Canadian, so I feel qualified to offer an alternate perspective.
What Travis fails to differentiate is intent with effect. Were people offended? Yes. Was it the intent of the Spaniards to offend? Likely not. They have apologized and explained there was no ill will intended. There was obviously a degree of ignorance from the Spanish federation/photographer/sponsors. However, North Americans are hyper sensitive in our age of political correctness.
Let me present an analogy. Y’know Jose’s three-pointer hand signal? On the court, it represents a trey. In everyday usage, it means OK! But it could mean something very different in another culture that you are entirely unaware of. Hypothetically, let’s say you’re an Olympian and are posing for a Volkswagon ad for an Olympics held in Germany. The photographer suggests you give the OK hand gesture while standing in front of a VW Jetta and the German flag with a smug look on your face. The photo becomes a billboard ad on German highways. The next thing you know, people are calling for your head and accusing you of being a disrespectful jerk. You are completely baffled. Follow the link to find out why: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hand_gesture#Okay
August 15, 2008 at 10:11 am |
anyone notice on defense USA, on isolations, D12 and CB4 follow the big man out of the paint