UPDATED: 10:38am local time Beijing
Just got home from dinner and am lucky to follow my fellow Germans against Spain. NBC has a nice LIVE picture on their website which looks great.
1. Quarter notes:
Spain was missing nearly every shot, while Germany made most of their shots. This explains why Spain has over 8 offensive rebounds right now, with Germany – zero.
2. Quarter notes:
This is when I actually tuned in. Germany is up 19:14 with 7:40 to play. Spain keeps missing their shots – especially Calderon misses every shot badly – like three point airballs. On the other side, Jan Hendrik Jagla makes his threes and adds nice drives to his game. Even Steffen Hamann, Germany’s point guard adds some nice plays. It is so quiet in the arena that you even can here Chris Kaman complain to the referee, while Marc Gasol misses another free throw.
Two quick turnovers by Germany and a nice lay up by Ricky Rubio bring back Spain to 31-29. They even had the chance to tie the game with free throws, but miss both. Finally Pau Gasol ties the game with a dunk.
Halftime: Despite a horrible shooting percentage from Spain, Pau Gasol and his team hold a close 36-29 lead against Dirk and Germany. Spain outscored Germany 21-27 in the second, while only scoring 12 points in the first quarter.
3.Quarter notes:
New Spanish team – one minute played and they are up 11! Four quick points by Ricky Rubio put Spain ahead. 36-50 Spain with 8 minutes to play in the third. Germany’s first point thanks to a Drik three makes it 39-50. Spain actually takes Germany serious now and plays defense + makes their big shots – 15 point lead for Spain with 4:30 to go in the third.
End of the third: Spain still up by as much as 11 points. Let’s just hope – as Spanish fans – that they will not start against Team USA like they did start against Germany today. Spain wins the third quarter 12-20.
4. Quarter notes:
Spain is shooting 10/20 from the free throw line – at least in this category they are already close to Team USA. Dirk cuts it down to a ten point lead for Spain and Mumbru answers with another three: 50-63.
Let’s do sme scouting for Team USA: Spain loves these two high screens on top of the zone and finishes with a pick and roll pass or alley hoop. I am sure no American player will want one of the Gasols dunking within the US paint!
Sven Schultze just fouled out with with almost five minutes to go and a 9 point lead for Spain. The refs start to fall for the “flop team Number one – Spain”. It should be interesting to see the US reacting to these obvious flops/acting class on Saturday.
Dirk misses the three to cut it down to six while Calderon makes the three to extend the lead to 12 – game over.. 50 seconds to play – 56-70.
End of game: Germany now is 1:2 after this 59-72 defeat by Spain – Spain stays clean and faces the US on Saturday.
