Ok, who still thinks New Zealand can claim Gold?

We like the Tall Ferns.  They are a great bunch of girls and we love the way they compete but right now they cannot win the women's basketball gold medal....they are mathematically out of the equation.  So why do we still have lots of people who have the Tall Ferns pencilled in the for the gold?  Because they have not changed their gold medal vote, thats why...

So, you need to get online right now and change your gold medal pick....particularly if you had Iran or Angola or New Zealand or Mali as your tip.  

Game by Game

China 77 dft Belarus 62

So China are off to the semi finals and Belarus will need to be satisfied with a consolation ranking.  The Chinese need to once again thank the outstanding Lijie Miao - their leading scorer - who scorched the Eastern Europeans for 28 points on 10 of 14 shooting.  Miao buried three treys, had three assists and played all but four minutes of the game.  
MyFiba Tippers heavily favoured China to win this game | Discuss

Australia 79 dft Czech Republic 46

What to talk about?  Australia thrashing the Czech Republic or Penny Taylor's ankle?  Both....as neither were pretty.  We feel for Taylor, who will have to do an amazing job with her rehab people to get on court again this tournament, but we really ought to comment on the game, which was not that attractive for an Olympic quarter final.  The Australians got through it, and comfortably, but will want to be a lot sharper when they meet China.
myFiba Tippers heavily favoured Australia to win this game | Discuss

USA 104 dft Korea 60

Another thumping win for the USA, who unlike most of the Korean's opponents to date just did not want to give the ball up conceding just eight turnovers.  Starved of their possession lifeline, and facing a huge rebounding disadvantage, Korea took 13 less shots for the game than the US.  Sylvia Fowles outstanding tournament continued ....26 points and 14 rebounds.  
myFiba Tippers unanimously tipped USA to win this game | Discuss

Russia 84 dft Spain 65

The Russians were held to just 10 points by the Spanish in the first quarter, but that has been a trend of this tournament, as has been better teams making big comebacks.  Russia did just that outscoring Spain in each of the last three quarters for a comfortable win.  Hammon (17 points) and Shchegoleva (19 points) fantastic for the Russians.
myFiba Tippers slightly favoured Russia to win this game | Discuss

The Best of the Boxscores

Australia's defensive effort against the Czech Republic was again first class, and in their quarter final they did not allow a single Czech scorer into double figures.  Vecerova and Machova had 8 apiece and were the leading scorers, and Uhrova and Svobodova did not even take the court, but of the remainder, no one bettered six points.

Something to watch for

Everything in this tournament points to the USA and Australia matching up in the Gold Medal game.  Somewhere in our memory though we picture a similar script in Brazil just two years ago, when the Russians rewrote the playbook and upset the USA in the semi.  They match up again here ....Can histroy repeat for Russia?

Looking Ahead

Men's quarter final day and we think that there are only four game worth watching.  Despite Australia's form and optimism we think the USA will overpower them....comfortably.   In other games we are unashamedly backing.... Spain, Lithuania and Greece.

Discuss Today's Games

Get fired up, talk up your team....

Spain vs Croatia  | Discuss
Lithuania vs China  | Discuss
USA vs Australia  | Discuss
Argentina vs Greece | Discuss

What happens after the games?

You keep your myFiba page up to date and create a whole new community for yourself in the world of basketball, but you really ought to start now.  Blogging today on myFiba.com are people from Australia, Mexico, England, Spain and the US, to name just a few ...read their sportslogs, invite them to be your friend, and engage the worldwide basketball community.