Quarter-Final Recaps

Russia 60, Spain 56
I want a prize for my priceless predictions, but you didn't need to be a basketball fan to realize where these games were going. Russia and Spain proved what many have said around town. Russia is hiding their game. I hope they can find it before the game against the US. They're going to need it. Badly. After surviving La Furia and the leaks that left the court dangerously wet, the Russians got a much needed shot in the arm just in time to face the US again and this time I hope they have a game plan that doesn't include Svet either as a point guard or a defensive specialist. Yeah, you heard that right. Against Spain they got other players involved on offense even though I still believe dumping the ball to Stepanova in the post should be their only play. Now I can add Shchegoleva's baseline jumper to the list. She was money for the most part, even after she hit her head hard after slipping on one of the many puddles formed on the court after the rain. She nailed two consecutive jumpers from the same spot to secure Russia's place in the semi-finals and held the ball up high as a trophy as the Russians celebrated midcourt.
The place was just warming up for what was to come, the hosts' game versus the Czech Republic. The rain thankfully stopped and the players' safety wasn't at risk for a while. I was half expecting the US would hold out if things had gotten worse.

Game Recap

Boxcores

Brazil 75, Czech Republic 51
Brazil came running onto the court in their warm-up gear like they owned the place, just like the US players do, and I didn't like it, except in this case we really owned the place, unlike the US. Ibirapuera came alive and we knew we were in for a thrilling game. Or maybe not.
Brazil got off to a great start and quickly opened an 8-2 lead while the arena was going nuts with each play. Horns, drums, and general euphoria took over and the team was feeding off the energy from the sold out crowd. It didn't last long though. The Czech found their balance and started hitting their shots. They went on a 4-0 run to tie the first quarter at 19. Then the crowd got on its feet and the team got going again. Brazil went on a furious 16-0 run to open the second quarter, swarming the Czech on defense, scoring in transition, from the perimeter, inside, heck, I swear somebody scored from the bench. Iziane and Érika led the blitz on both ends and I felt good enough to not curse at the refs for a good 5 minutes. A personal record I should say. Well, that didn't last long though as a dubious call on a clean block by Érika led to the Czech scoring their first point of the quarter on a free throw. Their first field goal came at the 5-minute mark and they scored only 6 points from the field after that. A freebie on an attempted 3-pointer by Janeth at the buzzer gave her 3 free throws and Brazil closed the half up by 18 points. Not bad, I'll tell you, not bad at all. If I could hear myself thinking at the arena, I would say we did everything right from the get-go, but we couldn't have done it without Izi and Érika and their defense. It all starts with defense, as the Americans proved last night, and it all ends with defense. The Czech got tired pretty fast and that was one of my premises. They were playing stronger opponents in the earlier stages. They had to be more tired than we were. Janeth played well despite her sprained ankle, but she struggled with her shot up until the fourth quarter. The majority of her points came on free throws, which proves she's smart. Can't buy a tough basket, be aggressive and take it to the hoop and get the easy deuce.
The funniest part was watching the battle of the midgets between Brazil's Adriana Moisés and Czech Republic's Michaela Uhrova. It was like watching kids going at it on the playground. It was cute.
In the end, Barbosa's magic number wasn't really off. We won 75-51. He said we needed to score 80 points to beat the Czech. I still believe we need to score one more point than whoever we're playing, but I get what he's saying now. Let's hope the bateria gets there for the first half this time.
Now on to the Aussies. Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oye, Oye, Oye.

Game Recap

Boxcores

Australia 79, France 66
Half the crowd had left after the Brazil game, but many stayed to check (out) the Aussies. Lauren Jackson is probably the most popular player in the tournament this side of Janeth and Iziane. Penny Taylor tries to speak Portuguese with the fans, so that obviously has won her new fans as well. France didn't pose a threat for the steady Opals as they cruised; even though the final score 79-66 was a lot closer than it was throughout the game.
Lauren Jackson once more was the driving force behind the Opals' offense with Penny Taylor doing some damage, too. I was impressed by Hollie Grima and her sunny disposition on a rainy day. She crashed the boards relentlessly, giving the Opals several second chances after missed shots.
I was a little worried that the puddles would start to form again on the court. As if Tully needed another reason to flop like a fish. The Opals rely too much on their two stars and it might come back to haunt them against Brazil as I hope Barbosa has a plan to contain Penny Taylor. Lauren Jackson will get hers naturally, but she wasn't the one killing us.
Should be a great game, but I'm warning you, Aussies, I'm using my magic horn on you Aussies regardless.

Game Recap

Boxcores

USA 90, Lithuania 56
By the time the US players came strutting onto the floor like they're the greatest thing since passion fruit caipirinha, the arena was almost empty. That's how engaging they are. Not all the talent in the world can make up for bad attitude and the Americans' get worse with each new blowout. The scowling at the refs, the hissy fits and general unnecessary aggressiveness have turned off the crowd and turned it against them. Not that it matters anyway, they're that much better. Last night though, something weird happened in the first quarter and I have to attribute that to my magic horn. Yes, I made Lauren Jackson miss consecutive free throws, but it didn't work on Catchings. Actually, nothing did as she dominated on both sides of the floor. The sluggish start by the Americans excited the small but noisy Lithuanian crowd and I jumped in. I took a picture of the score when it was 15-14 for the Lithuanians as I know that might not happen again. The starting backcourt for the Americans couldn't keep up with the Lithuanian guards and it wasn't until Anne Donovan substituted Bird for Beard, Taurasi for Smith and Thompson for Parker that the US took over. And that was only in the second quarter. Taking advantage of its superior athleticism and quickness, the US advanced its guards and trapped the Lithuanian guards on several occasions, scoring off turnovers and opening up a big lead to close the half. The massacre continued in the third quarter. The defense unit formed by Beard, Smith, Swoopes, Milton-Jones and Parker pressed the Lithuanians and caused them to shy away from contact, opting for off balance jumpers and excessive ball movement. In the fourth quarter, with the Americans' third unit on the floor at times, the Lithuanians scored in garbage time and saved face.
I don't think the game against Russia will be close at all. I predict an easy American win and hopefully we can give them hell on Saturday.

Game Recap

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