Basketball at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament
International basketball competition
The men's basketball tournament 2008 Summer Olympics Beijing , began on 10 August and ended on 24 August, when the United States defeated Spain 118–107 for the gold medal. All games were held at the Beijing Olympic Basketball Gymnasium .
The United States , nicknamed the "Redeem Team ", defeated Spain in the gold medal game, finishing the tournament undefeated and winning the gold medal for the first time since 2000 , while Argentina , the defending Olympic champions who lost to the U.S. in the semifinals, won the bronze medal.
Qualification
Country
Qualified as
Date of qualification
Previous appearances
FIBA World Ranking [ 1]
China Olympics host July 13, 2001
6 (1984 , 1988 , 1992 , 1996 , 2000 , 2004 )
11
Spain World champion September 3, 2006
10 (1960 , 1964 , 1968 , 1972 , 1980 , 1984 , 1988 , 1992 , 2000 , 2004 )
3
Iran Asian champion August 5, 2007
1 (1948 )
45
Australia Oceanian champion August 22, 2007
11 (1956 , 1964 , 1972 , 1976 , 1980 , 1984 , 1988 , 1992 , 1996 , 2000 , 2004 )
9
Angola African champion August 25, 2007
4 (1992 , 1996 , 2000 , 2004 )
14
Argentina Americas runner-up September 1, 2007
4 (1948 , 1952 , 1996 , 2004 )
1
United States Americas champion September 1, 2007
15 (1936 , 1948 , 1952 , 1956 , 1960 , 1964 , 1968 , 1972 , 1976 , 1984 , 1988 , 1992 , 1996 , 2000 , 2004 )
2
Russia European champion September 15, 2007
13 (1952 , 1956 , 1960 , 1964 , 1968 , 1972 , 1976 , 1980 , 1988 , 1992 , 1996 , 2000 )
14
Lithuania European third place [ 2] September 16, 2007
4 (1992 , 1996 , 2000 , 2004 )
5
Croatia Wildcard qualifier July 19, 2008
2 (1992 , 1996 )
20
Greece Wildcard qualifier July 19, 2008
3 (1952 , 1996 , 2004 )
6
Germany Wildcard qualifier July 20, 2008
4 (1936 , 1972 , 1984 , 1992 )
9
Twelve teams are split into 2 preliminary round groups of 6 teams each. The top 4 teams from each group qualify for the knockout stage.
Fifth-placed teams from each group are ranked 9th–10th by basis of their records.
Sixth-placed teams from each group are ranked 11th–12th by basis of their records.
In the quarterfinals, the matchups are as follows: A1 vs. B4, A2 vs. B3, A3 vs. B2 and A4 vs. B1.
The eliminated teams at the quarterfinals are ranked 5th–8th by basis of their preliminary round records
The winning teams from the quarterfinals meet in the semifinals as follows: A1/B4 vs. A3/B2 and A2/B3 vs. A4/B1.
The winning teams from the semifinals play for the gold medal. The losing teams play for the bronze. Ties are broken via the following the criteria, with the first option used first, all the way down to the last option:
Head to head results
Goal average (not the goal difference) between the tied teamsGoal average of the tied teams for all teams in its group All times are local Beijing Time (UTC+8).
Squads
Preliminary round
All times are China Standard Time (UTC+8 )
Group A
Source:
FIBA archive Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal average; 4) head-to-head number of points scored.
Notes:
^ a b Head-to-head record: Lithuania 1–0 Argentina
^ a b Head-to-head record: Croatia 1–0 Australia
Group B
Source:
FIBA archive Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal average; 4) head-to-head number of points scored.
(H) Hosts
Knockout round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Bronze medal match
Gold medal match
The Americans got off to a slow start with the Spaniards hitting seven of their first nine shots; if not for a 10–0 run by LeBron James and Dwyane Wade , the Americans would have trailed in the first quarter. With the USA leading by 14, Spain chipped away at the lead during the second quarter to cut the deficit to eight points.
The teams traded baskets in the third quarter, with Spain cutting the deficit further to seven. A three-point field goal by Rudy Fernández cut the lead into two, the smallest deficit with 8:13 left in the fourth. Kobe Bryant and Wade extended the lead with three-pointers to 103–92 but Spain had a final push, capped with another three-pointer from Carlos Jiménez to reduce the lead to 108–104. In the final two minutes a three-pointer by Dwyane Wade and a Kobe Bryant field goal extended the lead back to 9. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball games ever played.[ 3]
Awards
Statistical leaders
Top ten in points, rebounds and assists, and top 5 in steals and blocks.
Game highs
Final standings
Competing teams. Rankings are determined by:
1st–4th
Results of gold and bronze medal games.
5th–8th:
Win–loss record in the preliminary round group
Standings in the preliminary round group (i.e. Group A's #3 is ranked higher than Group B's #4.)
Goal average in the preliminary round group
9th–10th and 11th–12th:
5th placers in the preliminary round groups are classified 9th–10th; 6th placers classified *11th–12th
Win–loss record in the preliminary round group
Goal average in the preliminary round group
Rank
Team
Pld
W
L
PF
PA
PD
Standing
GAvg
New rank
United States 8
8
0
850
627
+223
2
Spain 8
6
2
688
632
+56
3
Argentina 8
6
2
673
615
+58
1
4th
Lithuania 8
5
3
680
646
+34
6
Eliminated at the quarterfinals
5th
Greece 6
3
3
493
455
+38
B-3rd
1.117
4
6th
Croatia 6
3
3
458
452
+6
A-3rd
1.050
18
7th
Australia 6
3
3
542
521
+21
A-4th
9
8th
China 6
2
4
434
494
−60
10
Preliminary round 5th placers
9th
Russia 5
1
4
387
406
−19
–
0.953
15
10th
Germany 5
1
4
330
390
−60
–
0.846
7
Preliminary round 6th placers
11th
Iran 5
0
5
323
464
−141
–
0.696
23
12th
Angola 5
0
5
321
477
−156
–
0.673
12
See also
References
External links
Tournaments
Qualifications
Squads
Tournaments
Qualifications
