Yao Leaves His Miracle at Home, Loses to U.S.

↵
↵As expected, Team USA thrashed China in the serious Sunday morning men’s basketball opener for each team. Yao Ming, though active and spirited, seemed tired. It’s understandable, as he was the centerpiece of the five-hour opening ceremony and has spent the better part of a month gladhanding China’s one billion residents.
↵
↵Yao wasn’t the problem, though: Yi Jianlian was something near atrocious for all but several minutes early in the third quarter (and garbage time), and China’s point guard situation is a catastrophe. Damon Jones might be able to win the starting job for the P.R.O.C. I wish I were exaggerating. In what may be a confidence boost, the final four minutes (with Team USA already up more than 30) saw the Chinese attack successfully, with Yi turning it on.
↵
↵On the American side, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant pulled off a few gnarly dunks, Dwyane Wade acted like a star player. Chris Bosh outplayed Dwight Howard, who might find himself on the bench before you know it. Jason Kidd was a waste of time, but you knew that before the game. Team USA’s performance might not have beat Spain or Germany, but I suspect the Americans were nearly as exhausted as Yao. We’ll have a better idea of what this team can do come Thursday against Greece.↵