Yep, USA made their 2008 Olympic debut and boy, was it a statement game.

The Olympic basketball team from USA came to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games with a sense of urgency, trying to redeem themselves from the debacle they suffered four years ago in Athens.

When they had the chance to finally make their debut against China, Team USA made sure that they will be able to prove a point to whoever has begun to doubt if they still are the kings of the hardwood.

And after beating Yao Ming and his Chinese national team 101-70, it looks like USA has more than proven a point. They looked like a team ready to redeem themselves since 2004, heck, these guys looked like they really want the gold medal this time. Well, at least after one game.

In what was probably the biggest basketball game in China’s history, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and the rest of the Americans made a mockery of China’s defense, throwing it down every single time they had an opportunity to dunk on any of the giant Chinese players unfortunate enough to find themselves under the rim.

Hell, I even saw Deron Williams try to dunk the ball on the seven-foot Yao Ming for crying out loud.

This was an opportunity to put the rest of the world on notice again and with the way Team USA played both on offense and defense, the rest of the world has taken notice indeed and the Americans seem to embrace it.

‘’I've never felt an environment quite like this,'’ Kobe Bryant said. ‘’I've played in many big games, but the energy tonight was different.'’

‘’I think they knew that history was being made tonight. Obviously, it was a proud moment for their country as it is for ours. You could feel the electricity.'’

Who will be the winners of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games? Bodog sportsbook has the odds.

Most Overall Medals

China 1.80

United States 2.10

Russia 15.00

Want more odds? Visit Bodog sportsbook for more Olympic Games betting odds and the best betting lines on some of today’s biggest sporting events.

2008 Beijing Olympic Games Team USA