This was the event that I, along with over one billion people worldwide, had been looking forward to all weekend. USA versus China in the opening round of the men’s basketball. Forget the political analogies, the 20th century’s world power versus possibly the 21st century’s, capitalism versus communism, west versus east. That has nothing to do with the on-court action, and there was plenty of that to enjoy.

In 1992 USA famously arrived in Barcelona with their Dream Team, including the likes of Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. They obviously dominated, but the effects of those displays were long-term. Basketball’s popularity began to spread internationally, and rapidly. In Atlanta 1996, USA entered a second Dream Team and accordingly won gold. In Sydney 2000 they entered a team with NBA players but not professionals, and managed to return home with gold, but only just. Then the world caught up.

In 2002 they finished fifth at the FIBA world championships. In Athens 2004 they won the bronze medal, disastrous by their standards. At the 2006 worlds they once again finished third. Their banana skins have been Argentina, Puerto Rico, Lithuania and Greece. Spain are the current world champions, Argentina the Olympic champions.

Apparently enough is enough. Team USA have compiled a squad of players that is reminiscent of their Dream Team days and named it ‘The Redeem Team’. Current MVP Kobe Bryant is there. Superstar LeBron James is there and has ‘guaranteed gold’. Other young stars Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Chris Bosh, Dwight Howard, Dwayne Wade and Carmelo Anthony are all there. They are supported by the super veteran Jason Kidd to give them some direction. It is an exciting, scarily talented and athletic group. But this doesn’t guarantee gold like it did in Barcelona 1992.

China’s flag was carried by their own 7’6” superstar, Houston Rocket Yao Ming. In the NBA’s 2002 draft Yao Ming was the first genuine international player to be selected first. In 2005 Australia’s Andrew Bogut was selected first then the same happened following year for Italy’s Andrea Bargnani. Add to this list superstars like Manu Ginobili (who carried Argentina’s flag), Tony Parker of France, Dirk Nowitzki of Germany and Pau Gasol of Spain and the NBA is now an international league.

FIBA basketball is also very different to NBA. In the NBA they play outside-in, moving the ball from the three-point arc towards the big men by the ring. Elsewhere they play inside-out, moving the ball from the centres out to the smaller men, which has left the Americans looking like they feel inside-out. It’s also difficult for stars to gel. Every Michael Jordan needs a Scottie Pippen. Every Jordan and Pippen need a Rodman. You need partnerships and foils. This is something that USA’s stars must appreciate.

So, could the towering Yao Ming and looming China overpower USA and re-write world order (basketball’s world order, I mean)? In a word, no.

China made their three point shots early on, including the opener from Yao Ming, which applied some pressure. USA didn’t make it easy for themselves falling into the trap of taking it in turns to drive solo towards the hoop. Some spectacular dunks from Bryant and James, who displayed outrageous vertical jumping, fooled few as the scoreboard read 29-29 in the second quarter.

Click here to find out more about vertical jumping

In the second half though USA used defence as their best form of attack and once the long shots from China inevitably started to miss, they countered easily. James was the star of the show but I was impressed with the Chris Paul-Deron Williams combination in the second half. It was good to see the best two young point guards playing with mature cohesion.

The good news for the world remains though that despite their 101-70 victory over the hosts, teams such as Argentina, Spain and Greece will certainly fancy their chances of upsetting the commercial superstars.

As the rounds progress their pursuit of redemption will be fascinating. Why? Because despite what LeBron James may insist, their redemption is not guaranteed.