28 Olympic team | Page 3 | The Boneyard

28 Olympic team

GirlBoo1020 said:
And it was a very awful and-one on a player that blew right by her. Not sure why that means I watched a different game.
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Every time i thought she was out of the game for good she pop back on my screen after a time out ready to foul someone for an and-1.

Your post suggested it happened multiple times, so hence why it seemed you were watching a different game
 
GirlBoo1020 said:
Most players peak around 27/28.
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No, they don't. That's when they reach their PRIME. Not the same.

Doesn't mean A'ja or Stewie won't be great in 2032 but I don't think either will be better or at the level they are playing now.
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We're talking about 2028, though?

Will still likely be the best players on the team but won't be able to single handedly carry the team to victory they way they did this time.
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They didn't really do that this time beyond a handful of games. When Jackie Young was inserted into the starting line-up, she helped lessen the load on them (with the exception of the Gold Medal game--Stewie also struggled in that one). Kah and KP stepped up to help A'ja when Stewie couldn't/didn't.

Would love to be wrong just think we need to be realistic.
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Go back through the previous seven Olympic gold medal-winning rosters during this streak and identify the time that we didn't have either the best player in the world or at least second best. We can be realistic without giving into unfounded concerns.

The best player in the world will be playing for Team USA in 2028. Whether that's A'ja or someone younger remains to be seen.

My concern is that "the next coach" will be Cheryl Reeves again.
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That's not based on anything other than unfounded fear, though.
 
Ladeeeeda said:
Every time i thought she was out of the game for good she pop back on my screen after a time out ready to foul someone for an and-1.

Your post suggested it happened multiple times, so hence why it seemed you were watching a different game
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Oh, it was simply a joke.
 
I think what has happened with team USA is that for whatever reason, the young 'developmental' guards/wings that they have brought in over the last two cycles haven't really clicked and developed into the 'next' NT stalwarts.

Jewel Loyd - been on the team since 2018 WC so 4 gold medals without ever being more than an after thought in the actual games - some nice moments, but ...

Layshia Clarendon - 2018 WC and gone

Kelsey Plum - 2018 WC, 2022 WC, 2024 Oly - 2024 I believe has been her best, but still not compelling.

Atkins - 2020 Oly, 2022 WC and gone

Diggins Smith - 2020 Oly and gone

Gray - 2020 Oly, 2022 WC, 2024 Oly - has until now looked settled, but her injury reduced her contribution this year - the oldest of this group and will be 36 in 2028.

Ionescu 2022 WC, 2024 Oly - one completed cycle and looked decent at times.

Laney - 2022 WC and gone.

From 2018 they have been looking for who is next in the back court. It was clear Sue and DT were on the down slope of stellar careers, but no one has yet said, 'This is my team!' from their auditions. In the front court A'ja and Breanna clearly have.

I do think Plum and Sabrina and Copper and Young looked like they could continue - the first two as PGs and the last two as SGs but they aren't 'secure'. I think they all need to be better at integrating into an all-star lineup and playing to whatever script their coach creates. And they need a strong coach. And they need more experience playing international teams under international rules.

I wouldn't mind if USA basketball hired either or both Diana and Sue to specifically coach the new guards. And they ought to find a squad of international players and refs to run scrimmages against because chances are they will not be playing for international teams on their own.
 
UcMiami said:
I think what has happened with team USA is that for whatever reason, the young 'developmental' guards/wings that they have brought in over the last two cycles haven't really clicked and developed into the 'next' NT stalwarts.

Jewel Loyd - been on the team since 2018 WC so 4 gold medals without ever being more than an after thought in the actual games - some nice moments, but ...

Layshia Clarendon - 2018 WC and gone

Kelsey Plum - 2018 WC, 2022 WC, 2024 Oly - 2024 I believe has been her best, but still not compelling.

Atkins - 2020 Oly, 2022 WC and gone

Diggins Smith - 2020 Oly and gone

Gray - 2020 Oly, 2022 WC, 2024 Oly - has until now looked settled, but her injury reduced her contribution this year - the oldest of this group and will be 36 in 2028.

Ionescu 2022 WC, 2024 Oly - one completed cycle and looked decent at times.

Laney - 2022 WC and gone.

From 2018 they have been looking for who is next in the back court. It was clear Sue and DT were on the down slope of stellar careers, but no one has yet said, 'This is my team!' from their auditions. In the front court A'ja and Breanna clearly have.

I do think Plum and Sabrina and Copper and Young looked like they could continue - the first two as PGs and the last two as SGs but they aren't 'secure'. I think they all need to be better at integrating into an all-star lineup and playing to whatever script their coach creates. And they need a strong coach. And they need more experience playing international teams under international rules.

I wouldn't mind if USA basketball hired either or both Diana and Sue to specifically coach the new guards. And they ought to find a squad of international players and refs to run scrimmages against because chances are they will not be playing for international teams on their own.
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I think this a really astute analysis.
 
Here's my picks:

Coach: Becky Hammon

Paige Bueckers
Caitlin Clark
JuJu Watkins
Angel Reese
Cameron Brink
Aliyah Boston

A'ja Wilson
Breanna Stewart
Napheesa Collier
Sabrina Ionescu - ?
Jackie Young - ?

Gabby Williams (WNBA & USA wise up and bring our star home!)
 
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Just.A.Fan said:
Here's my picks:

Coach: Becky Hammon

Paige Bueckers
Caitlin Clark
JuJu Watkins
Angel Reese
Cameron Brink
Aliyah Boston

A'ja Wilson
Breanna Stewart
Napheesa Collier
Sabrina Ionescu - ?
Jackie Young - ?

Gabby Williams (WNBA & USA wise up and bring our star home!)
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Re Gabby Williams:

1). The WNBA issue is a combination of priotization rule and the challenge of being able to earn a good salary for play. Hopefully the next CBA will help address that.

2). It's not going to happen at this point regarding USA Basketball adding her to the pool for consideration. It's a similar situation to Nneka Ogumike's when she tried to switch to the Nigerian team after not being selected for the 2021 Olympics squad. I get and respect the sentiment, but too much time has passed now.

www.espn.com

Sources: Nneka Ogwumike's petition to play for Nigeria denied by FIBA

Los Angeles Sparks star Nneka Ogwumike has been denied in her petition to play for her native Nigeria at the Tokyo Olympics because of her "substantial involvement" with Team USA, sources told ESPN.
www.espn.com www.espn.com
 
cancontent said:
Re Gabby Williams:

1). The WNBA issue is a combination of priotization rule and the challenge of being able to earn a good salary for play. Hopefully the next CBA will help address that.

2). It's not going to happen at this point regarding USA Basketball adding her to the pool for consideration. It's a similar situation to Nneka Ogumike's when she tried to switch to the Nigerian team after not being selected for the 2021 Olympics squad. I get and respect the sentiment, but too much time has passed now.

www.espn.com

Sources: Nneka Ogwumike's petition to play for Nigeria denied by FIBA

Los Angeles Sparks star Nneka Ogwumike has been denied in her petition to play for her native Nigeria at the Tokyo Olympics because of her "substantial involvement" with Team USA, sources told ESPN.
www.espn.com www.espn.com
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Yes, of course, and thanks for your explanation. However, I am very much aware of all that. It is definitely wishful thinking regarding Gabby.

A lot can be accomplished in four (4) years if people put their hearts and minds to it. Now is the time for the WNBA policy makers to make smarter decisions. Thanks primarily to Caitlin Clark's influence on Women's basketball at all levels, we need to make moves that insure pro female athletes can play this sport in this country as well as other countries in order to support their families. That will undoubtedly mean the powers at be will need to sharpen their pencils and come up with a viable solution. Penalizing players/teams is not the answer! Perhaps moving the season to a different time of the year is?
 
And, the FIBA's ruling regarding Nneka Ogwumike was unfair and unjust. She wasn't selected for Team USA for the Toyko Olmypics, so why shouldn't she be allowed to play for another country where she meets eligibility standards. What were they afraid of, that Nigeria would beat us?

​

 
Just.A.Fan said:
And, the FIBA's ruling regarding Nneka Ogwumike was unfair and unjust. She wasn't selected for Team USA for the Toyko Olmypics, so why shouldn't she be allowed to play for another country where she meets eligibility standards. What were they afraid of, that Nigeria would beat us?

​

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Nneka had been in the NT pool of players for 4 years I believe, and had played for the NT in the 2018 WC, winning a gold medal. Any national team play in regional or world tournaments is pretty much final, even play at age designated world events causes questions.

Gabby has never been selected to play for any USA team at any level - She has now earned two medals playing for France and I doubt she would ever be permitted to play for another country in a FIBA sanctioned event.

FIBA isn't afraid of anything - they just have rules that they seldom waiver from.
 
Just.A.Fan said:
Yes, of course, and thanks for your explanation. However, I am very much aware of all that. It is definitely wishful thinking regarding Gabby.

A lot can be accomplished in four (4) years if people put their hearts and minds to it. Now is the time for the WNBA policy makers to make smarter decisions. Thanks primarily to Caitlin Clark's influence on Women's basketball at all levels, we need to make moves that insure pro female athletes can play this sport in this country as well as other countries in order to support their families. That will undoubtedly mean the powers at be will need to sharpen their pencils and come up with a viable solution. Penalizing players/teams is not the answer! Perhaps moving the season to a different time of the year is?
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Yes, a lot can be accomplished in 4 years, but Gabby will be 31 by then. For all we know, she may be done with basketball at that point.

And the pool of players available to USA Basketball for power forwards will be just as challenging to choose from as it was this year. Heck, there are names not even being brought up like Serah Williams out of Wisconsin who has been very good and played with the USA U23 3x3 squad. Hannah Stuelke, Chloe Kitts, Kiki Iriafen are others who may be available.

It doesn't make sense for Gabby to play for the US, except from a romantic/wistful perspective if you ask me.
 
UcMiami said:
Mulkey has declined in the past
Walz has had some run with USA
Brooks ... not sure
Dawn seemed pretty sure she wouldn't coach again, but she bleeds for the team so maybe if they begged she would say yes.
Kara...? She doesn't have the deep coaching experience but she has deep USA roots.
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I know it’s different, but wasn’t Kara the one that coached the first 3x3 team to a gold medal?
 
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Vowelguy said:
View attachment 102818
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Not bad but so many questions! Like off the top of my head, Can Aliyah Boston & Cameron Brink handle the physicality of European ball players? Heck could Angel handle it? Then you throw in who is coaching the team. Will that coach take over and try to control how the team plays I know that this is rough estimate of potential players but hopefully the committee think long and hard and start doing what the men did back in 2005-06 range when they sat down and revamped their whole program and mindset of how they wanted to build their national team.
 
Ladeeeeda said:
I disagree entirely. There will always be external factors (players who party every night, bad attitudes, illnesses, etc). The issue now is that it isn't as easy for us to run the table against the top 3-4 teams. If you can't see that the rest for the world is closing the gap, I certainly am not going to try and change your mind.
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Feel free to disagree, but I do not see what you're seeing. Sorry. The world can't be "closing the gap" when this team defeated its previous five opponents by double digits and ended up playing the host team in a hotly-contested gold medal game.

What happens if Team USA (the host team) wins the 2028 gold medal game by double digits? Will you say that the rest of the world took a step back?
 
JellyBean said:
Not bad but so many questions! Like off the top of my head, Can Aliyah Boston & Cameron Brink handle the physicality of European ball players? Heck could Angel handle it? Then you throw in who is coaching the team. Will that coach take over and try to control how the team plays I know that this is rough estimate of potential players but hopefully the committee think long and hard and start doing what the men did back in 2005-06 range when they sat down and revamped their whole program and mindset of how they wanted to build their national team.
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Don't think physicality should be a concern for those three. Brink and Boston have played international competitions while in highschool. Boston played several FIBA tournaments in 2021 during the previous Olympics cycle and held her own. Reese had her first taste of FIBA during the Americas tournament last year and she had good and bad moments, depending on who you talk to

The physicality aspect is being overblown from my perspective, especially when LA2028 is 4 years away.
 
JellyBean said:
Not bad but so many questions! Like off the top of my head, Can Aliyah Boston & Cameron Brink handle the physicality of European ball players? Heck could Angel handle it? Then you throw in who is coaching the team. Will that coach take over and try to control how the team plays I know that this is rough estimate of potential players but hopefully the committee think long and hard and start doing what the men did back in 2005-06 range when they sat down and revamped their whole program and mindset of how they wanted to build their national team.
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Of the people you singled out, Boston and Brink, have proven more than any other rookie on that list that they can handle the physicality.
 
GamecockFam said:
Of the people you singled out, Boston and Brink, have proven more than any other rookie on that list that they can handle the physicality.
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Are you talking about Cameron Brink? The girl that fouls out after 5 minutes because retaliates after every uncalled foul? That’s the girl you think can handle physicality?
 
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cancontent said:
Yes, a lot can be accomplished in 4 years, but Gabby will be 31 by then. For all we know, she may be done with basketball at that point.

And the pool of players available to USA Basketball for power forwards will be just as challenging to choose from as it was this year. Heck, there are names not even being brought up like Serah Williams out of Wisconsin who has been very good and played with the USA U23 3x3 squad. Hannah Stuelke, Chloe Kitts, Kiki Iriafen are others who may be available.

It doesn't make sense for Gabby to play for the US, except from a romantic/wistful perspective if you ask me.
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I wasn't asking you and did you not read where I said having Gabby on the team in 2028 was wishful thinking on my part? And, there were many on our US Team this year older than 31.
 
UcMiami said:
Nneka had been in the NT pool of players for 4 years I believe, and had played for the NT in the 2018 WC, winning a gold medal. Any national team play in regional or world tournaments is pretty much final, even play at age designated world events causes questions.

Gabby has never been selected to play for any USA team at any level - She has now earned two medals playing for France and I doubt she would ever be permitted to play for another country in a FIBA sanctioned event.

FIBA isn't afraid of anything - they just have rules that they seldom waiver from.
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Having rules against something, doesn't actually answer the question about the FIBA. I'm quite well aware of the history regarding both players, perhaps even better than you've stated them. But ending a player's eligibility when they have outlived their usefulness to our team seems a bit archaic when their value to another country is concerned for the Olympics. Some of you on this site should stop judging a person's BBIQ based on the number of messages, reaction score, and date joined. They have absolutely nothing to do with one another!
 
GamecockFam said:
Yes, the girl who fouls out because she is more physical than her counterpart.
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Not in my opinion. She fouls out because she gets frustrated by physicality. A common critique from announcers and coaches of hers.
 
Just.A.Fan said:
I wasn't asking you and did you not read where I said having Gabby on the team in 2028 was wishful thinking on my part? And, there were many on our US Team this year older than 31.
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I think only Jewel and DT were over 31. Not sure 2/10 is fair to call “many”.
 
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GirlBoo1020 said:
Could we just have different opinions or different views on what happened rather than dismissing an opinion with "you watched a different game"?
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The difference in our perceptions of what transpired in this game are so vast that there is no point in continuing a back and forth, so I'll bow out.
 
cancontent said:
Don't think physicality should be a concern for those three. Brink and Boston have played international competitions while in highschool. Boston played several FIBA tournaments in 2021 during the previous Olympics cycle and held her own. Reese had her first taste of FIBA during the Americas tournament last year and she had good and bad moments, depending on who you talk to

The physicality aspect is being overblown from my perspective, especially when LA2028 is 4 years away.
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There’s a difference between physicality of players your age and physicality of players 5-10 years older. Not to mention that the refs allow more stuff in the W, and international refs seem to allow even more. It’s an adjustment.,
 
Vowelguy said:
There’s a difference between physicality of players your age and physicality of players 5-10 years older. Not to mention that the refs allow more stuff in the W, and international refs seem to allow even more. It’s an adjustment.,
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That's true and yes FIBA physicality is different but I don't see it as significant as others do on the board. With their time in the WNBA between now and then, they will be fine.
 
Just.A.Fan said:
I wasn't asking you and did you not read where I said having Gabby on the team in 2028 was wishful thinking on my part? And, there were many on our US Team this year older than 31.
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I'm replying to your response to my previous post. Am I not allowed to provide an opinion and expand on your point?
 
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