An Ugly Win for USA WBB for the Gold Medal

[Skeets]

According to some posters the Olympics should be a developmental league. Huh? I thought that was what the WNBA was supposed to be,

 

[ashfan]

I think Reeve did a great job. She had 3 guards who did nothing and 3 inexperienced guards that she had to manage through an Olympic gold medal game - and they managed to win. How much more difficult could it possibly get?

Most unimpressive gold medal imaginable! To me, Gabby was the gold medal winner.

 

[cohenzone]

Beyond lucky to win this one. I don't think I've ever seen as many missed layups and missed and ones in my life. If they made half of those, USA wins be 15. It doesn't matter now because people only remember the winner, not the game, but that was ugly basketball on display.

This ain’t diving or gymnastics. Perfection never counts in hoops. They were just good enough to beat quite a good team despite a tough outing.

 

[Viet Vet]

Ugliest first half of basketball since UConn men vs Butler in 2011 final.

 

[bbsamjj]

Our guard play the entire Olympics was questionable. Not having Clark was a huge mistake.

Except against France, the big issues for the team were turnovers and the physical play (And tons of missed shots). These are the biggest weaknesses for Clark right now in the WNBA (she is the league leader in turnovers, and it's not very close). I think if Clark was on the team she would have been on the bench, just like DT.

There is an argument that it would have been great to have her play in the earlier games, to get international experience. But I have a hard time believing she would have helped in the championship game, given the style.

Now, looking back, I would have loved to have had a K. McBride or A. Gray on the team, in lieu of Loyd (or DT).

 

[Gate81]

Underestimate Harmon at your own peril. If healthy I'd put money on her.

 

[my2cents]

And yet... they managed to go undefeated and won a gold medal. I'll take mistakes like that any day of the week.

Comments like this make it hard to root for Clark and take her fanbase seriously tbh.

I am hardly part of any Fanbase of Clarks. But not to recognize her talents, speaks to a total lack of basketball knowledge. Like many who post on here, you misunderstand the point. I wasn't talking about the team, just the general guard play.

 

[browns]

Love 8 straight. eight straight. Eight straight. Guys on ESPN had an interesting take that if USA lost there would have been a firestorm of why no CC. But they felt that the player's that lost would have had to keep hearing about it. And as the league leaders this could have led to resentment. Resentment against Clark. For example, in the back of DT's mind if USA were to have lost would there have been questions why she didn't play? While she might not have said anything - why wouldn't this be brought up? If there is one thing that Dt still has other than court presence is physical toughness.

Secondly, anyone thinking Paige along with Clark won't be pg.’s in the next Olympics is out of their minds.

And just want to shout out to the team. Eight straight is amazing. Four years ago Japan over reached. This year France did an amazing job. Home court can mean a lot. Expect the Olympic championships to keep on coming.

Clark and Sabrina will be the point guards

 

[fang]

Sigh...This site used to be a refuge from the CC stans. Apparently, the virus continues to spread unchecked.

 

[GirlBoo1020]

I am hardly part of any Fanbase of Clarks. But not to recognize her talents, speaks to a total lack of basketball knowledge. Like many who post on here, you misunderstand the point. I wasn't talking about the team, just the general guard play.

One can recognize her talents and realize the Olympics wouldn't have played well into her skill set. The guard play in general was an issue but there are players more suited to fill the weaknesses of the team (Allisha Gray, Kayla McBride, Aeriel Atkins) that I would have picked over Clark.

The largest issue with the backcourt, imo, was it was almost exclusively guards that need the ball in their hands to be effective. That led to a lot of over dribbling, turnovers, and no real offensive flow. We needed some 3 and D guards that excel in role player positions imo.

 

[Rema64]

Gabby played her heart out and almost pulled off the miracle. Just what we would expect from the Gabulous one.

She was amazing but I was Team USA all the way!

 

[Rema64]

Wow!
What a game from France and what a mess of a game by USA.

This was one game where I thought Diana would have been a good sub in the second quarter when the US was running around in circles - the reason to include her in the team was for a moment like that where the guards were playing scared. (And she couldn't have done worse than any of the other subs in that quarter )

True
I couldn't understand why we didn't slow down.

 

[my2cents]

One can recognize her talents and realize the Olympics wouldn't have played well into her skill set. The guard play in general was an issue but there are players more suited to fill the weaknesses of the team (Allisha Gray, Kayla McBride, Aeriel Atkins) that I would have picked over Clark.

The largest issue with the backcourt, imo, was it was almost exclusively guards that need the ball in their hands to be effective. That led to a lot of over dribbling, turnovers, and no real offensive flow. We needed some 3 and D guards that excel in role player positions imo.

We can disagree, which is fine. If you asked every GM in the WNBA a question. Who would you rather have, all the players you listed OR Caitlin Clark, 100% would pick Clark.

 

[HuskyNan]

OMG, can't we please move on from Caitlin Clark? Take it to the General board.

 

[GirlBoo1020]

We can disagree, which is fine. If you asked every GM in the WNBA a question. Who would you rather have, all the players you listed OR Caitlin Clark, 100% would pick Clark.

Cheryl Reeves is a WNBA GM and she made it clear she would not have picked Caitlin Clark. So you are starting off wrong.