Whoopdeedoo for assists.
Angel McCoughtry - is a far better three point shooter and better perimeter defender than Candace. And head to head in the 2012 NT, Angel scored more points, had more assists, had 20 steals to Candaces 4 and had 6 blocks to Candaces 10. Oh yeah and she shot .620 to Candace's .507 so she was more efficient. Candace out rebounded McCoughtry as you would expect from a 4/3 vs a 2/3. And yes Angel has been available for the last three NTs to Candace's one - so her stats in the other two teams are better as well.
Fowles - is one of the two best centers in the WNBA and a two time DPOY.
If the committee had not selected Fowles, her replacement would have been another center, if the committee had not selected Angel her replacement would have been a guard/wing player - maybe you would select a team for international play with only one true center, or with only three guards but then thankfully you are not a member of the committee - the committee that has years of experience selecting gold medal teams for international competition. They like having insurance in the low post, and strong guard play so when they were looking at Candace they were not looking at selecting her vs either of those players. You don't like Angel than find a tall guard wing with strong defensive chops (Angel has been WNBA All defensive first team 5 of the last six years.) You don't like Fowles than find another strong defensive center to replace her.
I don't agree "whopeeddoo" for assiess vs trunovers. Passing the ball is a basic fundamental and should alwys be considered a high priority. How often do we hear with UCONN that they speak of how many baskets they get off of assits. Hwo often have we praised MoJeff for her splendid assits vs turnovers? hooppeedddoo" ever reagridng Stef's ability to pass?
And as far as Angel - other players can fill Angel's role. If she were to be a sg, Maya, Catchings and Augustus can defend the sg while you can have EDD at the sf or pf while having Parker. If she were at sf instead you can have Augustus, Maya, or Catchings can defend the sf instead. . And if the other team's sf isn't much of scorer either Parker or EDD can defend that - however I think many underrate Parker's defense so I think Parker is a sf defender too. The point is, with Angel it isn't 1 for 1 with Parker. It's that you can slot in many palyers to do what Angel can do. In the past Angel was an impact defender but she has slowed. Look at her WNBA numbers in Defensive Win Shares as up as his her Defensive Rating. They are all up - and in this case "up is not good." And Angel doesn't even pass the ball as well Parker.
As far as Tina vs Flowers- Tina is the better center. Tina Charles is the 2nd best center in the WNBA. In 2011-2012 as MVP she was the center - as far as back then she passed Fowles. She is no longer he center so she doesn't get beat up.
As far as what the committee would have done -- is unknown. Many of us already believe they are wrong to not include Parker unless they gave a reason. Brian Agler - a great coach kind of says what I think - this Team USA is going to win anyways.
So why is it relevant whom they might have chosen? We don't know what they would have done. Griner and Tina can handle the post. They've both improved since 2012. Who were the 3 centers in 2014? Was Nneka the other center? Because in WNBA she doesn't paly the post over Parker.
And as far as not liking Angel as mentioned above it has nothing to do with Angle bs Parker. Other players on this team can pick up for the "declining" Angel. Even her PER rating and Win Shares per 48 - thy are all down. Overall, the stats show she is declining. She doesn't look as great as she once was.
Anyhow we have rehashed this a lot over-and-over my friend. I'm begging off the subject for the time being. More giddeee about AStevens coming. Great great greta pickup.
Coco- I'm sorry - I feel you and I have been on the same page with this subject. You're on your own now my friend. I know the comment you are about to say "I was on my own anyways!!"
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