Game Thread: USA v. Spain World Championship Game, Sun. ESPN2 & WatchESPN, 2:00 p.m.

[JS]

DavidinNaples Team USA..!!

Anything can happen in a one game playoff and Spain is a good team. They just beat home town Turkey in a tough semi-final match. But, Spain has 5 critical weaknesses that may spell trouble.
1. Scoring- Spain's scoring is concentrated w/ two players, Lyttle & Torrens. Those two have scored 93 & 83 points. That's 49% of the team's total. Their third scorer has 42 pts, which would be only 7th on USA. Shut down Lyttle and/or Torrens and Spain's feeling pain.

2. Minutes played - Both teams will be playing for the 3rd day in a row. But, Spain's starting five have played 152, 149, 143, 131 & 113 minutes total in 5 games. They're going to be tired trying to keep up w/ USA. Our top player, Maya, has logged only 119 minutes. DT has only 105, Griner only 93 & Whalen only 77. Spain may have to fight tired legs and USA.

3. Second team- USA's "2nd team" has scored 192 pts. Spain's 2nd five, only 89. The drop off also shows in rebounds, defense & assists. Spain may have to keep the starting five on the court for a long time, to stay close.

4. Centers- The only true center on Spain is Pascua, at 6'5". But, she has played only 41 minutes. (Stewie has played 33 in comparison.) Lyttle & Torrens are 6'3" and 6'4", but play forward. Who guards B.G.? Who guards Tina? Spain has 50 fewer rebounds and has scored 115 fewer points. That is a lot to make up against USA.

5. Fouls & free throws - Spain has 95 fouls vs 81 for Team USA. So they foul more often. However, they have 32 fewer free throw attempts (72 vs 104). Worst of all, they have made only 44 (61%). USA has made 74 for 71%. Fouling more and shooting less is a bad formula for winning.
One last thing, USA has DT & Maya, they don't.

Go Team USA..!!
DavidinNaples, Yesterday at 10:23 PM
arty155, Blarney76, UcMiami and 1 other person like this.

 

[JS]

1. 
   UcMiami
   Nice David - but:
   4. Spain's center is Nicholls - listed at 6'3" but she is big and strong. She is not much of a scorer at 5.8 ppg in the WC, but she is a good defender and averages 8.8 rebounds in these games. She is averaging 28 minutes but has played 33 minutes the last two games against China and Turkey. She fouled out against Turkey but played quite well.
   No doubt USA has an advantage in the post with Charles and Griner against Nicholls and Lyttle.
   Torrens is really not a post player - much more a jump shooter and slasher - and the heart and soul of the team - she pretty much single handedly brought Spain back from a 7 point deficit against Turkey in the second half when it looked like the game was slipping away. While not as muscular as Moore, her game is similar and she is deadly in transition.
   She was UConn's best defensive player - on both ends. She guarded our rim, too! - Geno 11/15/13
   UcMiami, Yesterday at 10:54 PM
   DavidinNaples likes this.

____________________________________

1. 
   
   Yes, plays center out of necessity, really a power forward....18 fouls in 5 games, shoots 29% from the field & has played 143 minutes. Her 22 offensive boards are impressive, but she is no match for Griner. IMO....
   DavidinNaples, Yesterday at 11:16 PM
   
   UcMiami
   
   
   DavidinNaples said: ↑
   

   Yes, plays center out of necessity, really a power forward....18 fouls in 5 games, shoots 29% from the field & has played 143 minutes. Her 22 offensive boards are impressive, but she is no match for Griner. IMO....​

   Watch the Turkey game which is the first time I had seen Spain, and call her what you want she plays like a low post defender and has the strength to push players out from the basket. She is definitely playing 'center' for this team.
   Agree that both Charles and Griner should be much more effective.
   She was UConn's best defensive player - on both ends. She guarded our rim, too! - Geno 11/15/13
   UcMiami, Yesterday at 11:32 PM
   DavidinNaples likes this.​

 

[JellyBean]

We should be able to pound the basketball into the paint and let Brit and Tina take over. Inside/Outside game today!!

 

[JellyBean]

And 1 by Brit.

USA 8

Spain: 5

 

[JellyBean]

Maya with a 3, Tina with a 2

USA: 13

Spain: 5

 

[JellyBean]

If Spain is going to launch 15-24 footers, this works in our favor. They don't have an inside game>

Maya has 8 points already!! TV timeout.

USA:15

Spain:5

 

[semper]

Is there anyway to watch from a laptop? I don't have a TV provider.

 

[easttexastrash]

Maya...just wow

 

[OneTrickPony]

Maya 11 - Spain 5

 

[Zorro]

ILive has blocked the game except for "premium members" which I am not about to do. Anyone have any other source of stream watching?

 

[OneTrickPony]

Nmeka really making her presence felt...respect...

 

[OneTrickPony]

The blue collar worker Whalen doing a little hammering...

 

[PalPa]

ILive has blocked the game except for "premium members" which I am not about to do. Anyone have any other source of stream watching?

I am watching ESPN2 on my computer via Comcast.

 

[Zorro]

Thanks, but won't work down here. Will have to count on Boneyard updates.

 

[OneTrickPony]

DT throws a length of the floor pass to a streaking Augustus at the 2 yard line...score...!

Spain needs a TO at 32 - 17

 

[Zorro]

Score?

 

[TommySC]

Spain has a lot of moving (screens) going on.

 

[OneTrickPony]

Whalen bumped hard by Palau but gathers and scores...now to the line...

 

[Zorro]

Thanks.

 

[OneTrickPony]

Taurasi perfect pass to Augustus for a lay in...

 

[semper]

Thanks, but won't work down here. Will have to count on Boneyard updates.

Me too. Keep them coming!

 

[OneTrickPony]

Spain putting up some short balls already...legs are going...but Palau cleans up...US up by 20...

 

[OneTrickPony]

Nichols having a nice game for Spain...that's about it...

 

[OneTrickPony]

Spain picking up fatigue fouls now...

 

[OneTrickPony]

41 - 21 Sancho has 3 fouls now...but gets a shot to fall +1 against CanDu...