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

[UcMiami]

I find generally international play does not involve the kind of beating up on players that you see especially in the college game in the US. There is more body contact allowed in international play, but arms and hands including the forearm in the small of the back are called pretty tightly. It may be different at the club level as you probably have less consistent referees. The 'flagrant foul' calls are also at a much lower tolerance level and that too reduces the hard fouls.

Post play is always a different beast - and I think Griner or any newby is going to get tested - and as soon as it doesn't effect her game, it will stop. But right now it does seem to get her a little rattled.

 

[easttexastrash]

I find generally international play does not involve the kind of beating up on players that you see especially in the college game in the US. There is more body contact allowed in international play, but arms and hands including the forearm in the small of the back are called pretty tightly. It may be different at the club level as you probably have less consistent referees. The 'flagrant foul' calls are also at a much lower tolerance level and that too reduces the hard fouls.

Post play is always a different beast - and I think Griner or any newby is going to get tested - and as soon as it doesn't effect her game, it will stop. But right now it does seem to get her a little rattled.

The value of experience. There was a time when Nichols would have ended up with a broken nose. I have to wonder if Tina was just a little more sly when she "accidentally" clocked Nichols in the face with her elbow.

 

[j66kicker]

The value of experience. There was a time when Nichols would have ended up with a broken nose. I have to wonder if Tina was just a little more sly when she "accidentally" clocked Nichols in the face with her elbow.

Yeah I wondered that too - actually I thought it was both elbows. Looked a little like a slick b-ball kung move.

 

[UcMiami]

The value of experience. There was a time when Nichols would have ended up with a broken nose. I have to wonder if Tina was just a little more sly when she "accidentally" clocked Nichols in the face with her elbow.

Yeah I wondered that too - actually I thought it was both elbows. Looked a little like a slick b-ball kung move.

Pretty sure it was completely unintentional - the elbow was actually very close to her body, Nicholls just happened to be leaning in hard crowding Tina.

 

[j66kicker]

Pretty sure it was completely unintentional - the elbow was actually very close to her body, Nicholls just happened to be leaning in hard crowding Tina.

Well at the very least it was self-defense, then

 

[easttexastrash]

Well at the very least it was self-defense, then

I think Tina was sending a message. Every basketball player knows that swinging their elbows above shoulder level is not allowed. I don't think she necessarily meant to hit her in the face, but I do think she was giving Nichols a warning to get out of her face.