May 2024 WNBA Thread, part II

[hoopsnloops32]

7 guards on this team was a mistake. Now with Collier looking like she can't play you go into the Olympics with 4 frontcourt players, 2 nursing injuries in Stewie and Griner.
This could be a problem in the Olympics, playing on consecutive days.

There are no games on consecutive days in the Olympics. They play 6 games in two weeks with an average of 2-3 days rest between games. Easier than the WNBA schedule.

 

[cancontent]

7 guards on this team was a mistake. Now with Collier looking like she can't play you go into the Olympics with 4 frontcourt players, 2 nursing injuries in Stewie and Griner.
This could be a problem in the Olympics, playing on consecutive days.

The team still have alternates like Brionna Jones available worst case scenario.

 

[hoopsnloops32]

The team still have alternates like Brionna Jones available worst case scenario.

Alternates aren’t available once the competition starts (so next Saturday) and those alternates were never even confirmed. Given no one else flew to Europe with the team that we know of, I’d presume they won’t be used at this point.

 

[WBBTakeover]

I agree on nearly all of this, WCCTakeover, especially about Loyd. She's thought to be a good defender. I surely hope so, 'cause she plays a whole lot of bad games on offense.

I'm of the belief that while Jewell is an okay defender, she's not going to be earning any awards for her defense--and I don't believe she's ever been awarded for her defense as a pro. She's not the best defensive guard on her own WNBA team. If she was brought along because of her defense, then that was a mistake by USA Basketball. They should've taken Ariel Atkins instead. I know I said in the past that she wasn't needed on this team, but I was wrong. A healthy Brittney Sykes would've been a good option as well. So would a healthy Jordin Canada or a Natasha Cloud. Betnijah Laney, Allisha Gray, and Rhyne Howard are also players who could've helped defensively at the guard spot.

IMO, the best defenders on Team USA are A'ja, Stewie, Phee, AT, and BG. My goodness--the roster composition is just ! They couldn't find one top-flight guard defender?

 

[WBBTakeover]

7 guards on this team was a mistake. Now with Collier looking like she can't play you go into the Olympics with 4 frontcourt players, 2 nursing injuries in Stewie and Griner.
This could be a problem in the Olympics, playing on consecutive days.

It could be wishful thinking, but here's what Coach Cheryl Reeve had to say:

 

[baggerbob]

It could be wishful thinking, but here's what Coach Cheryl Reeve had to say:

She hasn't played meaningful minutes in 2 weeks, and has a condition that could flare up at anytime. Only a period of rest will get her better.

 

[Reypl21]

I don't think anyone on either team played much defense last night.

They were playing defense. More than a regular All-Star. There were some full court presses, and Clark was getting a lot of defensive attention. It was intense.

 

[TheFarmFan]

I don't think anyone on either team played much defense last night.

Alisha Gray and her 5 steals would like to have a word. She was en fuego on defense.

 

[WBBTakeover]

She hasn't played meaningful minutes in 2 weeks, and has a condition that could flare up at anytime. Only a period of rest will get her better.

I, personally, don't disagree with that. I'm just giving Reeve's take on the matter. "More of Phee" could mean 4-5 minutes instead of the three that she played in the ASG.

 

[WBBTakeover]

They were playing defense. More than a regular All-Star. There were some full court presses, and Clark was getting a lot of defensive attention. It was intense.

They (Team USA) were definitely playing D. They just weren't very good at it.