Olympic Teams' Exhibitions to be streamed on Facebook

[housekeys]

I think it was a great challenge. I am sure the Select team was playing with a chip on their shoulder and anxious to show their best. Good game that showcased team USA's ability to clamp down and win a close one down the stretch.

 

[ThisJustIn]

I keep expecting Stewie to have a rookie feel to her game. She certainly is entitled... but it's just. not. happening. Holy carp, what a pro/USA career she can have!

 

[EricSD]

Howard had a spectacular game!

Not a lot of people ever talk about her but I have to imagine that many of the people on the select team are being considered for future Olympic spots. Great time to showcase your talents for sure!

 

[JoePgh]

I agree - this was an absolutely fascinating game. I couldn't take my eyes off the NBA TV screen for the entire game. It was competitive throughout, and I think the Select team probably led for more minutes than the Olympians. I continue to be concerned about the average age of the Olympians -- there are too many players on the team who are near the end of their careers, IMO. They look a little bit like the Yankees in that respect.

I couldn't completely figure out the coaching arrangements for the game. I could see that Geno and the Lynx coach were coaching the Olympic team and that Doug Bruno and Dawn Staley were coaching the Select team, but I couldn't tell which of those latter two was the "head coach". But they obviously had the Select team ready -- they seemed to run a coordinated offense and defense and to move the ball very well. I wonder if Doug and Dawn spent Saturday / Sunday / Monday exclusively with the Select team to prepare them for the game.

I was surprised at Geno's personnel decisions down the stretch, when the game was very clearly in jeopardy. I don't believe that Griner saw the floor in the last 6 or 7 minutes of the game. For a while Stewie and EDD were the bigs that the Olympians were relying on to stop Howard, and they weren't very effective in doing it. Stewie did make a very rookie error in fouling Howard when she was taking a 3-point shot with about a minute left, but she made up for it soon afterwards. At the VERY end of the game, Geno had four UConners (Tina, Maya, Diana, and Stewie -- curiously no Sue Bird) plus Seimone Augustus on the floor, and they did come back from a 2-point deficit to win the game. But the "big names" had far fewer minutes in crunch time than I expected. I don't know if that was because Geno wanted to put them into pressure situations or because he really thought they gave his team the best chance to win, but I was quite surprised.

It will be interesting to see if any of the "real" Olympic teams that they play later this week can give them as good a game as the Select team.

 

[Blakeon18]

Additional Quotes: USA National Team 88, USA Select Team 84 (7/25/16)

There are tons of quotes from Geno and the players about this game in this link.

 

[warbler1055]

Thanks everybody. Missed the game, really enjoyed your reporting. Have both NBATV and streaming options and just forgot about the game!!! Shame on me.

 

[easttexastrash]

She is, however, inbounding the ball well.

That cracked me up!

 

[baggerbob]

One of the problems this team has is 3 centers, Tina, Brittney, and Sylvia won't be able to defend out to the 3 point line. Many of the International teams rely on the ability to shoot as many or more 3's then the select team did. Some won't have anyone in the paint, putting people on the floor who can defend all positions, at times will be critical.

 

[Wally East]

One of the problems this team has is 3 centers, Tina, Brittney, and Sylvia won't be able to defend out to the 3 point line. Many of the International teams rely on the ability to shoot as many or more 3's then the select team did. Some won't have anyone in the paint, putting people on the floor who can defend all positions, at times will be critical.

That's when you'd play Stewie or EDD at the 5, isn't it?

 

[j66kicker]

Another game today - YEAH!!

Meanwhile the men's and women's Australian teams are already in Brazil tuning up, and also bickering back & forth in a twitter war (Cambage vs. Bogut)...

Bogut, Cambage go head to head on Twitter

 

[Kaizen]

Geno is ready for Olympic

 

[easttexastrash]

Love Geno. I wiah our players had more time with as they would learn so much to carry foreard in their careers.

 

[DaddyChoc]

Love Geno. I wiah our players had more time with as they would learn so much to carry foreard in their careers.

too bad some cant put up with his "antics"... if my child was 6ft tall with a ounce of athletic DNA in her she'd be going to UConn if they came acalling

 

[shinobimono]

Elizabeth Williams really cannot shoot. I wonder if she blames that on JPM or if she takes personal responsibility?

Was that a sucker punch?

Stay Classy!