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Olympic women's basketball tournament (5x5) (SPOILER ALERT)

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Three from the same group into the SFs. France has a chance for revenge against Japan, which has been playing tough in the home soil. But US has too much firepower for Serbia and their fellow Group dwellers. Still, would like to see France with Gabby going for gold against USA (even if a losing cause).

One wonders what happens to USA team after Sue and (even a not full strength) Dee are gone next time around? The other guards on this team are uninspiring (except when CGray is on.....she needs to find a way to be on most of the time, though).

Ah, that's why Blakeon18 is looking forward to Paige in 2024! And I would include Caitlin Clark, too!
 
MilfordHusky said:
As the game was starting, I texted a couple of friends and said: "We have Stewie and they don't." She was really, really, really good--against the #2 team in the world. Sue and Dee were able to rest the entire 4th quarter.

It was an odd box score with 0 points combined for Jewell and Tina. Sue shot 3-4, all from the arc, and tallied 5 assists and 0 turnovers. What is her Olympic assist total? Does she have the record?
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Wonder what would have happened if Australia's post player had been there, instead of taking the Olympics off? The best post in the world against Stewie & Co?

Wonder what would have been...
 
jchuskie said:
not sure who objectically thought Canada had any shot at medaling. France Usa China Australia are all better than they are and then you take into effect Serbia Japan and Belgium idk where they were going to come close to medaling. Kia Nurse has been inconsistent with the mercury and she is arguably the best player on the team. Achonwa just has too much injury history to ever be relied on. What I don't get is why they called up Edwards if they had no intention of giving her playing time. It seems it might have been better to just stay in Storrs training with her teammates.
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Agree with your thoughts on Canada as a whole but not Edwards. No one ever knows what the future will hold, so why pass up a potentially once in a lifetime chance to experience the Olympics?
 
baggerbob said:
Geno always said in big games all he had to do was look at Stewie, she would have her game face, and he knew it was Coach I got this.
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Even among the greatest of the great, Stewie stands out

This time, when it mattered, U.S. pummels Australia, makes semifinals - StarTribune.com

Stewart scored 10 first-quarter points and finished with a game-high 23, adding five rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots.

"She's a special player and a special person,'' USA forward Diana Taurasi said.

"What she's doing is even more incredible because she's playing out of position,'' said USA guard Sue Bird.
 
eebmg said:
"What she's doing is even more incredible because she's playing out of position,'' said USA guard Sue Bird.
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Thank you Sue. About time somebody on the team said it. Best player in the world asked to play out of position to benefit the team. No complaints from Stewie. She just plays.
 
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BlueSkyGLW said:
Three from the same group into the SFs. France has a chance for revenge against Japan, which has been playing tough in the home soil. But US has too much firepower for Serbia and their fellow Group dwellers. Still, would like to see France with Gabby going for gold against USA (even if a losing cause).

One wonders what happens to USA team after Sue and (even a not full strength) Dee are gone next time around? The other guards on this team are uninspiring (except when CGray is on.....she needs to find a way to be on most of the time, though).

Ah, that's why Blakeon18 is looking forward to Paige in 2024! And I would include Caitlin Clark, too!
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Paige/Caitlin/Sabrina....talented guard group triple...Paris/Los Angeles/Brisbane in 2032...add Azzi for a
home run.

USA women's basketball in good shape despite the world getting better.
 
UConnCat said:
Thank you Sue. About time somebody on the team said it. Best player in the world asked to play out of position to benefit the team. No complaints from Stewie. She just plays.
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Dawn knows that very well

Additional Quotes: USA 79, Australia 55 (usab.com)


Breanna Stewart had 20 points in the first 20 minutes. You've seen a lot of USA Basketball. Is that one of the better performances you've seen from an individual on the offensive end?


Yes. Stewie (Breanna Stewart) is, by far … I've seen her in USA Basketball over the past eight years, how much she's grown. And she probably doesn't even remember in 2016, she didn't really play as much, but she took notes. And when you're in your first Olympic Games, there's a lot of note taking. And I think she’s primed to perform this way for our basketball team and in more Olympic Games. But the way she did it, inside, outside, she was unconscious. She took great shots. She was efficient. But really what stands out to me, we know Stewie can score, is her defensive effort. We asked her to chase those guards around, something that she doesn't do a whole lot. And she's committed to it, and she got deflections. She got block shots. She's just in plays. So super proud of the all-around effort that she gave us.


What is not mentioned enough is how she releases the pressure in the backcourt with a much improved handle and perfectly weighted passes.
 
BBallF said:
I was one of those going after Gray and she deserved it at the time but she significantly reduced the dribbling this morning and was looking to pass first now instead of setting up her own shot. I doubt it was just by happenstance but you never know because the team played more like a team than ever before. One of the consequences of the front line of Stewie, Wilson and Griner and also Charles and Fowles is that they have more touches where they are not in scoring position and have to pass and Griner is clearly the worst of the group. The 3 guard offense with Stewie and Wilson is a good alternative at times. No one will beat them if they play like this morning from here on in. One final note, it may not be clear to the new spectator watching these games so far that D is the Goat but it sure as heck is clearer about Bird. She is a marvel and subtly controls every game she plays.
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Staley also had BOTH Bird and Gray out there at the same time for big periods, particularly in the 2nd quarter. Kara Lawson commented on how the advantage of that lineup is it gives you great facilitators on both sides of the floor. They also happened to be the two best guards for team USA last night (Loyd, DT, SDS, and Atkins went a combined 3-18 from the floor).

In terms of longterm guard play, I, like most, have mixed feelings on Arike. But I could see her playing a super sub off the bench role--similar to what Angel has done on the Olympics teams in the past.
 
clbabson said:
Agree with your thoughts on Canada as a whole but not Edwards. No one ever knows what the future will hold, so why pass up a potentially once in a lifetime chance to experience the Olympics?
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Canada has both Edwards AND Nurse. Those two alone make them strong. No slouches in the international game.
 
BlueSkyGLW said:
One wonders what happens to USA team after Sue and (even a not full strength) Dee are gone next time around? The other guards on this team are uninspiring (except when CGray is on.....she needs to find a way to be on most of the time, though).

Ah, that's why Blakeon18 is looking forward to Paige in 2024! And I would include Caitlin Clark, too!
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Ionescu
 
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Fairfield Fan said:
Canada has both Edwards AND Nurse. Those two alone make them strong. No slouches in the international game.
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No other credible scoring threat to force opponents from keying in on Nurse, except maybe Carleton, who did play better as the tourney went along..
No outside scoring other than Kia - team tied for fewest made 3ppg in the tournament (shot < 30% from three).
Behind Achonwa, no inside depth - not much height to begin with. When your next leading rebounder is Carleton (listed as a guard on the roster), that's a problem.
Too many holes in the makeup of the team and not sure if any relief is coming from junior players. Also, maybe Coach Thomaidis has brought this team as far as it will go under her watch. Results here and in the Americup in June were disappointing, to say the least.
 
Vowelguy said:
Ionescu
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Vowelguy's answer as to who will fill the guard position on the next Olympic team.
_______________________________

I can't give a precise response, but it would not surprise me one little, tiny bit if two of the future US team guards presently appear on the current UConn roster...

Say, Paige +1 (to be determined)...+ Catlin?
Why do I think Ionescu will fade?
No answer.

Wipe the table clean of everyone currently playing 4 and 5 (except Stewie, if that's where she plays).
 
msf22b said:
Vowelguy's answer as to who will fill the guard position on the next Olympic team.
_______________________________

I can't give a precise response, but it would not surprise me one little, tiny bit if two of the future US team guards presently appear on the current UConn roster...

Say, Paige +1 (to be determined)...+ Catlin?
Why do I think Ionescu will fade?
No answer.

Wipe the table clean of everyone currently playing 4 and 5 (except Stewie, if that's where she plays).
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Stewie will play wherever she is needed. Notice how often she is bringing the ball up the floor on the current team.
 
baggerbob said:
Stewie will play wherever she is needed. Notice how often she is bringing the ball up the floor on the current team.
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TBH I think the only players on this team guaranteed a spot in the 2024 Olympics, barring injury, are Stewart and Wilson. Loyd, Gray and Collier should all remain a part of the core squad, but I wouldn't consider them locks yet. Atkins might continue to improve or I could see her fading off.

Bird, DT, SDS, Charles, Fowles, Griner will all be 33 or above-->maybe 1 or 2 are still at top of their game in 3 years, but Bird is the exception to the rule, imo.
 
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I want to take this opportunity to express my opinion that NBC, USA, or whatever you call it is providing the worst video coverage of women's basketball in an Olympics I have ever seen. It is clear that the camera people think that a bird's eye view is a good way to watch the sport which tells me that they have never covered the sport. It makes me dizzy. It always comes at the wrong time.
 
With Cambage out, I thought that a Spain and Belgium were the 2 most dangerous teams. I know France and Japan--both from our bracket--were pretty good, but I didn't expect them to beat Spain and Belgium, respectively.
 
MilfordHusky said:
With Cambage out, I thought that a Spain and Belgium were the 2 most dangerous teams. I know France and Japan--both from our bracket--were pretty good, but I didn't expect them to beat Spain and Belgium, respectively.
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Serbia is going to have nightmares defending Griner, A'ja, and Stewie. The speed of Stewie, A'ja, and Britney is something they haven't seen.
 
Semi-final games,
Aug. 6 , Japan time.
USA vs. Serbia, 13:40
France vs. Japan, 20:00
 
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Blakeon18 said:
CL82: almost but not quite. Rebecca graduated in 1995...Olympics in 1996.
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Thanks! I couldn't remember but, I knew someone would know.
 
msf22b said:
Vowelguy's answer as to who will fill the guard position on the next Olympic team.
_______________________________

I can't give a precise response, but it would not surprise me one little, tiny bit if two of the future US team guards presently appear on the current UConn roster...

Say, Paige +1 (to be determined)...+ Catlin?
Why do I think Ionescu will fade?
No answer.

Wipe the table clean of everyone currently playing 4 and 5 (except Stewie, if that's where she plays).
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I agree with you 100%. If not starting UCONN guards then at least very significant minutes for them (assuming the kid who has not played 1 minute of D1 hoops lives up to at least 80% of the hype about her).
 
Ionescu seems a lock for the 2022 world championships, which would then be the stepping stone to 2024.
 
bbsamjj said:
Staley also had BOTH Bird and Gray out there at the same time for big periods, particularly in the 2nd quarter. Kara Lawson commented on how the advantage of that lineup is it gives you great facilitators on both sides of the floor. They also happened to be the two best guards for team USA last night (Loyd, DT, SDS, and Atkins went a combined 3-18 from the floor).

In terms of longterm guard play, I, like most, have mixed feelings on Arike. But I could see her playing a super sub off the bench role--similar to what Angel has done on the Olympics teams in the past.
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DT is not a facilitator? I admit that she hasn't played as we all had hoped but she made some great passes today, stabilizes the team, and is a presence out there. Gray played well, had 8 assists, and can score but unlike others on this site, I think there is still a lingering "thing" with Lawson about D which may be subliminal but it is there nevertheless so she is not quotable in my mind in this analysis.

The team really stunk before D got there and even Dawn talked about how D's personality changed everything. I think there are very subtle things on this team that matter such as Bird controlling the flow, starting the offense and D knowing exactly where the ball should next go. This is an inside team, and there are only 3 guards that can get the ball in there in the right place at the right time. How anyone thought that scoring guards would help this team is beyond me. How about a natural scoring 3? I would rather have had a KLS type, a tall spot up deadeye 3 point shooter to open the middle.They are going to win and it should be convincingly since they have figured each other out. I say let D and Sue go out the right way.
 
BBallF said:
DT is not a facilitator? I admit that she hasn't played as we all had hoped but she made some great passes today, stabilizes the team, and is a presence out there. Gray played well, had 8 assists, and can score but unlike others on this site, I think there is still a lingering "thing" with Lawson about D which may be subliminal but it is there nevertheless so she is not quotable in my mind in this analysis.

The team really stunk before D got there and even Dawn talked about how D's personality changed everything. I think there are very subtle things on this team that matter such as Bird controlling the flow, starting the offense and D knowing exactly where the ball should next go. This is an inside team, and there are only 3 guards that can get the ball in there in the right place at the right time. How anyone thought that scoring guards would help this team is beyond me. How about a natural scoring 3? I would rather have had a KLS type, a tall spot up deadeye 3 point shooter to open the middle.They are going to win and it should be convincingly since they have figured each other out. I say let D and Sue go out the right way.
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There is no way Stewie is letting Sue and Dee go out without the Gold. I don't think you have seen the best yet this tournament from Stewie. This is the time that Geno always wanted Stewie to do something spectacular.
We almost had it on the 3 PT shot she blocked and was going for a spectacular breakaway, but they called a shot clock violation.
 
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