Olympics Women's Basketball, Expected Outcomes and Surprises

[PacoSwede]

clearly wilson and stewart are the best players on the court. dt isn't, now.

all on the squad are experienced, outstanding ball players. BUT, dt gives the grease needed for them to work smoothly as a TEAM ... the chemistry.

you know, i'm pretty sure each of them has confidence in her on the court -- they're well aware of her track record (more than some of us, apparently) -- and on the bench and in her confidence in them as a team. she's respected and inspires them (even stewart and wilson, and in the past bird, augustus, mccoughtry, fowles, moore, catchings and the rest).

this is rare when you have an amalgam of such accomplished folks, and it gives the team an edge. dt acts as a yeast that allows others to flourish together.

PLUS, she's still a damn good basketball player who on the court can produce what's needed for victory. she's not entirely over the hill. i'm amazed that some think she shouldn't be on the team. (ooohhhh! i get it. the caitlin clark factor!)

starting? the coach has a reason. it's fine with me if dt doesn't have this honor. she's important to team success, regardless. success is what we all hope for, surely.

 

[cancontent]

Sigh......This is an embarrassing end to Canada's time in this women's basketball tournament, losing 79-70 to Nigeria. Boxscore is deceiving but the 3rd quarter was the team's demise.

The Canada Basketball administration will be doing a lot of soul searching after this. This is the second consecutive Olympics where they didn't make it out of pool play. And after a fourth place finish at Worlds with most of the players on this roster, this wasn't the end result they expected.

Honestly, this roster is better than what was displayed on the court. This is so disappointing and frustrating when you see the talent coming out of this country now.

Congratulations to Nigeria and their tenacity in pool play. They've been disruptive and in sync as a team. Balogun has been very impressive on this roster.

Canada vs Nigeria - Group Phase - Women's Olympic Basketball Tournament Paris 2024 | FIBA.basketball

Witness the clash between Canada(CAN) and Nigeria (NGR) at Women's Olympic Basketball Tournament Paris 2024. Explore detailed box scores, game stats, captivating photos, and highlight videos capturing the best moments of the game. Group Phase (GP

www.fiba.basketball

 

[JellyBean]

Sigh......This is an embarrassing end to Canada's time in this women's basketball tournament, losing 79-70 to Nigeria. Boxscore is deceiving but the 3rd quarter was the team's demise.

The Canada Basketball administration will be doing a lot of soul searching after this. This is the second consecutive Olympics where they didn't make it out of pool play. And after a fourth place finish at Worlds with most of the players on this roster, this wasn't the end result they expected.

Honestly, this roster is better than what was displayed on the court. This is so disappointing and frustrating when you see the talent coming out of this country now.

Congratulations to Nigeria and their tenacity in pool play. They've been disruptive and in sync as a team. Balogun has been very impressive on this roster.

Canada vs Nigeria - Group Phase - Women's Olympic Basketball Tournament Paris 2024 | FIBA.basketball

Witness the clash between Canada(CAN) and Nigeria (NGR) at Women's Olympic Basketball Tournament Paris 2024. Explore detailed box scores, game stats, captivating photos, and highlight videos capturing the best moments of the game. Group Phase (GP

www.fiba.basketball

Yeah. This was a surprising result for Canada. Hats off to Nigeria for a great run and game but when we, fans of basketball, see Team Canada, especially on the women's side for basketball, we were expecting a huge rise for Team Canada. Definitely surprising results for Team Canada.

 

[BullDawg]

Rocky start for team USA against Germany.

 

[nwhoopfan]

2 players changed the momentum for USA. First Thomas, then Plum. KP was the last player to enter the game, as soon as she came in US grabbed the lead and then kept building on it. Hmm, she must've been supplying some leadership and chemistry or something.

 

[maple]

Stewie (and A’Ja) holding it down.

 

[The deacon]

clearly wilson and stewart are the best players on the court. dt isn't, now.

all on the squad are experienced, outstanding ball players. BUT, dt gives the grease needed for them to work smoothly as a TEAM ... the chemistry.

you know, i'm pretty sure each of them has confidence in her on the court -- they're well aware of her track record (more than some of us, apparently) -- and on the bench and in her confidence in them as a team. she's respected and inspires them (even stewart and wilson, and in the past bird, augustus, mccoughtry, fowles, moore, catchings and the rest).

this is rare when you have an amalgam of such accomplished folks, and it gives the team an edge. dt acts as a yeast that allows others to flourish together.

PLUS, she's still a damn good basketball player who on the court can produce what's needed for victory. she's not entirely over the hill. i'm amazed that some think she shouldn't be on the team. (ooohhhh! i get it. the caitlin clark factor!)

starting? the coach has a reason. it's fine with me if dt doesn't have this honor. she's important to team success, regardless. success is what we all hope for, surely.

2 players changed the momentum for USA. First Thomas, then Plum. KP was the last player to enter the game, as soon as she came in US grabbed the lead and then kept building on it. Hmm, she must've been supplying some leadership and chemistry or something.

It's not the Clark factor, PacoSwede, nor is it that I don't have immense respect for DT's past accomplishments.

It's just that, as long as Reeve is stubborn about playing DT, especially as a starter, the USA is doing its best to create a new Olympics event: 4 on 5!

Do you watch her on the court? She just doesn't belong with the others. So what that she's averaging 16 ppg in the W this season. She doesn't measure up any more as an Olympian. You seriously believe watching DT on the court (or likely even on the sidelines) is inspiring her teammates?

If the USA goes on to win the gold medal, which it should, somewhere along the way, Diana will throw a good pass, perhaps hit a couple of threes. I'll cheer for her then, as I do now, but the USA will win the gold in spite of DT, certainly not because of her.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Jackie Young took over the 2nd half.

I know I'm biased, but the team was better when Plum was on the floor. She came in midway thru Q2 and they went from behind to up 11. She came in early in Q3 and they went from up 8 to up 23. Her stats were modest, but the pace was better, the ball movement was better, they were getting better shots with her on the floor. She has to get some credit for that.

Gray and Tauarasi benched for the 2nd half. Could we see a change in the starting lineup next game?

 

[baggerbob]

Jackie Young took over the 2nd half.

I know I'm biased, but the team was better when Plum was on the floor. She came in midway thru Q2 and they went from behind to up 11. She came in early in Q3 and they went from up 8 to up 23. Her stats were modest, but the pace was better, the ball movement was better, they were getting better shots with her on the floor. She has to get some credit for that.

Gray and Tauarasi benched for the 2nd half. Could we see a change in the starting lineup next game?

Cheryl is too stubborn to make a change unless the players suggest a change, then she might. Unless DT asks to not start she will start. Too bad Sue isn't there to whisper in her ear DT it's time.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Stubborn is one word to use.

 

[MilfordHusky]

UConnCat says it better than I do, but unless you have been to an Olympics or World Cup Finals in a foreign country, you cannot fully understand how difficult and pressure-filled the situation is. In Istanbul, the Turkish fans had whistles, air horns, and other noisemakers. There were 20,000 Turkey fans and only a few Americans. Conversation in the arena was impossible. Dee's experience in both Russia and the WC/Olympics, plus her personality, keeps the Americans from getting rattled. This environment is quantitatively and qualitatively much different than the NCAA or WNBA Finals.

 

[cordarone]

Lauren Jackson has played all of twenty minutes in the tournament. Latest game, a must win against France, she got benched (Opals won btw).
Someone tell coach Brondello she's doing it wrong (leadership, poise, yada, yada, yada...)

 

[BlueSkyGLW]

All points made in defense of DT being on the team are valid......international basketball is quite a bit different from WNBA and NCAA.....I have no doubt that the Selection Committee took that into account: her depth of international experience and her vocal leadership (sort of a security blanket)

Watching them play against Germany finally dawned on me why there players were chosen (with the exception of DT): their defensive potential together as a team and their physical attributes to withstand the physicality of international basketball better. It looks like Coach Reeve has driven that home: defense.

Australia exposed the frontcourt of France - at least, that is the way I see it. Most of the key players of their frontcourt (except Gabby at 3) are young. I guess France did not see any incentive in desperately staying unbeaten.....

Lamenting Canada's performance as a whole....it seems to be a transition of a kind. Japan's too....

Having seen all of the teams now, I don't see anyone seriously challenging the US, although I am not overly impressed by the play of the team so far. But then, the wins of a defensive-minded team are not as spectacular or eye-catching as high-scoring offensive teams.

 

[MilfordHusky]

I think just about everybody on the team has multiple FIBA World Cups under their belt, and quite a few of them have been to multiple Olympics. This narrative of "they need Taurasi because she's the only one who has experienced this" just doesn't hold water.

Previous experience:

Diana 5 Olympics, 4 WC

Stewie 2 Olympics, 3 WC

BG 2 Olympics, 2 WC

A'ja 1 Olympics, 2 WC

Jewell 1 Olympics, 2 WC

Chelsea 1 Olympics, 1 WC

Kelsey 1 Olympics 3x3, 2 WC

Pheesa 1 Olympics

Jackie 1 Olympics 3x3

AT 1 WC

Kahleah 1 WC

Sabrina 1 WC

Other than Diana, that's 6 players with a combined 8 Olympics in 5x5. Many of the rookies are end-of-bench players, who get little playing time and are not expected to deliver buckets or stops in crunch time. BG, Stewie, and A'ja have been major contributors in 1-2 Olympics. That's it. The other players have never played a game like the one they had against Belgium.

 

[The deacon]

Previous experience:

Diana 5 Olympics, 4 WC

Stewie 2 Olympics, 3 WC

BG 2 Olympics, 2 WC

A'ja 1 Olympics, 2 WC

Jewell 1 Olympics, 2 WC

Chelsea 1 Olympics, 1 WC

Kelsey 1 Olympics 3x3, 2 WC

Pheesa 1 Olympics

Jackie 1 Olympics 3x3

AT 1 WC

Kahleah 1 WC

Sabrina 1 WC

Other than Diana, that's 6 players with a combined 8 Olympics in 5x5. Many of the rookies are end-of-bench players, who get little playing time and are not expected to deliver buckets or stops in crunch time. BG, Stewie, and A'ja have been major contributors in 1-2 Olympics. That's it. The other players have never played a game like the one they had against Belgium.

Nice list, Milford Husky, but that just reinforces the point that the team has plenty of experience. Eight of the players other than DT had been to the Olympics, and somehow I don't think AT, Sabrina and Copper are the types to be intimidated by the atmosphere..

As someone noted earlier, why didn't it occur to anyone to have DT as an assistant coach if she brings so much to the team on the sideline? Give her that choice: help with the coaching or go off and do a podcast with Sue. She's earned that choice.

She certainly doesn't bring anything on the court, and we could have had another player who might contribute...

 

[baggerbob]

UConnCat says it better than I do, but unless you have been to an Olympics or World Cup Finals in a foreign country, you cannot fully understand how difficult and pressure-filled the situation is. In Istanbul, the Turkish fans had whistles, air horns, and other noisemakers. There were 20,000 Turkey fans and only a few Americans. Conversation in the arena was impossible. Dee's experience in both Russia and the WC/Olympics, plus her personality, keeps the Americans from getting rattled. This environment is quantitatively and qualitatively much different than the NCAA or WNBA Finals.

Stewie has done all those things and much more recently.

 

[BlueSkyGLW]

Each of the players have different personality, not all will say something useful at exactly the time needed in a way that is most effective. Just having experience playing in multiple international competitions is not enough to acquire this quality.

We are all on the outside looking in, not privy to the dynamics in the team as selected. It would be a surprise if the Selection Committee did not talk to Coach Reeve before finalizing the roster on the intangibles someone like DT brings to the team and whether someone else can do the same. That process ended up with this roster.

Since none of us has privy direct information on what is happening within the team both in games and in the locker room, we make our judgments based on what we see on the court and the statistics, e.g mostly how things look. Still, it is very tempting to certain about the "truth" of the judgments. we utter, often done without an iota of doubt. (It is after all, part of the game in these Board)

I have taken the position that the Selection Committee made the judgment on intangibles and not on what DT is still capable of delivering in spurts and that they are right... If they win, the Committee was right in having that "insurance" measure. If they lose, it was still right in doing so to try to cover all bases......all it means is that the insurance policy did not work but more importantly, the rest of the core of the team with extensive international experience failed to deliver on the intangibles as well.

The emphasis on defensive capability means winning ugly is perfectly fine with them......

But the way things look now in how the other teams are playing compared to the US, there is no loss awaiting them in Paris.

 

[Cuango]

Looks like Ionescu is leading the guards in minutes played, starters Gray and Taurasi are 2nd and 3rd. The two starters have been the least productive players. They've scored a combined 4 points in 2 games. Gray did have 13 assists in the first game. Taurasi has 1 assist total. I don't know why she's getting any playing time.

Sad to see what is happening to Dee in Paris. This happens sometimes when players, no matter how good they are, try to play beyond their expiration date. It can happen very suddenly and when it does they can end up with stats like 1 assist in two games. I have beaucoup respect for Dee but in this case she (and the team/game) would have been better served by gracefully accepting a tie with her good friend Sue Bird at five golds. I do hope however, that she can produce a respectable stat line in the coming games. I’d truly hate to see this continue through to the mdal game. Go USA!

 

[JellyBean]

2 players changed the momentum for USA. First Thomas, then Plum. KP was the last player to enter the game, as soon as she came in US grabbed the lead and then kept building on it. Hmm, she must've been supplying some leadership and chemistry or something.

AT just provided that assertiveness on offense and defense. KP was being a pest on defense. Her energy, much like AT, was a huge spark for the team. Then with Jackie and Copper knocking down shots. Huge game for Team USA

 

[RockyMTblue2]

UConnCat says it better than I do, but unless you have been to an Olympics or World Cup Finals in a foreign country, you cannot fully understand how difficult and pressure-filled the situation is. In Istanbul, the Turkish fans had whistles, air horns, and other noisemakers. There were 20,000 Turkey fans and only a few Americans. Conversation in the arena was impossible. Dee's experience in both Russia and the WC/Olympics, plus her personality, keeps the Americans from getting rattled. This environment is quantitatively and qualitatively much different than the NCAA or WNBA Finals.

She's my GOAT and I love her, but what you are describing is a coach @MilfordHusky.

 

[chj001]

Does anyone know what was going on with Stewie today. She was taken out midway thru the 1st qtr and didn't return until the 5:11 mark of the 2d qtr. She played less than 17 min for the whole game, so I guess she played less in the 2d half.

 

[uconnfan68]

Maybe but in regards to whom? Van Lith looks to be holding up her end of the deal, along with Hamby. Burdick meh and Howard seems to be struggling.

One of them came in last minute for Brink. Not sure which one. Chemistry still developing I guess.

 

[UcMiami]

USA 3x3 women look like they have finally gotten in gear - into the medal round so I think we can relax about the selection.

As for the 5x5 - the US strength is the quality of depth on the roster - if you look at past Olympics they have not infrequently struggled in the first quarter/half of games, only to wear down their opponents by making them play 40 minutes against WNBA all stars. You force them to defend Stewie and A'ja, then replace them with Griner and AT when their starters are running on fumes.

[Anyone watch the Women's road race (Cycling) - what a brilliant ride by Kristen Faulkner who only started competing in cycling at age 23. Talk about an upset - she got her ride because the qualifier wanted to focus on other events.]

 

[nwhoopfan]

One of them came in last minute for Brink. Not sure which one. Chemistry still developing I guess.

Dearica Hamby

 

[uconnfan68]

Dearica Hamby

Thanks, saved me a google.