Pick this year's DREAM TEAM - any player, any team

[EricLA]

The rules are simple - pick 2 guard-types, a G/W/F, and 2 forward types

You can take multiple players from multiple teams. Heck, you could choose 4 out of the 5 starters from UCONN if you wanted to.

1 - Moriah Jefferson - quite simply, the best PG in the nation
2 - Tiffany Mitchell - fantastic all around game and clutch player
3 - Nina Davis - at 5'11", she's a skooch undersized but she's got a great all around game (my runners up for this would be Morgan Tuck and Azura Stevens)
4 - Stewie (IMHO Stewie and Jefferson will be 1st team AA's and you can't leave either off a 5 player team)
5 - Brianna Turner - Best and most athletic pure forward in the country

I left off players like Deshields and Mitchell (Kelsey) because they seem to be more volume shooters and I'm not convinced that they would be the "best" on a 5 player "team". They may have sensational individual stats this year but it remains to be seen how well they truly will do when asked to play more as part of a team...

Who's next?

 

[chrissaran]

If Brianna Turner is the most athletic pure forward in the country, what does that make Breanna Stewart?

 

[triaddukefan]

If Brianna Turner is the most athletic pure forward in the country, what does that make Breanna Stewart?

The second most athletic pure forward ?

 

[calpedaler]

If Brianna Turner is the most athletic pure forward in the country, what does that make Breanna Stewart?

The most athletic player in the country.

 

[triaddukefan]

The most athletic player in the country.

How does one determine that ?

 

[EricLA]

If Brianna Turner is the most athletic pure forward in the country, what does that make Breanna Stewart?

I said that Turner was the most athletic PURE forward in the country. Because Stewie can play on the wing and has a terrific handle, i'd almost say she's more a 4/3/5. But either way, I think Turner is more athletic than Stewie. Not better, just more athletic...

 

[calpedaler]

How does one determine that ?

How does one determine any of these Dream Team scenarios? It's all opinion. Mine happens to be correct of course.

Eric I disagree that Turner is more athletic than Stewie.

 

[Wbbfan1]

Pg Moriah Jefferson UConn
2G Kelsey Mitchell OSU
Wg Diamond DeShields Tenn was tempted to choose A'ja Wilson since she prefers the outside.
PF Breanna Stewart UConn
C Ruth Hamblin Oregon St can't teach size at 6'6". Team doesn't need scoring went with defense.

Chose Diamond and Kelsey because they are scorers and can take over games when needed.

2nd Team

PG Kelsey Plum Wash Plays 2G, but think she can handle Point
2G Tiffany Mitchell So Carolina
Wing A'ja Wilson So Carolina
PF Morgan Tuck UConn loyalty makes me choose Morgan over Nina Davis.
C Brianna Turner Notre Dame

 

[stwainfan]

Breanna Stewart
Diamond DeShields
Brianna Turner
Tiffany Mitchell
Nina Davis

 

[Kaizen]

Moriah Jefferson
Kelsey Mitchell
Breanna Stewart
Brianna Turner
Nina Davis

 

[triaddukefan]

Moriah Jefferson
Alexis Jones
Breanna Stewart
Azura Stevens
Brianna Turner

 

[Zorro]

Tuck
Jefferson
Stewart
Nurse
Butler..

Think I'm kidding? Hide and watch.

 

[Kaizen]

Tuck
Jefferson
Stewart
Nurse
Butler..

Think I'm kidding? Hide and watch.

I love this one...LOL

 

[Zorro]

I get an occasional like, but can't remember ever having gotten a "love" before.

 

[AnotherVolFan]

Moriah Jefferson
Diamond DeShields
Breanna Stewart
Morgan Tuck
Brianna Turner

 

[WestCoastFan]

The rules are simple - pick 2 guard-types, a G/W/F, and 2 forward types

You can take multiple players from multiple teams. Heck, you could choose 4 out of the 5 starters from UCONN if you wanted to.

1 - Moriah Jefferson - quite simply, the best PG in the nation
2 - Tiffany Mitchell - fantastic all around game and clutch player
3 - Nina Davis - at 5'11", she's a skooch undersized but she's got a great all around game (my runners up for this would be Morgan Tuck and Azura Stevens)
4 - Stewie (IMHO Stewie and Jefferson will be 1st team AA's and you can't leave either off a 5 player team)
5 - Brianna Turner - Best and most athletic pure forward in the country

I left off players like Deshields and Mitchell (Kelsey) because they seem to be more volume shooters and I'm not convinced that they would be the "best" on a 5 player "team". They may have sensational individual stats this year but it remains to be seen how well they truly will do when asked to play more as part of a team...

Who's next?

Any player, any team?

West, Russell, 'Clyde' Frazier, Duncan and Bird. Can I have Magic, MJ and Lee-Bron come off the bench??

 

[BlueDevils]

Moriah Jefferson
Alexis Jones
Becca Greenwall
KLS
Morgan Tuck.

 

[VAMike23]

How does one determine any of these Dream Team scenarios? It's all opinion. Mine happens to be correct of course. Eric I disagree that Turner is more athletic than Stewie.

I agree with Eric that Turner is more athletic than Stewie. I guess it comes down to how you define athleticism , either objectively, subjectively, or both.

I do have a couple of objective data points in mind as well as some limited subjective impressions, but would be interested to hear others'.

 

[PhillyCoach]

The rules are simple - pick 2 guard-types, a G/W/F, and 2 forward types

You can take multiple players from multiple teams. Heck, you could choose 4 out of the 5 starters from UCONN if you wanted to.

1 - Moriah Jefferson - quite simply, the best PG in the nation
2 - Tiffany Mitchell - fantastic all around game and clutch player
3 - Nina Davis - at 5'11", she's a skooch undersized but she's got a great all around game (my runners up for this would be Morgan Tuck and Azura Stevens)
4 - Stewie (IMHO Stewie and Jefferson will be 1st team AA's and you can't leave either off a 5 player team)
5 - Brianna Turner - Best and most athletic pure forward in the country

I left off players like Deshields and Mitchell (Kelsey) because they seem to be more volume shooters and I'm not convinced that they would be the "best" on a 5 player "team". They may have sensational individual stats this year but it remains to be seen how well they truly will do when asked to play more as part of a team...

Who's next?

Good morning Eric - I always enjoy your insights and unique perspectives--always drenched with BB IQ. I like your picks, just want to ask a few questions about Turner vs Stewie. Has Turner ever faked a jumper and taken a drive to the basket where she maneuvers her body around one defender and then extends those long arms and supple hands and finger rolls the ball into the hoop? One for Stewie.
Has Turner taken the ball low, faked, jabbed stepped, went up & under, and then passed off for a pretty assist? I think Turner averages less than ONE assist a game. (need athletic movement and IQ) Two for Stewie. ( I know the IQ comes in here more than the Athletic skill, but skill has to be there if one is supposed to be the best.) Have you seen Turner move without the ball, non-stop for the entire possession---looking for a shot or a screen. NOT! (need combo IQ & athletic skill.)

Coordination, flexibility, body control (blocks without fouling), endurance, soft hands, timing, and balance are the forgotten elements of an athletic skill set. I like Stewie in all 7 of those athletic skills over Turner. End line to end line it could be even, but since Stewie is taller she gets the nod. Stewie jumps center and she has sinewy strength which converts better to basketball scoring/defense and blocks. Gotta lean towards Stewie when the entire picture is observed.

 

[PhillyCoach]

I agree with Eric that Turner is more athletic than Stewie. I guess it comes down to how you define athleticism , either objectively, subjectively, or both.

I do have a couple of objective data points in mind as well as some limited subjective impressions, but would be interested to hear others'.

VAMike - please read my post above and help me see your side of the entire picture. Turner vs Stewie as an athlete. Thanks.

 

[Bonpland]

I can't leave Stevens off of this team. Same for Davis. Then with Mo and Stewie onboard I only have to decide on a shooting guard and I guess Tiffany Mitchell has to be my choice.

It's interesting that on either one of these threads that Aja Wilson hasn't been mentioned.

 

[Bgillon]

I said that Turner was the most athletic PURE forward in the country. Because Stewie can play on the wing and has a terrific handle, i'd almost say she's more a 4/3/5. But either way, I think Turner is more athletic than Stewie. Not better, just more athletic...

Did you see the Rutgers game where Stewie tracked down a breakaway woman and blocked her layup ? Do you have a highlight of an athletic play Turner made that is comparable?

 

[UcMiami]

Philly - I think 'athleticism' comes down to some well defined traits: Speed, Quickness, Strength, Balance, Agility, Elevation, Body Control (might be termed part of agility), Hand Eye Coordination, Endurance. I am sure you could identify a few more, but these are basically the things that are tested at the NFL combine, in the heptathlon and decathlon, as well as various other athletic tests like SPARQ.
Based on these criteria, I think the only one that Turner would likely excel over Stewart is Strength, and I would think Stewart would excel in most of the others. Others could argue differently, and I certainly haven't watched Turner anywhere as much as Stewart. Ultimately we will never have a definitive answer unless the WNBA goes to a predraft 'combine' format which is very unlikely.

(I am agreeing with you - just getting down to basics.)

 

[EricLA]

Good morning Eric - I always enjoy your insights and unique perspectives--always drenched with BB IQ. I like your picks, just want to ask a few questions about Turner vs Stewie. Has Turner ever faked a jumper and taken a drive to the basket where she maneuvers her body around one defender and then extends those long arms and supple hands and finger rolls the ball into the hoop? One for Stewie.
Has Turner taken the ball low, faked, jabbed stepped, went up & under, and then passed off for a pretty assist? I think Turner averages less than ONE assist a game. (need athletic movement and IQ) Two for Stewie. ( I know the IQ comes in here more than the Athletic skill, but skill has to be there if one is supposed to be the best.) Have you seen Turner move without the ball, non-stop for the entire possession---looking for a shot or a screen. NOT! (need combo IQ & athletic skill.)

Coordination, flexibility, body control (blocks without fouling), endurance, soft hands, timing, and balance are the forgotten elements of an athletic skill set. I like Stewie in all 7 of those athletic skills over Turner. End line to end line it could be even, but since Stewie is taller she gets the nod. Stewie jumps center and she has sinewy strength which converts better to basketball scoring/defense and blocks. Gotta lean towards Stewie when the entire picture is observed.

Great points Philly - I think of pure athleticism with regards to players as it relates to their speed and strength. Honestly, it may be just that Stewie is a tad pigeon toed and looks "goofy" when she runs which leads me to think Turner is more athletic, but I would think that in a short sprint or ability to leap high, Turner would have the edge.

When you say "Coordination, flexibility, body control (blocks without fouling), endurance, soft hands, timing, and balance are the forgotten elements of an athletic skill set", I think I'm just defining it differently because those things to me are "basketball" skills, not "athletic" skills. But no matter how you define it, Stewie has those skills in spades. Gabby Williams might be another example of a great athlete who didn't have many "honed" basketball skills after 2 years off due to injuries. I think that's why Geno put her in the post - it was easier to get her to make layups than to try to use rusty guard and shooting skills. Does that make sense?

But Stewie has longer arms, better moves around the basket, a better face up game, and a better mid range and deep shot. I think Stewie is the better player, but to my untrained eye, while Turner seems to have better "physical athleticism", Stewie is the better player. Keep in mind that Turner is just a freshman. Side note - in the 2nd half of the UCONN-ND game last year, Turner turned it on and Stewie could not stop her. I would say Turner outplayed her that half. I do think Turner is a special player. But I think Stewie is the best...

 

[Suebird10fan]

The rules are simple - pick 2 guard-types, a G/W/F, and 2 forward types

You can take multiple players from multiple teams. Heck, you could choose 4 out of the 5 starters from UCONN if you wanted to.

1 - Moriah Jefferson - quite simply, the best PG in the nation
2 - Tiffany Mitchell - fantastic all around game and clutch player
3 - Nina Davis - at 5'11", she's a skooch undersized but she's got a great all around game (my runners up for this would be Morgan Tuck and Azura Stevens)
4 - Stewie (IMHO Stewie and Jefferson will be 1st team AA's and you can't leave either off a 5 player team)
5 - Brianna Turner - Best and most athletic pure forward in the country

I left off players like Deshields and Mitchell (Kelsey) because they seem to be more volume shooters and I'm not convinced that they would be the "best" on a 5 player "team". They may have sensational individual stats this year but it remains to be seen how well they truly will do when asked to play more as part of a team...

Who's next?

Great minds ... Eric.

I had made my own team a couple days ago and came up with the same five.

Next? The ones that come to mind are Wilson, Tuck, Nurse.