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Rio Olympics USA WBB Finalists

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Orangutan said:
Diggins was 1st team All-WNBA and couldn't get a look. Who knows, maybe she was horrible in training camp. But tell that to anybody you know who follows the NBA but not women's basketball. They'll be like, "what? how?" Folks will say the Olympic team is different and the priority is passing from the PGs, but then everyone thinks Vandersloot is a long shot. Sloot led the league in assists per game among guards for the last two years (1st overall in '14 and 2nd only to Parker in '15) . In four years, Sloot will be 30 and they'll say she's too old and she has no international experience.

Honestly, in my view, it is a clique, plain and simple. Once you are in, you are pretty much in and then the justification becomes circular. "We need Player X for her experience and leadership." Well, Player Y will never gain experience or develop leadership if you don't take her!
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Many of the same kinds of posts are made in regards to the U.S. Women's National Team in soccer over at the Equalizer (an excellent women's soccer site btw), whether it's the Women's Cup or upcoming Olympic Games when the rosters are smaller than the WC. It might be even harder to get in the door there...being on that team is a year-round paycheck.
 
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Orangutan said:
Diggins was 1st team All-WNBA and couldn't get a look. Who knows, maybe she was horrible in training camp. But tell that to anybody you know who follows the NBA but not women's basketball. They'll be like, "what? how?" Folks will say the Olympic team is different and the priority is passing from the PGs, but then everyone thinks Vandersloot is a long shot. Sloot led the league in assists per game among guards for the last two years (1st overall in '14 and 2nd only to Parker in '15) . In four years, Sloot will be 30 and they'll say she's too old and she has no international experience.

Honestly, in my view, it is a clique, plain and simple. Once you are in, you are pretty much in and then the justification becomes circular. "We need Player X for her experience and leadership." Well, Player Y will never gain experience or develop leadership if you don't take her!
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I think the issue is Sims, Diggins, Sloot, January, and Robinson all are good, but not one of them has distanced themselves from the other - last time around it came down to Sims, but this time around it could be any one of the others - When Sue came into the team there was little doubt in anyones mind she was the right choice. Same for Taurasi. Whalen was a bit of a surprise at the cost of probably Kara Lawson, but she took her chance and really excelled. Yes it is hard to break in - because most of the ones who do stay around for 8 or 12 years. And that experience they gain really is different - you don't get a season to gel - go two and two in your first four games and that may be it. And 'training camp' is ten days not three weeks.
 
have to completely laugh at this thread. Looks like UConn vs. Notre Dame loyalties. I just really wonder if there are way too many veterans, many of whom could be 1-2 steps away from an injury.
 
blaqtech said:
2016
PG Sue Bird, Lindsay Whalen, Courtney Vandersloot, Briann January, Danielle Robinson
G Diana Taurasi, Angel McCoughtry, Skylar Diggins, Seimone Augustus, Odyssey Sims
W Maya Moore, Tamika Catchings, Elena Delle Donne, Kayla McBride, Jewell Loyd
F Candace Parker, Tina Charles, Nneka Ogwumike, Breanna Stewart, Candice Dupree
P Brittney Griner, Sylvia Fowles, Jantel Lavendar, Chiney Ogwumike, Stefanie Dolson

These players you just have to take.
New faces of Women's Basketball. Sex appeal, etc...
Solid players....Insurance policy.
These 10, to me, are locks

The final two spots will come down to individual wants or taste.....
I just don't see them making the team. They probably show a lot of promise for the future but it's not in Rio.

Commander Generals. do you need one or two? Taurasi fills this role also, so maybe none.

Another Center on Stage. If you think big is the way to go, take Fowles. I think Griner, Charles and Parker can handle things down low.

This family stays together.good players, above violet group but below orange group. I can't justify putting them on the team. I've got 4 low post players.

Youth movement..... Can actually play with the big girls and hold their own. Can they make an impact? Or just novelty pieces for future promotions. Why do I need them?

Flip a coin.... I like Odyssey Sims more than Diggins and another guard would not be a bad thing. But, I got two vets in Bird and Whalen to choose from also.

Flip a coin Part TWO. Dupree, Dupree Dupree!!! I really think she should become an Ogwumike. I got McCoughtry, Augustus, Moore and Delle Donne. What's your angle?


If I take Bird ,then I would take :

Sims to be mentored by Bird (Diggins too)
or Stewart( to get mentored by Charles and Parker)

if I take Whalen (there's no mentorship in my mind( Bird's job)), then I go with
Stewart(same as above)
or Fowles.

Sims and Stewart or Sims and Fowles are my last combos
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My darn color blindness bites me in the tail again!!
 
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UcMiami said:
I think the issue is Sims, Diggins, Sloot, January, and Robinson all are good, but not one of them has distanced themselves from the other - last time around it came down to Sims, but this time around it could be any one of the others - When Sue came into the team there was little doubt in anyones mind she was the right choice. Same for Taurasi. Whalen was a bit of a surprise at the cost of probably Kara Lawson, but she took her chance and really excelled. Yes it is hard to break in - because most of the ones who do stay around for 8 or 12 years. And that experience they gain really is different - you don't get a season to gel - go two and two in your first four games and that may be it. And 'training camp' is ten days not three weeks.
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Well, my problem is that there's only one spot for them all to fight over because the veterans' spots are locked in.

I don't like that we treat USAB like the Supreme Court in that spots only open up upon an existing member's retirement.

Should be more like the House. Every two years, each member is re-evaluated and has to re-earn their spot.

The analogy breaks down once you start considering gerrymandering but you get my point, I'm sure.
 
"When I look at this list of athletes, we could split them down the middle and have two very competitive teams," Auriemma said. "We have a great mix of gold medalists and players who are hungry to play in their first Olympics. There is versatility at all positions. Our posts are the strongest we've seen in years, we have guys who can shoot, guys who can defend, and I'm just happy I don't have to make the decision as to who will be playing in Rio."

Yeah, rrrrrright
 
UConnCat said:
I was fortunate to attend the world championships in Istanbul with a few other boneyarders and attended every USA game. Angel did not play very well and there were games in which Geno seemed frustrated with her poor shot selection among other things. He actually pulled her from a couple of games because of her play.

Nneka, on the other hand, was outstanding.
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Amen to UConn Cat's post. As another who was in Istanbul. Angel's play in the World Championships did not serve the US very well. I don't believe she will be at the top of the list this year...
 
Gate81 said:
have to completely laugh at this thread. Looks like UConn vs. Notre Dame loyalties. I just really wonder if there are way too many veterans, many of whom could be 1-2 steps away from an injury.
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You mean the analogy to the USWNT didn't do it? :-)
I fully expect when the team is selected to see some very familiar names who were once opponents but now represent the U.S. in Rio. And I'll be behind 'em a 100%. Would just hope they'd be joined by someone from South Bend! We'll see...
 
I see that Stefanie Dolson made the list, but not Bria Hartley or Kaleena Masqueda-Lewis. Do you think that Bria and Kaleena were given any consideration, especially since Loyd, McBride and Diggins all made the list?
 
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CTyankee said:
Amen to UConn Cat's post. As another who was in Istanbul. Angel's play in the World Championships did not serve the US very well. I don't believe she will be at the top of the list this year...
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We saw the games the same way. As with Cat and Eric, I saw all 6 games in person. Angel was out of control and not an asset. As a result, her PT was limited. Everyone other than Stewie and Odyssey--who basically got only garbage time--outplayed Angel by a wide margin. I think her selection is problematic despite her obvious kills.
 
UConnCat said:
I don't remember USA cruising past Australia in the semifinals in London. I remember a game in which USA trailed at halftime, had no answer for Cambage in the first half and had a couple of superstars who wanted no part of the physical Opals. That game was won in the 2nd half by veteran players who've been in those pressure situations before and know what it takes to win. A fatigued Cambage also helped.

As for Cash and Jones, most certainly their relationship with Geno mattered. They know what he wanted and he trusted them. I'd also point out that Cash and Jones filled out the 11th and 12 roster spots where you want veterans who know their role, won't complain about playing time and have the maturity to deliver at a big moment in a big game. Asjha Jones did just that in the second half of the Australia game when, again, a superstar or two weren't interested in matching Australia's toughness.
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I sat behind the Aussie basket in London in the first half (several rows up). Liz Cambage simply ate our lunch. She repeatedly got deep position against Parker and Fowles and scored easily. In the second half, Liz was fatigued, and Tina and Asjha bodied her to keep her out of the lane. That slowed their scoring and allowed Diana's baskets to give us the lead. It was a tense, tightly contested game.

The selection of Swin and Asjha reflected the fact that both had appreciable game back then and both knew Geno's system. No one outworked Swin Cash.
 
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A few thoughts ...

While the primary goal is to win gold, a secondary goal is to develop players to win gold in future years. How those competing goals are addressed will be interesting and determine the selection of 2 or 3 players.

One key in international play is the 3-point shot. We need to be sure that we have that weapon. I think Sue, Diana, Elena, and Maya may give us enough.

As we all know, there are only a few teams that can challenge the U.S. USA Basketball staff will look at who the toughest teams are and select players who matchup well against them. If we need strong post play, for example, against Australia, the team has an extra center. If we need strong guard play, for example, against Spain, our team may be guard-heavy.

As always, injuries will affect the roster. Players who were less than 100% in the WNBA season included Lindsay, Skylar, Seimone, and Chiney. They need to be back to 100% to get consideration.

Having seen the FIBA WCs in person, I thought our top 8 was very solid: Sue, Diana, Maya, Tina, and Britney as starters, with Lindsay, Nneka, and Seimone off the bench. I don't recall how well Candice played, but I think she did well. Angel unfortunately was out of control. Odyssey and Stewie played few meaningful minutes. I think, if healthy, the core 8 return, and Candace and Elena are added. That leaves 2 slots, probably for Stewie and a guard, possibly January. But squeeze Catch in there somewhere too.
 
MilfordHusky said:
A few thoughts ...
As always, injuries will affect the roster. Players who were less than 100% in the WNBA season included Lindsay, Skylar, Seimone, and Chiney. They need to be back to 100% to get consideration.

Having seen the FIBA WCs in person, I thought our top 8 was very solid: Sue, Diana, Maya, Tina, and Britney as starters, with Lindsay, Nneka, and Seimone off the bench. I don't recall how well Candice played, but I think she did well. Angel unfortunately was out of control. Odyssey and Stewie played few meaningful minutes. I think, if healthy, the core 8 return, and Candace and Elena are added. That leaves 2 slots, probably for Stewie and a guard, possibly January. But squeeze Catch in there somewhere too.
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I like your thought but 4 of the UConns are starters may get non-UConn fan's objection...lol
 
Kaizen said:
I like your thought but 4 of the UConns are starters may get non-UConn fan's objection...lol
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Maya and Dee are probably the 2 best players in the world. Sue still runs a team better than anyone. After adjusting to guarding players on the wing in Turkey, Tina was a stud. I'd start Candace and bring Tina off the bench. I think those 4 have to be on the team. I think Stef is unlikely, and Stewie is a maybe/probable. She's a lot stronger and better than she was in 2014. She may be the most versatile player in the group. I'll be interested in seeing how she does against the vets.

Yeah, some folks may object. I do have 2 former LVs on my team, though.
 
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Milford - I think you are spot on about the three, and would add, defending the three from at least four positions. I'll also add defending without fouls - like folks are learning this year in WCBB the 2 shots rather than 1 and 1 after five fouls can be a big problem throughout a game.

I agree about Angel - I thought she was great in London providing a spike in energy off the bench and being both disruptive defensively and effective offensively. In the WC she was trying to fulfill the same role and failed - out of sync with the team and out of control. That is why I left her off from my choices. Geno and she seem to have a nice rapport, but I think especially with all the other competition for spots her time on the NT is over.

There are likely to be some injuries between now and August - half of the foreign season for most of the team and half a WNBA season still have to be navigated before the Olympic break, so some 'certainties' especially with the older players may not be available. That is why I expect the final 'selection' to be more than 12 players, not unlike what happened with the WC team that started its European tour uncertain about Griner and I think EDD (?) and carried Stef and Jantel as insurance.
 
When does the final roster need to be put together? I say this because Diggins is coming off an acl tear. You never know how she will perform when she comes back.
 
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Rio 2016
PG Sue Bird, Odyssey Sims
G Diana Taurasi, Jewell Loyd,
W Maya Moore, Tamika Catchings, Elena Delle Donne,
F Candace Parker, Nneka Ogwumike, Breanna Stewart,
P Tina Charles , Brittney Griner,

This team got veterans, youth and flexibility (as a lot of those players can play multiple positions)
 
dtbtbtb said:
Rio 2016
PG Sue Bird, Odyssey Sims
G Diana Taurasi, Jewell Loyd,
W Maya Moore, Tamika Catchings, Elena Delle Donne,
F Candace Parker, Nneka Ogwumike, Breanna Stewart,
P Tina Charles , Brittney Griner,

This team got veterans, youth and flexibility (as a lot of those players can play multiple positions)
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Great offensively, just a little thin on muscular post defenders.
 
If healthy, Bird, Catchings and Taurasi make the team. These women deserve to go out on their terms for all they have done for USA basketball.

Charles, Moore, and Parker are locks as holdovers from the 2012 games. Whalen and Augustus probably make it as well.

The four from 2012 I leave off are Mcaughtry and Fowles, with Cash and Jones not even being part of this pool of players. These four spots will be filled by locks Griner and Delle Done. The other two, in my brain, should be Stewart and Diggins although Sims wouldn't be a bad choice.
 
UcMiami said:
Everyone has a 'favorite' young guard, but none of them are saying 'I'm the next Bird' or 'I'm the next Taurasi'
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Well, that would be pretty presumptuous of them. :cool:
 
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