Milford noted "The much-maligned Sue Bird"
And Hoophuskee stated; "I completely understand why BOTH Bird and Catchings are on." (based on 2012 showing).
Sue is surely one of the most beloved and respected Huskies of all time.
A player of consummate skill and poise in her prime.
No one on this board queries what she has brought to the game.
The questions that are being asked now are, does she have anything left to bring to the table at present?
Not any disrespect for her past body of work (though last season was not to her previous standard).
She was closely guarded the other evening and seemed unable to deal with the physicality of it.
I'm sure the International teams will make note of it.
I didn't see Catching's game, but stats weren't great.Again, great, great player and ambassador of the game.
It's one game; making judgements on one game are folly.
But I can't but think of (as a kid) glued to the TV when Joe Lewis fought an unknown youngster from Brockton MA.
America's hero got old, very old before our eyes. It was sad to see.
Hard not to think that taking a superstar in her prime and a young point wouldn't have been a more sensible choice.
And I don't have any opinions (despite the above) of whom you leave off.
I deliberately did NOT read much of any of the other posts and replies. I don't want to get involved in these discussions but I can't resist peeking.
in this case- I couldn't resist - it's mroe than just "I disagree." You missed my point.
I said 2014--NOT 2012 regarding Bird. I think I mentioned Sims. She wasn't on the team in 2012. IMO Bird was solid - clearly outshining -- it;'s as though Sims and Bird were light light years apart. In 2014 Bird's decline had begun if you look at the WNBA stats- she shot 38.6% from the floor - look at all of her advanced stats- nearly every one went DRAStiCIALLy down. But if you want watch 2014 games -- man she was still solid in regards to what the team needed her to do.
IMO it is WRONG to look at SUe Bird's WNBA season the way many are doing. imo THIS OLYMPIC TEAM DOES NOT NEED 2 PG PLAYMAKERS. THIS OLYMPIC TEAM DOES NOT NEED 2 PG PLAYMAKERS. THIS OLYMPIC TEAM DOES NOT NEED 2 PG PLAYMAKERS. they didn't need it in 2014, why should they need it in 2016? This team HAS play makers in Maya, EDD and DT. And Augustus and as long as Angel is on there she is a playmaker too. And Catchigns is still very good with the ball in her hands too. SO if a team wants to press Sue Bird and open up the floor and which may even lead to less help defense on the USA Bigs we as fans of Team USA should say "Thank you very much for trying that."
For example there is a certain poster that called my opinion for believing Parker should be on the team over Fowles (I also said over Angel) as "IGNORANT." How Fowles is doing at the moment - I'd lean more toward Angel out Parker in- but that is beside the point. Do we really want to start calling other people's opinions as IGNORANT on here? I've called that ND poster in the past "a homer" or "you have extreme views" -- I tried not to use the word ignorant but he or she did.
IS what I said to him or bad - so I got what I deserved? ----------- so this brings me to Skylar Diggins -- a classic example of Bird vs Sklyar. this USA team doesn't need Skylar flying through the lane offensively - and in a physical game
which the Olympics are refs don't tend to give you those drive-in-the-lane calls, do they? And I mentioned to the ND poster that Skylar being hurt last year- can't totally trust she could play as well He or she didn't care. In fact he or she posted that in part Skylar said she is okay so that means she is okay.
Anyhow-- for any of you that think there is basketball reason why Parker didn't make the team- when you look at all the weapons team USA has with not only their size but with EDD, Maya, Dt, Augustus, Angel and Catchings (team making the finals last year. Catching terrific handler of the ball.)-- how many other scorers does this USA team need? Why wouldn't you want a pg that is more of a stationary shooter? A pg less likely to break plays? A pg for example going against Australia that isn't going to force going in the lane? Isn't Bird a very good fit for this USA team? Why look at this year vs Seattle as a VERY meaningful measurement unless until Stewie and Lloyd develop? With team USA- there are ELITE starts all over. SO Bird will have superior teammates. She won't have to do as much. On this Seattle team she still does. She needs to make plays. So you need a pg like Skylar to make plays such as taking shots away from the above mentioned or you need a pg like Vandersloot to make plays because the other "teammates" can't? Bird fits. Skylar could have but injury concerns too. y would you risk tht?
Final point we can all disagree on this subject of player's but if one thinks Parker or Bird should be in and recommends a tough decision for another player to be left out- unless it is Maya, Dt, Griner - should that opinion be called "ignorant?" you start calling other people's opinions ignorant - you open up a door you shouldn't want to go through. I can see if the other poster is trashing another poster or a player and things get personal. But the discussions on this stuff hasn't been personal, has it? Or am I too thin-skinned and should star calling other people's opinions regularly as ignorant if I have a strong opinion on something?
Katie Lou Samuelson @33katielou 
