Should Clark be on the Olympic team?

[Mr. Cam]

1:19 - 1:40

Now we have another authoritative answer instead of an opinion or a supposition.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Now we have an authoritative answer instead of an opinion or a supposition.

Great interview. She just gained a new fan.

 

[cancontent]

Agreed. From the interview clips I've seen it sounds like they are. This whole "Caitlin vs WNBA vets" talking point has been really frustrating to see bantered about. Can the season just start already so we can finally see these teams play?

 

[Bjbod]

My apologies if this was not communicated clearly enough, but the reference in point 3 was solely related to her experience at Iowa. It was not intended at all to be a comment with respect to her future teammates at Indiana.

 

[baggerbob]

Agreed. From the interview clips I've seen it sounds like they are. This whole "Caitlin vs WNBA vets" talking point has been really frustrating to see bantered about. Can the season just start already so we can finally see these teams play?

Stewie never had the problem, because someone like Sue was already there.
I don't know if Indiana has anyone like that, seems it would fall to Boston to set the tone.

 

[WBBTakeover]

Stewie never had the problem, because someone like Sue was already there.
I don't know if Indiana has anyone like that, seems it would fall to Boston to set the tone.

Sue Bird was a well-established veteran by 2016 at the age of 36.

Aliyah Boston is only 22 (about a month older than Caitlin) and is currently in her second season. She is not a veteran by any stretch of the imagination.

 

[cancontent]

Stewie never had the problem, because someone like Sue was already there.
I don't know if Indiana has anyone like that, seems it would fall to Boston to set the tone.

Erica Wheeler would likely handle this role. She seems to be very excited to have Clark on the roster based on some clips I've seen.

 

[Mr. Cam]

The Indiana Fever used Caitlin exactly like I said Team USA's C. Reeve should use her.

This is what I said in post number 78.

Coach Reeve can use Caitlin Clark initially as a second rotation shooting guard or as a
second rotation backup point guard. If Team USA has a big lead in the first or second
half, Coach Reeve can insert Caitlin as a FIRST rotation shooting guard. In both instances,
USA Basketball can implement a simple motion offense that gives Caitlin the Steph Curry
assignment of constant off ball movement to spread the floor to create gaps, mismatches,
single coverage, or even pull the opposing defense from the weak to the strong side to cre-
ate dead/empty spaces on the weak side for her team mates to exploit backdoor cuts to the
basket.

Caitlin Clark's long range shooting ability stretches the defense as she crosses the half court
line whether she has the ball or not. Opposing coaches dare not leave her open and that for-
ces them to assign their best defender to pick her up at the half court line.

Caitlin had Natasha Howard twisting in the wind when Natasha tried to defend her step back
thee. Natasha Howard is a 6-2 forward.

 

[Dillon77]

Michael Voepel attempts to give context to Caitlin Clark being considered for the Olympic team.
Pretty expansive article...

Will Caitlin Clark make the U.S. Olympic team for the Paris Games?

The U.S. women will take 12 players to Paris. We look at how the team is selected and whether the Indiana Fever guard might compete in the 2024 Games.

www.espn.com

 

[Reypl21]

If the Olympics want record-breaking viewers for Women's basketball, they may want to consider putting Caitlin on the team as well. I didn't think of that wrinkle until today. Sorry if that idea was in that article @Dillon77 . I'll have to read it later today

 

[Vowelguy]

If the Olympics want record-breaking viewers for Women's basketball, they may want to consider putting Caitlin on the team as well. I didn't think of that wrinkle until today. Sorry if that idea was in that article @Dillon77 . I'll have to read it later today

"But the fan interest in Clark is soooo compelling that it would almost surely help the game in the short and long term in terms of attracting eyeballs and keeping momentum going."

Hmm, I wonder who said that.

 

[Mr. Cam]

Michael Voepel attempts to give context to Caitlin Clark being considered for the Olympic team.
Pretty expansive article...

Will Caitlin Clark make the U.S. Olympic team for the Paris Games?

The U.S. women will take 12 players to Paris. We look at how the team is selected and whether the Indiana Fever guard might compete in the 2024 Games.

www.espn.com

Nike is a Team USA Basketball corporate sponsor. They just signed a 28 Million Dollar
deal with Caitlin Clark. NBC lost their shorts at the Tokyo Olympics with cellar dweller
ratings and they desperately want a certified draw like CC with a very high Q rating.

Voepel's article did not mention that Rizzotti will have the opportunity to see Clark on
these dates when the Fever play the Sun:

Tuesday, May 14, 2024 1 Game
Monday, May 20, 2024 1 Game
Monday, Jun 10, 2024 1 Game

Rizzotti is the president of the Sun and chairs the Team USA Women's Basketball select-
ion committee.

The Fever play the Mercury on:

Sunday, Jun 30, 2024 1 Game Phoenix Mercury

The Fever coaching staff should draw up plays for CC to hunt down DT. Let us see how
many times the rookie can torch the vet.

 

[oldhusky]

I say no, based on her not yet being good enough compared to the best WNBA players. In addition I think the CC fever has gone over the top to the point of being a distraction. Just look at the announcement. Very little discussion of who made the team and what an accomplishment that is, the attention and story was all about one player that did not make it.

Just because her name may be the only women's basketball player that many Johnny come lately fans know, doesn't mean she is bigger than the WNBA or the Olympics. Of course the attention she brings is on balance good for attendance, TV ratings and interest in women's basketball, but the league and the Olympic committee don't have to bow to her interests or her many fans.

If she was chosen she would likely be last off the bench, a role that her flock would be infuriated with, and there would be a lot of friction there. If she was given significant playing time, that would make it obvious social media and dollar interests were driving the playing time decisions. There would be controversy either way, a lose lose option as I see it.

We can enjoy the Olympics as it should be, a great competition in this case with a very team oriented sport, not the Caitlin Clark show with her supporting cast. I don't think Caitlin has done anything wrong, a great college career with many big moments and records, but the hype is so extreme that it sometimes takes away from the many accomplishments of other players who have done more at least so far on the professional level.

 

[MilliniumPrince]

Not no, but Hell No!

 

[CL82]

I kinda stand by what I said initially -- I think the fan interest is so compelling that they should've found a place for CC.

Because fan interest is what the Olympics was founded upon.

 

[Blueballer]

Because fan interest is what the Olympics was founded upon.

The main motivation is actually quite different.

“The ancient Olympic Games were primarily a part of a religious festival in honor of Zeus, the father of the Greek gods and goddesses.”

 

[Vowelguy]

Because fan interest is what the Olympics was founded upon.

So I take it you were against Lobo being on the 96 Olympics?

 

[CL82]

The main motivation is actually quite different.

“The ancient Olympic Games were primarily a part of a religious festival in honor of Zeus, the father of the Greek gods and goddesses.”

So not fan interest?

Who knew?

 

[CL82]

So I take it you were against Lobo being on the 96 Olympics?

No, but if she missed the tryouts and wasn't selected by the committee I wouldn't keep whining about it. Maybe that's just a thing though.

 

[Blueballer]

So I take it you were against Lobo being on the 96 Olympics?

I'll tell you who wasn't too thrilled Lobo was on the team, the coach Tara Vanderveer. She felt the popularity of the UCONN women and Lobo was forced on that team. But at least in that case Lobo finished her college season in 95 and the Olympics wasn't until 96. There was time to get acclimated. Add to that there was no WNBA yet. And if I recall correctly Lobo didn't play very much at all. I'm not so sure Clark would have played much had she been named to this Olympic team.

 

[BRS24]

After seeing a few plays from the CT-IN game last night, here's a thought and eye test on whether she should be on the Olympic squad. First, there are only 144 players in the WNBA, and 12 of them are reported to be on the Olympic team. Last night, in addition to her 3 picks on Clark, DiJonai Carrington had 22 points. Clark had 10 pts, 3 TO. AFAICT, Carrington has never been involved in USAB.

So, as a 4th year pro, if Carrington can lock down Clark, exactly what would happen when the USA goes up against other stronger hoop teams that have mostly experienced players? And, imagine the outrage if/when the US team is in close games vs other countries that are starting to catch up, and Reeves doesn't play Clark? Oh the humanity. And the media outrage of her not getting PT would be disrespectful and distracting to the others on the team.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Possible reaction by the causal fan:

"I saw Caitlin at Iowa, and she was very impressive. If she couldn't make Team USA, those other players must be REALLY good. I need to watch them."

 

[visitingcock]

Possible reaction by the causal fan:

"I saw Caitlin at Iowa, and she was very impressive. If she couldn't make Team USA, those other players must be REALLY good. I need to watch them."

More probable reaction by the casual fan.

"I saw Caitlin at Iowa, and she was very impressive. If she couldn't make Team USA, " there must be a conspiracy against her. Look no further than Dawn Staley who is on the committee. She hates Caitlin for busting up her two year unbeaten streak and outshining Aliyah Boston who is a WNBA flop.

 

[BRS24]

More probable reaction by the casual fan.

"I saw Caitlin at Iowa, and she was very impressive. If she couldn't make Team USA, " there must be a conspiracy against her. Look no further than Dawn Staley who is on the committee. She hates Caitlin for busting up her two year unbeaten streak and outshining Aliyah Boston who is a WNBA flop.

Oh you are brave! I was gonna go there, but decided to message someone instead ...