Team USA stats

[vtcwbuff]

A measure of how great this team was. They led in every statistical category except 3pt stats and FT percentage. LINK

Individual stats LINK

 

[MilfordHusky]

Sue's stats are deceiving. She was more assertive in the medal round.

The shooting stats suggest that there is room for EDD. On an already loaded team, she'll be open a lot. And make a lot.

 

[vtcwbuff]

Sue's stats are deceiving. She was more assertive in the medal round.

The shooting stats suggest that there is room for EDD. On an already loaded team, she'll be open a lot. And make a lot.

I think she scored when she felt that she needed to score but when it comes to stats for Bird, IMO value isn't in her scoring. Look at her assists and TO ratio.

 

[EricLA]

Sue's stats are deceiving. She was more assertive in the medal round.

The shooting stats suggest that there is room for EDD. On an already loaded team, she'll be open a lot. And make a lot.

If everyone comes back except for Swin and Ashja, then it would come down to EDD or Nneka. I'd rather have Nneka.

 

[Scotter]

I don't think that's quite right. A huge part of Sue's value is her scoring, you're talking about arguably the greatest clutch shooter in women's basketball history. Sue comes through even more consistently than Dee in my opinion. As good a passer as Sue is, she is an even better scorer. She has basically one move and can still get her shot off of the crossover step back almost whenever she wants. She's just judicious about when to score like a point guard surrounded by talented players should be.

I think she scored when she felt that she needed to score but when it comes to stats for Bird, IMO value isn't in her scoring. Look at her assists and TO ratio.

 

[MilfordHusky]

The most recent year that Seattle won the championship, Sue hit shots at the buzzer in three playoff games, I believe. Bird at the buzzer is not just a book.

 

[Icebear]

I think she scored when she felt that she needed to score but when it comes to stats for Bird, IMO value isn't in her scoring. Look at her assists and TO ratio.

Exactly, 36 assists to just 11 TOs. I think most of Sue's TOs were before the medal round as at one point yesterday the announcer referred to her as having 19 assists to 1 TO early in the game.

 

[OneTrickPony]

A measure of how great this team was. They led in every statistical category except 3pt stats and FT percentage. LINK

Individual stats LINK

The individual stats show Candace Parker with no 3's...were those all long 2's she was missing?

 

[MilfordHusky]

The individual stats show Candace Parker with no 3's...were those all long 2's she was missing?

Yeah, using her size to shoot fall-away 2s and take herself out of rebounding position. She looks great when they go in, but it is not a high percentage play.

 

[EricLA]

I didn't realize how incredible Dee's stats were till I really took a hard look at them. 24-25 from the FT line?? she shot 45% from the field in spite of the fact that more than half of her shots were from beyond the arc. She had more assists than the back up point guard (actually Maya had more assists too), and she still managed to average 3 RPG on top of all that.

But i was also struck by how spread out the stats were - Scoring, FT's, rebounds, etc etc. everyone was a vital cog in the USA wheel. What a great team and so fun to watch!!

 

[MilfordHusky]

Diana looks more than ready to play for Phoenix. When I saw her in D.C., I thought the same. She is moving very well and looks great.

 

[vtcwbuff]

I didn't realize how incredible Dee's stats were till I really took a hard look at them. 24-25 from the FT line?? she shot 45% from the field in spite of the fact that more than half of her shots were from beyond the arc. She had more assists than the back up point guard (actually Maya had more assists too), and she still managed to average 3 RPG on top of all that.

But i was also struck by how spread out the stats were - Scoring, FT's, rebounds, etc etc. everyone was a vital cog in the USA wheel. What a great team and so fun to watch!!

That's what struck me - the stat sheet looked like a UConn stat sheet. Scoring spread out among the starters instead of relying on one or two players to do most of the scoring. If I was awarding a most valuable player award I would have to give it to the team. Most, if not all of them, had their moments.

 

[bbsamjj]

To assume that the team will remain intact except for Jones and Cash seems a little suspect. The US only returned half of the team that played in 2008 this go around. And of the players who played in 08, only Leslie has retired.

 

[EricLA]

To assume that the team will remain intact except for Jones and Cash seems a little suspect. The US only returned half of the team that played in 2008 this go around. And of the players who played in 08, only Leslie has retired.

It's possible that 4 years from now, Bird, and Catch will be gone, and Cash and Jones are unlikely to make the team. But if Bird and Catch stick it out, It's highly doubtful Jones and Cash will make the team.

 

[UcMiami]

To assume that the team will remain intact except for Jones and Cash seems a little suspect. The US only returned half of the team that played in 2008 this go around. And of the players who played in 08, only Leslie has retired.

I believe one or two more 08 players 'retired' from the national team - removed themselves from consideration. It probably would have happened anyway, but ...
As for 2016 - all three of the captains have had physical issues in recent years so it is hard to tell where they will be in 4 years. Whalen will also be 34 in 2016 and could be challenged. Add in Augustus to the question marks - she has recovered really well, but...
So yes - there could be huge turnover in the team before the next olympics. Core players from current team given health and continued playing would probably be:
DT, Whalen, Angel, CP3, Maya, Tina, Fowles
With Sue, Seimone possible.
I really suspect that Catch may have hung them up by then.
So I see 3-5 openings. Griner, Nneka, and EDD would be obvious choices - who the new guards will be is wide open I think - depending on professional sucess over the next few seasons.

 

[speedoo]

I believe one or two more 08 players 'retired' from the national team - removed themselves from consideration. It probably would have happened anyway, but ...
As for 2016 - all three of the captains have had physical issues in recent years so it is hard to tell where they will be in 4 years. Whalen will also be 34 in 2016 and could be challenged. Add in Augustus to the question marks - she has recovered really well, but...
So yes - there could be huge turnover in the team before the next olympics. Core players from current team given health and continued playing would probably be:
DT, Whalen, Angel, CP3, Maya, Tina, Fowles
With Sue, Seimone possible.
I really suspect that Catch may have hung them up by then.
So I see 3-5 openings. Griner, Nneka, and EDD would be obvious choices - who the new guards will be is wide open I think - depending on professional sucess over the next few seasons.

Griner is a defensive one-of-a-kind, so no argument there. But neither Nneka or EDD have demonstrated enough defensive ability for me to put them on the team at this point. Certainly Nneka has enough strength and athleticism to be good enough defensively, but I have questions in that regard for EDD. And I'm not sure how wide open the guard situation is.. Diggins, Sims and Bria lead, IMO.

 

[vtcwbuff]

Catchings (37), Cash (37), Jones (36), and Bird (36) will be gone. Just too old. I'm not sure if Whalen would have made the team if not for Auriemma, 4 years from now, no way.

EDD is a probable as is Nneka. I honestly don't know if Griner wants to play for team USA.

 

[dtbtbtb]

If I was to choose the US team for 2014 world championship, I would try to convince Sue to go and have 2 young PG with her to learn on the job. Those 2 can be whoever the best is in 2 years between Sims, Diggins, Bria, Harding, or RM to name few. While Whalen is great she can't be looked at as the PG for Rio 2016 as she'll be 34 and the US needs to build the future PG of the team. The post is in real good place with Tina, Fowels, Griner and Parker and possibly Nneka, Stew and/or E. Wiliams.
In regard to EDD, while a great shooter her defense is too suspect in this point of time and I don't see her covering 2's or 3's in the international game.
The even bigger challenge will be in regard to the coach. The preparation time that those teams got is so short that unless there is familiarity (like Geno having 6 UConn players on the team with the guards who handle the ball most being both ex. UConn), the US could struggle against some teams who train for a long time together and lose just like they did in 2006.

 

[msf22b]

EDD will win over her critics; she's one of the best; she'll be there.

 

[Icebear]

If healthy 34 or 36 is not old, especially, at PG.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Realistically, I don't see Swin or Asjha on the team in 4 years. The young studs like Nneka will be performing better and have enough experience.

Sue may still be the best in 4 years. The U.S. needs to develop a backup younger than Lindsay.

Catch may still be great or may be near the end.

Even if Diana's performance has dropped off in 4 years, she makes the team because she is it's heart and soul.

Seimone and Candace should be back if healthy.

Angel seems to be on the rise. She may be a lock in 4 years.

Maya and Tina are givens. They will be key players. Same for Sylvia.

I think Britney (if interested), Nneka, and Elena are the most likely additions. Plus some guard. Four years may be too soon for Breanna; let's see if she is as good as we all think.

There could be 3-5 Huskies next time around, even without Geno.

 

[vtcwbuff]

He left the door open when he was asked if he would coach again in Rio.

 

[UcMiami]

I think the biggest question for EDD is also her interest in pro ball - she left Uconn to be near home but to develop properly she needs to both play in the WNBA and also play a few years in Europe. She is much older now than when she left Uconn so I have no idea of her emotional state and how she feels about being away from her sister.
In terms of defense - she has always played as the lone star on her teams and foul trouble was never an option. Playing pro ball will change that. I think she has the athleticism to perform on both sides so I expect she will be an OK defender.
36 is not young, and the defensive side of things will get harder as Sue tries to keep up with the fast international guards. With all of these women, it also starts getting into biological clock issues. No idea of anyones personal life, but ... it is a question that does not affect the men as much.
On younger guards - I don't think there is anyone who has distanced themselves from others yet. It may become clearer in the next few years as the recent grads continue playing professionally and the juniors and seniors move to the pros, but I don't like projections based on college. It wasn't long ago that coaches were seeing Renee Montgomery as the heir apparent, but the transition to pros has not gone as smoothly as predicted.
On 3 point shooting - wish the WNBA would move the line back to Euro distance - it is a tough transition for WNBA players. One of the reasons for frequently stepping out of bounds in the corners has to be misperceptions based on the 3 point line.

 

[meyers7]

He left the door open when he was asked if he would coach again in Rio.

Well I think almost any coach would accept if offered. The women's team hasn't done 2 cycles with the same coach before. But the men's team just did with Coach K. So there is "some" precedent.

 

[CamrnCrz1974]

Generally, national teams have at least one specialiast player (either a defensive specialist or a shooting one or both). On the men's team, it was previously Shane Battier (2006 WC, defense and shooting). Four years ago, it was Michael Redd (2008 Olympics, shooting). This year, it was Tyson Chandler (2012 Olympics, defense).

You do not see necessarily see this in the women's game because: 1) lack of depth among players, as the field is simply not as deep from which to choose; and 2) many of the best female players are also the best at these two specialties (e.g., Diana Taurasi and shooting; Syliva Fowles and defense).

Delle Donne brings a unique skillset at her height. I see her in the group for the final spots. Whether she makes the team at all and whether that is as a specialist or as a core player remains to be seen. I am curious to see how she develops as a WNBA player, as the focal point of a professional team but also as someone playing off the ball or next to a superstar.