The Other Dream Team

[cardfan]

good piece on Geno and women's team in Grantland.

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id...asi-weekend-seattle-usa-women-basketball-team

 

[sarals24]

Good article. Misstatement, though, that "most of the players were part of the 90 game winning streak"

Just Maya, and Tina for most of it.

 

[sarals24]

When Tamika Catchings's shot bounces off the rim, over the backboard, and nails Auriemma in the head, he pokes fun at the rivalry between Connecticut and Tennessee: "See? That's Tennessee shooting. You did that on purpose." When McCoughtry messes up a drill and shoots instead of passing, he says: "This is the West Coast. You've got to pass every once in a while."

Love.

 

[alexrgct]

Nice piece, save the factual inaccuracy about who on the Olympic team was involved in UConn's 90-game win streak.

Good to see a Bill Simmons-sponsored column with nice things to say about WBB, not that he wrote it himself.

 

[MilfordHusky]

If anyone understands what Coach is teaching, it is this protege:

 

[MilfordHusky]

Nice piece, save the factual inaccuracy about who on the Olympic team was involved in UConn's 90-game win streak.

Good to see a Bill Simmons-sponsored column with nice things to say about WBB, not that he wrote it himself.

Yep, but all 6 were involved in either the 71-game streak or the 90-game streak.

 

[UcMiami]

Cardfan - thanks for finding and posting that. A really nice read.

 

[cardfan]

Cardfan - thanks for finding and posting that. A really nice read.

you're welcome. Have a great memorial day weekend and summer!

 

[speedoo]

Wow, love this article. Very, very well written and every quote speaks volumes.

Thanks very much, cardfan.

 

[VAMike23]

you're welcome. Have a great memorial day weekend and summer!

Great article - thanks for posting!

Oh, and that whats-her-face from Stanford, she played "OK" last night.......

[She is going to be very very good in the pros, and possibly a Star. Lots of talent around her at the moment can cut both ways - on one hand it can make it harder for her to stand out statistically, but on the other hand when the D has to pay so much attention to Parker, and sometimes Toliver as she continues her hot hand, it can create a little space for Nneka.]

 

[cardfan]

Great article - thanks for posting!

Oh, and that whats-her-face from Stanford, she played "OK" last night.......

[She is going to be very very good in the pros, and possibly a Star. Lots of talent around her at the moment can cut both ways - on one hand it can make it harder for her to stand out statistically, but on the other hand when the D has to pay so much attention to Parker, and sometimes Toliver as she continues her hot hand, it can create a little space for Nneka.]

You're welcome.

Yeah, the player from Palo Alto had a nice game last night. Bummed I missed it. Interesting, she and Wiggins were on the floor at the same time for first time. Boy, had they played together at Stanford......

Agree with your pts. Also, because of her size (6'2") Nneka will have to continue to work on outside game and add to Parker's inside game.

 

[Creaky]

This is obviously a great, great team, and it’s understandable why Diana gets so much attention. But make no mistake, it's Sue who is its leader. I saw them in the Czech Republic at the World Championships, and the other players repeatedly deferred to her on the sidelines and off the court as well as on. The most obvious example was when an official came over to the team as it was casually gathered on the sideline after a practice. She clearly had a question, and every head simultaneously swiveled to look at Sue, who gave the answer.

There was an exception: when Sue was on the bench and Diana had the ball in the backcourt. No doubt who was the leader then, either.

Diana played that whole tournament with a kind of sophisticated ferocity that stunned me, even though I’d seen her play many times in college. She absolutely dominated among the best in the world. Just grabbed that tourney and shook it till it dropped its gold on the floor in front of her.

 

[UcMiami]

Creaky - thanks for the report (2 years late I might add!) from the Czech Republic - interesting to get your first hand impressions. And I agree - from a distance, Diana is more comfortable with someone else running the show, it allows her to focus on all the things she can do herself. And the trust between her and Sue is a long established thing.
As for Diana's fercoity - she was pretty ferocious at Uconn, but I think it has become more focused as she has matured - it is business, and on the court no one is going to take what she wants away from her. (Over her dead body!)