Tonight at 7 on espn Olympic team versus...

[LwrcasefaN]

I don't know what the objective was for Dawn, but it wasn't winning. I assumed she was just trying to figure out who to play together and avoid a ton of minutes and injuries. Team USA just looked generally...uninterested. When they do get...interested...they better rebound better I'll tell you that.

 

[Plebe]

It's a freakin' exhibition game, people.

Remember Shoni Schimmel? She also went off in an all-star game for an MVP award. Doesn't mean she should've been put on the Olympic team.

 

[BBallF]

I’m a Mercury fan and I agree but I would say Tina. Tina’s had the best season out of every WNBA player and if anyone should start it should be her.

I agree. Tina has more varied offensive moves to the basket and a better drive move. It showed tonight.

 

[BBallF]

So my take on it is we need more 3 point shooting with consistency which will be D's mission and a better secondary passer which is also D. The weaknesses are shooting from deep, lack of speed in the backcourt both offensively and defensively and ball handling by everyone. They can only get better.

 

[UConnCat]

It's a freakin' exhibition game, people.

Remember Shoni Schimmel? She also went off in an all-star game for an MVP award. Doesn't mean she should've been put on the Olympic team.

I know, right. Are All-Star exhibitions even real basketball games?

Reminds me of Team USA losing an exhibition game to France before the 2014 World Cup. We heard the same from the usual suspects: Geno blah, blah, blah, Bird/Taurasi blah, blah, blah. USA met France in the WC Quarterfinals (i.e., when it mattered) and won by 20+.

That said, the guards are the weakness of the team and I'm not talking about the 2 oldest players. It's not exactly Augustus or Whalen in their prime coming off the bench. It is what it is. Will be good enough to win gold.

 

[TheFarmFan]

Man, there's no way Nneka could have done better than 2 pts going 1-5 or 5 pts going 1-4. Glad tonight's game put that questionable decision to rest...

 

[UConnCat]

Man, there's no way Nneka could have done better than 2 pts going 1-5 or 5 pts going 1-4. Glad tonight's game put that questionable decision to rest...

Nneka would not have been ready to play tonight so how could she have done better? Hasn't played in a game in weeks.

Was a medal lost tonight?

 

[msf22b]

They had nothing to prove against these other WNBA players, they were working on their stuff. Arike and Williams showed why they are not the players you want on the USA team. They are ball hogs. They can look great when the are hitting shots but when they aren't their teams can get buried. Especially Arike. She has shot her team out of games a number of times. Team USA is looking to insure that just one or two players don't have to carry the load.

I always thought Arike was a chucker and depending upon her was a mistake.
But tonight Arike...and Courtney who was not chucking, hitting open. makable shots that she mainly manufactured herself...like 7 for 8!
Outplayed the varsity...big time.
To say that the so-called stars, were working on stuff is a load
They got beat...and beat pretty bad
and out-coached as well
As Geno says...Guard play prevails
As I said...I'm no Arike lover...far from it
But she and Courtney (who should have won the award)
were the class acts tonight

 

[LwrcasefaN]

I always thought Arike was a chucker and depending upon her was a mistake.
But tonight Arike...and Courtney who was not chucking, hitting open. makable shots that she mainly manufactured herself...like 7 for 8!
Outplayed the varsity...big time.
To say that the so-called stars, were working on stuff is a load
They got beat...and beat pretty bad
and out-coached as well
As Geno says...Guard play prevails
As I said...I'm no Arike lover...far from it
But she and Courtney (who should have won the award)
were the class acts tonight

Beat pretty bad? What game did you watch? They played TEN players. If they wanted to win...they would play maybe 7. Taurasi didn't even play.

 

[Alydar]

More fuel to the fire of who should have made the National team. It's too bad they didn't play this game BEFORE they picked the USA squad. It would have put even more pressure on these players. Also, it's too bad we can't send two teams to the Olympics.

I can't prove it, but I have to believe there is some politics involved in the selection process.

I've thought for a long time that the Olympics are largely a money-making scheme. Countries put themselves in debt for tens of billions. A big part of Greece's fiscal trouble started when they financed an Olympics. But nobody tells the citizens about the debt, it's all about patriotism and national pride.
The advertising revenue associated with the Games has to be monstrous and it would be highly naïve to think that an athlete's corporate ties aren't involved in some decisions. That would be any sport in which selection isn't 100% objective. There are official rankings in most individual sports but in team sports I wouldn't be surprised if some shoe company pays a premium to insure that a certain number of it's stars are in. In many parts of the world bribery is common and acceptable.

It's a wonderful experience for the athletes and I enjoy watching the actual contests but not the jingoistic tenor of American TV. Sorry for being a negafan

 

[Alydar]

I always thought Arike was a chucker and depending upon her was a mistake.
But tonight Arike...and Courtney who was not chucking, hitting open. makable shots that she mainly manufactured herself...like 7 for 8!
Outplayed the varsity...big time.
To say that the so-called stars, were working on stuff is a load
They got beat...and beat pretty bad
and out-coached as well
As Geno says...Guard play prevails
As I said...I'm no Arike lover...far from it
But she and Courtney (who should have won the award)
were the class acts tonight

It was an exhibition game with very little physicality. And with the outcome it only feeds the fire of outrage in some places.

msf22b said:
I always thought Arike was a chucker and depending upon her was a mistake.
But tonight Arike...and Courtney who was not chucking, hitting open. makable shots that she mainly manufactured herself...like 7 for 8!
Outplayed the varsity...big time.
To say that the so-called stars, were working on stuff is a load
They got beat...and beat pretty bad
and out-coached as well
As Geno says...Guard play prevails
As I said...I'm no Arike lover...far from it
But she and Courtney (who should have won the award)
were the class acts tonight

 

[Reypl21]

Team USA is fine. They arent going to be playing against another team with that caliber of talent at every position. They havent played together long, so they lack the chemistry. The All Star team is in the same boat, but they were trying to win.

 

[ConwayGmck]

It was a game between two teams with entirely different agendas. One was an all-star team that only gets to play one time together: they were left off the other team, and perhaps have a chip on their shoulders and wanted to prove something to others. As not going to play any more games together, they were given the reins more by their coaches to play their style of play, perhaps a good bit of "hero" ball, which resulted in a more free-er play of doing it how THEY want to do it. And after all, they WERE all-star players in their own right.

The other team was also an all-star team that has to create a team identity quickly. They DO have more games to play, and far more important ones. They did NOT have a chip on their shoulders Wednesday night, and had nothing to prove at this time - that time comes later for them. They were also more constrained to playing within a team philosophy that their coaching staff expects from them, learning to play with new teammates and to playing within a system that may not reward such a free-er style of play.

So in summary, one team was using this exhibition as a learning tool for teamwork development and learning strengths and weaknesses, while the other team used this exhibition to beat the first team.....

 

[MSSportsGuy]

The outcome tonight is not an indictment of the Olympic team but should be used to show areas where they can improve. It can also show how much depth the US has in terms of talent that a different group of players, most of whom could play for the US, can get a win on a given night. Additionally, no EDD, Nneka, DT and that's three more Olympian/All Star level players who could have shown up tonight.

The US should be fine if everyone comes to play. There is a new head coach and a lot of new faces that will take some time to gel. I don't think any other country has the talent of the Americans from top to bottom but in single game situations anything can happen.

 

[eebmg]

Well, it will be interesting to see the next exhibition game against Australia Friday July 16 2:30 PM EDT on NBCSN

 

[BBallF]

Well, it will be interesting to see the next exhibition game against Australia Friday July 16 2:30 PM EDT on NBCSN

Thank you for that. Recording it now.

 

[BBallF]

The overwhelming advantage for Team USA will be the inside game with Griner, Syl, and Charles at the 5 and Wilson at the 4 and Stewie at the 3 or 4. No one can match that combined power and height. However, the ball has to get inside which means two important things have to happen. One is 3 point shooting so the opposing guards can't sluff off or cheat to make the interior passes more difficult. The other is the secondary passing from the 2 guard and there is no one better at that than D. I worry about the team speed and 3 point shooting. It looks like Staley will be starting Griner, Wilson and Stewie up front with D and Sue in the backcourt. Pheesa can be very important to this team because she is a natural 3 on this team but she has to play with better selectivity on her shots than last night.

 

[Skins87]

Call me crazy, but Syl should be starting in lieu of Griner

I think you should reassess

 

[Dillon77]

Team USA is fine. They arent going to be playing against another team with that caliber of talent at every position. They havent played together long, so they lack the chemistry. The All Star team is in the same boat, but they were trying to win.

The outcome tonight is not an indictment of the Olympic team but should be used to show areas where they can improve. It can also show how much depth the US has in terms of talent that a different group of players, most of whom could play for the US, can get a win on a given night. Additionally, no EDD, Nneka, DT and that's three more Olympian/All Star level players who could have shown up tonight.

The US should be fine if everyone comes to play. There is a new head coach and a lot of new faces that will take some time to gel. I don't think any other country has the talent of the Americans from top to bottom but in single game situations anything can happen.

Well, it will be interesting to see the next exhibition game against Australia Friday July 16 2:30 PM EDT on NBCSN

- The U.S.A. just played it's first exhibition game against perhaps the best team it will play in the next month. No D.T., new players. Determined opponent. They'll get it together.

- One concern: I thought the U.S. was susceptable to what I call "forceful speed" -- hard, quick bursts to the paint and/or pull up jumpers. Arike O. and Courtney W. did this in the backcourt and J. Jones in the frontcourt. Here's the good news: there aren't that many Arikes and Courtneys in the world. And Jones isn't playing in the Olympics. Still, defense needs to be ready for that....Jewell has to get on the ball of her feet!

- On the other hand, no team will be able to address the waves of bigs the U.S. brings in. Yes, the Aussies have Liz C.,, but the U.S. has Brittany G., Sylvia F. and Tina C., with Stewie, A'ja and 'Phee coming up right behind the front liners.

I think the pandemic has -- like everything else -- had an effect on everything from players working with each other to, perhaps, some aspects of team selection. That said, ditto for most everyone else. Let's see how the U.S.A. rebounds against Australia. Stay tuned.

 

[msf22b]

For those who claim that the game was just a meaningless exhibition;
Voepel's piece tends to rebut that position...

Bird on ASG loss: Team USA 'not a team yet'

Team USA guard Sue Bird called Wednesday's 93-85 loss to Team WNBA in the All-Star Game "just the first step" as the team learns to become a more cohesive unit heading into the Tokyo Olympics.

www.espn.com

And Ogunbowale (even for those who can' bring themselves to recognize any class in her demeanor....I myself have been accused of that)
was at least gracious and professional in her comments.

The winning team and coaches are pleased by their effort and the results.
And Sue at least, took away the correct meaning.

Everyone competed, and the 4th quarter guard play was the difference...

Lots of fine USA players...lots.

 

[Plebe]

For those who claim that the game was just a meaningless exhibition;
Voepel's piece tends to rebut that position...

Bird on ASG loss: Team USA 'not a team yet'

Team USA guard Sue Bird called Wednesday's 93-85 loss to Team WNBA in the All-Star Game "just the first step" as the team learns to become a more cohesive unit heading into the Tokyo Olympics.

www.espn.com

First of all, you're misrepresenting others' positions. For Team USA these exhibitions are a form of practice. No one has said they're "meaningless" because practice and preparation are indeed valuable and important. But to treat it as some sort of litmus test of committee decisions is just asinine.

How exactly does Voepel's article rebut that position?

The quotes from Bird and Taurasi are plenty eloquent. I'm happy for those individual players on Team WNBA who played well. They're great players in their own right. But as Diana said, the national team has bigger goals in mind than winning an all-star exhibition game.

 

[LwrcasefaN]

For those who claim that the game was just a meaningless exhibition;
Voepel's piece tends to rebut that position...

Bird on ASG loss: Team USA 'not a team yet'

Team USA guard Sue Bird called Wednesday's 93-85 loss to Team WNBA in the All-Star Game "just the first step" as the team learns to become a more cohesive unit heading into the Tokyo Olympics.

www.espn.com

And Ogunbowale (even for those who can' bring themselves to recognize any class in her demeanor....I myself have been accused of that)
was at least gracious and professional in her comments.

The winning team and coaches are pleased by their effort and the results.
And Sue at least, took away the correct meaning.

Everyone competed, and the 4th quarter guard play was the difference...

Lots of fine USA players...lots.

Well...Nneka isn't a guard, so let the critics reload! lol I don't care what people say...the clearest indicator that the PRIMARY objective for Team USA wasn't just to win was the number of players who played and the minutes. Ten played and the non starters...played almost the same number of minutes. If they wanted to just win...versus get a feel for team chemistry and strategy, Stewart would have played the whole game and they would have run more than the 2 or 3 offensive sets they ran. Sue's comments do not contradict this. I missed the intro for the game...so, until the 4th quarter...I wasn't sure who was coaching Team USA. Then, I saw Dawn...relaxing. Ogunbowale is a great offensive talent, but beyond that...this juror is still not sold on her.

 

[Skins87]

I always thought Arike was a chucker and depending upon her was a mistake.
But tonight Arike...and Courtney who was not chucking, hitting open. makable shots that she mainly manufactured herself...like 7 for 8!
Outplayed the varsity...big time.
To say that the so-called stars, were working on stuff is a load
They got beat...and beat pretty bad
and out-coached as well
As Geno says...Guard play prevails
As I said...I'm no Arike lover...far from it
But she and Courtney (who should have won the award)
were the class acts tonight

Is everyone forgetting about JJ?

 

[CL82]

or those who claim that the game was just a meaningless exhibition;
Voepel's piece tends to rebut that position...

How so? Pretty much all the quotes equate it as practice and getting Team USA ready for the Olympics.