USA Postgame Thread | Page 5 | The Boneyard

USA Postgame Thread

RogueDave said:
What is you take, Chelsea Gray / Skylar Smith / Kelsey Plum which would you select ?

Chelsea struggled on defense (lacks quickness).

Skylar Smith did not seem to be in the flow on offense (team practice factor probably) seemed like she jumped on every possession to pass the ball did not seem to play under control.

Kelsey Plum very disciplined hustled delivered passes to right person at the right time, shot selection was good and in flow of offense, made them as well, good outing.

Kayla McBride makes this team on defense and hustle alone, she also hits shots at high percentage, very good game.
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Gray led the team in assists w/ 6, Plum had 5. Gray had some really unnecessary hot dog passes, some of which might have led to TOs, several of which definitely weren't delivered on target or on time, so took away scoring opportunities. She was also 1-8 from the floor.

Plum was really solid of defense I thought. She did foul a jump shooter really late in the game (approx. 27 seconds left?) and on another occasion left her assignment to double team the ball handler at the top of the key. Whoever it was whipped a pass to the wide open Christyn Williams who knocked in a really long 2 (toe on the line?). Not sure why the double team there. She also basically won the game for USA. They were down 2, she scored 8 straight and then assisted on another bucket to put them firmly back in control in Q4. That was after sitting the entire 3rd quarter.

Diggins-Smith hit a couple buckets but didn't really make much impact.

I notice Clarendon isn't even mentioned. She was invisible in her brief time on the floor.

It was only 1 game, but at least on Monday night Plum was the best of this bunch easily (I'm not including McBride because she plays a different position I would say).
 
RogueDave said:
What is you take, Chelsea Gray / Skylar Smith / Kelsey Plum which would you select ?

Chelsea struggled on defense (lacks quickness).

Skylar Smith did not seem to be in the flow on offense (team practice factor probably) seemed like she jumped on every possession to pass the ball did not seem to play under control.

Kelsey Plum very disciplined hustled delivered passes to right person at the right time, shot selection was good and in flow of offense, made them as well, good outing.

Kayla McBride makes this team on defense and hustle alone, she also hits shots at high percentage, very good game.
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Gray, Plum, McBride, Diggins ... sooo much talent .. of the four, I like Kelsey best! .. altho, Gray is the best pure point guard/passer/facilitator...
 
Plum was definitely the best after Sue and her quick offensive spurts started the final push bu USA. But Plum career wise has really cold streaks and I am not sure you can rely on her as a primary backup.
 
Argonaut said:
She got it sorted out.
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You could play the soundtrack of Disneyland's "When you wish upon a star" very softly in the background to make this meeting complete. :D Anna finally got her wish.

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Cliff Edwards (the voice of Disney's the voice of Jiminy Cricket

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
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willtalk said:
...---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Some things I noticed. It appeared that team USA had decided they would not attack Uconn at their weakness by taking the ball inside. Although they did so in the fourth quarter at will. They also gave Uconn a handicap from the very beginning. KLS was Uconn's most valuable player in the game. Her defense created most of the open looks that Uconn enjoyed in their 2nd Q comeback. Part of it was more than likely because she had never practiced with the team, but a major part was that she is just a weak defender. I can see why she did not get much time on the court with her team. My apologies to KLS. I was mistaken. It was not her that played horrible defense in the second quarter. She was not even in the game. I mistook her for Stewie. USA was playing with Stewie, Fowles, and Charles in the lineup. That left Stewart to on Walker and other guards who just ate her up. Stewie is not ready to play and it was obvious throughout the game. Teams can usually compensate for defensive weaknesses via the defensive scheme, but the team really didn't have the time to do so. Even so, most players were eating her alive when she was one on one with them. Especially Anna. That was just a ridiculous line up to put on the floor, I suspect it was to put as many ex Uconn players together as possible.
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I feel I have to retract my harsh criticism of KLS's defense in this game. I had just awakened and my eyes are not good anyway, so I mistook KLS for Stewie. KLS played some in the second half and while her defense was not stellar it was not horrible considering the circumstances. I am glad I rewatched the game and caught my mistake.
 
RogueDave said:
What is you take, Chelsea Gray / Skylar Smith / Kelsey Plum which would you select ?

Chelsea struggled on defense (lacks quickness).
Expand ...
And you base this assessment on what? It certainly couldn't have been this game. You see I just rewatched it and whatever player she was watching did not ever score. Do you ever even follow the WNBA. I doubt it. If you did you would know that, Chelsea, is in fact, one of the best defensive guards in the league. You allow yourself to be fooled by her appearance. You are not the first or will you be the last. Most of her game is based on deception in that she never shows you her quickness except for short instances. You never see her full speed. She is in a lot better shape since she has been in LA, but even in lesser shape like she was at the Sun she was always quicker than she let on. She plays at multiple speeds and she tries never to let you see her actual full speed for any length of time.

Some of you might want to watch more than a few USA games before you give opinions based on limited observations. One way to judge who has the advantage is to see who is on the floor in games where the outcome is still in question. Basically, due to circumstances, this game against Uconn meant very little. I mean during the second Quarter Uconn comeback team USA had Stewie, Fowles, and Charles on the floor at the same time with Stewie being stuck guarding guards. She was constantly being beat off the dribble and leaving her assignment with open looks. Stewie is not close to being ready to play. I initially put the blame on KLS, but it was Stewie.
 
.-.
willtalk said:
And you base this assessment on what? It certainly couldn't have been this game. You see I just rewatched it and whatever player she was watching did not ever score. Do you ever even follow the WNBA. I doubt it. If you did you would know that, Chelsea, is in fact, one of the best defensive guards in the league. You allow yourself to be fooled by her appearance. You are not the first or will you be the last. Most of her game is based on deception in that she never shows you her quickness except for short instances. You never see her full speed. She is in a lot better shape since she has been in LA, but even in lesser shape like she was at the Sun she was always quicker than she let on. She plays at multiple speeds and she tries never to let you see her actual full speed for any length of time.

Some of you might want to watch more than a few USA games before you give opinions based on limited observations. One way to judge who has the advantage is to see who is on the floor in games where the outcome is still in question. Basically, due to circumstances, this game against Uconn meant very little. I mean during the second Quarter Uconn comeback team USA had Stewie, Fowles, and Charles on the floor at the same time with Stewie being stuck guarding guards. She was constantly being beat off the dribble and leaving her assignment with open looks. Stewie is not close to being ready to play. I initially put the blame on KLS, but it was Stewie.
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Appreciate your insights, Chelsea is obviously on team for all the reasons you stated. I just didn’t have keen eye watching 1st time. Will be looking for what you shared on the rewatch.
 
.-.
Biff said:
I'll offer another theory: Dee is not 6' and Kyla is not 6'2" ;)
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Really have stood next to Dee and she is6' because I am 6'1" and it is pretty close! Unless your gonna say I am not 6' 1".
 
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