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USA training camp

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As long as Stewie has a good camp she's on the team, unlike the others, she can play 3 positions, and defend at all 3. The international game with the wider lane is more open, and you have to defend more space, that's why on the men's side James, Durant, Melo are important, and pure centers, are left off the teams.
 
ericsandiego said:
I tend to agree with you however... Stewie is currently competing against college kids, even if they are 2 or 3 years older than she is. I think that is different than going up against seasoned pros.

If there was only one spot open on the team and it came down to a very healthy EDD or Stewie, I'd have to go with EDD at this point. But in general I think you are spot on - I'd take Stewie over Nneka or Chiney. Stewie is much more versatile and while she may lack strength on the defensive end, she does not lack for effort...
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Yet another qualifying "however." Stewie belongs on that team. No ifs. No buts. No howevers. There are twelve spots on the roster and she has earned one. Period.
 
So, based on this picture it appears that Geno is 3 inches taller than Dawn, and Doug is two inches taller than Geno and Cheryl is about the same height as Geno. Dawn's bio lists her as 5'5" so that puts Geno and Cheryl at 5'8", and Doug at 5'10". Are we in agreement?!
 
real question: does Bird still have "it" at 34? clearly Taurasi, 2 years younger, still does. I think Odyssey Sims must be on the team - speed/defense and offense.
Would you pick Fowles (having 3 centers) or clear the space in C/PF for Chiney?
 
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UcMiami said:
http://www.usab.com/news-events/news/2014/09/quotes-from-day-1-of-usa-national-team-training.aspx

Quotes from coaches/players after day 1 of practice in the above link - Augustus says Sims and Dolson flashed during the practice.
There should be a story and photo gallery being loaded based on 'links' that don't yet work.
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Here's to "The oldest player at the training camp". I think she's still got "it".

old_bird.jpg
 
Gate81 said:
real question: does Bird still have "it" at 34? clearly Taurasi, 2 years younger, still does. I think Odyssey Sims must be on the team - speed/defense and offense.
Would you pick Fowles (having 3 centers) or clear the space in C/PF for Chiney?
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I say Fowles is the the #2 center already.
 
As some of us have been saying all along, illness and injury will affect the roster. Candace seemed healthy until recently. Catch, Seimone, Elena, and Syl had injuries at various times.

You can write Sue's name in. In ink.

I think we're looking at 4 or 5 Huskies and 0 LVs.
 
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Kibitzer said:
Yet another qualifying "however." Stewie belongs on that team. No ifs. No buts. No howevers. There are twelve spots on the roster and she has earned one. Period.
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My "however" had to do with people comparing Stewie to the other players on team USA. Stewie goes up against college kids. Sorry if that wasn't clear. Nneka, Candice, Chiney, EDD go up against pros. Big difference. If you read my entire post, I said she belongs on the team. Period.
 
UcMiami said:
So, based on this picture it appears that Geno is 3 inches taller than Dawn, and Doug is two inches taller than Geno and Cheryl is about the same height as Geno. Dawn's bio lists her as 5'5" so that puts Geno and Cheryl at 5'8", and Doug at 5'10". Are we in agreement?!
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Not sure. I can't see what kind of shoes Dawn and Doug are wearing. ;)
 
Geno wants winners on Team USA........Give me 12 winners.........5 or 6 UCONN players.......EDD has a curse on herself.....When healthy, she is awesome.....The question is when is she healthy......We need more youth on the team........
 
Biff said:
Here's to "The oldest player at the training camp". I think she's still got "it".
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Having watched Sue Bird since she first set foot on the UConn campus, in my mind I always see her as young - 34 is young... Calling her old for me is unsettling.

Does this mean I too am getting old?
Hey I still remember my name!!
 
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jsloanjr said:
Geno wants winners on Team USA...Give me 12 winners....5 or 6 UCONN players..EDD has a curse on herself.....When healthy, she is awesome.....The question is when is she healthy.We need more youth on the team...
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Stewart will be on the team. I can only imagine seeing BG and Stewart controlling the paint with their long arms and shot blocking capabilities. And both are very good offensively, as well.

Here is the starting 5 I would like to see.
BG - 5
DT - 2
Whalen - PG
Maya - 3
Stewart - 4
 
Tension is still "in." I have been doing it as part of my PT for Spinal Stenosis for the last six months.
 
pap49cba said:
USA Basketball @usabasketball · 3h
.@MooreMaya accepted a lunch date with members of the 3rd Company #hoopsfortroops pic.twitter.com/gP9NpXrnPI

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Lunch at a service academy is special. I have never been to Annapolis but I have dined in the historic dining hall at West Point with cadets. It may surprise readers to know (USMA) that 4,500 cadets dine family style in an hour!

And it's a short hour, for at the end of a fine meal, cadets depart by class (seniors first, etc.), so the plebes must meet a daily challenge of dining quickly, then really hustling to get from the dining hall to wherever. Talk about a fast break!
 
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If I'm in a foxhole, Sue Bird is the player I'd want with me.

A number of years ago, Geno chose Diana. He said they'd die for sure, but they'd have a lot of fun before that.
 
I noted one possibly significant point made by Geno in his comments. He clearly indicated that the team veterans (e.g., Olympians) would have to "play their way off" the WC team but the younger aspirants would have to "play their way on" to the team.

This suggests to me that it is by no means a given that players like Griner and Sims (to cite only two) must really, really excel to displace players like Fowles and Whalen.

Geno seemsto be extremely reluctant to have to tell one of his veterans that she has been cut. As it should be.
 
Kib - there are four open places from the past Olympic team that have to be filled for starters so there are openings for four players who were not on the last team. And a lot of people forget that Dupree was on the last WC team again in a situation where there were veterans of the previous team who were out injured (I believe Parker and Augustus were two of them.) So presumably she might be counted as a veteran of the USA national team as well though that is probably stretching it. She did play generally pretty well.
That WC team was also the first team that Whalen made.
I think Griner is a shoe in as long as she wants it which leaves three places before veterans end up being cut. I cannot imagine one of those places not going to one of the young guards in camp because of the age of Taurasi, Whalen, and Bird. I also expect a replacement forward to be selected for Parker and think the most versatile one in camp is Stewart but the best is probably Nneka. I suspect both make the team, but they might select another young guard/wing.
Of those 8 returning players I just don't see anyone that is likely to play themselves off the team.
Sue is the oldest, but she is still playing very well and is probably the best equipped to run Geno's offense (or any coaches offense.) Whalen has played very well in the last two competitions and DT is DT.
Augustus is getting older but is still a dynamic scorer. Angel may have 'emotional' problems on her other teams but she has been a great national team player and her defensive intensity is very useful. Maya is Maya.
Charles is into her prime and can play both center and PF, and Fowles when healthy is a beast with size and strength.
Who do you think plays themselves off this team?! I can't think of an aspirant to the team that is clearly better than any of those eight. (at this time in their respective careers.)
 
UcMiami said:
Who do you think plays themselves off this team?! I can't think of an aspirant to the team that is clearly better than any of those eight. (at this time in their respective careers.)
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I think none (of the eight) plays themselves off, unless by illness or injury. Fowles seems most vulnerable.

I thin Griner. Stewie, McBride and one more (Diggins or Sims or NNeka)) play themselves on.
 
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