USA vs Spain, 11:00 a.m., EDT, This Morning | Page 4 | The Boneyard

USA vs Spain, 11:00 a.m., EDT, This Morning

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easttexastrash said:
Sue is ONE of a kind. Would be nice to appreciate that and then appreciate LW for what she is. So she's not of the same caliber of SB. Who is? Thats what makes Bird the best.

We all get it by now; the offense flows better when Sue is in the game. This continued of criticism of Whalen seems a bit harsh for a player who is out there busting her chops for her country.
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I actually think Whalen has really improved in just a few games. In one of the exhibition games, I echoed the criticism of Lisa Leslie who said the offensive flow was disrupted as Whalen was playing way to much 1 on 1 basketball. I haven't seen that at all in the past 2 games - She certainly looks for a drive to the basket when it's open, but she's also running the offense much more as well. Again, I'm not a coach and it's just my observation watching from the comfort of my couch.

If I had to guess, I would say one of the coaches or maybe Dee or Sue pulled Lindsay aside and said "hey - you need to run the offense more efficiently. Remember, this is the US National team and these women can do pretty much anything so keep them all involved" or something like that.

This team does not play together for very long. I think they've gotten better every game and LW's improvement is also something I've noticed as well. Kudos to her! She's probably the most physically strong PG I've seen in a while...

Just my $.02 but the 3 players I think are playing noticeably better than in the exhibition games are Augustus, Griner and Whalen. I also think Fowles and Stewart are both playing at a higher level than in the exhibition games.
 
ETT! Very well stated.
And interestingly for most of the last 6 years - two WCs and the last Olympics Lindsey had made a very good case of being equally strong in leading the USA team, some even coming to the conclusion that USA was playing better when she was in the games. Sue is playing better in this Olympics than she has for quite some time (injuries and wear and tear taking their toll.) So I think what we are seeing is Sue playing pretty much as well as she ever has and better than she has in years, while Lindsey is playing pretty much the same as she has for the last six years.
 
easttexastrash said:
Sue is ONE of a kind. Would be nice to appreciate that and then appreciate LW for what she is. So she's not of the same caliber of SB. Who is? Thats what makes Bird the best.

We all get it by now; the offense flows better when Sue is in the game. This continued of criticism of Whalen seems a bit harsh for a player who is out there busting her chops for her country.
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Dude...if you're reference to harshness of LW is my post then I didn't communicate properly. LW uses her physical strength to her offensive advantage and that may be encouraged by the coaching staff.No problem with that at all and it certainly wasn't criticism except for the comment for failing to pass to DD. My point was, and is, that as a fan I prefer to watch basketball where the game is played with a bias for a pass first mentality....a skill that SB has mastered.
 
I also think in looking at the first two games (and admittedly, really the only judging game will likely be Australia) I cannot imagine a better balanced team than the one we have. Watching Augustus and McCoughtry as the guards for stretches of the game you realize why they are selected - their versatility beyond what you see in their WNBA roles is a big part of what USA selection is all about. I think they got this right.
 
I understand the criticisms of Whalen--since I'm one of those who made them. I also appreciate her tremendous talent to penetrate--and to finish. She brings a different kind of energy than does Sue.

It may be unfair (I'm prepared to accept that assessment) to "blame" her for the significant change of pace and movement when the second team is in. It may be more than Whalen's style. For example, I really, really, really admire EDD's game, but even she, while moving very well, needs at least a bit more of the set play than do the starters. Although Stewie may not deserve to be among the first off the bench, I suspect that, if she were, the pace and movement would pretty much remain as with the starters.

It's not a bad thing that the pace changes. While the second team seems to slow things down, they also therefore take time off the clock and the change of style challenges the defense. Just that the first team, with Sue and Dee running things, reminds me of a certain college team's offense that I so admire.
 
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Big Syl has been awesome!

82127870.JPG
 
I like Whalen. She has a swagger, not unlike Russell Crowe in Gladiator. Fearless!!! Bird and Whalen are the best!!! USA BB is lucky to have both of them.
 
DaddyChoc said:
Big Syl has been awesome!

82127870.JPG
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I'm liking Big Syl too. I'd like to see her a little more sure-handed, though, in both Rio and Minny. I think she is one who greatly benefits from Geno's guidance.
 
warbler13 said:
I like Whalen. She has a swagger, not unlike Russell Crowe in Gladiator. Fearless!!! Bird and Whalen are the best!!! USA BB is lucky to have both of them.
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Careful, someone might throw shade your way for diminishing the accomplishments of women with that Crowe comparison. Let's just say Whalen was like Uma Thurman in Kill Bill.

th
 
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CocoHusky said:
Careful, someone might throw shade your way for diminishing the accomplishments of women with that Crowe comparison. Let's just say Whalen was like Uma Thurman in Kill Bill.

th
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Love that KungFu move in Kill Bill II where Uma snatches the eyeball out with her fingertips. Not sure Lindsay is THAT much of a badass.

 
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