Women and Men's Gold

[Chescat]

Both teams won gold as
they should. This is our
game, but the rest of
the world is caching up.
The men are up against
teams with NBA players.
Even though the gap is
closing, it appears wider
than it is IMO, because
we don't send our best.
Curry, Labron, and others
would make a huge difference.
Of course Durant is one of
the best and he showed it.
Without him we don't win
gold this year IMO.

The women are a whole different
story. Bird, Taurasi and Breeana
Stewart along with Griner are
our best. Bird and Taurasi have
five gold medals. How is that
even possible??? Bird, 40 yrs.
old, Taurasi 39, incredible!

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

I agree, with the exception that Bird and Taurasi really aren't the US's best any more. They were on the team (and starting) as lifetime achievement awards. Two of the all time greats for sure, but they are both shadows of what they used to be.

 

[Chescat]

I agree, with the exception that Bird and Taurasi really aren't the US's best any more. They were on the team (and starting) as lifetime achievement awards. Two of the all time greats for sure, but they are both shadows of what they used to be.

That's true about both
of them, but Bird still
has a lot of game. Doing
that at 40 is amazing.

Breeana Stewart is like
the Larry Bird of women's
basketball. She clearly is
the total package, scoring.
rebounding, passing, court
vision and D. The crazy
thing is many of them play
overseas in the off season
to supplement their income.
The gap in $$$$ between
the men and the women
is very wide.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

Both teams won gold as
they should. This is our
game, but the rest of
the world is caching up.
The men are up against
teams with NBA players.
Even though the gap is
closing, it appears wider
than it is IMO, because
we don't send our best.
Curry, Labron, and others
would make a huge difference.
Of course Durant is one of
the best and he showed it.
Without him we don't win
gold this year IMO.

The women are a whole different
story. Bird, Taurasi and Breeana
Stewart along with Griner are
our best. Bird and Taurasi have
five gold medals. How is that
even possible??? Bird, 40 yrs.
old, Taurasi 39, incredible!

Good stuff. I want to give a shout to women’s volleyball too, winning the gold today in dominating fashion. Hard to believe, but it’s their first ever gold.

 

[cease10]

I agree, with the exception that Bird and Taurasi really aren't the US's best any more. They were on the team (and starting) as lifetime achievement awards. Two of the all time greats for sure, but they are both shadows of what they used to be.

Agreed....I didn't think they should've been placed on the team either. Five Olympics are way too much. Gotta give other players an opportunity.

I'm pretty sure that other WNBA players resented them for that and it showed during the all star game. Taurasi especially has been injured and barely played this season in the WNBA, yet they still had a spot reserved for her on the team.

 

[cease10]

I must say that I was very impressed with the Japanese team. Their style of play was awesome. Their guards were very quick and skilled.

Their main issue was height on the frontcourt. Brittany Griner had no issues shooting over them. Griner isn't that impressive in the WNBA.

The Japan coach is a Penn St guy. I would keep an eye out for him possibly getting a college or WNBA job if he wants to come back to the states.

 

[Chescat]

Their main issue was height on the frontcourt. Brittany Griner had no issues shooting over them. Griner isn't that impressive in the WNBA.

Griner has a few basic
moves in the low post.
Once she established
position, there was
no way they could stop
her given the height
difference.

 

[Chescat]

Agreed....I didn't think they should've been placed on the team either. Five Olympics are way too much. Gotta give other players an opportunity.

Yes, I can agree with
Taurasi not being
included on this team.
However as I watched
Bird in these games, she
did belong. IMO she's still
got it. She moves easily
around the court and
sets up her team mates.
She still has foot speed
and still has a very good
handle......35 assists (5.8
per game, most on the
on the team). Breeana
Stewart played lights
out, but Bird was often
the glue. BTW, she also
led the team with steals.
Her past olympic experience
is a valuable intangible
that can't be measured by
stats. I feel she belonged.

Coach Dawn Staley herself
played on three olympic
teams and won gold. I'll
bet the ranch that she
wanted that experience
on the team.

 

[cease10]

Yes, I can agree with
Taurasi not being
included on this team.
However as I watched
Bird in these games, she
did belong. IMO she's still
got it. She moves easily
around the court and
sets up her team mates.
She still has foot speed
and still has a very good
handle......35 assists (5.8
per game, most on the
on the team). Breeana
Stewart played lights
out, but Bird was often
the glue. BTW, she also
led the team with steals.
Her past olympic experience
is a valuable intangible
that can't be measured by
stats. I feel she belonged.

Coach Dawn Staley herself
played on three olympic
teams and won gold. I'll
bet the ranch that she
wanted that experience
on the team.

Bird eventually proved her worth, but it took her a while to get going. She started out the first couple games 0 for shooting. She couldn't buy a shot. Chelsea Gray was playing alot better and I felt should've been starting. The other guard Skylar Diggins looked awful in the couple games I saw her.

The thing about experience is that others can't get experience if 2 players are taking up spots in 5 straight Olympics.

 

[Chescat]

The thing about experience is that others can't get experience if 2 players are taking up spots in 5 straight Olympics.

I agreed with Taurasi.
Bird IMO belonged and
as you said "eventually
proved her worth."
Despite what you and
I post on here, it's Coach
Staley (who's been there
and done it as a player)
who makes the decision.
Take a look at Staly's
accomplishments in her
player/coaching career.
No doubt in my mind that
she valued the "experience"
factor. The team's dominant
play shows it was a good
decision.

Just my two cents

 

[cease10]

I agreed with Taurasi.
Bird IMO belonged and
as you said "eventually
proved her worth."
Despite what you and
I post on here, it's Coach
Staley (who's been there
and done it as a player)
who makes the decision.
Take a look at Staly's
accomplishments in her
player/coaching career.
No doubt in my mind that
she valued the "experience"
factor. The team's dominant
play shows it was a good
decision.

Just my two cents

Not really looking for a debate, just my opinion and thoughts.

Also, I don't think that the roster selection is solely at the discretion of the head coach. USA Basketball leadership along with the coach makes the selections. Same way it's done in the pros with GM/VPs filling out rosters.

 

[Chescat]

Not really looking for a debate, just my opinion and thoughts.

It's cool. Just a sharing
of different opinions.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

The team's dominant
play shows it was a good
decision.

Wait, if what you are going to hang your hat on is dominant play then shouldn't the fact that this was the LEAST dominant US Women's team in all of their Olympic gold medal runs mean something?

The US won their games this time by between 9 and 24 points, with an average margin of victory of 16 points. In the last Olympics the US won their games by between 19 and 65 points, with an average margin of victory of 36 points. Even if you just count the knock out rounds the US won by just under 20 points per game this time, whereas last time it was over 31.

If you want to go back to the 2012 games it was between 13 and 52 with an average of 34, and an average of 31 in the knockouts.

Part of that is surely that some other countries are getting better. The other part is the decision to roster and play experience over talent.

 

[Chescat]

Yup. I think it's a
combination of both.
My guess is they knew
there was enough talent
to win it outright, but
wanted to mix in some
experience.

Let's face it, they also
are rewarding a player
or two due to their past
experience. Point in case....
Larry Bird on the Dream
Team. His back was bad,
real bad. He was near
end of his career (35)
but, and it's a big BUT,
it was Larry Bird. They
easily coulda gotten
someone healthier and
at that time of his career,
better. You could say the
same about Magic in 92.