Opals v USA

[thehardaway]

Scores tied in the third quarter
LJ and Taylor are struggling offensively and we can't buy a bucket
The US are getting a few dubious calls, but if we are good enough, we will win

 

[thehardaway]

US taking the ascendency in the fourth, and I doubt we can recover
Taylor got hot in the third, then got in foul trouble.
Harrower gets a clean block, but because she is a midget it must be a foul.
LJ can't get it going when we need her most, and unless she can find a way to score, we will have to settle for silver

 

[Dingster]

Thanks for the updates. Syncronised sh1te being shown over here.

 

[Portmanteau]

Well, that sucked hardcorely.

Third time lucky?

 

[KingyOrTheKing]

OMG! That was playing for a gold medal! What an absolute disgrace of a performance from both sides. If that is the quality of games from womens basketball then I swear I'll never watch another game again. Watching under-10's play chuck-up basketball is better than that.

Just a question, are the refs aware of ANY basketball rules, becasue they seem completely clueless! It would have been good if they understood that for a offensive/defensive foul to be called there must be CONTACT!! Oh also, I've seen both the American men and women benches basically take residence on the court when a basket is scored. I thought there would have been some rules against bench players stepping on the court in the middle of play but obviously not....

What an absolute joke..........

 

[blackcat]

uh, was Timms watching the same game as us? Opals game plan to penetrate... ahh do not think so.

Sterling "wait for the clock to run down then throw a brick from 3 feet outside the 3 point line"

Everyone was guilty of indiscriminate shooting, especially Harrower (Harrowing) and Snell.

Harrower was abused defensively, no help D forthcoming. Plus she turned it over.

Bactovic gets a pass. Decent defense, about the only person who knocked down more than one jumpshot - albeit this woman could not jump over downstairs.

Taylor was brilliant, except she could not hit a jumpshot. Why, did she wait so long to take charge of the offense? (Sterling's responsibility to bring her out of her reticent play, her first Olympics, biggest game)

Jackson. Hopeless. Different when she faces some decent defense in the low post, and is challenged on the perimeter. Never saw her put it on the floor.

 

[KingyOrTheKing]

There wasn't really one positive to take from that game. Even Taylor's game wasn't that flash....

 

[The Scarecrow]

I don't think anyone really had a good game tonight.

 

[Darealrath]

uh, was Timms watching the same game as us? Opals game plan to penetrate... ahh do not think so.

Sterling "wait for the clock to run down then throw a brick from 3 feet outside the 3 point line"

Everyone was guilty of indiscriminate shooting, especially Harrower (Harrowing) and Snell.

Harrower was abused defensively, no help D forthcoming. Plus she turned it over.

Bactovic gets a pass. Decent defense, about the only person who knocked down more than one jumpshot - albeit this woman could not jump over downstairs.

Taylor was brilliant, except she could not hit a jumpshot. Why, did she wait so long to take charge of the offense? (Sterling's responsibility to bring her out of her reticent play, her first Olympics, biggest game)

Jackson. Hopeless. Different when she faces some decent defense in the low post, and is challenged on the perimeter. Never saw her put it on the floor.

Brilliant summary.

 

[The Scarecrow]

uh, was Timms watching the same game as us? Opals game plan to penetrate... ahh do not think so.

Sterling "wait for the clock to run down then throw a brick from 3 feet outside the 3 point line"

Everyone was guilty of indiscriminate shooting, especially Harrower (Harrowing) and Snell.

Harrower was abused defensively, no help D forthcoming. Plus she turned it over.

Bactovic gets a pass. Decent defense, about the only person who knocked down more than one jumpshot - albeit this woman could not jump over downstairs.

Taylor was brilliant, except she could not hit a jumpshot. Why, did she wait so long to take charge of the offense? (Sterling's responsibility to bring her out of her reticent play, her first Olympics, biggest game)

Jackson. Hopeless. Different when she faces some decent defense in the low post, and is challenged on the perimeter. Never saw her put it on the floor.

I don't think Timms know's what day it is, someone needs to cut the cord to her microphone.

 

[NICK THE PIE MAN]

The standard of referring in this Olympics has been nothing short of bloody shameful.

Disgraceful. Jaw-droppingly atrocius.

I saw a better standard when I was playing U/12's for my school.

 

[CURVE]

Jackson. Hopeless. Different when she faces some decent defense in the low post, and is challenged on the perimeter. Never saw her put it on the floor.

You idiot. Jackson didn't play her best game, but she was still one of our best. Her offense wasn't as good as previously, but that maybe because of the opposition she came up agianst. At times she was double and triple teamed by players of the calibre of Leslie, Catchings and Swoopes, 3 of the greatest players in Women's Basketball History. Add to that, only 2 of our current players have recent experience in the premier league and we were always at a disadvantage.

Jackson was never going to score 25-30 points in this game, she needed support from her team mates but didn't get it, they all shot poorly especially in the first half. She only averages 20.6ppg in the WNBA where she is coming up against one of those players (and not 3 or 4) each game. She made up for her lack of offensive presence, but a dominant defensive display, but unfortunately didn't the talls to provide any support on the defensive end, and it allowed Leslie to get away. Batkovic's decision to continue in Europe after being selected to Seattle, may have cost her the experience of playing on the these players, and may have cost us the support in the talls department that Jackson was going to require. And Stirling's stupid decision to leave Jacinta Hamilton back home was probably the graviest mistake of all. We desperately needed a third rebounder and Jacinta would have been perfect.

After halftime, Taylor provided the offensive impertous we required, but a awful decision by the French idiot snuffed that and the USA were able to close in again, and not allow the freedom for Jackson, that Taylor was beginning to provide.

All in all I think things are looking positive for the Opals. I think the fact that we were alble to stay with them for a little more than 3 quarters was a great positive for the team. We made a few decisions before the Olympics that may have had some influence on the result, but Silver is a good result and one we should be proud of. But if we wont to win gold at Beijing, it would be nice if a few more players make theirway to the WNBA.

Watch out for Jacinta Hamilton in the not to distant future. It was a tragedy that she didnt make the squad, but she will be our next superstar. She is slightly shorter than Jackson, and could become every bit as good.

 

[blackcat]

You idiot. Jackson didn't play her best game, but she was still one of our best. Her offense wasn't as good as previously, but that maybe because of the opposition she came up agianst. At times she was double and triple teamed by players of the calibre of Leslie, Catchings and Swoopes, 3 of the greatest players in Women's Basketball History. Add to that, only 2 of our current players have recent experience in the premier league and we were always at a disadvantage.

Jackson was never going to score 25-30 points in this game, she needed support from her team mates but didn't get it, they all shot poorly especially in the first half. She only averages 20.6ppg in the WNBA where she is coming up against one of those players (and not 3 or 4) each game. She made up for her lack of offensive presence, but a dominant defensive display, but unfortunately didn't the talls to provide any support on the defensive end, and it allowed Leslie to get away. Batkovic's decision to continue in Europe after being selected to Seattle, may have cost her the experience of playing on the these players, and may have cost us the support in the talls department that Jackson was going to require. And Stirling's stupid decision to leave Jacinta Hamilton back home was probably the graviest mistake of all. We desperately needed a third rebounder and Jacinta would have been perfect.

After halftime, Taylor provided the offensive impertous we required, but a awful decision by the French idiot snuffed that and the USA were able to close in again, and not allow the freedom for Jackson, that Taylor was beginning to provide.

All in all I think things are looking positive for the Opals. I think the fact that we were alble to stay with them for a little more than 3 quarters was a great positive for the team. We made a few decisions before the Olympics that may have had some influence on the result, but Silver is a good result and one we should be proud of. But if we wont to win gold at Beijing, it would be nice if a few more players make theirway to the WNBA.

Watch out for Jacinta Hamilton in the not to distant future. It was a tragedy that she didnt make the squad, but she will be our next superstar. She is slightly shorter than Jackson, and could become every bit as good.

Jackson was not always double and triple teamed, I think that is an exaggeration, just as my reference to her being "hopeless" and Taylor being "brilliant".

When Jackson was faced with a hand in her face on a turnaround, her shot was severely affected. The US players challenged that well. She never reverse pivoted and faced the basket, she never threw any head fakes, she never put it on the floor, fronting the basket or with her back to the basket.

When her shot was challenged from the perimeter it was affected. Defensively she was adequate, a couple of blocks and many boards, but what do you expect with so many shots missing.

The offense was non-existent, and Taylor seemed the only one who could create her own shot, though she suffered turnovers like the rest of the team.


You were right Devo, they faced a different calibre of defense, however this was ample reason to get the offensive sets right and working, as apart Taylor no one was a threat.

I am not an idiot either Devo, I did resort to vituperation, so I would be a hypocrite if I could not be criticised either.

Jackson was not hopeless, but her dominance over the minnows suggested a higher standard of play, but she was shown up, and has some deficiencies to rectify: her repertoire in the post, and her penetration option. You may retort she is the best inside so neither comment I make is relevant, however, when she is faced with tall and skillful defense in the post, (she obviously is at home on the perimeter) with her tremendous shot (see I can compliment her) she needs to be able to put it on the floor. I know she has, and can, but it needs to rise to her other standard. RE: like Taylor, however Taylor might be the world's best when it comes to atacking the basket, tho Johnson has definitely some handle.

 

[tige19]

Its fair to say that Lisa Leslie ripped LJ a new rear end, i would almost go as far as to say that i would want Penny Taylor ahead of LJ.

When Australia needed LJ to step up for her country she did worst than what that Sally thing did for the rowing side. LJ not only gave stuff all down the stretch but she constantly gave the US the ball and put up pathetic shots.

I would have prefered her to do what Sally did for the Rowing side 'NOTHING'.

Well thats my rant for the day , ill get back on when she wins a gold for the Aussies hehe im a true bandwagoner .

cheers

 

[CURVE]

Its fair to say that Lisa Leslie ripped LJ a new rear end, i would almost go as far as to say that i would want Penny Taylor ahead of LJ.

When Australia needed LJ to step up for her country she did worst than what that Sally thing did for the rowing side. LJ not only gave stuff all down the stretch but she constantly gave the US the ball and put up pathetic shots.

I would have prefered her to do what Sally did for the Rowing side 'NOTHING'.

Well thats my rant for the day , ill get back on when she wins a gold for the Aussies hehe im a true bandwagoner .

cheers

I appologise for calling Blackcat an Idiot. It is obviously tige19 who is the Idiot.

It is the first time she has ever played poorly (by her lofty standards) when the game was on the line. And even then her defensive efforts were enough to keep us in the game.
Her interview after straight after the game was priceless. I was laughing at her "I really hate them" comment a good 10 minutes afterwards.

Like Sydney where Jackson took all the plaudits for her tournament and final, I hope Australia finally take notice of Penny Taylor. She is one of the most gifting bball players on the planet and deserves to be recognised by her countrymen and women as a player ever bit a good as Loz.

 

[kaysee]

Poor showing by Australia in the Gold Medal match. I thought the team needed some better guidance by the coach, Jan Sterling. Being from Adelaide I am a big fan of hers, but I thought she could have coached the team better against the USA. Especially in the final quarter.

- 1st throughout the game they didn't utilise Jackson inside as much as they could have. Jackson spent most of the game setting picks and hanging around the perimeter. Being our most dominant big player she was often no where near the offensive boards or making plays inside and drawing fouls... how many times did she get to the foul line??? She should know by now that if her game is struggling the best thing to do is to try and draw fouls and get to the line. This A) creates foul trouble for the opposition and B) get Jackson to the line for some open shots to find touch. Michael Jordan was great at doing this on his off nights.

- 2nd During the final period Australia NEVER seemed desperate. They NEVER tried anything new as the lead blew out. Even with 5 mins left and stil being 10 points down we continued to play our half court game and let them waste the clock. Here Sterling should have had the team pressing the full court or trying anything to put pressure on the USA. It was only in the FINAL MINUTE that we tried a full court press... by which time the game was lost. Also in the last few minutes they should have been trying to foul and stop the clock but again nothing. It made me so angry watching the game... this is a GOLD MEDAL game... try everything and put everything on the line... the coach and players simply played the game out as if it was a regular season game.

Oh well that's my view.
SKC