Women's Basketball

[smac]

I knew one day we would eventually agree on something Rod. Today is that day.

[Big Phil]

The Opals are going great. They are a super team and they also have possibly the best looking athlete of all time in Penny Taylor. She is absolutely stunning.

Yes, Penny Taylor and Holy Grima would be 2 of the most attractive women basketballers in the world...

[brod]

The USA not to be out done by the Opals dominant second half, have flexed their muscle in the second half of their match tonight against Spain. Ahead by only 5 points at half time, the USA outscored Spain 54-21 in the second half

[Grahaml]

But in those 12 minutes she's looked half a step behind the play. Those numbers show that in 12 minutes she's been uninvolved in the play. 2 shots in 12 minutes, which equates to perhaps 20 or more offensive sets. No assists and 2 shots on 20 offenses is below par I'm afraid.

I'm not saying she's not going to ever make it, but she's not there yet.

And this isn't the WNBA. Not to mention they absolutely do offer money to project players.

Well she wont have done much to change your mind today

5 minutes
0/3 FG (0/2 3PFG)
2 Reb
1 Ast

You're right there. I'm not questioning her talent and I don't want to sound like she'll never be a good international for us. Perhaps with more court time she would be more efffective but she's clearly behind Harrower and Snell while we know Bevilacqua annoys the yanks and her greater experience makes her the number 1 replacement guard. Cox seems to have been coming on as a guard as well, so it's hard to imagine Erin getting more court time and sadly if she continues to be so ineffective with those 5 minutes a game they will probably go with someone else. Either play one of the starters a little longer come semi time or bring on someone who is a chance to light up a few 3 pointers or drive hard. Bench players either have to contribute regularly or be capable of the occasional serious contribution, while I think Philips is unable to do that right now.

[Thiele]

Opals came from 12points down at half time to win by 20

[Thiele]

Opals play Russia tonight from 6.15pm coverage on 891

[Thiele]

Opals 17-Chech Republic 7

[Thiele]

Opals 23 - Chech Republic 10 1/4 time

[Thiele]

with 1.38 to go in the second 1/4

Opals 36 vs Chech Republic 12

[Thiele]

Half time

Opals 38 vs Chech Repulic 17

[magpie in the 80's]

penny taylor rolls her ankle badly. may not take part in the rest of the games

[Thiele]

Final score Opals 79 vs Chech Republic 46

[Thiele]

Opals plays China in the semis

[Grahaml]

Heard a report on Taylor's ankle that it wasn't as bad as first feared. Thoughts she may be ok for the next game even. Hopefully if she's iffy the rest of the team can play well enough to not need her against China.

[Thiele]

Heard a report on Taylor's ankle that it wasn't as bad as first feared. Thoughts she may be ok for the next game even. Hopefully if she's iffy the rest of the team can play well enough to not need her against China.

yeah she was up and walking around after the game

[Thiele]

Opals play China at 11.45pm

[Thiele]

Australia 90 China 56. Australia now plays the Us at 11.30pm Saturday night S.A time

[Grahaml]

I feel pretty good about this game. USA are good, no doubt, but they're not as good as 2004 and we're a lot better. Our first 5, I think, are better than their first 5. Leslie and Smith are now not the reliable stars they once were and the balance is not good IMHO among the Americans. Their best players just aren't at the peak of their powers like ours with Jackson, Taylor (if fit anyway) Harrower, Batkovic and Snell might all just be the best they've ever been. And Summerton, Screen, Bevilaqua and Cox looked quite capable against China. America might just go in as favourites based on their greater depth but this is close to 50/50. And if we can play as we did last night but get some better calls and shoot a few more 3 pointers I don't think the yanks can go with us.

[rod_rooster]

I feel pretty good about this game. USA are good, no doubt, but they're not as good as 2004 and we're a lot better. Our first 5, I think, are better than their first 5. Leslie and Smith are now not the reliable stars they once were and the balance is not good IMHO among the Americans. Their best players just aren't at the peak of their powers like ours with Jackson, Taylor (if fit anyway) Harrower, Batkovic and Snell might all just be the best they've ever been. And Summerton, Screen, Bevilaqua and Cox looked quite capable against China. America might just go in as favourites based on their greater depth but this is close to 50/50. And if we can play as we did last night but get some better calls and shoot a few more 3 pointers I don't think the yanks can go with us.

Agree grahaml. I reckon it comes down to Penny Taylor and how much input she can have in the game. If she can play without being restricted too much by her ankle i think we will win. We have to shoot better than last night though. Particularly the first half our shooting percentage was awful and really resulted from missing a lot of easy baskets. It wasn't like China were forcing us into taking pressure shots. Screen played well last night but was a big culprit missing a number of straight forward lay ups early.

[Grahaml]

I wasn't worried too much though. Those nights happen. The USA might shoot like that as well. But I was happy with the looks we got. The girls are good enough to expect to do the job if they get those chances most of the time. I've never seen Harrower shoot that badly from range, nor Jackson for that matter. But the rebounding, the defense and the opportunities were all you could hope for.

And Taylor brings that important quality of driving to the basket. She's the best in the world at getting to the basket IMHO. And that works superbly with Batkovic posting up, Harrower running pick and rolls with Jackson, Snell's outside shooting and the class of Jackson facing the bucket. None of them are the same and any mismatch can be exploited. I don't think the USA have that. Leslie and Thompson are very similar, Smith and Taurasi are very similar and Bird is very limited in her offensive output sometimes. And I think Taylor allows us to run a stronger defense than what the yanks can muster. Hence why they opted for Screen's defense instead of Summerton's offence last night I think.