I saw some of that game and thought she was a stand out performer and if that is her consistent game she should be an Opals contender.

Today's performance is irrelevant to Opals selection, we already knew Bishop is a WNBL superstar.

She will be right in the mix for the Opals, it's a matter of whether she can fill the role that would be required better than the other players contending for PF spots.

If she can get a spot playing minutes in the WNBA that will help her as she'll have to play a role rather than be a star, which is the same in international competition.

Agree with both above.
Abby's last stint in the WNBA didn't go so well.
She's a more mature player now and will know what to expect this time around, and hopefully prepare appropriately.
If she can hold down even a modest rotation spot in the WNBA then that should be all the evidence BJ needs that she can play effective international ball.

Not sure about the comparison between her & Burton though. Two totally different styles of players, and I don't see then being in direct competition for a position. Nat would still want to improve though if she wants a spot at the Olympics, regardless of what happens with Abby.

Fingers crossed that Seattle give Abby the call-up this season (and that she is actually interested in heading over there of course).

This is getting a bit off the Abby subject, but you seriously want 2 combo guards as the only guards in the 12?? Never going to happen! Terrible idea both offensively and defensively.
Love Erin & Tess and would have them in my team too, but need at least one pure point guard. Right at this moment that's Leilani.

But back on topic, I agree that Abby makes the team right now. Yes she is a tweener, but she is also a very good player. I think her limitations at the 4 are offset by what she brings, compared to the next best options.
Btw Tolo is in no way a 4.

Starting front court is still Penny, LJ & Liz. Picks itself. Leilani & Erin in the backcourt for mine.

Given how well the team played in Turkey, I'm not sure there'll be six new players ala the team above. Joyce has shown he'll pick the best 'team' not just the best 12 players.

Will BA and Joyce use the same reason as the Worlds for not selecting Bishop.

"After Rio Joyce is out. No way BA will renew his contract."

You're living in fantasy land, the players absolutely love what he's doing.

After Turkey, absolutely.

My answer is the same. He did an absolutely outstanding job in Turkey. I was pretty supportive of the 2012 effort when many were critical, but the team played superior ball with less talent in 2014.

I didn't say any of them love Joyce, I said they love what he is doing. Some of the players who haven't been involved mightn't, but that's probably because they don't know what he's doing!

Simple fact is he didn't have nine players from London, including four of the starting five, yet he produced a superior team on court. Quite the opposite of being lucky to have talented players.

The players that held that group together to get the result were Taylor, Phillips Mitchell and Tolo, who actually may not have seen as much CRT time had Cambage not been injured. His call up replacement was Francis who also did a good job for the limited time she played. His 'chosen few' of Lavey, Burton and Jarry did zip really, Jarry was more a liability than asset. Snell was really a no show.
So imagine if he had picked better more seasoned players the outcome he could have, or simply had Ohea, Jackson and Cambage, now try saying that list is not talent, it wasn't his coaching!!!

"So imagine if he had picked better more seasoned players the outcome he could have, or simply had Ohea, Jackson and Cambage, now try saying that list is not talent, it wasn't his coaching!!!"

Well, he didn't have Jackson, Cambage and O'Hea, nor quite a few other talented players, yet they were played outstanding basketball with a style only one opponent could cope with, and even then the USA didn't cope all that well.

Joyce had his reasons for picking the players he did, and his team produced outstanding results. There's no reason to think they would have performed better with any other of the available players.

Seriously doubt they 'wouldn't ' play better with the likes of Cambage Ohea and Jackson .

So you wouldn't put jarry in your squad anon^?
Who would you take in replace of her?
I'm personally not sold on Mitchell as backup. I would much prefer 2 of madgen, ebzery or cole. (Instead of Mitchell/Lavey)

Looks to be:
Phillips/?/?
Taylor/Allen
Ohea/?
Jackson/bishop/Francis
Cambage/tolo

2 out of Mitchell, madgen, ebzery, cole.
1 out of jarry, kunek, Talbot, Blicavs.

Outs on previous team: hodges, burton, Lavey, snell, Richards.


Sorry if your a jarry fan, but their is no way I'd put her in this team, I'd have kunek and talbot any day over jarry she makes way to many mistakes and has a poor iq on CRT not a blicavs fan either too inconsistent

I don't think Mitchell will make next cut but she was certainly better than the rest. Lavey should never have been there, but point guards are light on in the mid 20 age group

"Seriously doubt they 'wouldn't ' play better with the likes of Cambage Ohea and Jackson ."

Can you remind me of which of those players was available?

I didn't say they were available I said add them into the mix and that talent right their nothing to do with Joyce's coaching, your making out that this team that went to worlds is a winning combination due to Joyce's selection and coaching.
Taylor, Philips and tolo, with help from Mitchell were the biggest influences not the ones Joyce chose over other more seasons players, so imagine what that team could have done with the addition of OHea,Jackson and Cambage.
So before you crow too loud get your facts straight

No one is arguing about that, your stating Joyce did all the work basically it was HIS coaching
Fact #1 he had no choice but to use those players ( Taylor Philips Mitchell)
Fact #2 the players he chose (over more seasoned players)as in burton Lavey Jarry did zip
Fact #3 Tolo only got those minutes because Cammbage was injured and Francis was only brought in because Cammbage was injured , not because Joyce wanted it that way'
Fact#4 Jen Sheen left Bec Madgen was brought in he used neither, both excellent players.
And yes they did in fact have a great culture in the team, not Joyce's doing but the players.
But hey if you want to believe all the success was purely due to Joyce's coaching go ahead, think quite a few of the players would disagree.
Look at the impact penny Taylor is now having on rangers!

^ agree

Joyce wanted defensive speed at each position, particularly lateral quickness, that's probably why Francis wasn't at PF. In a different style she could do it though.

Francis didn't fit what they needed from a PF. In a different, slower system she could offer some of the things you mentioned.

That post is a good one, because it shows exactly how you've missed the point.

The key to the Opals' success was their 24-second pressure defence that forced teams out of their offence by getting up-and-in. To achieve that they needed players able to contain opponents in that situation, and players with the ability to rotate and/or recover.

The fitness staff and coaches measured this capability in both testing and game situations to ensure they could execute that defence at the world championships.

That is what sparked their transition offence and allowed a number of players to be super effective offensively. Take away the defence and the offence would not have worked nearly as well with the amount of offensive talent that was unavailable.

Quoting stats shows a lack of awareness of the team components that made the team successful, not just on the defensive end but things like making early post targets or setting early on-balls before their defenders were set.

For every time a player like Taylor or Phillips has a big game, there are teammates doing little things that enable it to happen. That's why picking a national team isn't necessarily about just selecting the 12 most talented players.

Joyce understood that and produced a 5-1 record with a 30-point average winning margin despite missing nine 2012 Olympians including four of the starting five.

Game, set, and match.

Depends on which anonymous your referring to