Hoops

Opals squad of 12 announced for European tour

Spain are the reigning silver medalists from last year's World Champs. they had a full team ahead of their Eurobasket Olympic qualifiers. This was not a game BJ ever expected to win.

51-80 thrashing at the hands of Spain overnight. Ouch!

Well they were flat in the 'dead rubber' game against Italy, but knowing what's coming up next weekend, it's not surprising that players were rested.

Ebzery is ideally suited to the style of game Brendan wants and she really delivered for the green and gold in that series-winning game 2 performance.

Next stop Spain. A great challenge and a great opportunity for the team.

Certainly doesn't help when joyce basically runs with only half his team, and the Italians use their entire squad.

Opals soundly beaten in the final games against Italy.
Solid numbers for Batkovic, Garrick did ok in her 20 minutes, but not much else to be pleased with.

http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/FIP/127211/

What's so hard about giving credit where it is due?
Anyone who regularly visits this board would know my thoughts about the Joyce/Lavey combo. That doesn't mean she didn't play a good game last night.
Give me 5 assists + 2 t/o every time if I have to pick between that and 4 assists + 4 t/o.

Wilson getting the start tonight at PG.
(Starting 5: Wilson, Ebzery, Talbot, Hodges, Batkovic)

Ooh, look at that - very solid numbers for Lavey :O

Opals won Game 2 vs Italy overnight, scraping past the world's 29th-best team 54-51
Haven't seen a boxscore yet but the top aussies (thanks to LoveWomensBasketball.com) were

S. Batkovic 14, K. Ebzery 12, T. Lavey 6 (5 reb, 5 as), L. Hodges 6 (6 reb)

Looking at the stats from that game, opals out rebounded Italy that's about it, Italy still took better care of the ball, we had 18 to their 13 turnovers, italy had 11 steals!
Of course BJ will sing the praises of Lavey and Burton, he has to .
What's happened to penalun a, she injured again, only played 7 mins, snell and Biiclavs didn't pkay at all, Wilson is a far better PG than Lavet so to Garrick, yet she starts over them?.
But at least they hit a win.

#527648
What's the agents name

This is the fiba client list for fast break sports
Joyce's son was also on a fiormer lost but doesn't seem to appear there now



Geoffrey MCGUIRE (AUSTRALIA)
FIBA licence n°: 2007019552


Company: Fastbreak Sports
Address: 4 Maculata Place, 2525, Figtree, Australia
Office tel.: +61 2 4226 9721
Office mobile: +61 418 241 826
Office fax: +61 2 4226 3710
Office email: fastbreak@bigpond.com
Website: http://www.fastbreak.net.au

Player List
Name Nationality 2nd Nationality DOB Gender
ALLEN, Rebecca Kate Australia 06/11/1992 female
BARTLETT, Everard Verdon New Zealand 06/02/1986 male
BURSTON, Matthew Llewellyn Australia 25/11/1982 male
BURTON, Natalie Australia 23/03/1989 female
CARTER, Rhys Jarred Australia 14/03/1984 male
COENRAAD, Tim Australia 03/04/1985 male
CONKLIN, Brian USA 05/09/1989 male
CREEK, Mitchell Australia 13/04/1992 male
DAVIDSON, Larry Australia 19/01/1983 male
DEMOS, Tyson Emmanuell Australia 03/07/1988 male
ELLIS, Cody Gordon Australia 24/04/1990 male
FISHER, Anthony Kane Australia 24/01/1994 male
HIRE, Greg Australia 19/09/1987 male
JERVIS, Tom 04/02/1987 male
KAY, Nicholas 03/08/1992 male
LAVEY, Tessa Rose Australia 29/03/1993 female
MACLEOD, Kathleen Jane Australia 23/10/1986 female
MARTIN, Rhys Australia Ireland 13/02/1986 male
MARTIN, Damian Patrick Australia 05/09/1984 male
ODIGIE, Owen Australia 18/01/1983 male
SCHERF, Lauren Marie Australia 07/03/1996 female
TOMLINSON, Nate Australia 24/07/1989 male
WAGSTAFF, Jesse Australia 30/04/1986 male

Hear hear #427 I can't believe anyone would question Bec Cole's attitude. They clearly don't know her.

Looking forward to this WNBL season when maybe Lavey gets to play and we can witness every other point guard take her apart. Brendan Joyce has had the luxury of her inexperience and ability not being exposed because she doesn't get court time so it is almost impossible to prove she isnt up to it compared to other players. With Simon Pritchard singling her out in his press conference (which was bizarre), can't wait for the Bec Cole/Lavey match up. No question who will take the points in my mind. Plus Ebzery, Madgen etc etc.

Would love to have seen Newley rewarded with selection in this team (since everyone else seems to want to play favourites). :0)

I've actually got no problem with Brendan picking this type of team largely on future potential. That's what this type of tour is for IMO. He is missing pretty much an entire team full of the best players due to injuries & WNBA commitments, so I am all for him stacking this touring squad with young players, and adding a few dashes of experience just to keep them cohesive.

It's when he brings the crazy to a big tournament that I take issue.

Having said the above, I'd still have Bec Cole in the 12 in a heartbeat.

Brendan showing us yet again how besotted he is with Spirit bench players. The poor bloke just can't elevate enough of them.

After watching the intra squad scrimmage at the Terrigal camp, it is clear that the back up point spot will be between Lavey and Ebzery, assuming that
Phillips and Mitchell are selected.
Ebzery won that battle, could guard Lavey and score on her as well.
Wilson probably too small for international game? Couldn't really take her and Mitchell, I would have thought?
Smell looked out of sorts and may have had her time at this level, but is a big time performer, so might not have bought in on this occasion. . Blicavs and Talbot stood out In my opinion, for what it's worth.

I would class Wilson as a combo guard and she has certainly played plenty of PG in recent years so she can do the job. Her strength really is as a scorer and not a distributor though so playing the point takes away from that.
The next closest thing I guess is Ebzery, who is a 2 guard. Followed by Snell.
Garrick & Talbot, no and no.
So it seems Wilson has definitely been picked with ball handling duties in mind.

Cayla Francis has been picked up by the Phoenix Mercury this season (as have Tess Madgen and Leilani Mitchell, which is presumably why they aren't participating either)

With the upcoming season what is everyone's predictions?

Mine is:

Breakers (too much class, amazing roster)
Blaze (looking good in a guard orientated league)
Wildcats (solid roster with no real weaknesses)
Tigers (on the decline and ageing but still will be up there)
Hawks (great young roster)
36ers (not as good as past seasons
Crocs (Will rely on homicide alot)
Taipans (too many role players for my liking)