Hoops

Opals squad announced

Are we too slow for this tournament?

Snell, hodges, Griffin, Tolo etc aren't exactly quick.

What's the deal with O'Hea, surely she would be a better replacement than Kunek, both play the same position it's not like they have replaced Bishops and Bunton with like for like

^ I agree with the above about Louella being a better replacement for Bunton. Maybe not as big, but I'm guessing that doesn't matter quite so much against most Asian teams. She's at home playing the 5, and can also step out and hit some shots.

Now we've only got one true centre on the team. I really don't think that's wise.

Mijovic needs to learn how to play defense before she can make an Opals squad

Not surprised Kunek got the nod, but very, very surprised Smith was chosen as she only attended the last few days of camp. I'd have thought Mijovic or Tomlinson would be better suited, at least in terms of taking some backing C minutes.

Very unfortunate for Bishop and Bunton though, hopefully they get themselves better asap

Opals squad changes


"Abby Bishop and Alex Bunton have undergone MRI scans and concerns with Bishop’s ankle and Bunton’s knee will see them require corrective surgery instead of travelling with the Opals to India.
...
As their replacements, Alanna Smith will make her debut with the Opals while Alice Kunek, a FIBA Oceania gold medallist in 2015, will again represent the national team."

http://basketball.net.au/injuries-force-alterations-to-opals-team-ahead-of-fiba-asia-cup/

No point, BA are duds. BA needs a do over. Start from there.

The netball Diamonds choose players that are in form and not on reputation. Diamonds coach attends many Super league games and views tape of others she can't get to so that she can accurately determine who is playing well.
Netball is absolutely shredding womens basketball , just look at the news media, crowds, TV deals etc etc,
As I have said before head hunt Netball administrators that have the knowledge and proven track record bring Womens basketball out of the dark place it is at the moment.

agree totally with Melb Fan, so many players would find it a total honour to be asked to represent their country and this new wave of Opals seem to think its their god given right and they are doing the country a favour with gracing the camps with their presence.

baring injury or illness or commitments for basketball you cannot get out of, then no excuse should be acceptable. commit or allow others to take your place, give those that want the opportunity the chance.

But BA seem to make huge allowances for some players in all ages, they are renowned for taking injured players away on the tours just in case they are ready by the competition date. Its happening again this time for un19s apparently, instead of calling in the emergencies they take a player on the off chance their injury will be right by worlds, very very wrong IMO.

For all Joyces faults he did discount players who refused to make themselves available and called in emergencies when required

BA need a huge shake up.

It's Cambages choice as to what she does, if she doesn't want to play move on. Just say if she's wants in or out then don't worry about her again.
On a side note now Taurasi is married to an Australian can she switch sides(no pun intended) and play for Australia even though she has represented USA.

Bombarce - На здоровье !

Good point. It should apply to all of them.

^ agreed. Liz is far from the only player to pick and choose her Opals commitments even when there aren't other basketball commitments.

yet people are cool when batkovic does exactly the same thing and makes herself available only in olympic years

Pathetic that Liz chooses when to play. Suspend her until she gets back on the right track.

^ agreed.....its always ALL about Liz.....you really have to aks is she really needed?,my answer would be NO

"Virtually the same team came 3rd at the WC minus Liz, which makes me question whether the team would work better without her"

Yes, back then. At least when Taylor was playing, now, most definitely not. The Rio Opals did their best game against France when Cambage was out due to fouls and Taylor played her natural game, getting herself involved and, because of how Taylor plays, getting others involved as well. The Cambage Game is all Liz and nothing else.

Agree Camvage could be one of the greats of women's basketball if she tried, but she is far from the worlds best now and has yet to prove she ever was, she's just one of the worlds tallest , just because your tall does NOT mean your good
She is always unfit, can't or won't run, has s terrible attitude on and off the court , and she may be able to dunk the ball but it takes more than that to be the world best , wouldn't insult those that are by putting her in with them

cambage is already one of the best players in the world even though she doesn't give a bleep. she could have been the best but she can't be bothered and years later some people are still in denial about it. take her or leave her but ffs stop expecting her to change she is not going to.

"Noticed on the press release it has Alex Bunton as ENG as her nationality, does that mean she's taken the one "naturalised" player spot."


You didn't also notice that Griffin says "USA"??

George is very ordinary but Magbegor is a long way off being ready, and yet to be seen whether she ever will be. Being ok at SEABL level in your 3rd season is hardly compelling form for a national senior team.

Noticed on the press release it has Alex Bunton as ENG as her nationality, does that mean she's taken the one "naturalised" player spot.

omen's Asia Cup Team:

4 Lavey Tessa Swan Hill AUS
5 Bunton Alexandra Lincoln ENG
6 Mansfield Lauren Elizabeth Vale AUS
7 Garrick Madeleine Shepparton AUS
8 Blicavs Stephanie Dandenong AUS
9 Griffin Kelsey Anchorage USA
10 Ebzery Katie Noble Park AUS
11 Hodges Laura Ashford AUS
12 Snell Belinda Mirboo North AUS
13 Bishop Abby Booleroo Centre AUS
14 Tolo Marianna Mackay AUS
15 Blicavs Sara Melbourne AUS

So the BA appointed assistant coaches who are supposed to take the reins when the head coach can't, have been shoved out the way by two coaches the absent head coach prefers.

It's actually become a comedy act , what the hell is happening in BA/Opals, think it's time Sterling was moved on, along with a few others.

Cambage should be dropped permanently, only excuse for not attending or making yourself available is injury or illness, and that includes those playing WNBA.

The USA players are always able to make their commitments because the WNBA allow for that, but won't fit other countries schedules in

Same as allowing players to attend just two days because their college won't let them go, or slotting in a replacement who was never even in the squad when those already listed should have been called upon.

Holding camps overseas, costing huge amounts from a budget already struggling, so a coach who's going to be unavailable can attend, Christ the WNBA team she coaches was on a break hence why they could use the facilities, so why the hell could they not just fly her over.

Absolute circus

I feel you. I have so many funny NBL/Ausbball references to use but they wouldn't work in day to day life because of public ignorance of it. :(

Lol 'better than Joyce' needs to work it's way into my everyday conversational banter. Unfortunately I'm limited in the number of folks who'd get it.

He's better than Joyce.

The "husband" who underachieves with a stacked Russian team in EuroLeague being the "brains" of the "coaching tandem" doesnt leave me with heaps of optimism.

The "husband" you speak of is the brains behind their coaching tandem.

It sounds to me like Brondello is unable to make it to India, so she brought in 2 people who know her system back to front.

It sounds like Brondello thought so little of Chambers/Gorris being able to coach this team she brought in her husband and a friend with virtually zero coaching experience.

That's why I think we should be looking to the future and not relying on veterans.

No player above 30 should be chosen. Only have to make top 4 to qualify for worlds.

At least we attempted to pick the best available Head coach this time, as opposed to appointing ( essentially) the only one who was prepared to move and live where BA wanted them to.

I don't know if we will do better than the last two under-performing (IMHO) head coaches, because we don't have the same exceptional caliber of players peaking as we had then, but just challenging for a medal in both WC and O's for the next 6 years would be appreciated and a step up. That is, I hope that this coaching group helps the team perform well as opposed to holding them back like the last two lots, I'll be very happy

How about we just pick our best possible team & worry about where we finish after that? Picking players based on who we may or may not be able to beat is fraught with danger. Recent history has shown us that.

No, what is not a great attitude is constructing a team for the specific purpose of beating the USA, and then not advancing anywhere close to them in the tournament.
Aiming for the best is exactly what we should be doing. As in, aiming for our best possible result, as opposed to aiming to win one particular match (and then not having a clue how to even do that)

Starting 5

Mansfield
Whitcomb
Talbot
Blicavs
Cambage

Lol, don't aim for the best...

Not a great attitude.

And yes, I fully agree that the obsession with the USA needs to stop. We are nowhere near them right now, and need to focus on beating the beatable teams.

Her D hasn't improved, and this season she's not hitting her shots either unfortunately, so Phoenix recently picked up Angel Robinson as a free agent. Cayla didn't even hit the floor in yesterday's game.

Bec Allen is having a disappointing season too.

Mitchell & Whitcomb are earning their keep, and Steph Talbot is doing very nicely - holding her starting spot all season despite the Mercury recently adding Mo Currie to the roster.

There's no point even worrying about Team USA if we don't get out of the quarters. That was Joyce's theory by picking Burton as well. The reality is, George is a long way advanced of Magbegor right here and right now. Magbegor has the potential to be a world class player, but she's not in our best 12 as we speak.

George can simply not keep in front of the likes of Parker, della Donne or ogwumike.

I'm not joking. Much more mobile than George, her length will cause problems on the defensive end and she can beat her man off the dribble.

George is obviously more of a perimeter threat wth her shooting ability but she is currently playing center behind Griner and on occasion pf.

The international game is much faster and we will already have Cambage, Tolo, (batkovic or Bunton as centre options).

Mitchell
Mansfield
Allen
Ebzery
Cumming
O'Hea
Blicavs
George
Bishop
Tolo
Batkovic
Cambage

Magbegor over George. Ok mate. Jog on!

I'm guessing batkovic is done at 36-37 and Yeah I would take Magbegor over George.

Not to mention Bunton & Magbegor over George & Batkovic!?! Bahahah

So you think Whitcomb is more value than Mitchell?

I'm not saying best available. best possible team we can put together....

You can add Talbot to that list too!

Whitcomb & Allen both play in the WNBA & so aren't available & Liz is too busy at Glastonbury!

Best squad possible?

5'7 L.Mansfield
5'8 T.Lavey or 5'10 A.Clydesdale
5'10 K.Ebzery
5'10 S.Whitcomb
5'11 S.Blicavs(Cumming)
6'2 R.Allen
6'2 S.Blicavs
6'2 S.Talbot
6'4 E.Magbegor
6'5 M.Tolo
6'5 A.Bunton
6'8 E.Cambage