Hoops

Early Opals squad prediction.

Mitchell looking to cement her spot in the opals with some really nice performances in the WNBA finals.

Tolo and Burton

Who was playing when Cambage was on the bench?

^ agreed

"Did you watch the games? Australia had no inside presence when Cambage sat..."

Their best game, by leaps and bounds, was against France.... when Cambage sat with foul trouble.

3rd string team In the age bracket or opals in general?

Yep amazing and sad.

The uni games team is a bollocks reference point as we sent a 3rd string team. Amazed by the idiotic pontificatiing going on here.

No I rate Clydesdale you mong

3 guard lineups with small pfs who can play on the perimeter drawing the defense out and opening up space for the centres to work.

Smith can come in at pf to go bigger and Blicavs and Talbot can be pushed back to sf.


5'11 Wallace
5'10 Whitcomb
5'11 Cumming
6'2 Blicavs
6'8 Cambage

5'7 Mansfield
5'10 Ebzery
5'11 Garrick
6'2 Talbot
6'5 Tolo

6'4 Smith
6'5 Bunton

it's a chess match.

We go with size, they go with speed.
Our height helps us on offense but it works against us on defense (depending on what teams we face.)

Just watch the uni games semi final and final.
Our bigs dominated on offense and rebounds but they ran rings around us at the other end.
6'5 on 5'11 and 6'3 on 5'11.

We can go big which has its advantages and disadvantages
We can match them and go small and quick.
We can take both big and slow and small and quick.

But ultimately we are looking for a mix of size and speed with the ability to shoot, dribble, rebound and block shots. Unfortunately few players have this skill set.
Basically someone like candace Parker.

Ahhhh, #Anon548 we can agree on getting rid of the ageing tweeners, but have a read back through this thread, it encourages playing a raft of new ones so we can compete in Asia.

We can disagree on Batkovic saving the Opals in Rio. Did you watch the games? Australia had no inside presence when Cambage sat, Batkovic would have been perfect in that role, and struggled again to keep the scoreboard ticking over. Whether you like her or not, Batkovic knows how to score.

Australia looked much more dangerous in Rio when Tolo was playing alongside Cambage and we weren't playing small ball.

Now all of a sudden, we need to get rid of one of our strengths and go with undersized forwards. Cmon

"Thanks Brendan. I guess that's why we took Burton to Rio and left Batkovic home because of 'international play' and we could challenge the U.S only to get bounced in the QFs. Let's pick the best athletes and not the best basketballers again."

That has nothing at all to do with incomprehensibly sticking with aging tweeners who have years of resume fodder not being able to play at the international level still making the side. Burton won't make it either, since that's your only go-to reply to the need to drop these players.

You're also out of your mind if you think taking Batkovic was going to save from that Opal's Rio implosion.

Look Batkovic isn't blameless in this either. She took herself out of Opals consideration for everything BUT the Olympics. Opals aren't heads above everyone else for second best in the world anymore. Mighn't even medal in 2018, it's up for grabs. BA and Brondello need to rebuild a culture where everyone buys in for everything (usual caveat of previous professional basketball committments). No more skipping tournaments you don't feel worthy of your time, no more naming captains who skip training camps when they aren't playing elsewhere, cut out Liz's dramatics.

Our u16 camp of 18 players will be reduced down to the final 12 this week.

In comparison, The Japanese chosen roster has been together since April and have already had 6 training sessions together.

6 months prep for Japan.
1 month for Australia.

Looks like a bunch of fast 'midgets' again with the tallest player being 6'0.

^ and to top it all off, Japan has a coach actually in Japan.

^ yes spot on

Japan hold camps multiple times every year for senior women which creates competition to keep your spot. Not just juniors go to camps for identification.
They put emphasis on dribbling, passing and shooting as they have very few post players that are big enough to impact the game under the basket.
They also all play in the same league and know each other very well And so gel together. Easier to get players together to train when there all located in one small country bar one player.

We don't put development in ball handling or passing.
The smaller private training programs are where the best handlers come from.

That's a great question hoopie,
This is where BA should be having invitational camps through the year to look at these players . See their skill sets , those in college should not be judged on their stat line , as the difference between conferences can be huge, plus the position on teams also , Alex Sharp is a perfect example , plays for Wake Forest, they are in a good conference but the team as a whole struggles , she took out MVP because she was the best on her entire team , that got her to uni games yet she barely took to the crt
Panousis the same scenario ( minus MVP)
Unless BA put these college players up against those who chose to stay here then they really can't get a true indication of where they are at and what is lacking and needs working on

Instead of having kids up at the institute full time the cost involved in that could be better spent working with a much larger pool of players throughout the year IMO

So, without knowing all the players, I get the feeling that we have lots of good PGs but no outstanding ones and none immediately apparent.
We can't get them competing against each other regularly in the hope that one or two will excel, because everyone is scattered around the globe and they all play under very different philosophies and conditions.

So what is the best way to elevate our PGs from good to great? The CoE no longer delivers the goods as it seems to focus more on athletic ability than skills, the NCAA path will only be as good as the program allowing them to blossom, and the WNBL is too preoccupied with survival to spend time on improving individuals for the good of the country.

How do Europe and Japan produce such talented players? What can we learn from them?

Nakkasoglu ultimately wasn't chosen for the Turkish side last year.
This years eurobasket team had 2 young pgs behind Alben.

I'm not sure she can make either international side now.

Yes pick and roll had an article in 2016 stating she had switched allegiance


"This decision does not completely close the door on future Australian selection for Nakkasoglu, as she is yet to play a competitive fixture for Turkey. However if the Victorian is selected for the Olympic squad or in any other competitive fixtures, it will mean that she could no longer represent Australia.

Nakkasoglu however, has a realistic view of her future Opals chances if she does stick with Australia.

“Regarding the chances of playing for Australia in the future, all I can say is the history suggests the possibility is slim. I have not even been called to any junior Australian camps,” Nakkasoglu pointed out.

“So, while it would be great to play for Australia one day, I need to take the opportunity to experience playing at a national level for my other country.”....."

I'm pretty sure F.Nakkasoglu can't play for Aus as she has played with Turkey recently.

Antoniadou didn't really get a good chance at Florida state either. Not sure why she chose that program with the elite guards in front of her.
Hopefully gets more minutes.

Mangakahia is the real unknown.
Left for junior college and was rated number 1 pg in juco. I think she was injured last season and signed with a rebuilding Syracuse program this season.
Not sure if she'll see gametime as a sophomore but it'll be interesting to see if her ranking proves true at the next level. NCAA div 1?

Nakkasoglu just can't defend. Now, being in a much better conference will definitely slow her point production.

Brewster is very well rounded. Possibly a backup or 3rd string sg for the opals in time.

Yaeger, not sure she'll get many minutes behind Ionescu and bando.

"'m in the camp of folks who don't think the NCAA system develops talent all that well so I'm curious to see how our American collegiate players turn out this cycle."

Yep agreed on that, Wallace and Smith were standout players before college, Smith has gained poise that's what's changed her game and brought it to the next level, wether it will continue to climb one can only hope, but she is certainly one for the future Opals for many years to come, but is that poise down to the college system , maturity , having to earn her spot or just being coached by someone other than her dad? She's my pick though of the ones to look towards for the future of the game

Wallace for me her game has gone a little backward if anything ,her ball handling has not improved considering she's running point at Baylor, that being said she is still a fabulous player with a bright future

Mangakahia, Nakkasoglu, Brewster, and Yeager were never on the same level as those mentioned , and cannot see the NCAA system improving their game one bit, and don't go by current stats as there are so many vairiables to consider, mainly the comp they play in and against.

Antoniadou is a hard one, so much potential and you can clearly see that when she actually gets the chance to get on the court, her biggest stumbling block is she has always played behind older elite guards at Dandenong, she was never going to take minutes away from Clydesdale and Toddhunter, but on the upside out of all of them she has and does work with some of the best PGs we have had in the Aussie system for a longtime now being one of the few constants in the Rangers stable.
I think given the opportunity to actually hit the floor she may well be the surprise package, but she's going to need that break sooner or later and not sure she will get that at Rangers.

So much talent floating around though , I think the Opals will always be a contender for challenging the rest of the world, but I think BA needs to step up its game and extend that elite pool they tend to stick with and they may just uncover a few more Gems.

The ones to watch at college this year are

Smith-Stanford (Jnr)
Wallace-Baylor (Snr)
Horvat-UCLA (Fresh)
Bibby-Mississipi State (Fresh)
Maley-Oregon (Fresh)
Yaeger-Oregon (Soph)
Froling-SMU (Snr)
Sharp-Wake Forest (Soph)
Mangakahia-Syracuse (Soph)
Brewster-Utah State (Jnr)
Nakkasoglu-Florida (Jnr)

Smith and Wallace have turned out pretty well.
Both knocking on the door for worlds.

I'm in the camp of folks who don't think the NCAA system develops talent all that well so I'm curious to see how our American collegiate players turn out this cycle.

Of the young ones.
Wallace, Wehrung, Clydesdale, Mangakahia would be my top 4 to trial/develop over the next 4-5 years.

Panousis, Nakkasoglu, Reid, Antoniadou I don't see making the next step.


Another few years and we shall see what
Rocci, Conti, Elsworthy, Tessari can do.
Also a whole bunch of 00 and 01 athletes but they won't enter the fray until 2024 and beyond.

Tupuea, Wallace,Wherung,Seekamp,Madgen, Ebzery and Romeo are more suited to the SG position,
Take out Reid,Mangakahia, Nakkasoglu and Panousis none will make that level
And that leaves only 8 potential true PGs, out of those 8 you have 2 close to retirement age, 2 almost 30yrs old, leaving 4 between the ages of 24 and 20.
With one of those already having a number of knee recos , so not as many as it seems

Pgs that is...

Take your pick...

Listed pretty much every vet, fringe player and young prospect.
(None younger than 97 / 20y.o)


5'5 Hurst 83 - Canberra
5'5 Mitchell 85 - Phoenix
5'6 Toddhunter 88 - Dandenong
5'7 Mansfield 89 - Overseas
5'7 Romeo 89 - Overseas
5'10 Ebzery 90 - Sydney
5'11 Madgen 90 - Overseas
5'10 Cole 92 - Melbourne
5'10 Seekamp 92 - Adelaide
5'8 Lavey 93 - Dandenong
5'10 Clydesdale 93 - Adelaide
5'7 Panousis 95 - Adelaide
5'10 Wehrung 95 - Canberra
5'7 Nakkasoglu 95 - Florida
5'6 Mangakahia 95 - Syracuse
5'6 Reid 96 - Buffalo
5'10 Antoniadou 96 - Dandenong
5'11 Wallace 96 - Baylor
5'9 Tupaea 97 - Sydney

"Agreed - George was hopeless playing at the 4 next to Batkovic in Townsville in those championship wins. Think she finished second in the league MVP one year & led the WNBL in rebounding the next year. But she was putrid."

Good thing international competition is so much more like the WNBL than the WNBA or her play in Rio. Those WNBL accolades will serve so well in Spain next year!

This one person who's so,anti Clydesdale, God your a sorry sack of ever their was,

She actually got as much chance and probably more potential than most of those suggested

Uni games showed that.

Clydesdale = no deal

"Hurst got anything left in her? An outside chance?"

a real chance I reckon considering who the coach is. might not be the worst pick either it's not like there is great competition at that spot. she is playing wnbl this season right? so we will see how she stacks up against the elite point guards like clydesdale

"Not sure why she hasn't made the transition to netball as gs or gk and made some $$$$$"

presumably because she can't shoot and can't defend

Hurst got anything left in her? An outside chance?

Wallace > Wehrung > Clydesdale > Lavey

"Clydesdale is a must"

Thanks Mum

Clydesdale is a must

Sure.. she has speed, length and height which we want.

But
Not a great defender
Not a great rebounder
Not a scorer
Can't shoot

Not sure why she hasn't made the transition to netball as gs or gk and made some $$$$$

That's not funny it's hilarious lol

Funny..

Let's go with Burton again then

Wnbl mate...
International game much quicker.

Agreed - George was hopeless playing at the 4 next to Batkovic in Townsville in those championship wins. Think she finished second in the league MVP one year & led the WNBL in rebounding the next year. But she was putrid.

The two-man game you speak of is actually Olaf's system not "her's". So she doesn't even have her own system just using her husband's.

George was never effective at the 4, nor was Hodges... and I expect both will go to World Cup.

Brondello has never coached anything but her two-man game, and seeing as we need her husband to coach instead of the BA appointed assistants because her system is so important, I can't see there being anything else besides her two-man game.

The post players for u16s shouldn't be your traditional big 6'3-6'4 5s that stand under the basket.
Should be going slightly smaller. 6'2+ mobile/agile pfs are the ones needed in Asia.


Same at senior level.
George and Tolo will no longer be effective at the 4.

Smaller quicker forwards who can stretch the floor and handle the ball a bit are the way to go. Blicavs and Griffin Etc.
The guards also need to be much quicker and be better defensively.