Hoops

Opals lost to France in World Cup prepartion

I'd tell you but unfortunately they're not obvious enough for me to know about.

No Cambage, O'Hea, Bunton or Whitcomb and the Opals fall to Spain.

Spain’s experience shines through against undermanned Opals

So..
WC ending injuries for Mitchell and Mansfield.
Ohea and bunton also seem to be having issues.
Not great... very heavy scedule before the WC. About 7 games in 2 weeks...

Surprisingly china beat Japan but no team is playing there top players.
Really not a good indication of what it might be like in the tournament.

Exactly, which is not on at that level. That's why it keeps being Mitchell's spot. It's also why Ohea needed more time in the lead up. At least she gives us size on the defensive end and can run the point as well as any of our other options and better than most

Pretty good assessment. At an event like this, anything can happen. It can come down to what happens on the day.

Pretty good assessment. At an event like this, anything can happen. It can come down to what happens on the day.

We can medal.
Spain, France, Canada, Japan, Australia are after silver and bronze.

Think we have a shot at bronze.
We can beat Canada and Japan in the post. Question is can we slow them down in transition and defend the perimeter.

Spain are also undersized in the post but they have been together for so long and share the ball so well.
A much improved France will be tough. A veteran frontcourt with a youthful and exciting backcourt in epoupa and johannes.

Canada are a pretty balanced side. Good team and only getting better.

Opals were not “trouncing “ China until the second half, with Cambage out it gave them a much better pace,she really slows things down with her jog up the crt, they still some really shocking plays, too many mistakes.
O’Hea and Bunton both sitting out that game, Bunton with heavily taped lower leg, she’s way to injury prone, why do they insist on taking players who are not 100% fit .
Lavey I think has reached her peak, what you see is what you get, short bursts occasionally.
Watching the game V China and the one V Turkey no player on that team really stood out with the exception of smith , who still had some “WT” moments .

Can’t see this team doing well , but happy to be wrong , would be good to medal that’s for sure.

It was a bittersweet 24 hours for the Australian Opals just 1 week out from opening their 2018 FIBA World Cup campaign. Lauren Mansfield succumbed to injury and was replaced in side by Tessa Lavey, before going on to demolish China 84-54 in the opening game of their final warm up tournament in Spain that also features the host nation and Asian rivals Japan.

Mansfield replaced by Lavey as Opals trounce China

Lavey has potential, but no coach has gotten the best out of her.
Same goes for Clydesdale, speed to burn but restricts herself around the perimeter instead of opening up the defense. I Wish they had more confidence in attack.

Even pthough they are both in there mid 20s and still have a full cycle of asia, world and Olympic tournaments ahead, It looks asthough they will both lose out to younger prospects in the not too distant future.

It's a really versatile squad. Most players can play/defend multiple positions. The addition of Whitcomb gives some extra offense as she can create her own shot when we have that inevitable offensive breakdown.

Lavey isn't awful - she sets up on offense well and defends well. My reason for going with Mansfield is more that Lavey isn't as aggressive as she used do be- first Lynx season for example.

5'10 Ebzery/5'8 Lavey
5'10 Whitcomb/6'1 Ohea/5'11 Madgen
6'2 Allen/6'2 Talbot
6'4 George/6'4 Smith/6'4 Magbegor
6'8 Cambage/6'5 Bunton

Biggest squad by height. Average height of 6'2.

probably Ebzery will be the one who gets most minutes at pg though anyway.

Lavey back in the squad now for the injured Mansfield.

Madgen has looked quite comfortable handling the ball. Must have worked on that part of her game in the last year,

Smith will be very good. Knocking on the door of being drafted next year.

Magbegor needs a lot more development. Very late to close out and it looks as though they don't want her to use her athleticism. Standing straight up which is not her game.
We want her to block shots around the perimeter and in the post.

I'd argue that Aokuso is slightly more advanced at this time. Not as mobile but certainly more skilled, stronger, better perimeter shooter atm. Another player we will see a lot of in the next few years.

Bunton too looking very fit and mobile. Tolo getting to the Olympics is not a sure thing if alex keeps improving.

I think Smith with a season or two as a pro will be really good. Just needs to learn not to make thise silly frustration mistakes

Sorry livebasketball.tv

Just fox or livebasketball.com

any of the actual WC games getting shown on fta or just fox?

I'd say Goriss and chambers made the call.
Hurst, Wilson, Donnelly and even 18 y.o Conti are ahead of Lavey imo.

Mansfield should never have been there to begin with , she was injured all SEABL season so was a risk, but Lavey doesn’t help , watched the game V Turkey , it’s a shocking selection they have made, thought Brondello was a good coach ??????

Probably 4 better pg options that weren't on the 20 women list.

Brought in because of familiarity with the system....

OFFS! We're screwed

Omg, Mansfield injured.

Lavey flying over. Lavey!

Big test for Liz with 2 girls her size.

Starts at 6 now I believe.

Awesome ^^ thanks for posting. Am getting very excited about the world champs. Go Opals!

Aus in four nations tournament before WC.
Aus, jap, esp, chn

China v aus at 5.30 pm today.

http://www.canalfeb.tv/video/china-vs-australia/19415

Bunton, Mansfield, Ohea and magbegor need more gametime in the lead up.

Little odd having Cambage on the perimeter for the first qtr shooting 3s.
Maybe trying to limit foul trouble. Who knows...

Liz Cambage suited up and played for the first time in an exhibition game on tour as the Opals took care of Turkey 73-56 in the build up to the 2018 FIBA World Cup that tips off in Tenerife, Spain in a little over a week.

Cambage was devastating. The same day she was named All-WNBA First Team, the 6’8 centre amassed 23 points and 8 rebounds in leading the Opals to victory.

Cambage suits up as Opals take care of Turkey

Game against turkey.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jxcwYB-uYoA

Starting 5...
5'10 Ebzery PG
5'10 Whitcomb SG
6'2 Allen SF
6'4 George
6'8 Cambage C

Off the bench...
5'7 Mansfield PG
6'1 Ohea SG
6'2 Talbot SF
6'4 Smith PF
6'5 Bunton C

Limited minutes...
5'11 Madgen SG
6'4 Magbegor PF/C

Whitcomb is the best addition we could have had lol.
We have no one else better at the guard spot who is currently 100% fit.

""Looks asthough brondello received a piece of paper with 20 names on it and just chosen the players she is most familiar with.""

think you might be correct, and I doubt Whitcomb will be a good addition at all

Watching Garrick the other night, would have been a much better option than madgen.
Stroking it from 3 and playing good defense.

Anyone got a replay of these games?

much more betterer not starting smith after her shocker last game ....

Team is now...

Ebzery/Mansfield
Whitcomb/Ohea/Madgen
Allen/Talbot
George/Magbegor/Smith
Cambage/Bunton

Whitcomb in for Mitchell due to injury.

Australia have accounted for Latvia 77-70 in Paris as their preparations continue to build ahead of the 2018 FIBA World Cup for Women tipping off on 22 September in Tenerife, Spain.

The Opals bounced back from their difficult opening tour loss to world number three France, finishing strongly with a 27-19 final term to record a 7 point win. With Liz Cambage not suiting up for the second straight game, Alex Bunton grasped her opportunity to compile an impressive double-double, compiling 15 points and 14 rebounds as one of three Opals to score in double figure

Opals bounce back to edge Latvia in Paris

77-70 win vs Latvia.

Much different opponent going from Argentina to France though.

sad to read smith in minus , why griffin went double double most of the time....
big difference there...

Stop putting Donnelly in the conversation at PG! She is nowhere near it, Hurst and Wilson should be in over Madgen

Looks asthough brondello received a piece of paper with 20 names on it and just chosen the players she is most familiar with.

Madgen has been pretty woeful in her come back at seabl level. Did not deserve a recall after those recent international friendlies.
Mitchell has not had a great season at the Mercury.
Mansfield could barely bring the ball over half court against France.

Other options were available.
Could have had Whitcomb at sg + one/two of
Hurst- 24/12/6 QBL
Wilson- 15/6/12 SEABL
Donnelly- 17/7/8 QBL
as a back up pg to ebzery who has been running point a lot lately.

Seriously, how did Madgen make this squad?


Agreed

This is not a good squad at all