2023 Americup ... USA Gamethread(s)

#176
#176
Experience mattered today. The well-seasoned (and very proud) Brazilian team likely didn't just come together as a team a couple of weeks ago, and they didn't have to suddenly have to adjust to playing international basketball with even a different ball since that's all they play.

Also, as poor as shooting was, it makes me suspect the team probably got on the same wavelength mentally and panicked when the Brazilian women came at them tough.

They can still come out on top, but they've got to figure out how to get and maintain focus. Gotta hope their confidence didn't take too hard a hit today. 🥹
 
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#177
#177
Not sure Reese starts tomorrow. You're not on the bayou anymore Barbie and you have to produce to get away with antics. These coaches do not seem to appreciate the antics. She bricked one of those crazy layup attempts then stayed back and argued for a call while her player broke away for a score. Came out again at that point and never went back.

Maybe AR will rally. This team, esp RJ, really needs her to contribute.
 
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#178
#178
Merica losing on the 4th of July???

giphy.gif
 
#180
#180
From the stats, Betts was incredibly efficient on both ends. She did it all.

Poor Jewel didn't really impact the game at all. Just hardly anything to show for her minutes.

Hopefully, this game will be an aberration (except for Betts).
 
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#181
#181
Game Breakdown: Jewel Spear took maybe 2 shots at the most. The thing I respect most is how she is letting the game come to her and not forcing shots or playing one on one. Not many attempts on the perimeter for the guards are being taken in rhythm. When Osborne and Spear feet are set the 3pt shots are being made. If not, the results haven’t been there.
There isn’t any flow to the offense and when the defenses are literally focused solely on Rickea Jackson and Angel Reese putbacks and layups are wide open which has benefited Betts. Betts hasn’t faced a single double team like Rickea and Reese.
Good for her and it’s great to see a young player have success after a tough season but some of the hype is definitely overstated.
Team USA will need players like Angel Reese, Jewel Spear, Laila Phelia etc to step up alongside Rickea Jackson & Charisma Osborne with the emergence of Betts to win gold.
 
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#183
#183
WinnerCircle said:
Jewel Spear took maybe 2 shots at the most. The thing I respect most is how she is letting the game come to her and not forcing shots or playing one on one. Not many attempts on the perimeter for the guards are being taken in rhythm. When Osborne and Spear feet are set the 3pt shots are being made. If not, the results haven’t been there.
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To be honest, Jewel's first 3 attempt was w feet set, and she missed it badly. Seemed to never recover from that, got a bit passive. Had a good game the day before, hopefully she bounces back today. Team desperately needs guard play.

Jewel's got some work to do on defense, but she's athletic and willing to learn, so I think she'll be OK.
WinnerCircle said:
Betts hasn’t faced a single double team like Rickea and Reese.
Click to expand...
But Betts did face the impossible length of Kamilla. She's the youngest, least experienced player on the team yet IMO the only one, along w Rickea, that continued to battle hard. I give her alot of credit for that.

I hate when Rickea is put in the only hope to score position. Makes her force play, thus the turnovers. RJ really, really needs Reese to join the team.
 
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#185
#185
The game was basically ugly guard play by the USA. 5 from 30 from the field could've been 12 for 30 or 40 percent which shouldn't be that hard and we'd been a factor in the game. The terrible free throw shooting has become a part of WCCB in the past few years. Very few players are efficient at the line. All these players had shot very well in their college careers suddenly can't make them in Mexico. Team looked a lot like Tennessee last season bad passes, missed free throws, poor shot selection. Rickea has to pass out of those double teams. I'll take her anytime one on one, but when they collapse on her she needs to get it to another player. I am benching Kelly and her 25 percent shooting for the tourney cause she is not shy to throw a bad shot up. Jewell could be doing a lot better she missed a couple yesterday and wouldn't shoot it anymore. She still has a 33.3 three point percentage for the tourney only player higher is Rickea and she hasn't took but a couple.
 
#188
#188
Does anyone have a good idea of how many actual practice hours this group had to gel as a team before heading into this competition? I know it couldn't have been that many. I mean, even if they were practicing 8 hours a day for two weeks solid -- I highly doubt that level of time was allowed for it -- it's still a tall order to look totally organized after that amount of time, especially given the fact that everything is new for everyone.
 
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#190
#190
lvocd said:
Does anyone have a good idea of how many actual practice hours this group had to gel as a team before heading into this competition? I know it couldn't have been that many. I mean, even if they were practicing 8 hours a day for two weeks solid -- I highly doubt that level of time was allowed for it -- it's still a tall order to look totally organized after that amount of time, especially given the fact that everything is new for everyone.
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They are the youngest team out there and yesterday they looked like it
Reese may be the captain, but this team's example will be Kea
Today you will see a different Kea
Count on it
 
#191
#191
Whatever practice time they had, RIckea and Jewel had less. I think they got to camp a couple of days later than everyone else due to the Europe trip.

Cuba is 1-2, beat Argentina in a close game.
 
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#192
#192
glv98 said:
Whatever practice time they had, RIckea and Jewel had less. I think they got to camp a couple of days later than everyone else due to the Europe trip.

Cuba is 1-2, beat Argentina in a close game.
Click to expand...
usa has a dent in its armor
cuba will try to exploit that
 
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#196
#196
Total beatdown today looking to get the ball inside not seeing any one on one very often. Dominating the boards think we only have something like 5 turnovers. Finally some intelligent passes. Great comeback by the team today. Cuba isn't as bad as the score they did beat Argentina were just dominating today.
 
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#197
#197
Oh my. Cuba ain't great but if we could have this Rickea on a consistent basis I'd die a happy man. By far the best player on the court in so many phases. 12 pts 4 rebs 2 ast 1 steal at halftime. Note to KJH: your mission is to make sure this happens on a consistent basis.

Good bounceback by everyone. Jewel and all the guards have pulled it together. Couldn't have played like this in the gym alone yesterday.
 
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#199
#199
Maybe they needed that awful game yesterday. These are young women who have been having good times and doing a lot of dancing and posing and feeling good about themselves. This is ALL great! They are SUPPOSED to be enjoying themselves!

That said, I wouldn't be surprised if some of the light fun they'd been having got a lot more serious after yesterday. lol
 
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#200
#200
Jumper, we were thinking the same thing. Now if they can keep what they had today going, they'll win gold!
 
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