A tribute to The Opals

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

This thread is dedicated to the Opals, the female Australian basketball team which has been consistently excellent for 8 years. They got silver in Sydney and Athens, gold at the 2006 Worlds, and look very strong again in Beijing.

The Opals consists of Australian players who have played all over the world, many in the WNBA, and their style of play is hard-nosed, solid, fundamental (Spurs-style) basketball featuring suffocating defense with fast rotations, and pinpoint cutting/passing for points in the paint time and again. They are also legitimately deep with talent on the bench that doesn't wilt under pressure. I actually enjoy watching them play so much that I go out of my way to do it, and that is a rare conjunction between me and women's basketball.

And then there's Lauren Jackson. She is to the women's game what Tim Duncan is to the men's. Don't believe me, have a look at what she has done in the WNBA (remember that women's stats are generally lower than men's):

http://www.wnba.com/playerfile/lauren_jackson/career_stats.html

Check out 2007:

23.8/9.7 with 2 blocks, 1 steal, 1 assist, at 51.9/40.2/88.3!

LJ can do EVERYTHING on the court at 6'5", and is clutch as fuck to boot. She has won at every level she has played except the Olympics (two silver medals), MVPs of (I think) 5 or 6 leagues (2 WNBA). She once came back to Australia late in the season and singlehandly took her 6th-seeded Canberra Capitals all the way to the trophy in a tough women's league, probably 2nd best in the world. In the women's game, she is like Hakeem in the post and DRob on the break, plus 3pt range - truly awesome.

Oh, and don't worry, she hasn't even woken up yet during this Olympics, except for the last 2 minutes of the Brazil game when she nonchalantly knocked down two pretty low post moves and a blocked shot to take the game from 8 out to 12 and let those Brazilian bitches know who's boss! They folded after that.

Oh, and I think she's a spectacular woman.

:tu

Here's to you, LJ. If you ever change your mind about men, let me know.

:D :lmao

Also playing very well so far this Olympics:

Kristi Harrower - a solid-as-fuck PG. Makes few mistakes, has long range, great steal gambler, leads the team with utter poise and determination.

Penny Taylor - 2 steals to end the 2nd Q the other day caused a 7 pt turnaround. Does everything well.

Laura Summerton - stepping up like never before during this tournament. Provided the scoring punch the team needed against Brazil when LJ and SB were in foul trouble. great all-rounder.

Suzie Batkovic - big, but deceptively good on the drive and from 3. Great help defender. A revelation for me - never seen her play this well before.

Anyone else love The Opals?

[Bruno]

I've watched the Brasil/Australia game and it was damn horrible to watch.
When players can't make consistently open layups, basketball becomes way less interesting to follow.

I've liked Harrower in this game. She is very small but is a very solid player.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Bruno, that game was refereed terribly. The Brazilians were hacking the shit out of the Opals, and flopping, for all of the 2nd and most of the 3rd quarter, and it put the Opals' game off. LJ and Batkovic were also in foul trouble. But the Opals showed their class at the end.

Tonight's demolition of Korea was pretty to watch - no missed layups in that game! See if you can find it to watch. Also, a couple of those Koreans can really shoot from deep.

My recommendation - the Opals only showed their true form in flashes before tonight, but they are improving. If only the refs weren't so horrific (I hate the way the games are being called in general - LET THEM PLAY, and call the rough stuff, not the ticky tack shit!), they'd have been more dominant. Give them another chance. ;)

[mrspurs]

im probably gonna get shot but, 7th grade girls basketball and the wnba aint far apart.

[koriwhat]

im probably gonna get shot but, 7th grade girls basketball and the wnba aint far apart.

i agree.

[T Park]

lauren Jackson is a lesbian??

[ThunderStix®]

lauren Jackson is a lesbian??

[mystargtr34]

Now if they would only get rid of those ridiculous outfits. how bout getting some real basketball clothing, some proper shorts and singlet.

Girls basketball is crazy popular here now, i think they would sell heaps of those Jackson and Taylor jerseys.... instead no ones gonna go out dressed like their going to the beach.

Actually, people dont even wear that to the beach.

On to the point, i think this could be the year we get the gold.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

lauren Jackson is a lesbian??

Unfortunately, yes... :depressed

mystargtr34 - I think we might win the gold this year too. The team looks very poised, and once Jackson hits some form they'll be very tough to beat.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Bump.

C'mon Aussies, show your love for our girls!

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

Jackson is killing it right now, 28pts (10/18fg including 5/10 from 3). Latvia is toast :lol

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

LJ is my girl! SHe has awoken, and after that killer second half against Russia yesterday, the Opals have shown they'll take the US all the way this year. They are a tough, poised bunch.

GO OPALS!!!

And strike me awry if the BOOMERS haven't found some heart and some balls and remembered how to play basketball again! They are destroying Latvia, and Bogut is having a blinder at both ends - he's schooled Javtokas. Yee-haw!!! Enjoy it while it lasts... :lol

[MI21]

I'm loving Australia basketball at the moment :)

[TDMVPDPOY]

what are the females fg% 3pt% ft% compared to the mens?

[MI21]

The men don't miss now.

:lol

[TDMVPDPOY]

dude aussie womens hockey team has a few babes on the team

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Anyone find a link to the Aus v Russia women's game? I've looked and looked but it is the one game they don't have on yahoo7, and sites in other countries won't work for me...

[KidCongo]

dude aussie womens hockey team has a few babes on the team

Hollywood is sexy.

[MrChug]

I just wanna give it up (figuratively and literally) for the Aussie's outfits. There are some BEAUTIFUL Aussie women man...on the one team in the one sport where you'd expect most of the Sheila's look like Blokes!

[samikeyp]

So what is with the yellow and green uni's? I see that on all the Aussie gear...is that a national team thing? Just curious. :toast

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Yup, green and gold are our sporting colours - from the wattle tree which is the national floral emblem.

Why the hell the opening cermony uniforms were blue and silver none of us over here can work out! :lol

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Quarter final versus the Czechs tonight. I know nothing about them, but I'll say Opals by 17.

[TDMVPDPOY]

Quarter final versus the Czechs tonight. I know nothing about them, but I'll say Opals by 17.

all i know is as a country they got some fine female pornstars :D:D:D

[mystargtr34]

Hahah yea Czechs do alrite.

Hey Ruff you heard the Aussie coach from Atlanta and Sydeny is coachign China, and also Michelle Timms is the Ass. Coach there... were probly gonna play em in the semis.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Yeah, that should be interesting, but I think Jan Sterling is doing a great job. She has this team totally, unshakeably believing in each other, and that's all she needs to do with a group like this.

No doubt the Chinese will hack and flop (ala Brazil) under orders from Timms, who is a little win-at-all-costs 'ho (and fair enough too), but we'll tough it out and do those Chinese like they deserve it.

It would be a worry that Taylor may be gone for good (ankle), except that Summerton, Snell and Cox are all playing so well, and the bench goes 10 deep.

GO OPALS!

[TDMVPDPOY]

dude we are not going to win if the officials are on the chinese teams fukn payroll....

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

dude we are not going to win if the officials are on the chinese teams fukn payroll....

The officials are international. Although I think the quality of officiating has been atrocious, I don't think they have been biased, just incompetent. The Chinese will try to play us physically, I just hope the refs call the game properly and pull them up for their hacking and flopping.

[MI21]

Good lord, did anybody see the state of the lady/thing/it for China, the leading scorer in the tournament? Her name was Miao I think, pronounced Meow. Made the game hard to watch! :lol

Anyway, Go Opals!

[baseline bum]

Now if they would only get rid of those ridiculous outfits. how bout getting some real basketball clothing, some proper shorts and singlet.


Are you fucking gay? That's the best part of their games. A couple of them got ass.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Are you fucking gay? That's the best part of their games. A couple of them got ass.

Damn straight they do. I'd nail LJ, Grima or Summerton any time. :)

If the Opals can keep the US off the boards they will win. They are as good a defensive team, but not as tall, and they can score about as well as the US too.

I predict an upset, Opals by 4.

What are the odds?

[MI21]

Damn straight they do. I'd nail LJ, Grima or Summerton any time. :)

If the Opals can keep the US off the boards they will win. They are as good a defensive team, but not as tall, and they can score about as well as the US too.

I predict an upset, Opals by 4.

What are the odds?

No doubt, a few of those Opals aren't to shabby. The fact that I could ball against them is cool too :tu

[TDMVPDPOY]

opals uniforms is the reason im even watchin that shit :D:D

as compared to the normal unis the females wear....look like men playin.....

show us ur curves

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Midnight showdown.

Taylor will play.

BRING IT ON.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Here we go! Keys for the Opals - take care of the ball, keep the US off the boards, Snell/Summerton/Harrower/Batkovic need to score if the US double team LJ, and with your patented tough-nosed defence YOU WILL WIN!

Go Opals!!!

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Opals in a bit of trouble after good comeback by US in late 1st.

Biggest problem, as I knew it would be, is the boards. US are much taller at every position bar centre, and Opals not blocking out.

Also, LJ has to show some offensive fire, and batkovic needs to settle down and get to the line.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Why did it take them 1 1/2 quarters to get the ball to LJ inside!? :pctoss

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Dammit, the shots just won't fall! Gotta get it inot single digits by the half.

And dammit, LJ, ASSERT YOURSELF! Snell has been our best so far.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Much better LJ, keep attacking their bigs - you are better than all of them!

I predict a huge 2nd half from LJ.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Shit.

They are getting open shots and missing... shooting 20%. It's a miracle they're not down 25. Fucking Spurs-like scoring drought. Tightened up on the boards though - up 20-19 at the half. Just gotta hit a few shots and we have a game.

The US must be 4-6 inches taller at most positions. Hard to counter that.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

US playing much better than against China, and sharing the ball well - leading assists 10-2, shooting 63%.

C'MON OPALS, go on a run and make it a game!

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

BAtkovic has played her worst game of the tournament. Quick against other teams, she's slow against these US girls.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

GET IT TO LJ!!!

:pctoss

Taylor playing very well with that ankle.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

LJ with 11/3 in the quarter, but now they can't seem to get a stop.

C'MON OPALS!!!

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

US height and length has really bothered the Opals - they've been shooting high and strong when close to the rim all night, and that's because they're worried about shotblocking.

You can get away with having forwards who are 5'8" or 5'10" against other teams, but not the US.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

14/55... ouch. Credit to the US defence, but they've also had one of those nights where they can't buy a bounce. Terrible freakin shooting.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

FUCK!

Got it down to 13, US looked panicked, then missed 2 wide open looks around 2 stops that would've cut the lead to 8.

US makes 4 subs, Bird and Leslie score 3 straight times while Australia miss, game over. Pity.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Batkovic now 3/14, Harrower 1/8, Taylor 1/6, Cox 1/5. LJ and Snell are the only ones who showed up. And the D was probably the worst I've seen all tournament - many missed rotations!

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

All credit to the US who saved their best for last. They are a very disciplined and talented team. Their starting 5 are incredible.

Bad luck Opals, close but no cigar. Still loved watching you though, and you can walk with your heads high because you played one hell of an Olympics.

[exstatic]

Yup, green and gold are our sporting colours - from the wattle tree which is the national floral emblem.

Must be confusing if you play Brasil. :lol