Dein erstes Forum » Christian Ponder will get another chance to prove

With most teams, if you want to discern any potential weak spots, you look at their recent losses. You see if anything in particular caused the team trouble, and whether its a pattern.But this is not the case with the U.S. womens basketball team. There is very little data to analyze in regard to the Americans losing. In fact, you could almost say there was no relevant data at all, because theyve lost only one game in two decades, and that was 10 years ago.The thing that does make that semifinal loss to Russia in the 2006 World Championship somewhat relevant, though, is that four players on that squad -- Seimone Augustus, Sue Bird, Tamika Catchings and Diana Taurasi -- are still on the national team. For what its worth, that tournament also was held in Brazil.For those that were on that team, thats a driving force, Bird said of that 2006 loss. Thats in the back of our heads, whether we admit it or not. Its there.That tells you about their fierce competitiveness, and how much USA Basketball means to them. For Bird, Catchings and Taurasi, this is their fourth Olympics. Its the third for Augustus.The United States will be going for its sixth consecutive Olympic gold medal in womens hoops, but Taurasi said its not as if she and her teammates have already started polishing that new piece of hardware in their minds. They realize they have to earn it.You know that these teams have some of the best players in the world, Taurasi said of the rest of the Olympic field. And when you make mistakes, they hurt you. For us, its always making sure we focus on whos in our locker room.The U.S. team includes five former WNBA MVPs (Taurasi, Catchings, Tina Charles, Maya Moore and Elena Delle Donne), last years WNBA Finals MVP (Sylvia Fowles), and this years front-runner for WNBA rookie of the year (Breanna Stewart).And its got a coaching staff led by an 11-time NCAA champion who has already guided the United States to one Olympic and two world championship golds (Geno Auriemma). Among his assistants are a three-time Olympic gold medalist as a player (Dawn Staley), and a coach who has been part of five WNBA title teams (Cheryl Reeve, as an assistant at Detroit and as head coach at Minnesota).The U.S. contingent in womens basketball has a collection of Hall of Fame talent -- both on the floor and on the sidelines -- that is so vast that the competition in Rio de Janeiro might appear to be a mere formality as to who wins the gold.But that is the last thing that Auriemma is thinking. Hes had a great deal of practice at this concept of preparing just as earnestly if you are heavily favored to win as if you are a hungry challenger striving to pull an upset.That mentality has been paramount to UConns success, and it fits in perfectly with the national team, which happens to have five former Huskies. Although it does prompt Auriemma to jokingly question his willingness to spend so long in the pressure-cooker.I dont know why I keep putting myself in these situations, he said, smiling after the U.S. teams recent stretch of four exhibition games with practices in between. Its not bad enough that weve got to win every game at UConn.The answer, of course, is that this is exactly what he thrives on: seeking perfection even when the stakes are the highest. And part of that is being able to identify weaknesses that a lot of people either wont see or will dismiss as insignificant.So what are the challenges that the U.S. team could face? Theres the obvious one thats frequently cited: the lack of preparation time. The multimonth tour the U.S. team took in 1995-96 to be as ready as possible for the Atlanta Games started this on-going gold rush, but theres been nothing like that since for preparation.Thus, the Americans are very used to, as Taurasi puts it, cramming like crazy for their biggest tests. They rely on the WNBA and their overseas play to have them sharp individually, and their experience and commitment to USA Basketball to help them play well collectively.Still, there are some potential obstacles. Again, this is speaking relatively. Because the Americans are good at everything and great at most things.On offense, this team seems as potentially powerful as any the Americans have fielded. Four of the U.S. players have led the WNBA in scoring average for a season; Taurasi has done that five times and Angel McCoughtry twice. That doesnt include Charles, who is currently leading the league in scoring at 21.4 points per game.But there might be some concern about defense. Auriemma addressed that after a 104-89 victory against Australia in an exhibition Sunday in New York.I dont think our perimeter defense was that great; I thought we gave up a lot of 3s, he said of the Aussies 10 of 24 accuracy from behind the arc. We havent spent a lot of time on it, but I think well be a lot better as the games progress in Rio.The age/experience factor in regard to Bird, Taurasi and Lindsay Whalen in the backcourt is a huge advantage as far as running the offense, but it puts a little more emphasis on the U.S. post players being able to cover ground defensively.It also highlights the importance of the teams two primary rim protectors, Fowles and fellow center Brittney Griner, to be aggressive and effective as the last line of defense.This is something Ive been focusing on ever since Ive been with USA Basketball, said Fowles, who is on her third Olympic team. Im just looking to go out there and disrupt things as much as I can defensively.Griner, who in her fourth WNBA season has 390 career blocked shots, is playing in her first Olympics. Shes been a starter at Phoenix, as she was collegiately at Baylor, but she doesnt mind at all being a reserve for the U.S. team.I can come in with fresh legs and a lot of energy, she said. I like that.Having the 6-foot-6 Fowles and the 6-8 Griner might be especially important in a potential matchup with Australia. Aussie center Elizabeth Cambage is 6-8, and she had 22 points and eight rebounds Sunday.Auriemma said he told Fowles, Griner and Charles before that game to try to stop Cambage at the foul line and not let her get deep into the paint.And they all looked at me like, Yeah, why dont you go try it, he said. I mean, as hard as they tried, theres just nothing you can do against somebody like Cambage. We tried to make it difficult on her.Australia is the second-ranked team in the world behind the United States, and is the top squad in Group A. The Americans are the ranked No. 1, of course, and lead Group B.After Senegal, the United States faces Spain, Serbia, Canada and China in group play. The Americans soundly beat Canada 83-43 last Friday in an exhibition in Bridgeport, Connecticut.The U.S. team met Spain, which is currently ranked No. 3, in the 2014 world championship final, winning 77-64. In the London Olympics in 2012, the Americans beat France in the gold-medal game 86-50. The French are currently ranked No. 4 in the world.Auriemma, in the comic-hyperbole way he has of putting things, suggested there was a parade in Paris for the French just getting to the Olympic final four years ago. While he said the response to the U.S. team winning gold was essentially, Oh, thats nice.These women have accomplished so much, Auriemma said. Maybe because theyve won so much, they probably dont get the respect they truly deserve for how dominant they have been.And its not as if no other country is trying. Womens basketball worldwide has steadily improved. Russia, the last team to beat the Americans, didnt qualify for the Rio Olympics.You try to tell everybody that winning a gold medal isnt easy, Auriemma said. I know what all the pitfalls are. We were down at half against Australia in London [in the semifinals]. So I know whats out there.But its like the old saying, Dont tell me how rough the water is, just bring the boat back to shore. Its kind of where we are. Cheap Jordan 1 Chicago . After a lengthy wait, persistent rain finally forced the postponement of the Nationals game against the Miami Marlins on Saturday night. The teams, and a few thousand fans, waited nearly four hours from the 7:05 scheduled start time before an announcement was made shortly before 11 p. Air Jordan 1 High OG Fearless White Mens .com) - Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Roger Federer were easy first-round winners Tuesday at the Australian Open. http://www.bestfakejordan1.com/cheap-jordan-1-black-outlet.html . The Browns coaching search remains incomplete. Jordan 1 China .com) - Christian Ponder will get another chance to prove himself for the Minnesota Vikings, with head coach Leslie Frazier announcing Wednesday that the struggling quarterback will start this weekends game against the Green Bay Packers. Best Jordan 1 Replica . They reached the 100-point plateau for the fourth time in five games, bested the visiting Trail Blazers by 34 in the paint and scored 19 of the final 25 points in regulation. Local favorite Eugenie Bouchard had a lackluster performance in front of her devoted fanbase at the Rogers Cup in Montreal last week. The Quebec native fell in the third round on Thursday to Kristina Kucova in three sets.But the early exit resulted in a few unexpected down days in her hometown before heading off to Rio, and she definitely took advantage of it. On Sunday, Bouchard met fellow Quebecker Celine Dion ahead of the singers concert at the Bell Centre.AAnd Bouchard was clearly moved by Dions performance, because, you know, near, far, wherever you are, I believe that the heart does go onnnnnn.ddddddddddddGood luck getting that song out of your head anytime soon.See something entertaining on social media that you think deserves to be shared? Let me know on Twitter, @darcymaine_espn. ' ' '