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Post by Phaedrus on Aug 21, 2008 14:03:19 GMT -5
From a purely emotional standpoint, I think we need to be emotionally stable. Playing Brasil is a lot like playing Cuba, let them make their mistakes, get ticked off t everything and then the finger pointing will start.
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Post by tenniscraze on Aug 21, 2008 14:33:29 GMT -5
Brazil really slaughtered China in the third set. I think USA needs to take advantage 100% of their offense versus focusing on their defense. Passing is really, really crucial.
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Post by VolleyTX on Aug 21, 2008 15:15:57 GMT -5
Great analysis USAFAN. I also agree with Phaedrus.... USA needs to keep their emotions in check.
Key for Tom is to play within herself. She has a tendency to "overplay" in really big matches. I've seen a few matches where she creates a little choas on the floor because she is trying to do too much.
Key for Ah Mow Santos is to distribute the ball. Just like USAFAN mentioned, she has a tendency to keep setting certain players (tom, haneef, tom, haneef, etc). She doesn't set Glass nearly as much as Berg does. I think Glass is going to need to feel like her setter believes in her. Glad to see she was setting the middle a lot more against Cuba.
The middles are just going to have to do what they have been doing all tournament.
I sure hope Haneef is feeling well for the match. It is reassuring to know that Kim W. has been playing so well on the right.
One of the biggest differences for USA I've seen in the last three matches is serving. They have caused Italy, China and Cuba to pass poorly. They need to keep it up or Brazil (in system) will tear them apart.
I'm hoping for a great match. I think whoever handles their nerves better will win. Something makes me think Brazil is going to play nervous. They are going to really feel the preassure of being the expected gold medalist.
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Post by cardfan15 on Aug 21, 2008 15:17:24 GMT -5
I'm not sure what match you were watching, but the opening set of the China/Brazil match was the closest set of the three. Against Brazil, I think the first set is very important and being able to fire back when Brazil goes on a 2 or 3 point run is going to be very important. Stability for Team USA comes from their defense, blocking and passing, and they know that when those two things are on, they can beat any team. We have to assume that all the pressure is on Brazil at this point as they are clearly favored to win gold. What the United States has going for them then, is the ability to rattle a team that has not gone more than 3 sets in any match this tournament.
I expect Brazil to be ready to play and to bring their best game on Saturday. That means team USA has to be ready to win sets that are very close in score. They kept their composure in matches when other teams have fallen apart (Cuba). They kept their composure when they went 5 close sets with China. Here's to hoping they keep their composure against Brazil on Saturday night. Winning a silver medal is quite the accomplishment. Winning a gold would be just perfect.
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Post by tenniscraze on Aug 21, 2008 15:37:24 GMT -5
I'm not sure what match you were watching, but the opening set of the China/Brazil match was the closest set of the three. Against Brazil, I think the first set is very important and being able to fire back when Brazil goes on a 2 or 3 point run is going to be very important. Stability for Team USA comes from their defense, blocking and passing, and they know that when those two things are on, they can beat any team. We have to assume that all the pressure is on Brazil at this point as they are clearly favored to win gold. What the United States has going for them then, is the ability to rattle a team that has not gone more than 3 sets in any match this tournament. I expect Brazil to be ready to play and to bring their best game on Saturday. That means team USA has to be ready to win sets that are very close in score. They kept their composure in matches when other teams have fallen apart (Cuba). They kept their composure when they went 5 close sets with China. Here's to hoping they keep their composure against Brazil on Saturday night. Winning a silver medal is quite the accomplishment. Winning a gold would be just perfect. Sorry, I meant the third set
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Post by INcrediBall on Aug 21, 2008 15:58:18 GMT -5
When is this Gold Medal match being played? Any idea of TV converage? The gold medal match is Saturday evening, 8 PM local time which means 8 AM on the east coast, 7 AM central. I'm pretty certain NBC will broadcast this one live, at least for the East and Central time zones. Wait. Is that 8 am Saturday or 8 am Sunday here on the East Coast? I get so confused! You think I'd know this, now that we are in the third week of the games.
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Post by GatorVball on Aug 21, 2008 16:14:51 GMT -5
NBC is not showing it live. It will air on NBC during the 10am-6pm block on Saturday.
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Post by mikegarrison on Aug 21, 2008 16:39:35 GMT -5
NBC is not showing it live. It will air on NBC during the 10am-6pm block on Saturday. CBC has it scheduled for their 3am-9am block (Pacific time). I expect that since they showed the US/Cuba semifinal live that they will show the final live as well. How ironic is it that the Canadian TV has better coverage of the US volleyball team than the US TV does?
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Post by GatorVball on Aug 21, 2008 16:42:26 GMT -5
NBC is not showing it live. It will air on NBC during the 10am-6pm block on Saturday. CBC has it scheduled for their 3am-9am block (Pacific time). I expect that since they showed the US/Cuba semifinal live that they will show the final live as well. How ironic is it that the Canadian TV has better coverage of the US volleyball team than the US TV does? Not just the volleyball team, either. Every other country in the world has been showing the Olympics live. The first week with swimming/gymnastics was great, and most of the vball matches have been shown live, but of course, the biggest one isn't. I really hope that ESPN/ABC do win the bidding war for 2016, as they plan to show everything live and not wait until primetime to air the big events for ratings.
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Post by mikegarrison on Aug 21, 2008 16:50:30 GMT -5
The first week with swimming/gymnastics was great, and most of the vball matches have been shown live... ...speaks the resident of the east coast. Nothing NBC has shown here in Seattle has been live.
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Post by Edmond on Aug 21, 2008 22:28:55 GMT -5
Glad I'm in HK. Both gold and bronze medal matches will be lived.
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Post by Vball818 on Aug 23, 2008 14:12:45 GMT -5
Brazil continues to roll as they handily swept China today. If there is any team that "deserves" the gold medal for displaying a high level of consistent play over the last quadrennial it would be Brazil. The improved passing of Mari and her steady attacking have taken the team to another level which really opens up things for their middles and opposite, Sheilla. Brazil is similar in the sense that they are in-system type team which relies on the speed and complexity of their offense to score points as opposed to just throwing high balls up and use athleticism to win matches. What makes Brazil so good in comparison to a team like USA is that they are predictably almost always insystem where as the USA is up and down. However, these teams match up very well and if the USA passes well they could definitely take the match. Thanks for your keen insight on these teams. I haven't watched this match yet even though I already know the results but now I look forward to seeing how both teams run their offense. Here is something that's been on my mind. When ROBYN AH MOW-SANTOS became the starting setter for the '00 team I read a quote from TARA CROSS-BATTLE that Ah Mow-Santos ran a fast offense and from what I remembered they did and she set the middle alot more than she has in this years tournament. What I was wondering is does she run a fast offense like she did eight years ago or did she/the coaches had to alter the offense due to different players? Another thing is that LINDSAY BERG is the one who runs a fast offense...at least that is what I heard from Paul Sunderland. What kind of offense does Team USA run? Does anyone want to compare it to when Arie Selinger, Taras Liskevych, Haley or Yoshida coahed the team? (for those who are fan of Robyn and think I'm negatively critcizing her...I'm not, I'm a fan of hers...just asking questions)
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