idual," Gibson said. "Its me, its the coaching staff, the players. Were just not clicking very good right now. Weve got to find a way

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.Wholesale Lakers Jerseys . JOHNS, N. Stitched Lakers Jerseys . Roman Josi had a goal and an assist to lead the Predators to a 4-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Monday night. https://www.lakersjerseycheap.com/ .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have recalled forward Kevin Porter and defenceman Chad Ruhwedel from the minors as part of a five-player roster shuffle made by the NHLs worst team. Los Angeles Lakers Pro Shop . Haas said he "felt a lot of pain" in his right shoulder when he slammed his racket to the ground in frustration after losing his serve at 3-3 in the first set. Lakers Jerseys 2020 . Isner, ranked No. 14, won his eighth career singles title and took the title in New Zealand for the second time after his victory in 2010. The match was similar to Isners quarterfinal victory over fifth-seeded Philipp Kohlschreiber which went to three sets, all tiebreaks and contained no breaks of serve. ATLANTA -- Arizona manager Kirk Gibson was glad to leave town after a lost weekend at Turner Field. "They outpitched us, they outhit us and they just outplayed us," Gibson said. "Theyd been struggling, but they turned it around. Theyve played well at home." Trevor Cahill gave up home runs to Freddie Freeman, Dan Uggla and Brian McCann, and the Diamondbacks lost 6-2 Sunday as the Atlanta Braves completed a three-game sweep. Cahill (3-10) allowed six runs and seven hits in 4 1-3 innings as the NL West-leading Diamondbacks lost for the fifth time in six games. Cahill is 0-6 with a 7.91 ERA in eight starts since a May 17 win at Miami, but hes received only nine runs of support in his last eight games. The Diamondbacks went 3 for 21 with runners in scoring position over the weekend. Cahills rough outing marked the 22nd straight game without a win from the Diamondbacks rotation -- the longest streak in the majors since San Diego went 25 in a row from April 17-May 14, 2009, according to STATS. "I dont know what to say," Cahill said. "Its embarrassing. Were a team thats in first place, and I want to do my part to contribute. Its just not working out." Paul Maholm (9-6) gave up two runs and eight hits in 6 2-3 innings for the Braves, who lead the NL East by 6 1/2 games and improved to a big league-best 28-11 at home. The first of Paul Goldschmidts two run-scoring, double-play grounders put Arizona ahead in the first, but McCann tied the score in the second with an opposite-field homer that bounced off the top of the wall in left-centre. Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez was grateful to get through the weekend without any damage from Goldschmidt, who leads the NL with 67 RBIs but went 1 for 9 and stranded four runners in the series. "We did a nice job of minimizing the damage, pitching around him a little bit and getting him out," Gonzalez said. "Hes a hell of a player and having a grreat year, so we did a nice job of handling him.dddddddddddd" Freemans three-run homer made it 4-1 in the third, and Uggla added a two-run drive in the fifth, his 14th home run of the season, for a 6-1 lead. Maholm laboured in the seventh, giving up consecutive singles to Cody Ross and Gerardo Parra and a one-out walk to Cliff Pennington. Maholm struck out pinch-hitter Jason Kubel, and Anthony Varvaro relieved and retired A.J. Pollock on a flyout. Kubel began the game with a .417 average in 12 career at-bats against Maholm. "Hes done well against me, and its probably my last hitter," Maholm said. "I just tried to mix it up and dropped my arm angle on two of the pitches, but its left-on-left and I have all the confidence in getting a guy out." Gibson didnt have immediate answers for why his club is struggling on a trip that continues Monday with the opener of a four-game series at the New York Mets. "Its no one individual," Gibson said. "Its me, its the coaching staff, the players. Were just not clicking very good right now. Weve got to find a way to get it turned around. Its no fun. Im sure its not fun to watch, either. Were not going to panic either way. Were going to come in and try to be loose." NOTES: Cahill had not allowed three homers since Oaklands 10-2 loss at Toronto on April 30, 2010. ... Maholm beat the Diamondbacks in his second straight start after going 0-3 in his first six career starts against them. ... The Braves improved to 9-1-4 in home series. ... Diamondbacks RHP Tony Hill pitched a scoreless seventh and has not allowed a run in 11 straight road appearances. ... Atlanta is 34-6 when outhitting opponents. ... RHP David Carpenter pitched the last two innings for the Braves. ... Freeman homered in consecutive games for the second time this season and first since May 30-31 against Toronto and Washington. ... LHP Tony Sipp pitched the eighth for Arizona. ' ' '