Defense helps things fall in place for Opals

ISTANBUL (FIBA World Championship for Women) - Australia's quest to regain the FIBA World Championship for Women crown they last won eight years ago did not get off to the best of starts during the team's preparations.

The legendary Lauren Jackson was never a part of the training camp and star center Liz Cambage was ruled out just days before the start of the world's biggest event for women's basketball.

But Brendan Joyce's team has gone on to show the kind of game the Opals are famous for, sweeping aside all their three opponents - the latest being a convincing demolition of Belarus on Tuesday - while booking their direct entry into the Quarter-Finals, where they will face Canada on Friday.

So have things begun to finally fall into place for the Opals to seek the holy grail without Jackson and Cambage?

Joyce believes so.

"You really don't know what to expect when something like that happens (Cambage injury). But credit to the girls. I am extremely happy to get the three wins and go into the Quarter-Finals," he said.

We defend. You know when you defend like that anything can happen. - Joyce

Shooting guard Penny Taylor joined her coach in crediting the team's success to what they've done on the defensive side of the ball.

"The intense defense has been a huge factor in the wins we have had so far and the extent of those wins," she said.

The Phoenix Mercury star highlighted the energy some of the youngsters have added to the team.

"They bring fresh energy, young legs and great athleticism. They can shoot well and they have great ball handling skills. They are a pretty much an all-round package," she said in reference to Tessa Lavey and Rebecca Allen.

"But the big thing is their defensive aggressivity," she said.

The way our coach has formed this team into such a defensive unit is the key. - Taylor

Joyce was quick to applaud Taylor's role in the team.

"I think she's a coach who can play. Her leadership has been phenomenal for us," he explained. 

Looking ahead at the Quarter-Finals against Canada, Joyce said: "We respect everyone. We don't fear anybody."

Joyce also looked at a silver lining in Cambage's absence.

"I'll tell you what, I prefer to have Liz on my team, but I've seen the athleticism and mobility our bigs now bring into the game. I think this makes us even more dangerous."

FIBA