There's more to the Capitals than just Lauren Jackson, Canberra forward Brigitte Ardossi says.
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With the superstar forward returning to Canberra for the 2012-2013 WNBL season, Ardossi bristled at suggestions the Capitals would be a one-player team, declaring Jackson ''can't win it all by herself''.
''Lauren is just one person, she can't pass herself the ball, she can't get herself open off a screen,'' Ardossi said.
''Our preparation isn't 'oh we miss Lauren' or 'when Lauren comes in, she's going to do this'. No, it's with the core group we have right now, what we can do and what we're going to do … there's certainly no talk 'when Lauren comes in this will be different' nothing like that, a team's a team, she can't win it all by herself.
''We still have a bunch of other players who can score big points and get big rebounds. When Lauren comes in, that's an added bonus.''
Ardossi, the Capitals' 'player on the rise' last season, will team with Jackson in the front court when the four-time Olympian joins the side at the conclusion of her WNBA commitments with the Seattle Storm. Ardossi said there would be little difference to her combination with centre Marianna Tolo last year.
''Going off last year, having Tolo, I feel like my role is going to be somewhat be the same, I'll just have more of an opportunity to get assists I think,'' she said.
Coach Carrie Graf pointed out to the 25 year-old the added opportunity to score with Jackson in the mix.
''When teams double-team her it opens up for you, it's fun playing alongside that. They attract attention and you get some more than nice crumbs,'' Ardossi said.
It's a combination which Graf sees an opportunity for Ardossi to ''step it up and make a statement in the league''.
''Biz [Ardossi] is a back-to-the-basket player, Lauren plays inside and out, so I think it's going to be a good combination, and second year in the league, I think Biz has got a great feel for the league now,'' Graf said.
Despite having Jackson and Alice Coddington still to return from the USA, Graf insists it's business as usual with pre-season.
''It's the nature of players playing year round and the best players playing in a lot of leagues, so it's not a big deal,'' she said.