madtownvol
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The LVs' all too frequent turnovers have a few recurrent causes, some of which are more easily and quickly fixed than others.
1. The disadvantage of size. We saw this big time against Uconn/Dangerfield and the KY guards, While the TV pundits keep harping on how the LVs 6-2 average is a huge advantage, there are situations where size is a liability.
Bigger guards, just based on bio-mechanics, don't have as a tight of a dribble and tend to be a touch slower in really tight spaces than smaller guards. Related example, in the NFL, cornerbacks tend to be shorter than WRs because, as defenders, they need to cut and react super quick to cover WR who have the advantage of knowing what route is being run.]
So, the taller LV guards are vulnerable to pressure from small guards. For old timers, remember how 5'2 Shonna Bobbitt reeked absolute defensive havoc on teams because she was so close to the floor and quick, nobody could get the ball up against her without feeling like that had a run a death gauntlet (or turning it over).
The Lvs are now on the wrong side of that mismatch. Jazz does pretty well against pressure but lanky, Jordan Horston is vulnerable and Rae often times as become a de facto ball handler and she gets stripped a lot.
With experience, Jordan will learn how to shield better with her body, not expose the ball but that it is a process.
2. Related to the above, the LVs often seem oblivious to just how quickly, quick guards can close down passing lanes. Maybe because the team does not have a Dangerfield type player, they just don't face that kind of defense in practice enough and hence that threat is not ingrained in their playing habits.
But, there is no reason that the LVs cannot significantly cut down on lazy passes or square passes (to use a soccer term for passes that are played straight across and easily intercepted)
3. Weak, weak post play. Often times, our post just do not get into position to receive a pass, which leads to a forced pass in the paint or the ball getting stuck around the perimeter (where bad outcomes often ensue).
Of course, the player who is not playing becomes the fan solution -- if only Saunders!!!!!...but I am not sure. Winning post position means making quick, aggressive movements to beat defenders to the spot and having the core and lower body strength to claim and hold the space.
KK probably has the lower body strength but she seems to be all slow twitch muscle fibers.
Key needs to improve her reflexes and build her lower body strength. She is great at blocking shots when players drive into the paint but when she has to post up, she becomes a rag doll against bigger opponents.
Saunders has some basic post skills but I think she is a bit like Key in needing a lot of physical development.
Realistically, coaching can help these players on their positioning and timing but, our two freshman really need a quality off season of strength and conditioning work and then, I think we will have something.
4. Stagnant offensive sets. On the whole, the team has gotten better on this dimension but, as the game wears on, they tend to fall into a "watch Jordan or Rennia try to make a play” mode. Some stagnation of that may reflect physical fatigue, because this group does work hard on the defensie end, but I think some of it is mental discipline and in-grained habits that take time to form.
But, this is an area which can be improved this season.
5. Lack of composure: Lately Kellie has been yelling "composure" and then burying her face in her hands. And I get it. Too many LV are just losing their composure under pressure and passing the ball 5 feet over their team mate's head or making really poor on court decisions. Such a situation is often the bane of a young team but, again this is an area where should expect more improvement as the season moves on.
Summation:
As I see it, problems 1 and 3 are likely to remain liabilities for this season and Kellie and staff will need to find some compensatory work-arounds.
2, 4, and 5 are more fixable and those improvements need to start happening soon. And we have seen some improvement but right now this team is in a bit of 2 steps forward one step back process but I think the overall learning curve is trending in the right direction.
MTV
1. The disadvantage of size. We saw this big time against Uconn/Dangerfield and the KY guards, While the TV pundits keep harping on how the LVs 6-2 average is a huge advantage, there are situations where size is a liability.
Bigger guards, just based on bio-mechanics, don't have as a tight of a dribble and tend to be a touch slower in really tight spaces than smaller guards. Related example, in the NFL, cornerbacks tend to be shorter than WRs because, as defenders, they need to cut and react super quick to cover WR who have the advantage of knowing what route is being run.]
So, the taller LV guards are vulnerable to pressure from small guards. For old timers, remember how 5'2 Shonna Bobbitt reeked absolute defensive havoc on teams because she was so close to the floor and quick, nobody could get the ball up against her without feeling like that had a run a death gauntlet (or turning it over).
The Lvs are now on the wrong side of that mismatch. Jazz does pretty well against pressure but lanky, Jordan Horston is vulnerable and Rae often times as become a de facto ball handler and she gets stripped a lot.
With experience, Jordan will learn how to shield better with her body, not expose the ball but that it is a process.
2. Related to the above, the LVs often seem oblivious to just how quickly, quick guards can close down passing lanes. Maybe because the team does not have a Dangerfield type player, they just don't face that kind of defense in practice enough and hence that threat is not ingrained in their playing habits.
But, there is no reason that the LVs cannot significantly cut down on lazy passes or square passes (to use a soccer term for passes that are played straight across and easily intercepted)
3. Weak, weak post play. Often times, our post just do not get into position to receive a pass, which leads to a forced pass in the paint or the ball getting stuck around the perimeter (where bad outcomes often ensue).
Of course, the player who is not playing becomes the fan solution -- if only Saunders!!!!!...but I am not sure. Winning post position means making quick, aggressive movements to beat defenders to the spot and having the core and lower body strength to claim and hold the space.
KK probably has the lower body strength but she seems to be all slow twitch muscle fibers.
Key needs to improve her reflexes and build her lower body strength. She is great at blocking shots when players drive into the paint but when she has to post up, she becomes a rag doll against bigger opponents.
Saunders has some basic post skills but I think she is a bit like Key in needing a lot of physical development.
Realistically, coaching can help these players on their positioning and timing but, our two freshman really need a quality off season of strength and conditioning work and then, I think we will have something.
4. Stagnant offensive sets. On the whole, the team has gotten better on this dimension but, as the game wears on, they tend to fall into a "watch Jordan or Rennia try to make a play” mode. Some stagnation of that may reflect physical fatigue, because this group does work hard on the defensie end, but I think some of it is mental discipline and in-grained habits that take time to form.
But, this is an area which can be improved this season.
5. Lack of composure: Lately Kellie has been yelling "composure" and then burying her face in her hands. And I get it. Too many LV are just losing their composure under pressure and passing the ball 5 feet over their team mate's head or making really poor on court decisions. Such a situation is often the bane of a young team but, again this is an area where should expect more improvement as the season moves on.
Summation:
As I see it, problems 1 and 3 are likely to remain liabilities for this season and Kellie and staff will need to find some compensatory work-arounds.
2, 4, and 5 are more fixable and those improvements need to start happening soon. And we have seen some improvement but right now this team is in a bit of 2 steps forward one step back process but I think the overall learning curve is trending in the right direction.
MTV