Mercedes Russell needs more shots

[leejoek]

The only difference between this year and in previous years is our guard play is so much better, now we have guards that we are confident that can get the ball inside. I would like to see this team dominate the paint points every game, that's easy money.

Getting the ball into Mercedes, also means getting the ball inside which should be the goal of any guard, we want the highest percentage shot, the best shot, inside out bball is 99% of most bball coaches' philsophy.

Sometimes, Mercedes is open and she's not getting the ball and I think she should be featured in our offense, she is the best center in the game. She needs to be engaged on both sides of the ball, she should touch the ball 80% of most offensive trips, since she is getting double and triple team, those are open looks for our guards and wings to attack the basket.

We are so much better than last year but that still is an area of improvement.

These guards are capable of getting Mercedes more touches and make sure the lady vols dominate the paint Point battle each game.


Live by the 3. Die by the 3.

We want the best shot.

I back Pat and roll with Holly.

It's okay to live by the 3 and die by the 3!

 

[Pat4life]

thanks for the update.

 

[Benionsopinion]

She took TEN shots!!! Ten used to be a larger number than six???

Speaking of six,that's the number of chippies within four feet of the basket that Mercedes missed in the first half,along with three foul shots. That's fifteen points that would have blown the game open. She was mugged on all those short shots with no calls made. Stanford saw no fouls were called,so the second half,Mercedes was blanketed and beat relentlessly. She was more a decoy during that time,as Stanford had no answer for Nared.

 

[Chitownvol1129]

Wuteva. Please take yo drama and aim it at someone else. Your reaching.


6 touches for Mercedes is not going to get it done.

I back Pat, and roll with Holly.

My "drama" was quoting you, i see it constantly and decided to find out what you actually mean. Either you back this squad or you "roll" with them. Pat is past Unfortuanately, and side ways slights at her hand pick successor, and legacy she left to Holly, need to be clear. Are you with this squad...coach included, or are you trying to devide and hope they fail? Stop with the backhanded comment, maybe you find it funny but at least have the guts to explain what it means!#lovehate
PS merecedes had far more than 6 touches...ever watch the games? She got hacked, shoved, and may have taken 6 shots(which she didn't)...not counting the ones she was fouled on and took free throws ( don't show in stats). I back fans and roll with negavols, so what do you mean by your repetitive comment? Oh yeah I am "reaching" (turning over your rock) for an answer, and questioning your motive. Very simple, explain, you post it enough, so you feel strongly about it...please come clear

 

[NEVolFan]

My take... this is a much quicker team vs. last year. They love to run and gun. Not seeing a thought into playing to the bigs in the paint. And to date the current style of play has worked well. At some point they will run into team that can play at the same speed, and with solid D... then Mercedes will get a higher share of touches. Right now, grabbing rebounds is a good role for her.

 

[Chitownvol1129]

My take... this is a much quicker team vs. last year. They love to run and gun. Not seeing a thought into playing to the bigs in the paint. And to date the current style of play has worked well. At some point they will run into team that can play at the same speed, and with solid D... then Mercedes will get a higher share of touches. Right now, grabbing rebounds is a good role for her.

That team will pick it's poison...run with our guards or deal with Russell, Nared, Davis, and Green. I love our options of play. When we do half court it is really frustrating to defend, we have height, length, and speed and guards who can dish it in, drive, or 4 on the floor who can pop the 3 pointer. We are just offensively extremely hard to defend

 

[Rickster]

My "drama" was quoting you, i see it constantly and decided to find out what you actually mean. Either you back this squad or you "roll" with them. Pat is past Unfortuanately, and side ways slights at her hand pick successor, and legacy she left to Holly, need to be clear. Are you with this squad...coach included, or are you trying to devide and hope they fail? Stop with the backhanded comment, maybe you find it funny but at least have the guts to explain what it means!#lovehate
PS merecedes had far more than 6 touches...ever watch the games? She got hacked, shoved, and may have taken 6 shots(which she didn't)...not counting the ones she was fouled on and took free throws ( don't show in stats). I back fans and roll with negavols, so what do you mean by your repetitive comment? Oh yeah I am "reaching" (turning over your rock) for an answer, and questioning your motive. Very simple, explain, you post it enough, so you feel strongly about it...please come clear

I'm not going to speak for anyone but my impressions are that P4L has always been a team supporter and stood by the staff when every other poster was calling for a coaching ouster. Everyone expresses themselves differently but I never considered P4L a nega.

 

[Pat4life]

My "drama" was quoting you, i see it constantly and decided to find out what you actually mean. Either you back this squad or you "roll" with them. Pat is past Unfortuanately, and side ways slights at her hand pick successor, and legacy she left to Holly, need to be clear. Are you with this squad...coach included, or are you trying to devide and hope they fail? Stop with the backhanded comment, maybe you find it funny but at least have the guts to explain what it means!#lovehate
PS merecedes had far more than 6 touches...ever watch the games? She got hacked, shoved, and may have taken 6 shots(which she didn't)...not counting the ones she was fouled on and took free throws ( don't show in stats). I back fans and roll with negavols, so what do you mean by your repetitive comment? Oh yeah I am "reaching" (turning over your rock) for an answer, and questioning your motive. Very simple, explain, you post it enough, so you feel strongly about it...please come clear

First off, who the fux is you? If you don't understand someone, don't quote them; it makes you look stupid. :thud:

Yes, I watched the game, my page wasn't loaded properly by the time, I posted. At least I got the 3 right. Anywho? And I don't see Russell shooting 30% from the field, more touches please.

Those on the message board knows me, when I do post.

Maybe if u can pull yo head out of everybody hates Holly's a$$, maybe have a conservation without attacking some (one) thing you clearly don't understand, Chitown Negavol, people will be more willing to dialogue. I don't talk to negavols. I will not respond. :loco:

I back Pat and roll with Holly. :rock:

 

[Chitownvol1129]

First off, who the fux is you? If you don't understand someone, don't quote them; it makes you look stupid. :thud:

Yes, I watched the game, my page wasn't loaded properly by the time, I posted. At least I got the 3 right. Anywho? And I don't see Russell shooting 30% from the field, more touches please.

Those on the message board knows me, when I do post.

Maybe if u can pull yo head out of everybody hates Holly's a$$, maybe have a conservation without attacking some (one) thing you clearly don't understand, Chitown Negavol, people will be more willing to dialogue. I don't talk to negavols. I will not respond. :loco:

I back Pat and roll with Holly. :rock:

I asked a simple question, you replied, without answering, I asked again, and now you have became foul mouthed. To answer your question, I am a former volunteer athlete, left sweat and blood on the field...mainly practice field lol, a distant relative of Holly, and I support, and back, our teams, athletes, students, and fans. I try to not use slang, or cryptic messages, so I asked you what you mean by the cryptic comment. If you don't want to explain, your choice. Back what you want, and roll with whatever. I am a supporter of our team, and that includes, obviously, the leader. If you watched the game then you wouldnt need a stat sheet to know, Russell had more than 6 touches, it doesn't take a script to know what a movie you watch was about, nor does it take a stat sheet to know you were no where remotely close with your claim of 6 touches.
Now, as far as knowing some one, or not, and quoting them making someone look stupid...well, hmm...mirrors must not work in your world. I believe if someone shows you who they are, believe them. To quote you again...that is "who fux is me" (sic)

 

[teacherdean]

So, last season, a major complaint was that the team forced the ball into MR, even she was double teamed. This season, the LVs have much better offensive flow, are scoring more points, and MR is still averaging a double-double.

What exactly is the problem that needs to be solved here?

I think that some of us are not remembering in years past when we were so committed to passing inside that we passed up good shots. When the shot was not there we forced up a bad shot or committed a turnover. Many times when it was difficult to get the ball inside we put up a lot of desperation outside shots which produced a lot of bricks. At this point the offense has more rhythm than in years past. We certainly do more slashing which puts pressure on the opponents’ defense. Our outside shoting is so much better than before.

On the rebounding issue, Russell needs to be more aggressive on both ends of the court. A lot of times when her teammates are fighting for rebounds, Russell is a spectator. She also allows smaller players to take the ball away from her. In the Stanford game during the last few minutes, Russell became aggressive and she got rebounds. Russell has the skill set to control a game from beginning to end.

 

[bobkitten]

Just get MR the ball where she does NOT have to come down (and have it knocked away) but can catch and power up and score! Encourage her to be intimidating and unrelenting.

I have only listened to games so far but my impression is that she is becoming less "oh, I didn't touch her" and more owning of her space and her game.

 

[Chitownvol1129]

I think that some of us are not remembering in years past when we were so committed to passing inside that we passed up good shots. When the shot was not there we forced up a bad shot or committed a turnover. Many times when it was difficult to get the ball inside we put up a lot of desperation outside shots which produced a lot of bricks. At this point the offense has more rhythm than in years past. We certainly do more slashing which puts pressure on the opponents’ defense. Our outside shoting is so much better than before.

On the rebounding issue, Russell needs to be more aggressive on both ends of the court. A lot of times when her teammates are fighting for rebounds, Russell is a spectator. She also allows smaller players to take the ball away from her. In the Stanford game during the last few minutes, Russell became aggressive and she got rebounds. Russell has the skill set to control a game from beginning to end.

I agree, however Russell also knows, and I am sure the staff reminds her...win the war not the battle...meaning stay out of foul trouble we need you on the court not the bench. If refs are calling unfairly, be mindful of giving them the oppurtunity. If we are winning play smart rather than full tilt. Face it we have a huge drop off if she isnt on the court. Green is coming along, and she is a great rebounder, but offensively and defensively she isn't ready to challenge starters like Russell can. Russell on the floor opens up 4 players, forces teams to pick their poision. Our offense is in the top 5 in the nation and it is largely 3 freshman, we need leadership on the floor not the bench...we are not stagnet, standing around, or unproductive in set offenses like in years past. If Russell gets in foul trouble that is likely to change. When the coaches talk about how smart, basketball IQ, she has...this is largely what they mean.Glory, and Izzy, like Russell could get their hands on every rebound, but learned not to get in foul trouble. Stanford's gym isn't the place to test the refs.She knows the importance of staying in the game. We lead nation in quite a few rebounding stats. Russell being double and triple boxed out is largely allowing lots of those rebounds

 

[Ladyvol777]

I agree, however Russell also knows, and I am sure the staff reminds her...win the war not the battle...meaning stay out of foul trouble we need you on the court not the bench. If refs are calling unfairly, be mindful of giving them the oppurtunity. If we are winning play smart rather than full tilt. Face it we have a huge drop off if she isnt on the court. Green is coming along, and she is a great rebounder, but offensively and defensively she isn't ready to challenge starters like Russell can. Russell on the floor opens up 4 players, forces teams to pick their poision. Our offense is in the top 5 in the nation and it is largely 3 freshman, we need leadership on the floor not the bench...we are not stagnet, standing around, or unproductive in set offenses like in years past. If Russell gets in foul trouble that is likely to change. When the coaches talk about how smart, basketball IQ, she has...this is largely what they mean.Glory, and Izzy, like Russell could get their hands on every rebound, but learned not to get in foul trouble. Stanford's gym isn't the place to test the refs.She knows the importance of staying in the game. We lead nation in quite a few rebounding stats. Russell being double and triple boxed out is largely allowing lots of those rebounds

It's very hard for a big girl like Mercedes Russell to run 35 or more minutes. If Holly is going to play her this long she needs to call some timeout to let her rest some, and not at the 5 minutes mark. Because if she dose they will use it as the TV timeout. Holly needs to play Anastasia Hayes more because she gets to the foul line and Mercedes can get rest then also.

 

[teacherdean]

I agree, however Russell also knows, and I am sure the staff reminds her...win the war not the battle...meaning stay out of foul trouble we need you on the court not the bench. If refs are calling unfairly, be mindful of giving them the oppurtunity. If we are winning play smart rather than full tilt. Face it we have a huge drop off if she isnt on the court. Green is coming along, and she is a great rebounder, but offensively and defensively she isn't ready to challenge starters like Russell can. Russell on the floor opens up 4 players, forces teams to pick their poision. Our offense is in the top 5 in the nation and it is largely 3 freshman, we need leadership on the floor not the bench...we are not stagnet, standing around, or unproductive in set offenses like in years past. If Russell gets in foul trouble that is likely to change. When the coaches talk about how smart, basketball IQ, she has...this is largely what they mean.Glory, and Izzy, like Russell could get their hands on every rebound, but learned not to get in foul trouble. Stanford's gym isn't the place to test the refs.She knows the importance of staying in the game. We lead nation in quite a few rebounding stats. Russell being double and triple boxed out is largely allowing lots of those rebounds

While we need Russell to stay out of foul trouble she still needs to be aggressive on the boards. She still needs to blockout. She cannot slow down her power to control the boards and become a spectator. Glory and Izzy were very aggressive ball players. By this time in her career Russell should have the ability to avoid silly fouls. I find it difficult to believe coaches are telling Russell not to be aggressive or not to blockout because she might commit a foul. Green is not Russell but she has held her own when on the court. If you will notice Russell , when she is aggressive, seldom gets into foul trouble.

 

[Chitownvol1129]

I get your point. I wasn't meaning to say they are telling her not to be aggressive, they are reminding her to play smart. A decoy can draw two or three blockouts and Davis and Nared are more than capable of cleaning up the glass. Russell's presence on Defense is under appreciated. She needs to stay on the floor. She doesn't have to play every minute but 30 in big games is vital.

 

[Coach Jumper]

While we need Russell to stay out of foul trouble she still needs to be aggressive on the boards. She still needs to blockout. She cannot slow down her power to control the boards and become a spectator. Glory and Izzy were very aggressive ball players. By this time in her career Russell should have the ability to avoid silly fouls. I find it difficult to believe coaches are telling Russell not to be aggressive or not to blockout because she might commit a foul. Green is not Russell but she has held her own when on the court. If you will notice Russell , when she is aggressive, seldom gets into foul trouble.

Why are you on her? She has changed her game philosophy so ...numbers aren't as important as a championship run is. She is doing what needs to be done when she is in there instead of chasing numbers....Why you trippin?

Don't you see the results of team vision?.

Don't rain on the storm.!

 

[madtownvol]

While we need Russell to stay out of foul trouble she still needs to be aggressive on the boards. She still needs to blockout. She cannot slow down her power to control the boards and become a spectator. Glory and Izzy were very aggressive ball players. By this time in her career Russell should have the ability to avoid silly fouls. I find it difficult to believe coaches are telling Russell not to be aggressive or not to blockout because she might commit a foul. Green is not Russell but she has held her own when on the court. If you will notice Russell , when she is aggressive, seldom gets into foul trouble.

Russell, Nared, and Davis are all averaging over 8 rebounds a game, with MR being just under 9. That is 25 rebounds coming from the front line. The LVs are a good rebounding TEAM. Nared and Davis get a lot of rebounds by coming in from the perimeter and they have open lanes because opponents have their proverbial hands full keeping MR off the boards.

If MR started pushing through these double team box outs, she likely would pick up fouls. Her body type and degree of quickness is completely different from Johnson and Harrison. Johnson was an elite long jumper/sprinter in HS and Izzy was a very agile 6-4 player. Mercedes is more of a classic wide body post and she just can't nimbly dance through block outs, though Davis and Nared can and do. You might as well be complaining that MR does not drive into the lane like Hayes.

People have been complaining about MR's lack of aggressiveness since she arrived on campus. She is not an explosive player and never will be (that is the roll of the genetic dice). That lack of fast-twitch muscle explosiveness is being confused for a lack of "aggressiveness."

However, MR has become a good shot blocker, a consistent post scorer with a wonderfully delicate touch, an excellent passer, and she now runs the floor fairly well all at 6'6.

I think she has become a better all-round player than Kelly Cain who was another LV 6-6 wide body post and the more relevant comparison.

 

[Coach Jumper]

russell, nared, and davis are all averaging over 8 rebounds a game, with mr being just under 9. That is 25 rebounds coming from the front line. The lvs are a good rebounding team. Nared and davis get a lot of rebounds by coming in from the perimeter and they have open lanes because opponents have their proverbial hands full keeping mr off the boards.

If mr starting pushing through these double team box outs, she likely would pick up fouls. Her body type and degree of quickness is completely different from johnson and harrison. Johnson was an elite long jumper/sprinter in hs and izzy was a very agile 6-4 player. Mercedes is more of a classic wide body post and she just can't nimbly dance through block outs, though davis and nared can and do. You might as well be complaining that mr does not drive into the lane like hayes.

People have been complaining about mr's lack of aggressiveness since she arrived on campus. She is not an explosive player and never will be (that is the roll of the genetic dice). That lack of fast-twitch muscle explosiveness is being confused for a lack of "aggressiveness."

however, mr has become a good shot blocker, a consistent post scorer with a wonderfully delicate touch, an excellent passer, and she now runs the floor fairly well all at 6'6.

I think she has become a better all-round player than kelly cain who was another lv 6-6 wide body post and the more relevant comparison.

i support this post!

 

[NoBackBoard]

However, MR has become a good shot blocker, a consistent post scorer with a wonderfully delicate touch, an excellent passer, and she now runs the floor fairly well all at 6'6.

I will have to disagree with your assertion that Russell is an excellent passer. It is simply not true. When I watch Lady Vol games, when Russell is double-teamed she has a tough time passing the ball to open teammates. There are generally open teammates on the wing or in the left corner but she never looks behind her or to her peripheral to find them.

The coaches rave about her being an excellent passer, but the numbers don’t support it. Russell’s career high in assists is 3. In half of our games this season (6), she hasn’t recorded a single assist.

As much as I hate to do this, UConn’s Stephanie Dolson was truly an excellent passing post. Her college career high in assists was 11.

It seems like coaches and fans throw around words like “excellent” and “great” with no actual numbers to back it up.

 

[LadyVol1908]

I will have to disagree with your assertion that Russell is an excellent passer. It is simply not true. When I watch Lady Vol games, when Russell is double-teamed she has a tough time passing the ball to open teammates. There are generally open teammates on the wing or in the left corner but she never looks behind her or to her peripheral to find them.

The coaches rave about her being an excellent passer, but the numbers don’t support it. Russell’s career high in assists is 3. In half of our games this season (6), she hasn’t recorded a single assist.

As much as I hate to do this, UConn’s Stephanie Dolson was truly an excellent passing post. Her college career high in assists was 11.

It seems like coaches and fans throw around words like “excellent” and “great” with no actual numbers to back it up.

Whew! I’m glad I’m not the only one that’s noticed this. When Russell gets doubled team it seems like she NEVER hits the open player. I’ve seen this wayyyyyy to many times!

 

[Amb3096]

I think that some of us are not remembering in years past when we were so committed to passing inside that we passed up good shots. When the shot was not there we forced up a bad shot or committed a turnover. Many times when it was difficult to get the ball inside we put up a lot of desperation outside shots which produced a lot of bricks. At this point the offense has more rhythm than in years past. We certainly do more slashing which puts pressure on the opponents’ defense. Our outside shoting is so much better than before.

On the rebounding issue, Russell needs to be more aggressive on both ends of the court. A lot of times when her teammates are fighting for rebounds, Russell is a spectator. She also allows smaller players to take the ball away from her. In the Stanford game during the last few minutes, Russell became aggressive and she got rebounds. Russell has the skill set to control a game from beginning to end.

A large part of that was due to having a lot of ball handlers who were not confident shooting the ball. Reynolds and Carter were mostly useless in this regard, as was Burdick for the first 3 1/2 years of her career as a Lady Vol.

Having players who are quick to pull the trigger when the defense leaves them open makes Russell that much more dangerous because teams cannot afford to cheat off a perimeter player to go double MR, and there are very few players that can guard her 1-on-1.

 

[Ladyvol777]

A large part of that was due to having a lot of ball handlers who were not confident shooting the ball. Reynolds and Carter were mostly useless in this regard, as was Burdick for the first 3 1/2 years of her career as a Lady Vol.

Having players who are quick to pull the trigger when the defense leaves them open makes Russell that much more dangerous because teams cannot afford to cheat off a perimeter player to go double MR, and there are very few players that can guard her 1-on-1.

I love Burdick all 4 years.

 

[Pat4life]

I'm not going to speak for anyone but my impressions are that P4L has always been a team supporter and stood by the staff when every other poster was calling for a coaching ouster. Everyone expresses themselves differently but I never considered P4L a nega.

I laugh at them Rickster. Like I'm really argue on message boards. I block. Aint no body got time for that. Drama free zone.

I back Pat and roll with Holly! Beep! Beep. :rock:

I think some people are confusing touches and shot attempts.

Now, personally, watching the games, I would like for both to increase. Right now, Russell is averaging 10 shot attempts a game, and probably 12-15 touches a game, she only has 8 assists and 17 turnovers, 128 shot attempts and 81 made baskets so far the season.

Teaira Mccown shot attempts 157.

Mercedes needs more touches and shots, she's shooting 63%. Her getting more touches and shot attempts, can come more easily with these guards, and I think in SEC play it will. We want the best shot on offense. :clapping:

If Mercedes touches the ball 25% of the time or 50% of the time down the floor, she's an All American and our offense will be better. :thumbsup:

Mercedes, offensive boards is another way to get more touches and shots attempts. ijs eace2:

The rebounds numbers are a lil off, because of the level of our competition, having those rebounding numbers going forward would be impressive, not to say I'm not impress. lol

I back Pat and roll with Holly!

 

[Pat4life]

We have taken 198 3 (threes) and made 66 so far this season, shooting 33%.

That's where Mercedes extra shot attempts or touches can come from and her crashing the offensive boards. ijs

I back Pat and roll with Holly!