Russell handled the Baylor Bigs?!?!?!?

[Ed Weeks]

Over rated talent is reflected in the on court performance, ranking, and W-L record. As for "team" chemistry, well, just watch the body language.

 

[Rixxx]

Mercedes works hard with the talent she possesses. It is a shame that a coach or Mercedes herself have not increased her skill level. I have not seen the footwork that would create a shot based on what the defense is giving her. I do not ever see a left handed put back. Her hook shot seems to come from her right shoulder and can be easily blocked. That shot needs more finesse and a higher release point. The lack of "alley oops" indicates weak hands and upper body strength, or the right passer on the team to get her the ball in that manner. She should be on the receiving end of that play numerous times a game. (Not numerous times per quarter)
I think if Mercedes has pro ambitions, she will be back at Tenn. next year for more development. Right now, IMHO, she is a second round draft pick if she goes pro in 2017.

 

[LVJeff]

Mercedes works hard with the talent she possesses. It is a shame that a coach or Mercedes herself have not increased her skill level. I have not seen the footwork that would create a shot based on what the defense is giving her. I do not ever see a left handed put back. Her hook shot seems to come from her right shoulder and can be easily blocked. That shot needs more finesse and a higher release point. The lack of "alley oops" indicates weak hands and upper body strength, or the right passer on the team to get her the ball in that manner. She should be on the receiving end of that play numerous times a game. (Not numerous times per quarter)
I think if Mercedes has pro ambitions, she will be back at Tenn. next year for more development. Right now, IMHO, she is a second round draft pick if she goes pro in 2017.

Mercedes' most serious physical failing is lack of mobility and agility which you note in your "footwork" comment. Compare her movement with someone like Isabelle Harrison - it's night to day. I'm not sure this will improve much.

 

[Pat4life]

How much of our problems do you attribute to the players refusing to call one another out? They barely talk on the court, which may be a factor in their lack of chemistry on the offensive and defensive sides.

Lack of communication, is like the water that keeps a ship afloat, that's a huge problem for any team, effort and communication has been this team achilles heels for two years, a TEAM, begins with communication, and of course effort.

One might say, communication is the game of basketball (see and not every player can play, read, and talk, most can do two of the three, especially at a fast pace, the ones that does them all well, are usually All Americans (if talented)or the leaders on their team).

If this team communicated and played with effort, all five players, we wouldn't look bad, but that's a lack of focus, especially if u do it in practice and not in games, or maybe its not emphasized in practice enough; we don't know.

So yes communication is huge, see mentally weak players don't talk when they're tired, they get beat off the dribble again and again, when they miss a basket, they don't get back on defense, or take their time to run the offense, and when things aren't going right, they clam up, other team gotta em, as soon as we saw a team get quiet, we knew we won, I can take a less talented team that talks and compete, 8 out of 10 times, we would beat a quiet talented team.

Scenario #1

If the Lady vols don't talk on court, our players are not able to be make their own adjustments (play basketball) real time, on the court, instead of having to rely on a foul or dead ball, which could mean a double digit lead. Holly time out usage needs to improve.

And when you have lack of communication, you don't have a team, u just have five players, throwing the ball around to each other, a team that talks, they attack (they get the best shot possible on offense), and talk their defense (Middleton she's quick, give her the three she shoots 25%, give her space). We talk the game plan the whole game, every huddle, every break, we reaffirming our goals on offense and defense throughout the game, its reassuring.

In the game of sports, most teams knows what the other team wants to do or likes to do and by communicating, you are letting that team know, you know. lol And that they are gonna have to beat the Lady Vols doing something different, something else. Communication in basketball is basketball, in any sport or business.

But its Holly's job to create and promote an environment, that communication and effort is Lady Vols basketball, and that whats separates Championships team from underachieving teams. She has to demand excellence, and since she's not demanding it, the players are giving her what they want cos her communication prolly is poor.

Scenario 2:

If Diamond and Nared aint talking, and Holly confirmed she didn't know what was going on with this team, Holly has to grab her top players Mercedes, Diamond, and Nared, aye ladies wtf is going on, Diamond is there anything u want to say to Nared, Nared is there anything u need to say to Diamond,Mercedes is there anything you want to say to Diamond, ladies let's clear the air, and wins some basketball games. Holly has to listen and not talk.

If the players aren't being real and honest and communicating with each other about their effort and play (offensively and defensively), the Elite 8 will be our max and and SEC titles will be a thing of the past.

Holly's gotta figure it out. See, I think she can, she has to find a way to convey effort and communication to her team as to where they get it. As a coach, you would think the losses, would do that. You think, that the worse record in school history last year would do that. :loco:

 

[governmentmule]

Russell could benefit from weight lifting and better coaching. She needs to be aggressive from the start of the game until the end. I think that she has the tools to be a much better player.[/QUOTE]

she would do better if she had some more weight,but she is doing a great job now

and i'm like you,i think she can be much better,she is finally healthy and I think we will see significant improvement in her game this year

 

[gule]

Free Holly!

 

[lvocd]

Mercedes' most serious physical failing is lack of mobility and agility which you note in your "footwork" comment. Compare her movement with someone like Isabelle Harrison - it's night to day. I'm not sure this will improve much.

Russell's (obviously) majority slow-twitch muscle fibers are her bugaboo.

 

[Pat4life]

Mercedes' most serious physical failing is lack of mobility and agility which you note in your "footwork" comment. Compare her movement with someone like Isabelle Harrison - it's night to day. I'm not sure this will improve much.

Yes, I think she's only going to get better and better.
She wants to be good.

Another off season will do her a world of good to increase her mobility, agility and which means she needs stronger legs, make the squat rack your friend Cedes, her upper body is nice, a sturdier base is all I see is needed, well and skill work.

The more she plays, the better she will get. She haven't even showed her face up game, our guards are playing so bad, their spacing is horrible, which don't give her enough room to work, our guards players wont' defend them but they all would dig down on Mercedes, and its her fault her guards lacks confidence to make something happen.

Keep playing Mercedes, the double/double records for Juniors is 18. Let's go Slay!