Nothing From KML?

[hjoerring]

You make too much sense for some other people to follow.

Your response forces me to querry about Stewart and Lloyd. I don't remember them being so good in college. Yes, they were excellent players, but look at them in the WNBA! They are beyond themselves. Suddenly, the bigger stage has given them the opportunity to do what they could only think about at Uconn/ND. And so it is. KML will have to reinvent herself one way or another.

 

[CocoHusky]

The suggestion that it's such a big jump from college to the WNBA, and that KML just can't be expected to make such a big jump and perform well, or even get into the game for more than a few minutes, flies in the face of the performance of almost every other UConn Husky to enter the WNBA.

It is not a mere "suggestion" that there is a big jump from college to the WNBA-this is a fact. It is the fact that there is a jump which presents the possibility that some cannot make the jump. Success at UCONN does not equal success in the WNBA because ...there is a jump.
I think KML might be most insulted by some of what is being suggested here, namely that she is entitled to more playing time because she is a high draft pick, with UCONN pedigree, playing on a lousy team. Me thinks KML would want to earn her playing time. She is a Blue blooded UCONN Husky!

 

[triaddukefan]

I can't recall a single AA coming out of Connecticut who has waited for six or seven years to perform. Not one. And the Big Three entering the WNBA this year are major stars less than ten games in. So the suggestion that KML should wait for years to "develop" into a performer makes no sense.

Her team is letting her down. Time for a trade. She should demand one.

I dont think a player getting the 8th most playing time on a team is in a position to demand a trade. If she follows your suggestion.. she might end up getting cut.

 

[DaddyChoc]

who is the Storm's coach... Anne Donovan?

 

[OldAlum]

Seattle should have been well aware of KML's "shortcomings". They chose to draft her, so I would have thought they had some plan to use her talents. And no matter how she conditions and loses weight she will never be quick compared to many other players. She might improve but I doubt it will be a substantial difference. She has a post type body with a guard type height. But having watched a good bit of WNBA this year, I have seen a number of players with more glaring issues getting more PT. I still think she can make valuable contributions in the right situation. I would like to see Seattle give her more opportunity get going in games - especially since they are losing anyway! Sitting on the bench she is just losing value even as trade bait.

 

[baggerbob]

Last year, I posted a comment about Storm head coach Jenny Boucek's minimal use of KML, and how odd it seemed, given that first round draft picks usually get more than an occasional brief insert during games.
If you remember, Kaleena got very little playing time during the first 2/3 of the season. After the Storm had been officially eliminated from post season consideration, her minutes increased. I suggested at that time that perhaps it was a mistake for Seattle to have drafted her, and perhaps she would do better with another franchise. That observation was met with several opposing comments and counter takes.

The Boneyard consensus at that time was that her weight (which was never an issue at UConn, or here in the yard) and her inability to play defense at an acceptable level, were thought to be the main stumbling blocks to her getting more floor minutes.
Fast forward to today. After spending a season overseas, and having time to condition her body for the rigors of professional play, one would think season two would be radically different. Not so. Through 10 games this season (following stats were taken from the official Storm web site), Mosqueda-Lewis has appeared (through yesterday) in 10 games off the bench, averaging 11.2 minutes, shooting 33% from the floor, 20.8% from beyond the arc, 71.4 % in free throws.

Kaleena has been, and remains a developing roll player to this point. Whereas other first round draft picks Jewel Loyd and Breanna Stewart have established themselves as frontline players, and moved into the starting lineup. Why has KML not flourished at the next level as many of her "first round draft pick" contemporaries? Did the Storm make a mistake in their assessment of her? Is the coaching staff ill prepared/equipped to develop her, and bring her along? Are they misusing her? Has she not being given a fair chance of getting more floor time? Is she a bust? On draft day a year ago, she burst onto the scene with lots of media fanfare and rousing cheers from their fan base. Bringing her and Loyd into the program gave Storm fans a sense of hope, pride and a wealth of unbridled optimism. Fade to black. What happened? What's going on here? Will she forever be relegated to an off the bench "support" roll?, or do her potential fortunes lay with another team?

I have watched all 12 games, and I am getting tired of seeing Alysha Clark playing 28+ minutes a game and doing nothing. She cost them the game against the sun, it was her player that wasn't boxed out. Alysha doesn't rebound, pass the ball for assists, get steals, block shots, or score well, and doesn't appear to play defense very well. Jewell is getting as many rebounds as Alysha a starting forward, and that shouldn't be happening. Sue has almost as many rebounds, that shows you why the Storm gets beaten badly on the boards every night even with Stewie. I'm not impressed with Seattle's coach, she seems in over her head.

 

[mkwstar23]

was at the Dallas game Thursday night...KML wore it out in warm ups, same great stroke...however she is way out of shape...think that keeps her off the floor as much as anything...also i don't think that Seattle beyond Stewie is very good...they are to inconsistent...once Loyd and her become more consistent they will be much stronger...hate to say it but Bird is approaching the end of her incredible career..i think until KML gets motivated to condition herself better she will struggle for minutes again good defensive guards...if she does get in shape has the potential to be an all star

 

[mkwstar23]

I have watched all 12 games, and I am getting tired of seeing Alysha Clark playing 28+ minutes a game and doing nothing. She cost them the game against the sun, it was her player that wasn't boxed out. Alysha doesn't rebound, pass the ball for assists, get steals, block shots, or score well, and doesn't appear to play defense very well. Jewell is getting as many rebounds as Alysha a starting forward, and that shouldn't be happening. Sue has almost as many rebounds, that shows you why the Storm gets beaten badly on the boards every night even with Stewie. I'm not impressed with Seattle's coach, she seems in over her head.

after watching them in person against Dallas i think that Boucek is part of the problems...they don't rebound well and they are weak defensively...just a thought

 

[Aluminny69]

The suggestion that it's such a big jump from college to the WNBA, and that KML just can't be expected to make such a big jump and perform well, or even get into the game for more than a few minutes, flies in the face of the performance of almost every other UConn Husky to enter the WNBA. Look at this year's UConn picks: Tuck is now a starter and playing well; Moriah is a bona fide star; Breanna is the class of the league;

While this may be true, the big three are not doing enough to get their respective teams out of the bottom 3 in the league. ( at this point.) They are a combined 8 wins and 26 losses! I would guess this is more losses than a combined total of losses in their previous career. Just an observation. OTOH, Kiah Stokes was fortunate to be on a team that finished in first place, in her first year in the league.

 

[Fairfield Fan]

It is not a mere "suggestion" that there is a big jump from college to the WNBA-this is a fact. It is the fact that there is a jump which presents the possibility that some cannot make the jump. Success at UCONN does not equal success in the WNBA because ...there is a jump.
I think KML might be most insulted by some of what is being suggested here, namely that she is entitled to more playing time because she is a high draft pick, with UCONN pedigree, playing on a lousy team. Me thinks KML would want to earn her playing time. She is a Blue blooded UCONN Husky!

In fact, "success at UConn" means, almost without exception, "success" in the WNBA. Today, 12 of the 14 UConn alumnae are ranked in the top half of all WNBA players in scoring. The two exceptions are the former All-American KML and Kelly Faris. The latter never was much of a scorer, yet she's still playing extensively now. Even Ketia Swanier played major minutes, though I doubt many felt she would be a great professional. So KML really sticks out for her lack of playing time.

So let's put aside this silly argument about KML's not playing or performing because of the "jump" from college to the pros. Every UConn alumna makes that jump, and almost seamlessly.

I think we should be questioning the coach. If she felt that KML was out of shape, or not fit for the pro game, then why in the world, out of all of those great college players, would Seattle select her fourth in the draft? Why would a floundering team like Seattle waste their first round choice on KML if they had doubts? And having made that selection, why in the world wouldn't they make use of her? Or else, if there are conditioning issues, do what's necessary in training camp to get her up to their standards?

This isn't on KML; this is on the had coach and the front office. They're the ones who need to explain themselves. I've got to think that Seattle fans would like to hear a full explanation of this situation as well.

And if they haven't explained it to KML, then she should ask for a trade. Will she wind up without a team? So what? She's making good money in Europe (and performing well) with Flammes Carolo. Lots of kids skip the WNBA, or rest their bodies instead. KML?

 

[malevocalist#]

I badly want KML to succeed. Great personality, exciting player when she's clicking on all cylinders. And yes, it may be that some other coach will see more value in her than Seattle's does. But even before she set foot in the WNBA, I had a feeling that she needed to improve. I never thought that she would simply be able to move up, and all the stuff she was capable of doing in college would immediately translate.

She needs to increase her agility, which is accomplished by becoming stronger relative to her bodyweight (through some combination of weight training, weight loss, clean eating, etc.). If she can't accomplish this, her ceiling is "specialist role player." I don't think KML entered the league with the ambition of becoming a role player. And in general, the WNBA and its roster limits are not friendly to specialist role players.

I think KML is strong-willed, and this has served her well as a basketball player. But now I think she needs to train that strong will in a direction that maybe she hasn't felt the need to prioritize before. After several years of struggling to get minutes, and struggling to do anything with them when she does, I think that the reality of what she needs to do is now staring her in the face. I will be watching hopefully to see if she can do it. She wouldn't be the first youngster to struggle for years, before finally figuring it out down the road.

Great post indeed.

 

[baggerbob]

Just a further remark on the coaching, in that last game Clark played 24 1/2 minutes and got 0 rebound, and 2 points.

 

[mkwstar23]

While this may be true, the big three are not doing enough to get their respective teams out of the bottom 3 in the league. ( at this point.) They are a combined 8 wins and 26 losses! I would guess this is more losses than a combined total of losses in their previous career. Just an observation. OTOH, Kiah Stokes was fortunate to be on a team that finished in first place, in her first year in the league.

all things being what they are...Stokes would have been a better choice at #3 for the Storm than KML has been simply because she can rebound and score near the basket...something no one but Stewie can do right now

 

[malevocalist#]

While this may be true, the big three are not doing enough to get their respective teams out of the bottom 3 in the league. ( at this point.) They are a combined 8 wins and 26 losses! I would guess this is more losses than a combined total of losses in their previous career. Just an observation. OTOH, Kiah Stokes was fortunate to be on a team that finished in first place, in her first year in the league.

If I am not mistaking, didn't the Big 3 just arrived? And haven't they already shown flashes from time to time what they are capable of? And does the future looks brite for the Big 3? It most definitely does to me.

The Big 3 has done more in a short period of time than what KML - was not permitted to do - in her 2nd year in the league.

And no I do not blame KLM's situation on her alleged inabilities. But I blame her ability to perform effectively on the decision of the coach and lack of playing time.

If Geno found ways to motivate and put her in a position to contribute, why can't the Seattle coach do the same? Not Geno.

How is your team benefiting leaving one of the hottest and dangerous shooters out of college last year on the bench?

You can't teach screens effectively? You selected her with the 3rd pick to shine the bench rather blossom? Really?

And that's what piss me off the most. Not KML....But The coaching staff instabilities to build the team as a whole effectively as one unit.

I know she is frustrated. I been in that spot. Knowing what your capable of but not being afforded the full opportunity to prove it. But proved it I did. And so shall she with the right team if not with Seattle.

You'll be alright kid. Keep the Faith. Maintained That Inner Fire & Strong desire To Successfully succeed.

 

[DaddyChoc]

Kelly and KML are tweener in the W... very few are successful.

all the other UConn alum are post or have good dribbling (guard-like) skills

 

[mkwstar23]

If I am not mistaking, didn't the Big 3 just arrived? And haven't they already shown flashes from time to time what they are capable of? And does the future looks brite for the Big 3? It most definitely does to me.

The Big 3 has done more in a short period of time than what KML - was not permitted to do - in her 2nd year in the league.

And no I do not blame KLM's situation on her alleged inabilities. But I blame her ability to perform effectively on the decision of the coach and lack of playing time.

If Geno found ways to motivate and put her in a position to contribute, why can't the Seattle coach do the same? Not Geno.

How is your team benefiting leaving one of the hottest and dangerous shooters out of college last year on the bench?

You can't teach screens effectively? You selected her with the 3rd pick to shine the bench rather blossom? Really?

And that's what piss me off the most. Not KML....But The coaching staff instabilities to build the team as a whole effectively as one unit.

I know she is frustrated. I been in that spot. Knowing what your capable of but not being afforded the full opportunity to prove it. But proved it I did. And so shall she with the right team if not with Seattle.

You'll be alright kid. Keep the Faith. Maintained That Inner Fire & Strong desire To Successfully succeed.

i agree with you in that KML seems to lack confidence and perhaps positive reinforcement might help her too...lot more to being a good than just X & O's...you have to know what makes each player tick...Bird at times seems to do more coaching than Boucek

 

[DaddyChoc]

i agree with you in that KML seems to lack confidence and perhaps positive reinforcement might help her too...lot more to being a good than just X & O's...you have to know what makes each player tick...Bird at times seems to do more coaching than Boucek

really... how does everyone else get it except KML

 

[CocoHusky]

So let's put aside this silly argument about KML's not playing or performing because of the "jump" from college to the pros. Every UConn alumna makes that jump, and almost seamlessly.

I think we should be questioning the coach. If she felt that KML was out of shape, or not fit for the pro game, then why in the world, out of all of those great college players, would Seattle select her fourth in the draft? Why would a floundering team like Seattle waste their first round choice on KML if they had doubts? And having made that selection, why in the world wouldn't they make use of her? Or else, if there are conditioning issues, do what's necessary in training camp to get her up to their standards?

This isn't on KML; this is on the had coach and the front office. They're the ones who need to explain themselves. I've got to think that Seattle fans would like to hear a full explanation of this situation as well.

Speaking of questions, is this is the same coach/front office that drafted Stewie and Jewell and appear to be utilizing them correctly? Seattle would not be the first organization that made a mistake on a high draft pick. Some of this, certainly not all, has to be on KML.

 

[Fairfield Fan]

The latest I've found about KML in France was this from USA Basketball (USA National Team Update (1/14/16)):

"Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis is suiting up for Flammes Carolo in Charleville, France and, has helped her team to a 7-4 mark in French league play, including a 74-63 victory this past week over COB Calais (3-9). She is currently averaging 10.6 ppg."

Anyone else know how the European season went? In any case, she seemed to be a strong performer in Europe over the winter.

 

[baggerbob]

Speaking of questions, is this is the same coach/front office that drafted Stewie and Jewell and appear to be utilizing them correctly? Seattle would not be the first organization that made a mistake on a high draft pick. Some of this, certainly not all, has to be on KML.

If you watched the 12 games, and feel that Stewie, and Jewell are being used correctly, you have watched different games. There have been many times during games where either Stewie, or Jewell have gone long periods without touching the ball on offense. Even the Storm announcers have wondered at times why Stewie hasn't been given the ball in the post against a smaller defender?

 

[mkwstar23]

really... how does everyone else get it except KML

not sure i know what you mean...what does she not get?

 

[mkwstar23]

If you watched the 12 games, and feel that Stewie, and Jewell are being used correctly, you have watched different games. There have been many times during games where either Stewie, or Jewell have gone long periods without touching the ball on offense. Even the Storm announcers have wondered at times why Stewie hasn't been given the ball in the post against a smaller defender?

part of the problem is that the Storm do not screen well...hard to get mismatches if you can't screen and cause switches...again a coaching thing and a lack of effort thing...just my opinion

 

[mkwstar23]

just an opinion but i think the Storm are going to have make a trade or two or sign a free agent or a foreign player with size and can score with their back to the backet, then it will free up space for Stewie and Langhorne to move thru the lane and Loyd can become the slashing scorer she can be...

 

[Husky pride]

Interesting. Two years into the pros with limited playing time and some have already written KML off as not WNBA player material.

 

[CocoHusky]

If you watched the 12 games, and feel that Stewie, and Jewell are being used correctly, you have watched different games. There have been many times during games where either Stewie, or Jewell have gone long periods without touching the ball on offense. Even the Storm announcers have wondered at times why Stewie hasn't been given the ball in the post against a smaller defender?

I have not watched all 12 games nor would it take 12 games for me to determine if Jewell and Stewie are being utilized correctly-they are. Just so I understand, KML is not being utilized (not enough minutes) Jewell and Stewie are not being utilized correctly (not enough touches or post ups). How is Sue Bird making out this season?