diggerfoot
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When Samuelson commented that you could expect a pass from Dangerfield when she was not looking at you, it brought me back to a comment made about Bird by Auriemma, saying much the same thing. Of course, at the time he was saying it with his customary sarcasm, really implying that it was occasionally OK for your teammates to be expecting a pass, but the similarities yet underscored the differences between then and now.
Bird was not the only no-look passer back then, Taurasi was as well. Abrosimova also threw the occasional no-look pass. Taurasi in particular created a problem as a freshmen, similar to what Scoop reported about Magic Johnson, in that her teammates really had to learn that a pass from Taurasi could be coming at any time, from any where.
We've had some great passers since, then including Williams and Samuelson for the present, but Dangerfield really is the first guard since Taurasi to have that no-look ability to yet thread the needle. I think it was oldude who suggested Dangerfield is a cross between Jefferson and Bird. Until her defense becomes closer to Jefferson's (and it may be getting there), I see Dangerfield as simply like Bird.
This brings to mind something else about assists then and now. Our A/T ratios seems to have improved over time as a whole. 2:1 used to be the gold standard. Now that's h0-hum for this team. When a player nears 3:1 is when it's worth taking notice. I think there might be a few reasons for that, where the invitation for discussion comes in.
1. We have more 40+% shooters on one team than in the old days. A pass to a 3 point shooter is a much easier assist than in the post, much less likely to end up as a turnover.
2. I think the coaches and system have continued to improve over time, with efficiencies and other performance related stats improving over time as well.
3. We have not had the concentration of no-look, thread the needle passers that happened in succession with Abrosimova/Bird/Taurasi. Their fantastic skill yet increases the odds for turnovers.
The question now is how will Dangerfield fit into that lineage. Being a throwback to those previous passers, yet in a system that seems to feature more perimeter assists and better efficiencies than back then, will her A/T look more like Bird's and Taurasi's? Or more like Jefferson's, Chong's, Samuelson's, Williams, etc. etc.?
Bird was not the only no-look passer back then, Taurasi was as well. Abrosimova also threw the occasional no-look pass. Taurasi in particular created a problem as a freshmen, similar to what Scoop reported about Magic Johnson, in that her teammates really had to learn that a pass from Taurasi could be coming at any time, from any where.
We've had some great passers since, then including Williams and Samuelson for the present, but Dangerfield really is the first guard since Taurasi to have that no-look ability to yet thread the needle. I think it was oldude who suggested Dangerfield is a cross between Jefferson and Bird. Until her defense becomes closer to Jefferson's (and it may be getting there), I see Dangerfield as simply like Bird.
This brings to mind something else about assists then and now. Our A/T ratios seems to have improved over time as a whole. 2:1 used to be the gold standard. Now that's h0-hum for this team. When a player nears 3:1 is when it's worth taking notice. I think there might be a few reasons for that, where the invitation for discussion comes in.
1. We have more 40+% shooters on one team than in the old days. A pass to a 3 point shooter is a much easier assist than in the post, much less likely to end up as a turnover.
2. I think the coaches and system have continued to improve over time, with efficiencies and other performance related stats improving over time as well.
3. We have not had the concentration of no-look, thread the needle passers that happened in succession with Abrosimova/Bird/Taurasi. Their fantastic skill yet increases the odds for turnovers.
The question now is how will Dangerfield fit into that lineage. Being a throwback to those previous passers, yet in a system that seems to feature more perimeter assists and better efficiencies than back then, will her A/T look more like Bird's and Taurasi's? Or more like Jefferson's, Chong's, Samuelson's, Williams, etc. etc.?
