Aubrey Griffin

[CocoHusky]

Highly speculative and way too premature concerning Paige's defensive potential in my estimation. Defense is not all length and athleticism. I contend that basketball intelligence and anticipation are at least equally important. Based on those two coupled with her 5"11" height and good foot speed I venture to say that Paige will be a very good, not just adequate, UCONN defender.

It is all speculative and definitely not premature. As a self proclaimed defensive bigot I would agree that defense is not all about length and athleticism of which Paige has plenty of both. Defense is mostly about desire and technique. Defense also requires lateral quickness and this is slightly different than foot speed. Paige is a gifted offensive player and being an adequate UCONN defender should not to be so easily overlooked. This thread is about Aubrey and by comparison I don't think Paige will be a game changing defender like Faris, Jefferson, or Nurse that you can assign to perimeter players like Skylar Diggins, Courtney Williams, Kelsey Mitchell, ,Michaela Mabrey or Asia Durr and literally change the game with just defense. Aubrey might just be that kind of player.

 

[Alydar]

Not really. Paige will be a max effort & adequate UCONN defender but not of the ilk of Aubrey, Mir, Edwards and even Nika.

I think you are wrong there. I watch every game that's streamed and her defense is really solid. She has a knack for anticipating passes and has quick feet and hands. I know all we see in videos is her offense but she is a complete player, right now.

 

[Kaizen]

I think you are wrong there. I watch every game that's streamed and her defense is really solid. She has a knack for anticipating passes and has quick feet and hands. I know all we see in videos is her offense but she is a complete player, right now.

I think Griffin and Anna and Paige will make a great triangle three next year.

She's Ranked #1 For A Reason!! Paige Bueckers DOMINATES The Summer!

 

[CocoHusky]

I think you are wrong there. I watch every game that's streamed and her defense is really solid. She has a knack for anticipating passes and has quick feet and hands. I know all we see in videos is her offense but she is a complete player, right now.

I watched every game also. You are correct she is a "solid defender" in HS and at USA basketball=Adequate UCONN defender. Nothing wrong with that. She is however NOT among the elite defenders in this class.

 

[CocoHusky]

I think Griffin and Anna and Paige will make a great triangle three next year.
She's Ranked #1 For A Reason!! Paige Bueckers DOMINATES The Summer!

Christyn Williams taking the year off?

 

[Kaizen]

Christyn Williams taking the year off?

Adding Christyn will be terrific four, then Megan and Liv will be impossible six ...

 

[EricSD]

I think Griffin and Anna and Paige will make a great triangle three next year.

She's Ranked #1 For A Reason!! Paige Bueckers DOMINATES The Summer!

Did you mean rectangle? Add in Williams!

 

[MilfordHusky]

Paige Bueckers is a major thief. She gets in the passing lanes, anticipates well, and has VERY quick hands. For someone who doesn't have Gabby Williams athleticism, she is a terrific defender.

 

[Alydar]

I watched every game also. You are correct she is a "solid defender" in HS and at USA basketball=Adequate UCONN defender. Nothing wrong with that. She is however NOT among the elite defenders in this class.

No for that you need a player like Mir McClean. Oh, wait a second,

Coming in as an adequate college defender puts her ahead of all but maybe a dozen players. What I see that makes me certain that she will be a great defender in time is firstly her 6', long wingspan, quick footed and athletic body, and second her court vision/awareness that is constant and total. She is the same mentally at both ends of the court, fully engaged. And I think she has her goals set higher than a title, or 4. And to achieve success at the highest level she knows she has to get much better.

Sorry for rambling but I've been following her for 2 years. She is very special.

 

[Alydar]

Paige Bueckers is a major thief. She gets in the passing lanes, anticipates well, and has VERY quick hands. For someone who doesn't have Gabby Williams athleticism, she is a terrific defender.

I used to think she wasn't overly quick but I saw her move laterally with the ball last season and she has a side move like Saquan Barkley's (OK, maybe not that good). But lateral quickness is needed on defense. And remember she has another year to work.

 

[4ontheT]

Aubrey seems to have a quick first step past her defender and into the lane . The open space between her and the basket will close quickly on some of those drives with help defense . To avoid charge calls ... I trust that's she's thinking about when to just pull up and hit the short jumper ... including using the backboard . She kinda reminds me of Tiffany Hayes a little .

 

[Alydar]

Aubrey seems to have a quick first step past her defender and into the lane . The open space between her and the basket will close quickly on some of those drives with help defense . To avoid charge calls ... I trust that's she's thinking about when to just pull up and hit the short jumper ... including using the backboard . She kinda reminds me of Tiffany Hayes a little .

Both she and Walker seem to get to the hoop real quick.

 

[HuskylnSC]

Not really. Paige will be a max effort & adequate UCONN defender but not of the ilk of Aubrey, Mir, Edwards and even Nika.

Going by memory, and only seeing highlights, Paige's defense has been limited to jab steals of guards with high dribbles. Quick hands and feet, but not what you call great defense.