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Doggyd first off want to say I enjoy these discussions – no UCONN yet to talk about and these are basketball discussions. Hope you, icebear, Phil and of the others I have spoken with in the past and had disagreements such as Uconncat and anyone in the future don’t take my posts the wrong way. I’ll also add I had another screename a long time ago and you and I often agreed --and now I think we still often agree. And I want to reiterate here to icebear and Phil – please do NOT take what I say as any type of derogatory manner. If it does seem so let me know – not my intent.
DD- I can only post so much so when you say to me “you’re only looking at 8 minutes” it’ just an example that I can recall quickly in my head. Whatever is rattling around up there. For this post I’ll do a bit of a novel but in general I won’t/ can’t cite everything. Takes too long. Nor do I go write down plays in anticipation of what might be a subject on the boneyard so when I reference the game I can’t recall the specific Washington games/plays. Or the comments Geno made for example if his team had a weakness this past championship year it was rebounding among other things. It’s a summation of what I think – and I’m just giving brief examples. Too brief for you- okay. But they are just moments I can recall . I can’t jot done or remember everything. Anyhow- Phil differentiated himself from me when he said “he was at the game.” I differentiated from him saying I watched the 2nd half and listened to Peck who I agreed with and respect. I remember the play Phil remembers. I remember what Peck had to say (I wasn’t taking notes nor do I have a replay of the game. I saw how Canada attacked and it’s how I would envision a palyer like SD to be attacked and it’s how I feel she is attacked at Washington and the type of attack if a team – if they were good enough in college- which generally they weren’t – could expose. No player is perfect. And I also remember one play in the exhibition in which Chiney went by SD.IMO I wouldn’t remember it if I didn’t think there were other plays too. I can’t remember every play so I can only reference what I can reference- so when you say I’m only picking up 8 minutes her and a little with Washington it’s also what I’ve seen at UCONN and trying to project how she’ll do early on. Plus I make a projection she’ll be better that JL as time goes on. If I felt she had done real good things before or during those minutes I would have blown off her mistakes. But if you saw her play well with Washington – fine – I didn’t really see that. Her game has transitioned to WNBA as I thought. Struggle early but will become a fine player. Not a superstar.
And you’re right - – how can I make a judgment. Well the reason why I mentioned I saw SD only for a half (I didn’t mention I saw her a little in the USA Team exhibition), and at Washington is just for the reason you cite – then go ahead throw my opinion way. But imo that can be said for the many that now are projecting what Kia Nurse would be and many other projections posters make, wouldn’t it? IS there a timeline of too little to make an evaluation? I didn’t clock my view of SD as I watched her with Washington. Maybe it’s a little to some and others a lot because they rarely watch WNBA. I mean I’ve watched enough of the WNBA to see that JL had changed her game a bit in that she could face the basket. And more importantly as you cite some of us know more than the announcers – but I’ll add to that- sometimes we don’t but think we do. Anyhow, can’t most of us look back on the limited time we’ve seen a player in high school or before a player entered the WNBA -but we saw a ton at UCONN- and sometimes make a spot-on correct projection that others missed that may have seen her more? Here are a few of the projections I nailed over the years without much of a look:
I knew Dolson was a terrific recruit that was going to project very well. I read that she was the best center coming out of high school and I saw one brief video of her and I just knew it. I wouldn’t have bet top 5, I can remember I wasn’t that specific but I knew she was darn good. If you’ll recall on the old ESPN board you had Glen MaGrady talking about “going on the Magic bus” to watch her play metioning how good eh thought she was. I frequently thought Glen was wrong on many of his opinions but this one I agreed with him on.
Within the next several months you may recall that Brianna Banks had a terrific showing in the McD AA game. There were those such as Glen that thought after viewing that game that she should be among the top scorers on the team (the wow factor). There were quite a few that held that opinion. I disagreed with it for up to 3 reasons, one was she came up at UCONN known as a defender- we were/are a premiere team. Super teams like ours in your 1st or 2nd year you aren’t going to become a go-to scorer if your high school career you weren’t an elite offensive player. In a struggling era you might be. But we weren’t struggling. Secondly her outside shot didn’t seem that great/smooth and her slashing seemed a bit wild. Of course I can’t remember what exactly I said but I still picture that AA game and I value experience, always have, so without a year or 2 under a player’s belt, I’ll be a bit more skeptical unless you are KML type etc We all have certain things we value. Such as the poster I think you can recall - cth values “big guards.” There were those that thought Mel Thomas was a waste the 1st moment they saw her and continued with that philosophy. I didn’t. Not at all.
Kelly Faris. The moment I saw her at the McD game I knew she was a terrific catch. But I only had to watch her a little at the McD AA game to know that she wasn’t a pg. You may recall there were quite a few projecting her as a pg with one person in particular stating they saw her for nearly her entire high school career and he or she used the “I saw her a lot.” This person claimed without a doubt she is a pg. Well I saw her a little and I didn’t see a pg. I saw a wing that would be special in part because she could handle the ball very well. A wing with her handle is a strength.
Maya Moore – on the old espn board I can recall one poster which I regret I was rude too – that person is a very nice poster- we had different opinions of Maya’s position she should play. Once I saw that little stretch in that one tape that was being passed around - I knew she would be a terrific pf. The poster thought she was too small. That person’s opinion after watching her a lot in the summer was that she’d get abused on the boards. Just as kibitizer made note of a possibility of Team USA not necessarily having to have another truce center, I look at the pf as not necessarily have to be very tall. Whether it be Maya or anyone else in the future such as Collier. And I can say that about Collier with just the few minutes of watching her too.
Tiffany Hayes. Wasn’t it ridiculous she was picked in the 2nd round? We didn’t have to watch one second of the WNBA to know that she in no way should have been a 2nd round pick, right?
DD- I included these as a point that we don’t need to see a lot in some cases. I’ve been wrong a lot too- both on surprises to the good and bad. I don’t project every player. Many I have little to no idea. I just can’t believe that there aren’t some players you couldn’t predict after watching them for a short time. So when you say to me that I’ve only seen Dolson for so little – I say -----so what. Many of us do it, and I brought it up that I hadn’t seen her much thus I understand my opinion will be thrown away by many. So be it. I just feel that my opinion is correct and the above are examples of players as such I’ve been right about even though I’ve seen them so little before their jump to the next level.
Absolutely I could be wrong. It’s just my opinion. In this case I’d love to see her on the team. She can make it imo for the 3 reasons I cited in prior posts in my eyes. And maybe The Committee could wind up picking her for competently different reasons too. Heck maybe SD is dominating practices. None of us can really know that, right? So what’s the timeline of appropriate evaluation on here?
Two final points—if I see something in a game which I think is happening and an announcer is mentioning what I’m thinking, then I’ll bring it up especially if it is Carolyn Peck. And secondly, I think if SD makes the team she is the 12th player. You say I think she is a “weakness.” I can see how you think that I’m thinking that way -- but as I said – you could put the worst WNBA player on Team USA and we probably still blow everyone out. And I’ll add I think SD would probably start for every other team- -maybe one or two might not? I don’t know --but regarding SD as a “weakness” for a team that I think has nearly no chance to be beaten is a bit harsh. Whether SD or JL get on the team – we aren’t losing. For me - weakest link is more appropriate than weakness-- imo -- but whatever.
I enjoy this talk. Hope I haven’t offended. Usually when we go back and forth like this – inevitably insults fly. I hope this isn’t the case. I value your opinion (As I do for everyone on this thread ) – always have valued yours—I’m not brown-nosing -and it sounds corny but I mean it - from ESPN board to here. We can’t agree on everything. And what can I say – I enjoy these discussions. If everyone agreed on every opinion then wouldn’t it be extremely boring? Thanks!!
DD- I can only post so much so when you say to me “you’re only looking at 8 minutes” it’ just an example that I can recall quickly in my head. Whatever is rattling around up there. For this post I’ll do a bit of a novel but in general I won’t/ can’t cite everything. Takes too long. Nor do I go write down plays in anticipation of what might be a subject on the boneyard so when I reference the game I can’t recall the specific Washington games/plays. Or the comments Geno made for example if his team had a weakness this past championship year it was rebounding among other things. It’s a summation of what I think – and I’m just giving brief examples. Too brief for you- okay. But they are just moments I can recall . I can’t jot done or remember everything. Anyhow- Phil differentiated himself from me when he said “he was at the game.” I differentiated from him saying I watched the 2nd half and listened to Peck who I agreed with and respect. I remember the play Phil remembers. I remember what Peck had to say (I wasn’t taking notes nor do I have a replay of the game. I saw how Canada attacked and it’s how I would envision a palyer like SD to be attacked and it’s how I feel she is attacked at Washington and the type of attack if a team – if they were good enough in college- which generally they weren’t – could expose. No player is perfect. And I also remember one play in the exhibition in which Chiney went by SD.IMO I wouldn’t remember it if I didn’t think there were other plays too. I can’t remember every play so I can only reference what I can reference- so when you say I’m only picking up 8 minutes her and a little with Washington it’s also what I’ve seen at UCONN and trying to project how she’ll do early on. Plus I make a projection she’ll be better that JL as time goes on. If I felt she had done real good things before or during those minutes I would have blown off her mistakes. But if you saw her play well with Washington – fine – I didn’t really see that. Her game has transitioned to WNBA as I thought. Struggle early but will become a fine player. Not a superstar.
And you’re right - – how can I make a judgment. Well the reason why I mentioned I saw SD only for a half (I didn’t mention I saw her a little in the USA Team exhibition), and at Washington is just for the reason you cite – then go ahead throw my opinion way. But imo that can be said for the many that now are projecting what Kia Nurse would be and many other projections posters make, wouldn’t it? IS there a timeline of too little to make an evaluation? I didn’t clock my view of SD as I watched her with Washington. Maybe it’s a little to some and others a lot because they rarely watch WNBA. I mean I’ve watched enough of the WNBA to see that JL had changed her game a bit in that she could face the basket. And more importantly as you cite some of us know more than the announcers – but I’ll add to that- sometimes we don’t but think we do. Anyhow, can’t most of us look back on the limited time we’ve seen a player in high school or before a player entered the WNBA -but we saw a ton at UCONN- and sometimes make a spot-on correct projection that others missed that may have seen her more? Here are a few of the projections I nailed over the years without much of a look:
I knew Dolson was a terrific recruit that was going to project very well. I read that she was the best center coming out of high school and I saw one brief video of her and I just knew it. I wouldn’t have bet top 5, I can remember I wasn’t that specific but I knew she was darn good. If you’ll recall on the old ESPN board you had Glen MaGrady talking about “going on the Magic bus” to watch her play metioning how good eh thought she was. I frequently thought Glen was wrong on many of his opinions but this one I agreed with him on.
Within the next several months you may recall that Brianna Banks had a terrific showing in the McD AA game. There were those such as Glen that thought after viewing that game that she should be among the top scorers on the team (the wow factor). There were quite a few that held that opinion. I disagreed with it for up to 3 reasons, one was she came up at UCONN known as a defender- we were/are a premiere team. Super teams like ours in your 1st or 2nd year you aren’t going to become a go-to scorer if your high school career you weren’t an elite offensive player. In a struggling era you might be. But we weren’t struggling. Secondly her outside shot didn’t seem that great/smooth and her slashing seemed a bit wild. Of course I can’t remember what exactly I said but I still picture that AA game and I value experience, always have, so without a year or 2 under a player’s belt, I’ll be a bit more skeptical unless you are KML type etc We all have certain things we value. Such as the poster I think you can recall - cth values “big guards.” There were those that thought Mel Thomas was a waste the 1st moment they saw her and continued with that philosophy. I didn’t. Not at all.
Kelly Faris. The moment I saw her at the McD game I knew she was a terrific catch. But I only had to watch her a little at the McD AA game to know that she wasn’t a pg. You may recall there were quite a few projecting her as a pg with one person in particular stating they saw her for nearly her entire high school career and he or she used the “I saw her a lot.” This person claimed without a doubt she is a pg. Well I saw her a little and I didn’t see a pg. I saw a wing that would be special in part because she could handle the ball very well. A wing with her handle is a strength.
Maya Moore – on the old espn board I can recall one poster which I regret I was rude too – that person is a very nice poster- we had different opinions of Maya’s position she should play. Once I saw that little stretch in that one tape that was being passed around - I knew she would be a terrific pf. The poster thought she was too small. That person’s opinion after watching her a lot in the summer was that she’d get abused on the boards. Just as kibitizer made note of a possibility of Team USA not necessarily having to have another truce center, I look at the pf as not necessarily have to be very tall. Whether it be Maya or anyone else in the future such as Collier. And I can say that about Collier with just the few minutes of watching her too.
Tiffany Hayes. Wasn’t it ridiculous she was picked in the 2nd round? We didn’t have to watch one second of the WNBA to know that she in no way should have been a 2nd round pick, right?
DD- I included these as a point that we don’t need to see a lot in some cases. I’ve been wrong a lot too- both on surprises to the good and bad. I don’t project every player. Many I have little to no idea. I just can’t believe that there aren’t some players you couldn’t predict after watching them for a short time. So when you say to me that I’ve only seen Dolson for so little – I say -----so what. Many of us do it, and I brought it up that I hadn’t seen her much thus I understand my opinion will be thrown away by many. So be it. I just feel that my opinion is correct and the above are examples of players as such I’ve been right about even though I’ve seen them so little before their jump to the next level.
Absolutely I could be wrong. It’s just my opinion. In this case I’d love to see her on the team. She can make it imo for the 3 reasons I cited in prior posts in my eyes. And maybe The Committee could wind up picking her for competently different reasons too. Heck maybe SD is dominating practices. None of us can really know that, right? So what’s the timeline of appropriate evaluation on here?
Two final points—if I see something in a game which I think is happening and an announcer is mentioning what I’m thinking, then I’ll bring it up especially if it is Carolyn Peck. And secondly, I think if SD makes the team she is the 12th player. You say I think she is a “weakness.” I can see how you think that I’m thinking that way -- but as I said – you could put the worst WNBA player on Team USA and we probably still blow everyone out. And I’ll add I think SD would probably start for every other team- -maybe one or two might not? I don’t know --but regarding SD as a “weakness” for a team that I think has nearly no chance to be beaten is a bit harsh. Whether SD or JL get on the team – we aren’t losing. For me - weakest link is more appropriate than weakness-- imo -- but whatever.
I enjoy this talk. Hope I haven’t offended. Usually when we go back and forth like this – inevitably insults fly. I hope this isn’t the case. I value your opinion (As I do for everyone on this thread ) – always have valued yours—I’m not brown-nosing -and it sounds corny but I mean it - from ESPN board to here. We can’t agree on everything. And what can I say – I enjoy these discussions. If everyone agreed on every opinion then wouldn’t it be extremely boring? Thanks!!
