JordyG
Stake in my pocket, Vlad to see you
- Joined
- Jan 21, 2016
- Messages
- 13,102
- Reaction Score
- 54,857
As a UConn fan I'm aware that people have their favorite players and want to see that player score 30 points every game and win a championship. Some want to see UConn win every game by 50 points. Unfortunately this team ain't built that way. What occasionally amuses me is how some just see the game projected on their own eyelids and not what's there in front of their eyes. Since the ARK game Geno has scratched the 4 or 5 out system and went to multiple screens and sets for Paige. To facilitate that he's also gone to Nika who is his second best passer and a good screener while playing Paige off the ball.
Tonight Geno's offense centered around getting CW the ball in space for her to get off the schnied. That meant going back to 4 or 5 out. That meant Paige playing on the ball. There were no horn sets. There were no down screens, back screens, curl screens, double screens, stagger screens, flare screens, flex screens (one of Geno's favorite for Paige), or those away screens that Geno also loves. This game was about shots for CW and trying to get his second best offensive option into some sort of rhythm so that the scoring pressure is off of Paige. This team cannot win a championship without other offensive options. Period. Now I know some people want to see Paige score 30 or 40 points every game, but in the history of basketball I've never seen 4 players set screens and play defense while one player does all the scoring. It just ain't gonna happen. Paige had 6 shots in the half for a reason, and that reason is championships are all about team and players. Not player.
People also forget that this is one tired young team. These guys have never experienced anything like the schedule they've gone through this season, and many are unprepared to play through this kind of fatigue. Most young players have poor practice, dietary, sleeping and waking habits. That stuff gets shaved off as they approach their senior year, but these 7 freshmen barely know court play. Managing their off court affairs at this level is a mystery to them. This will change but it will take time. They've only played 17 games in their college careers. The absolute best thing about this game was Geno's decision to get CW more shots. Geno though is in a bind. Clearly he would love to play 4 or 5 out. He's won 11 championships playing this read and react style. He knows this style is a recipe for winning yet he also knows this team cannot play that kind of spacing game and win at this time. This team has problems getting easy baskets. They get few in transition, few from the block, not enough from TO's and little from the perimeter. He needs to find the right balance between style and players. Let's hope he finds it. By the way, without being the focus of the offense Paige still scored 19 had 9 assists and shot 60% from the field. Not too shabby.
Tonight Geno's offense centered around getting CW the ball in space for her to get off the schnied. That meant going back to 4 or 5 out. That meant Paige playing on the ball. There were no horn sets. There were no down screens, back screens, curl screens, double screens, stagger screens, flare screens, flex screens (one of Geno's favorite for Paige), or those away screens that Geno also loves. This game was about shots for CW and trying to get his second best offensive option into some sort of rhythm so that the scoring pressure is off of Paige. This team cannot win a championship without other offensive options. Period. Now I know some people want to see Paige score 30 or 40 points every game, but in the history of basketball I've never seen 4 players set screens and play defense while one player does all the scoring. It just ain't gonna happen. Paige had 6 shots in the half for a reason, and that reason is championships are all about team and players. Not player.
People also forget that this is one tired young team. These guys have never experienced anything like the schedule they've gone through this season, and many are unprepared to play through this kind of fatigue. Most young players have poor practice, dietary, sleeping and waking habits. That stuff gets shaved off as they approach their senior year, but these 7 freshmen barely know court play. Managing their off court affairs at this level is a mystery to them. This will change but it will take time. They've only played 17 games in their college careers. The absolute best thing about this game was Geno's decision to get CW more shots. Geno though is in a bind. Clearly he would love to play 4 or 5 out. He's won 11 championships playing this read and react style. He knows this style is a recipe for winning yet he also knows this team cannot play that kind of spacing game and win at this time. This team has problems getting easy baskets. They get few in transition, few from the block, not enough from TO's and little from the perimeter. He needs to find the right balance between style and players. Let's hope he finds it. By the way, without being the focus of the offense Paige still scored 19 had 9 assists and shot 60% from the field. Not too shabby.
