Hard to imagine a true point guard, a team oriented player, being happy on a team where they are actually coached to focus on getting the ball to one player! Let’s face it, that was an unhealthy team environment. One that was unfair to everyone concerned, including JuJu herself.
Just imagine how our team would have fractured and become a lesser one had Geno built our entire game plan around making Sarah score 26+ ppg. Of course he would never do such a thing as he knows that even the greatest player can only maximize her abilities by playing as part of a greater whole and that making other players better is actually an important skill in it’s own right.
I can only imagine the outside pressure that must have been brought to bear on Gottlieb, (a pretty good coach who knows better) in order for her to play that way. I am especially sad for JuJu herself as I believe she is/was also playing under constant pressure to score, score, score! While I do not know much about her, I’m guessing she would be much happier playing the game the right way. Perhaps I’m wrong but that style of play almost inevitably leads to resentment from other players who feel left out.
Even the tragic play where JuJu was injured was an example of the “wrong” coaching on that team. She had a completely unguarded, wide open teammate streaking to the basket next to her and simply put her head down and tried to score. Just think what would happen here if one of our players (even Sarah or Azzi) did that! They would immediately be on the bench! Of course, that did not cause her injury but one has to wonder about all the games where USC was up 35+ in the fourth and she was still in the game trying to get her 27 points. That, I would posit, is why K9 is now (happily) playing for Geno and UConn!
