Killer Instinct

[Bone Dog]

We will see if this year's team has a killer instinct.

I agree, it’s more a team instinct than an individual thing, even if certain individuals contribute more to it. I predict the team will have that instinct as long as they are not stabbed through the heart again before the season even starts.

 

[Conndog]

I think with Nika, it’s more instinct to kill than killer instinct

 

[EricSD]

Late to the party, but killer instinct is different from intensity. To me killer instinct is getting an opponent down by 20, then putting your foot on their throat and pushing that up to 30, then 40 etc.

There were too many games last season where the team would get up 20 in Q4, then lose focus and end up winning by somewhere between 8-12. That is NOT killer instinct, and just ___ on the part of the team (laziness, sloppiness, fatigue, any or all of the above... or something else).

What was the missing ingredient last season? Paige. IMHO she's the only one with a killer instinct. Again this is not to say the rest of the team doesn't play hard - we have an AWESOME team, kids who are tough as nails, and last year made a great run with so many missing pieces. But IMHO, Paige IMHO is the only stone cold killer on the team.

 

[Cuango]

The difference between Paige and Nika in my opinion is: Nika has the full 40 minute (actually it's probably 24/7) killer instinct. She doesn't know when or how to back down. Paige's killer instinct rises to the occasion, builds as the game goes on reaching a crescendo, and if need be, goes off the charts in the last 5 minutes of the game. It's good to have both.

With all due respect, Nika is not even in the conversation! There is Paige, then a considerable gap then Caroline , and that’s it! Azzi could possibly develop but is not there yet.

 

[Blond D.]

Nika IS in the conversation and is one notch below Paige. Nika never stops and never lets up but her weapons are using the her team mates and if THEY dont have the killer instinct then its hard for Nika to keep her foot on the opponents throat.

 

[Dogstar]

With all due respect, Nika is not even in the conversation! There is Paige, then a considerable gap then Caroline , and that’s it! Azzi could possibly develop but is not there yet.

I thk a lot of the opponents guards would disagree with you, take off the "offense only" Shades and enjoy the beauty of the whole game it's very entertaining .

 

[Huskyfan63]

With all due respect, Nika is not even in the conversation! There is Paige, then a considerable gap then Caroline , and that’s it! Azzi could possibly develop but is not there yet.

I think in terms of a steal and a lay in at the other end for a momentum swing. Or catching a lazy defense getting back after a basket with a fast pass downcourt to a cutter for a lay in. Things that take it to other team, and take the wind right out of their sails. Just a couple of what I consider killer instinct traits, and those put her in the conversation for me. I'm glad he recruited her, she brings an edge they definitely need.

 

[Huskyfan63]

Late to the party, but killer instinct is different from intensity. To me killer instinct is getting an opponent down by 20, then putting your foot on their throat and pushing that up to 30, then 40 etc.

There were too many games last season where the team would get up 20 in Q4, then lose focus and end up winning by somewhere between 8-12. That is NOT killer instinct, and just ___ on the part of the team (laziness, sloppiness, fatigue, any or all of the above... or something else).

What was the missing ingredient last season? Paige. IMHO she's the only one with a killer instinct. Again this is not to say the rest of the team doesn't play hard - we have an AWESOME team, kids who are tough as nails, and last year made a great run with so many missing pieces. But IMHO, Paige IMHO is the only stone cold killer on the team.

I see it a little different. I see a player with a killer instinct as the one who wills you to victory in an overtime game with a game winning play. One who wants it more than the other players on the court. One who wants the ball in their hands, or finds a way to get it out of the other team's star player's hands and back into their own team's possession. I don't see any value in a 40 point win. The subs should be mopping up while my stars are on the bench at that point.

 

[Bone Dog]

I see it a little different. I see a player with a killer instinct as the one who wills you to victory in an overtime game with a game winning play. One who wants it more than the other players on the court. One who wants the ball in their hands, or finds a way to get it out of the other team's star player's hands and back into their own team's possession. I don't see any value in a 40 point win. The subs should be mopping up while my stars are on the bench at that point.

I’ll make this case for Nika’s killer instinct — even though I think Paige is the true killer on the team. My case for Nika is best exemplified in the game two seasons ago against Tennessee. We had a lead at half time, and in the first 5 minutes of the 3rd quarter Nika brought out a burst of defensive intensity, hit a 3, got a steal at mid court and scored again. Tennessee never recovered. It was the proverbial punch in the face. When they showed any signs of life after that, Azzi pressed her foot on their necks.

That burst at the beginning of the 3rd is practically a Nika signature for me. It’s Nika time. In the past we’ve put games away in the first quarter or maybe the second. But that injury riddled year didn’t go that way and it was more often in the second half that we put games away. The following year was similar and we needed Nika’s fire for longer stretches.

I expect next year we won’t need to lean on Nika so much. Paige and Azzi will end games in the first half, either by shooting the lights out or by keeping the double teams off Aaliyah & Co in the post. But I’m thankful that Nika was there when we needed her, and can be there again as needed.

 

[#12in21]

Uconn has had several great player that could take over a game or put the dagger in and twist it. Maya was great at that. She could just erupt and dominate on both ends giving her team s comfortable lead and just as quickly fall back into a good team flow. Paige has shown that ability, perhaps not as balanced as Maya - Paige definitely more on the offense end. I admittedly may not be totally objective but to me the beauty of Maya’s game and her ability to just seemingly effortlessly and at will go to another level taking over a game on both ends and then drop back into the rhythm of the game is unmatched!

For me the beauty of Uconn wcbb basketball, at its best, is in the co-ordinated efficiency on both offense and defense of all five players on the floor. Those teams didn’t play against the opponents across from them they were striving for perfection, and at some point the five on the other side of the court just couldn’t compete with that. Those teams just found another gear and put the game away way before the final whistle. On the rare occasions that they lost they redoubled their efforts the next outing. They believed in themselves and each other and chased perfection.

That’s the killer instinct I’m hopeful of witnessing this season. This team has the talent, depth and hunger. I think its better odds than not that they can add this group to the conversation of those great Uconn teams. If they do it won’t be because they have one or two stars that have a killer instinct, at Uconn it’s a team thing!

 

[Childhood]

With all due respect, Nika is not even in the conversation! There is Paige, then a considerable gap then Caroline , and that’s it! Azzi could possibly develop but is not there yet.

True. I never heard that someone put Marcus Smart or Draymond Green in the conversation of killer instinct. After I read this post, I am so confused what are they talking about.

 

[Huskyfan63]

I’ll make this case for Nika’s killer instinct — even though I think Paige is the true killer on the team. My case for Nika is best exemplified in the game two seasons ago against Tennessee. We had a lead at half time, and in the first 5 minutes of the 3rd quarter Nika brought out a burst of defensive intensity, hit a 3, got a steal at mid court and scored again. Tennessee never recovered. It was the proverbial punch in the face. When they showed any signs of life after that, Azzi pressed her foot on their necks.

That burst at the beginning of the 3rd is practically a Nika signature for me. It’s Nika time. In the past we’ve put games away in the first quarter or maybe the second. But that injury riddled year didn’t go that way and it was more often in the second half that we put games away. The following year was similar and we needed Nika’s fire for longer stretches.

I expect next year we won’t need to lean on Nika so much. Paige and Azzi will end games in the first half, either by shooting the lights out or by keeping the double teams off Aaliyah & Co in the post. But I’m thankful that Nika was there when we needed her, and can be there again as needed.

100% agree with your take on this coming season. This looks like a very balanced and proficient team. Fingers crossed...

 

[Happydad745]

Most all of the players have the "Killer Instinct", but which ones are real "Killers"?