KML's Game

[Sonny44]

Everybody's talking about how KML has expanded her game, rebounding, driving to the hoop, etc, etc. And I give her credit for that.
But in my opinion it is not needed from her. Last year, yes the team could have used that; not this year. We've got Steph, Breanna, Kiah, Morgan, Kelly and even Heather for the inside game.
All this is doing is getting her hurt. Meanwhile our perimeter game is suffering big time. Only Banks is scoring from the outside and that is very recent. We need a formidable perimeter game to open up the paint.

KML, go back to pumping in those treys!!!!!

Ok, I've got my bullet proof vest on!

 

[OneTrickPony]

She wants to be Michael Jordan...I like her chances...

 

[MilfordHusky]

If Kaleena has variety to her game, the 3-ball will be more open. I like the new repertoire. That said, I'd rather see her shoot threes than anyone else, even Stewie, and certainly more than Bria.

 

[earl the pearl]

Everybody's talking about how KML has expanded her game, rebounding, driving to the hoop, etc, etc. And I give her credit for that.
But in my opinion it is not needed from her. Last year, yes the team could have used that; not this year. We've got Steph, Breanna, Kiah, Morgan, Kelly and even Heather for the inside game.
All this is doing is getting her hurt. Meanwhile our perimeter game is suffering big time. Only Banks is scoring from the outside and that is very recent. We need a formidable perimeter game to open up the paint.

KML, go back to pumping in those treys!!!!!

Ok, I've got my bullet proof vest on!

Is there a dumb button on this site?

 

[Jim]

If Kaleena has variety to her game, the 3-ball will be more open. I like the new repertoire. That said, I'd rather see her shoot threes than anyone else, even Stewie, and certainly more than Bria.

I understand about expanding her repertoire. I just prefer her to be on the court beyond the 3-point arc instead of inside the arc and in the trainer's room.

 

[Icebear]

The things that Kaleena has added have little to do with the offensive end or spotting up. Most of what she has added is defensive effort and wisdom. Her movement on the court is becoming more reminiscent of Maya and is important for her on nights where she is not allowed to spot up by the opponent.

 

[Icebear]

I understand about expanding her repertoire. I just prefer her to be on the court beyond the 3-point arc instead of inside the arc and in the trainer's room.

Her particular injury could have happened anywhere on the court.

 

[OneTrickPony]

The things that Kaleena has added have little to do with the offensive end or spotting up. Most of what she has added is defensive effort and wisdom. Her movement on the court is becoming more reminiscent of Maya and is important for her on nights where she is not allowed to spot up by the opponent.

Yes...look at what happened to Alyssa Thomas' game last night...her power moves around the basket weren't getting her good looks with Faris...and she had no plan B. Kaleena before she graduates will have plan A, B, C & D and will make life miserable on the defensive end for whoever she plays.

She will learn to be a little smarter about losing her balance in the lane...like she did when she sustained her concussion...and how to take and give contact with her hips, shoulders and forearms instead of her legs and arms. She can watch film of Faris and learn everything she needs to know...

 

[Bestiarius]

If Kaleena's injuries are dependent on where she is on the court, why don't the players that spend all their time in the "dangerous" areas have them too?

 

[Ozzie Nelson]

Balance in Life, Balance on the court...road to self actualization.

 

[pinotbear]

Everybody's talking about how KML has expanded her game, rebounding, driving to the hoop, etc, etc. And I give her credit for that.
But in my opinion it is not needed from her. Last year, yes the team could have used that; not this year. We've got Steph, Breanna, Kiah, Morgan, Kelly and even Heather for the inside game.
All this is doing is getting her hurt. Meanwhile our perimeter game is suffering big time. Only Banks is scoring from the outside and that is very recent. We need a formidable perimeter game to open up the paint.

KML, go back to pumping in those treys!!!!!

Ok, I've got my bullet proof vest on!

Kinda silly post, Sonny. As a team, UConn is shooting 43% from the 3-point line, making almost 9 per game. In fact, the only two players with a 3-pt % under .333 are Stef and MoJeff.

Sure, it comes and goes, and the individual "hot hand" comes and goes, but, overall, this is a very, very good perimeter shooting team.

 

[JoePgh]

Kaleena has a body that is made for football or rugby, and there is no reason why she should not mix it up. The threes will not be falling every night, and she can contribute to the offense in other ways as well. We wouldn't want her to be a drag on the offense on a night when her 3 was AWOL, would we?

Would you say the same thing about Kelly, who has now played 3+ years without a significant injury despite being in the middle of every scrum? And she is a stick figure physically compared to Kaleena.

 

[Ozzie Nelson]

Everybody's talking about how KML has expanded her game, rebounding, driving to the hoop, etc, etc. And I give her credit for that.
But in my opinion it is not needed from her. Last year, yes the team could have used that; not this year. We've got Steph, Breanna, Kiah, Morgan, Kelly and even Heather for the inside game.
All this is doing is getting her hurt. Meanwhile our perimeter game is suffering big time. Only Banks is scoring from the outside and that is very recent. We need a formidable perimeter game to open up the paint.

KML, go back to pumping in those treys!!!!!

Ok, I've got my bullet proof vest on!

Sonny...Is this a serious post?

 

[freekimchee]

Everybody's talking about how KML has expanded her game, rebounding, driving to the hoop, etc, etc. And I give her credit for that.
But in my opinion it is not needed from her. Last year, yes the team could have used that; not this year. We've got Steph, Breanna, Kiah, Morgan, Kelly and even Heather for the inside game.
All this is doing is getting her hurt. Meanwhile our perimeter game is suffering big time. Only Banks is scoring from the outside and that is very recent. We need a formidable perimeter game to open up the paint.

KML, go back to pumping in those treys!!!!!

Ok, I've got my bullet proof vest on!

Seriously? KML has expanded her game. That is a really really good thing. We certainly don't need one of our best players to be one dimensional.

 

[jplotinus]

Everybody's talking about how KML has expanded her game, rebounding, driving to the hoop, etc, etc. And I give her credit for that.
But in my opinion it is not needed from her. Last year, yes the team could have used that; not this year. We've got Steph, Breanna, Kiah, Morgan, Kelly and even Heather for the inside game.
All this is doing is getting her hurt. Meanwhile our perimeter game is suffering big time. Only Banks is scoring from the outside and that is very recent. We need a formidable perimeter game to open up the paint.

KML, go back to pumping in those treys!!!!!

Ok, I've got my bullet proof vest on!

No vest needed from the direction of my grassy knoll (and downed tree trunks). Your analysis seems spot on to me. KML's 3ability is being sacrificed while her health is being needlessly jeopardized. One way would be to adjust her play to the situation. She should not be put into the 4 slot (power forward) at all. She's more of a small forward/shooting guard. Run plays so that she gets screens for 3 attempts and stop hounding her about driving to the hoop.

I hope she's able to play 12/6. And, whenever she returns I hope they'll let her play her old game a bit more. No more concussions and fewer bangs and bruises are the goals right now.

 

[UConnCat]

No vest needed from the direction of my grassy knoll (and downed tree trunks). Your analysis seems spot on to me. KML's 3ability is being sacrificed while her health is being needlessly jeopardized. One way would be to adjust her play to the situation. She should not be put into the 4 slot (power forward) at all. She's more of a small forward/shooting guard. Run plays so that she gets screens for 3 attempts and stop hounding her about driving to the hoop.

I hope she's able to play 12/6. And, whenever she returns I hope they'll let her play her old game a bit more. No more concussions and fewer bangs and bruises are the goals right now.

Maybe Geno should just install an invisible fence around the lane for practices so KML is trained not to enter. Better yet, just install the fence around the 3-point line.

As a UConn and KML fan I am thankful every day that Geno has pushed her to expand her game and make herself a better offensive player. I love it when she takes the ball to the basket and hope she keeps doing it in every game. She will inflict more punishment than she receives.

 

[trisailin]

As I am reading this thread it has occurred to me that the best defensive strategy against KML would be to get her to take her offensive instructions from the Boneyard. Seriously - if she would only listen to us and only shoot from behind the 3 point line (and those instructions were explicitly given), you wouldn't have to guard her whenever she ventured inside it. See - that defensive thing is simple.
Similarly, Stef should never take a shot outside the paint. Again, that defense thing is simple since you never have to defend her if she's out of the paint.
/sarc for those who couldn't quite tell

 

[Sonny44]

No vest needed from the direction of my grassy knoll (and downed tree trunks). Your analysis seems spot on to me. KML's 3ability is being sacrificed while her health is being needlessly jeopardized. One way would be to adjust her play to the situation. She should not be put into the 4 slot (power forward) at all. She's more of a small forward/shooting guard. Run plays so that she gets screens for 3 attempts and stop hounding her about driving to the hoop.

I hope she's able to play 12/6. And, whenever she returns I hope they'll let her play her old game a bit more. No more concussions and fewer bangs and bruises are the goals right now.

Yep, maybe the best gunner in WCBB; doesn't have to prove herself in a variety of other ways.

 

[cohenzone]

She is also an excellent foul shooter. So, she never drives, never offensive rebounds, never defensive rebounds and never scores because somebody is in her face all the time because she isn't going to move inside the arc and never gets fouled. Certainly the better teams can handle that. Diana Taurasi was (is) a top notch shooter, but if there was a knock on her it was that she didn't get to the foul line enough. The 3 point shot will always be KML's big contribution, but if she were ever to become one dimensional, her value would be down. She also is not the most delicate kid on the team physically. Injuries happen in basketball. It actually amazes me that the kids who most often play inside aren't forever twisting and breaking ankles by landing on someone else's foot. I speak from experience.

 

[Sonny44]

She is also an excellent foul shooter. So, she never drives, never offensive rebounds, never defensive rebounds and never scores because somebody is in her face all the time because she isn't going to move inside the arc and never gets fouled. Certainly the better teams can handle that. Diana Taurasi was (is) a top notch shooter, but if there was a knock on her it was that she didn't get to the foul line enough. The 3 point shot will always be KML's big contribution, but if she were ever to become one dimensional, her value would be down. She also is not the most delicate kid on the team physically. Injuries happen in basketball. It actually amazes me that the kids who most often play inside aren't forever twisting and breaking ankles by landing on someone else's foot. I speak from experience.

I don't say she should be one dimensional; more like play her game and not emphasize things better done by others. if she's burying treys the opposition will double up on her and that turns everyone else loose. Like Geno says everyone else is a better player when she's in the game.

 

[cohenzone]

I don't say she should be one dimensional; more like play her game and not emphasize things better done by others. if she's burying treys the opposition will double up on her and that turns everyone else loose. Like Geno says everyone else is a better player when she's in the game.

I'm not sure how one does that during the flow of the game. I think all she is doing is playing her game.

 

[Icebear]

Sonny, do what you are suggesting and the whole triangle offense bogs down and fails.

 

[Kibitzer]

This thread has been (I will be polite) an unnecessary waste of time.

Kaleena is a basketball player. The demands of the game include playing both offense and defense, shooting, passing, rebounding, etc.

Not like baseball -- where pitchers don't bat, designated hitters don't field, and provision is made for specialists who pinch-hit or pinch-run -- or football, with its punters, place kickers, long-snappers or return specialists.

Kaleena is not merely a three-point shooter, she is a basketball player who excels as a long-range shooter.

 

[Jonathan Husky]

No vest needed from the direction of my grassy knoll (and downed tree trunks). Your analysis seems spot on to me. KML's 3ability is being sacrificed while her health is being needlessly jeopardized. One way would be to adjust her play to the situation. She should not be put into the 4 slot (power forward) at all. She's more of a small forward/shooting guard. Run plays so that she gets screens for 3 attempts and stop hounding her about driving to the hoop.

I hope she's able to play 12/6. And, whenever she returns I hope they'll let her play her old game a bit more. No more concussions and fewer bangs and bruises are the goals right now.

This makes no sense at all. The more KLM can do offensively the better basketball player she will be. There are many spot up shooters not very many players that can do it all. Think before you post!!

 

[Icebear]

BTW, Kaleena went into the lane last season, especially, late in the season when she posted up folks in the lane. She used her strength to her advantage in there.