Lou's Ball Handling

[JoePgh]

I'm surprised that no one has commented on this previously. How many of you recall even a single occasion when Lou turned the ball over while she was dribbling? The only turnovers that I remember are bad passes, and it's hard to tell in those cases whether the mistake was Lou's or the intended receiver's for being out of position.

But ever since her freshman year, she has CONSISTENTLY shown that she can handle the ball in traffic and not turn it over, even against a press. This is unexpected given her tall and seemingly gangly body type, and the fact that she is not the quickest of players. She will not remind anyone of Crystal or MoJeff. And since Lou has been in Storrs, Geno has been fortunate that one of those players has always been on the team to handle the heavy duty ball movement.

I suspect, though, that WNBA coaches and GM's have noticed, and that will probably increase her draft value by a notch or two. She certainly doesn't fit the normal profile of a 3-point specialist who cannot be trusted to do anything with the ball other than catch it and shoot it.

 

[bbballfan23]

Her ball handling is good until she gets pressured. You saw it at the end of the 2nd quarter as well. She's a great passer and when she only has to take 1-2 dribbles in the half court she is highly effective. But trust me, she isn't catching anyones eye with her ball handling. She certainly is catching eyes with other aspects.

 

[Longtime fan]

Speaking of deft passing; I hope everyone gets to see the "backdoor" pass Megan made to Dangerfield for an easy lay-up yesterday. Doesn't get any better.

 

[j66kicker]

Speaking of deft passing; I hope everyone gets to see the "backdoor" pass Megan made to Dangerfield for an easy lay-up yesterday. Doesn't get any better.

That was awesome. Just a schoolyard give-and-go against a hypnotized (or asleep) defense.

 

[diggerfoot]

?? I'm definitely with JoePgh and puzzled by bb23's observation. We've not seen Samuelson weave through the paint in the way Jefferson or Dangerfield can, nor will we. However, I have seen her dribble successfully in full court pressure situations plenty of times. So while, yes, Samuelson's ball-handling will not "catch anyone's eye," because that's reserved for the Jefferson's and Dangerfield's, it's precisely Samuelson's handling of pressure that makes her a good ball handler, if not spectacular. On a similar note, Samuelson lacks the quickness of smaller guards but she is plenty fast, sort of like how Stewart was deceptively fast. Those longer legs may be churning at a slightly slower rate, but she has beaten smaller guards down court plenty of times, even while dribbling.

 

[HopJim]

?? I'm definitely with JoePgh and puzzled by bb23's observation. We've not seen Samuelson weave through the paint in the way Jefferson or Dangerfield can, nor will we. However, I have seen her dribble successfully in full court pressure situations plenty of times. So while, yes, Samuelson's ball-handling will not "catch anyone's eye," because that's reserved for the Jefferson's and Dangerfield's, it's precisely Samuelson's handling of pressure that makes her a good ball handler, if not spectacular. On a similar note, Samuelson lacks the quickness of smaller guards but she is plenty fast, sort of like how Stewart was deceptively fast. Those longer legs may be churning at a slightly slower rate, but she has beaten smaller guards down court plenty of times, even while dribbling.

Agree but want to add that most times KLS brings ball up that means she starts the offense by passing - i.e. offense starts without the ball in her hands. Would much rather see her getting position to shoot.

 

[bbballfan23]

?? I'm definitely with JoePgh and puzzled by bb23's observation. We've not seen Samuelson weave through the paint in the way Jefferson or Dangerfield can, nor will we. However, I have seen her dribble successfully in full court pressure situations plenty of times. So while, yes, Samuelson's ball-handling will not "catch anyone's eye," because that's reserved for the Jefferson's and Dangerfield's, it's precisely Samuelson's handling of pressure that makes her a good ball handler, if not spectacular. On a similar note, Samuelson lacks the quickness of smaller guards but she is plenty fast, sort of like how Stewart was deceptively fast. Those longer legs may be churning at a slightly slower rate, but she has beaten smaller guards down court plenty of times, even while dribbling.

Everyone is so quick to talk about the lack of certain skills for players on other teams but we don’t look objectively at our own players. Lou’s weakest asset offensively is her ball handling, much like Collier’s weakest asset is her perimeter shooting. It’s not that they can’t do it it’s just that we have others on the team better at it than them at those specific skills.

 

[diggerfoot]

Everyone is so quick to talk about the lack of certain skills for players on other teams but we don’t look objectively at our own players. Lou’s weakest asset offensively is her ball handling, much like Collier’s weakest asset is her perimeter shooting. It’s not that they can’t do it it’s just that we have others on the team better at it than them at those specific skills.

"Lack of certain skills" and "weakest asset" are two different things. A player can be good at a skill that still amounts to being their weakest asset. While Dangerfield is better at ball handling and Williams will be eventually, if an opponent is focusing on keeping the ball out of Dangerfield's hands Samuelson is our second option right now, and a good one at that, even if it's her "weakest asset." Equating the two different concepts falsely does not create objectivity, it creates a strawman argument.

"Everyone" critiquing opponents and "we don't look objectively" at our own also sets up a false argument. BYers are not the single unobjective stereotype your comment implies. There are BYers that critique other players, there are BYers that praise other players, there are BYers who never criticize our own players, there are BYers that "look objectively" at them without having to create false equivalencies to demonstrate their objectively. I, for one, am not confident that Samuelson can handle crunch situations. I am confident of her having the ball in her hands during full court pressure situations.

 

[bbballfan23]

"Lack of certain skills" and "weakest asset" are two different things. A player can be good at a skill that still amounts to being their weakest asset. While Dangerfield is better at ball handling and Williams will be eventually, if an opponent is focusing on keeping the ball out of Dangerfield's hands Samuelson is our second option right now, and a good one at that, even if it's her "weakest asset." Equating the two different concepts falsely does not create objectivity, it creates a strawman argument.

"Everyone" critiquing opponents and "we don't look objectively" at our own also sets up a false argument. BYers are not the single unobjective stereotype your comment implies. There are BYers that critique other players, there are BYers that praise other players, there are BYers who never criticize our own players, there are BYers that "look objectively" at them without having to create false equivalencies to demonstrate their objectively. I, for one, am not confident that Samuelson can handle crunch situations. I am confident of her having the ball in her hands during full court pressure situations.

I understand where you’re coming from. Secondly, What makes you think she can’t handle crunch situations?? I don’t believe this to be true but only time will tell.

 

[Centerstream]

Yeah it's pretty sad, if not a team detriment, that a 6'4" forward (or sometimes referred to as a guard) can't play like a point guard. People are really looking in every corner for reasons to complain about our AAs. Yup, PRETTY SAD!!!!!!

 

[RockyMTblue2]

The announcing duo for the Paradise jam telecasts were a pleasure to listen to. They knew their basketball and knew when to bring it out. In harmony with the game going on in front of them. What did they think of Lou: she could play point guard. She can be anywhere on the floor doing anything.