Mike DiMauro Opens Mouth......Kicks Kelly Selection

[ChicagoGG]

Mike DiMauro ‏@BCgenius 48m
Is Faris really what the Sun need? I mean, a wing who is a B-minus shooter at best? #wnba

What say you, Boneyarders? Is this man totally lacking in grace, tact, comprehension and class? To criticize her on her biggest night, just after the national championship? Or is he really just whacking away at Sun management and Anne Donovan? If so, he could have taken another path to do it.

And to those who may say it is a legitimate question - could it not have been phrased better by a man who is a professional wordsmith?

I am holding back, because I would love to call him more than a few names this program won't let me type. Jerk.

 

[blackbird]

Well, if he thinks its a bad idea, it's probably a good one.

 

[ThisJustIn]

Was it he who was Mike T's lap dog?

 

[rocky rococo]

Bad idea dept. Anna Prins, "Kelsey Griffin, but not quite as good."
With Chucky Jeffery, Shenneika Smith, Brooklyn Pope and Destiny Williams all still on the board.

 

[pap49cba]

Jerk.

 

[UcMiami]

I got to say that twitter does not really allow for subtlety and ...
I am not sure he is wrong in terms of the Suns needs and if he had said B- scorer rather than B- shooter I would have been fine with it. I think she is a much better shooter than many players who scored a lot more points.
And after the 10th pick I was really hoping for MN for Kelly because I think that would have been a really good situation for her.
All of the above said ... I think the Sun definitely took the Best Player Available with their pick.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Jerk.

Exactly the word I was thinking of.

He didn't watch Kelly this year. The comments on being a mediocre (and reluctant) shooter may have applied in the past, but not in 2012-13. She was highly accurate and efficient this year. One if the nation's best, in fact. Kelly has made herself into a complete player. I really think that she and Kaleena became more like each other this year.

 

[VAUConnFan]

The question really is Mr. DiMauro's perspective. Connecticut lost to a lower seeded Atlanta Dream in the first round two years ago, and last season lost in the second round to a lower seeded Indiana Fever. There have always been two competing theories about the draft, need and best player available. Mr. DiMauro probably believes, as many will, that drafting Ms Faris does not address Connecticut's needs.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

Even this non-UConn fan will agree that that was one very tactless and rudely unnecessary tweet. Much better ways to say "does this address need for a scorer?" or whatever he meant.

 

[glenn fisk]

He can go climb back under his rock now,before he gets mortally bit.

 

[doggydaddy]

So, mr. Dimauro, and all those criticizing the pick, who was taken after Faris that would have been a better pick?

THEN we can debate this.

 

[bruinbball]

Idiots - FEVER

Do you want a Sugar that will need to take 20 shots to get 20 points, or do you need someone that can take 6-7 shots and get 10 points? As I have said, the league had about 50 people that averaged double figures last year, if Kelly can get 7-8 and limit whoever she is guarding to 10 on 15 shots, she has done her job. I was so mad at the Fever for two reasons:
1. They could have had her here in Indy (selfish reasons)
2. They could have had the duo with some of the most selfless play, constant energy and hardest workers in Catchings and Faris.

To see the Fever organization so happy with Clarendon because of her ability to score -

​

She shot almost 8% lower than Kelly this year in total FG%, 9% lower on 3FG%, and 6.5% lower on FT. Sure she scored more points, she took 208 more FG attempts. Even Kelly's career shooting numbers are better, and that's always been the one area we have all hoped she would improve - and they have EVERY YEAR.

 

[ChicagoGG]

Bruinball -
I must agree with you wholeheartedly. I had wished Kelly would go to the Fever and play with Catch, or to the Storm. She seems happy to be with the Sun, but I am wondering about the sincerity of the pick...they said prior to the draft that she was "very similar to a current player" , which everyone took to mean Kalana. I am wondering if that was a) pre-draft misinformation and/or posturing; b) a warning shot at Kalana; c)a prequel to a trade, or d) a pick they really want?? Do not know enough about Coach Donovan to be able to read her tea leaves.

Would like to know what you think.

 

[bruinbball]

Bruinball -
I must agree with you wholeheartedly. I had wished Kelly would go to the Fever and play with Catch, or to the Storm. She seems happy to be with the Sun, but I am wondering about the sincerity of the pick...they said prior to the draft that she was "very similar to a current player" , which everyone took to mean Kalana. I am wondering if that was a) pre-draft misinformation and/or posturing; b) a warning shot at Kalana; c)a prequel to a trade, or d) a pick they really want?? Do not know enough about Coach Donovan to be able to read her tea leaves.

Would like to know what you think.

Donovan has said she is a Small Forward, yeah, maybe a slight bit undersized for the WNBA at that position, but that hasn't been a problem at any other time. I think Donovan has seen enough of Kelly to know what type of player she is and I am sure she and Geno had conversations about this. As Cam said, you know what you are getting with Kelly. There will be games of 5 assists and 1 turnover. There will be games with 3 assists and 4 turnovers. There will be games she score 14 points and games she scores 5. But you know that whoever she is defending will have earned everything they got and more often than not, Kelly will win that battle. I look forward - even though it may not end up be a favorable outcome, for Kelly to guard players like DT, Maya, Angel and Katie. That is where we will see how great she can make an impact. There may be a learning curve, but once she becomes familiar with that pace, I think she will fare reasonably well.

 

[Giovanni]

Mike DiMauro ‏@BCgenius 48m
Is Faris really what the Sun need? I mean, a wing who is a B-minus shooter at best? #wnba

What say you, Boneyarders? Is this man totally lacking in grace, tact, comprehension and class? To criticize her on her biggest night, just after the national championship? Or is he really just whacking away at Sun management and Anne Donovan? If so, he could have taken another path to do it.

And to those who may say it is a legitimate question - could it not have been phrased better by a man who is a professional wordsmith?

I am holding back, because I would love to call him more than a few names this program won't let me type. Jerk.

Negative, nattering, nitwit Mike DiMauro needs to see a proctologist to help him get his head back to where it should be located.

 

[Joobie]

This DiMoron guy also hasn't seen Kelly's unflappable work ethic; spending HOURS on the floor at Gample practicing her shot day in & day out. A proctologist sounds like an AWESOME idea!

 

[Ozzie Nelson]

This DiMoron guy also hasn't seen Kelly's unflappable work ethic; spending HOURS on the floor at Gample practicing her shot day in & day out. A proctologist sounds like an AWESOME idea!

I suggest you also add a psychiatrist, thus covering need for both odds anbd ends.

 

[baggerbob]

Why bother with a big mouth who obviously doesn't watch games? Kelly unlike most of the other draft picks, played with a number of players who needed to shoot, Bria, Stef, KML, Breanna, you only have 1 basketball, someone has to take less shots. Kelly concentrated on being the best defender, and distributed the ball to shooters, and oh by the way her team won the National Championship.

 

[huskyblooz]

You cannot rate Kelly Faris by statistics. Just wins!

 

[Shenandoah]

You cannot rate Kelly Faris by statistics. Just wins!

My sentiments exactly. she does whatever is necessary to win. This year, we needed her to score more, AND play lock down defense on some of the countries most talented players. No problem-done. Kelly Faris is a winner. Period.

 

[wallman]

It will be interesting to see how this pans out, Clarendon scored for Cal as they did not have major scorers, they had major bangers and rebounders, she is slightly built which could hurt her at the next level and is not known for playing defense. Then you have Faris who is selfless, will D up anyone who she is asked and plays the perfect role, whether it is screening, passing or stealing for lay ups, I know who I would ave picked! Faris!

 

[rocky rococo]

Exactly the word I was thinking of.

He didn't watch Kelly this year. The comments on being a mediocre (and reluctant) shooter may have applied in the past, but not in 2012-13. She was highly accurate and efficient this year. One if the nation's best, in fact. Kelly has made herself into a complete player. I really think that she and Kaleena became more like each other this year.

I completely agree about the Kelly - Kaleena partnership, they both seem to have gained enormously from that connection. It was key to making this an NC team in ways I didn't see coming.

 

[pinotbear]

While I completely agree that Mike's tweet was very poorly phrased, his point is a good one: does Kelly fill a need for the Sun? Will her talents/abilities be supressed there?

And, for those few of you who make references to DiMauro not seeing any games, or not seeing Kelly play this year: he's a very long-term member of the Horde, who has seen, I'd guess, almost every game of Kelly's career (in person or on TV). He's been on Geno's show, he's known the program much longer than Kelly and many of us. I don't like how he expressed himself either, but, whatever his errors are, they aren't born of ignorance.

 

[wire chief]

Add me to those who don't understand why the Fever passed on Kelly.
But I am glad she wasn't taken by the Storm, for injuries would seem to put them way down in the pack.

 

[slimmer56]

The thing about Kelly is she would be a great fit anywhere. She knows how to win. She will do all the little things it takes. I thought she should have gone even earlier. I believe you will have to eat your words Mike. Give 'em hell Kell !