Nothing From KML?

[malevocalist#]

Speaking of questions, is this is the same coach/front office that drafted Stewie and Jewell and appear to be utilizing them correctly? Seattle would not be the first organization that made a mistake on a high draft pick. Some of this, certainly not all, has to be on KML.

Ummm, JL & Stewie were both afforded much more playing time out the gate. The same cannot be said for KML.

And yes I understand she has to make the most with the minutes afforded her which is not much.

I mean from the start of word go - her first season - the minutes were/is hard to come by. Thus, no plays designed for her. So really she is in the (who cares) dog house. And the coach doesn't seem to be loosening the chain any time soon.

 

[iri10]

My main complaint about coach Boucek is that she's Geno-like in how conservatively she uses her bench. Stewart is number 1 in the league in minutes (35), Bird number 3 (33.3), Loyd number 6 (33). Being Geno-like works if you're Geno, coaching in the college game on a college schedule. Gotta be kind of rough on them over the course of a long, grueling WNBA season, no?

Is the bench collectively worthless, or is Boucek is trying to redline her team's performance for not much gain (still a losing record)? This is why I acknowledge that a player like KML might find more minutes and success on another team, while still thinking that she needs to improve.

I don't have much complaint with how Stewart and Loyd look when they're on the floor. They have good and bad days, but they are young so you'd expect there to be some lack of consistency there.

 

[CocoHusky]

Ummm, JL & Stewie were both afforded much more playing time out the gate. The same cannot be said for KML.

And yes I understand she has to make the most with the minutes afforded her which is not much.

I mean from the start of word go - her first season - the minutes were/is hard to come by. Thus, no plays designed for her. So really she is in the (who cares) dog house. And the coach doesn't seem to be loosening the chain any time soon.

She is not & was not in any doghouse. There was a plan to develop her and Jewell as document here.
Storm sticks to developmental approach with rookies Jewell Loyd, Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis

As you correctly state the plan is off track because KML has not made the most of her opportunities & Jewell has.
"Many fans wondered why they aren’t playing or wanting to start.
“I get that question often,” said Mosqueda-Lewis, who’s averaging 7.7 minutes per game. She entered the league as the NCAA’s all-time leader in three-pointers and helped lead Connecticut to three consecutive NCAA championships.“It’s two months into the season,” she said. “I feel like I’m benefitting from being able to work on my individual skills, (and) whether or not I’m in the game I’m still learning. …"

 

[CocoHusky]

My main complaint about coach Boucek is that she's Geno-like in how conservatively she uses her bench. Stewart is number 1 in the league in minutes (35), Bird number 3 (33.3), Loyd number 6 (33). Being Geno-like works if you're Geno, coaching in the college game on a college schedule. Gotta be kind of rough on them over the course of a long, grueling WNBA season, no?

Is the bench collectively worthless, or is Boucek is trying to redline her team's performance for not much gain (still a losing record)? This is why I acknowledge that a player like KML might find more minutes and success on another team, while still thinking that she needs to improve.

I don't have much complaint with how Stewart and Loyd look when they're on the floor. They have good and bad days, but they are young so you'd expect there to be some lack of consistency there.

Kind of counter intuitive to think that KML could get more minutes else where when she cannot get minutes on one of the worst teams in the league where the starter are among the league leaders in mins/game.

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

Last year, I posted a comment about Storm head coach Jenny Boucek's minimal use of KML, and how odd it seemed, given that first round draft picks usually get more than an occasional brief insert during games.
If you remember, Kaleena got very little playing time during the first 2/3 of the season. After the Storm had been officially eliminated from post season consideration, her minutes increased. I suggested at that time that perhaps it was a mistake for Seattle to have drafted her, and perhaps she would do better with another franchise. That observation was met with several opposing comments and counter takes.

The Boneyard consensus at that time was that her weight (which was never an issue at UConn, or here in the yard) and her inability to play defense at an acceptable level, were thought to be the main stumbling blocks to her getting more floor minutes.
Fast forward to today. After spending a season overseas, and having time to condition her body for the rigors of professional play, one would think season two would be radically different. Not so. Through 10 games this season (following stats were taken from the official Storm web site), Mosqueda-Lewis has appeared (through yesterday) in 10 games off the bench, averaging 11.2 minutes, shooting 33% from the floor, 20.8% from beyond the arc, 71.4 % in free throws.

Kaleena has been, and remains a developing roll player to this point. Whereas other first round draft picks Jewel Loyd and Breanna Stewart have established themselves as frontline players, and moved into the starting lineup. Why has KML not flourished at the next level as many of her "first round draft pick" contemporaries? Did the Storm make a mistake in their assessment of her? Is the coaching staff ill prepared/equipped to develop her, and bring her along? Are they misusing her? Has she not being given a fair chance of getting more floor time? Is she a bust? On draft day a year ago, she burst onto the scene with lots of media fanfare and rousing cheers from their fan base. Bringing her and Loyd into the program gave Storm fans a sense of hope, pride and a wealth of unbridled optimism. Fade to black. What happened? What's going on here? Will she forever be relegated to an off the bench "support" roll?, or do her potential fortunes lay with another team?

Carnac- - - -I remember last year the 5 or 6 minute piece on KML having trouble with her release point on her shot. She was a split second late getting it off as the WNBA is that much quicker than CBB and KML was putting in extra time with an asst coach before and after practice and she was making great strides in her setup. That earned her more playing time and all her #'s improved! So I don't know if she went back to her old style overseas or what but her playing time is nil again!
I can't think that KML's work ethic has slipped! Maybe a personality difference with Jenny Boucek, but it's surprising how much she improved and playing time went way up the last 1/3 of the season to where she is now!

 

[Aluminny69]

Currently, KML is 5 for 24 (20%) on 3 ptrs. ( Clark is 12 for 26 46%) KML is not making the best use of her limited playing time.

 

[malevocalist#]

Currently, KML is 5 for 24 (20%) on 3 ptrs. ( Clark is 12 for 26 46%) KML is not making the best use of her limited playing time.

And limited it is. Thanks for the stats.

 

[Rixxx]

I also believe Jen uses O'Hea as she is taller than KML.

 

[calpedaler]

Kelly and KML are tweener in the W... very few are successful.

all the other UConn alum are post or have good dribbling (guard-like) skills

What are they tween? Guard and guard?

 

[hoophuskee]

all things being what they are...Stokes would have been a better choice at #3 for the Storm than KML has been simply because she can rebound and score near the basket...something no one but Stewie can do right now

Or this has a lot do to with incompetence. Stokes was being discussed as 2nd round pick because there was a question can a player stick in wnba just being good at defense. Now there is also a question can a player stick if she is just a 3pt shooter. IMO the answers are yes - it's just that imo there is much incompetence in the wnba.

With that said- if KML can't shoot when she is open - and as of right now that appears to be the case- it has nothing to do with if a player is 3pt specialist or not - it's that the player needs to hit her shots just like on the flip side Stokes needed to be able to be a very good defender.

 

[iri10]

If they had the benefit of foresight I really think the Storm would have chosen Stokes, because a decent post was more important once they were able to nab at least one decent guard in Loyd.

But that's foresight (well, now hindsight) for you. At the time, not many would have predicted that Stokes was such an asset, and neither she nor the other remaining posts seemed worth the risk of taking them over someone of KML's caliber. It took a coach who seems to have good foresight when building his team (Trader Bill) to take that risk, and it has paid off handsomely.

 

[Aluminny69]

If they had the benefit of foresight I really think the Storm would have chosen Stokes, because a decent post was more important once they were able to nab at least one decent guard in Loyd.

But that's foresight (well, now hindsight) for you. At the time, not many would have predicted that Stokes was such an asset, and neither she nor the other remaining posts seemed worth the risk of taking them over someone of KML's caliber. It took a coach who seems to have good foresight when building his team (Trader Bill) to take that risk, and it has paid off handsomely.

I agree. And, I don't see the Liberty willing to trade Stokes for KML straight up. However, they should consider Amanda Zahui B. for KML, might benefit both teams. That's an interesting trade.

BTW, any similarities between Shoni Schimmel and KML? Both are struggling.

 

[Kaizen]

Kelly and KML are tweener in the W... very few are successful.

all the other UConn alum are post or have good dribbling (guard-like) skills

I think Chong is in the same situation too. She has the ability but cannot contribute.....JMHO

 

[Ozzie Nelson]

I think Chong is in the same situation too. She has the ability but cannot contribute.....JMHO

Giving up on a player or person in life is easy...what is difficult is to keep hope springing eternal, as some would say.

Good luck and success Ms Chong.

 

[OldAlum]

And Kelly just had a great game today, helping the Sun to a win!

 

[Fairfield Fan]

I think Chong is in the same situation too. She has the ability but cannot contribute.....JMHO

Chong is dealing with a serious, chronic, painful leg injury. That's the same situation with KML? Good grief, Charlie Brown!!!

 

[Fairfield Fan]

Currently, KML is 5 for 24 (20%) on 3 ptrs. ( Clark is 12 for 26 46%) KML is not making the best use of her limited playing time.

Actually, on the same team, someone named Breanna Stewart is shooting just 20.5% from three. I'm guessing she's riding the bench big-time. And another kid who couldn't make the transition to the WNBA is shooting just 25.6%- Tiffany Hayes. Bench 'em all, I say!!

 

[hoophuskee]

just an opinion but i think the Storm are going to have make a trade or two or sign a free agent or a foreign player with size and can score with their back to the backet, then it will free up space for Stewie and Langhorne to move thru the lane and Loyd can become the slashing scorer she can be...

I don't agree with this at all. IMO yes they can use a big but unless they get a super center - there are few of those available- how will Langhorne as a pf "open up the lane?"

And Loyd is among other things a slasher - how is clogging the lane with a big center and at the pf- with Langhorne in the game going to help her slashing?

 

[ricky]

No, she didn't. She was almost exclusively a spot up 3 pt shooter because of the fact that she had trouble creating her own shot. In the WNBA everybody is even bigger, stronger, and faster than in college and KML is struggling with the increased athleticism at that level.

No, she didn't. She was almost exclusively a spot up 3 pt shooter because of the fact that she had trouble creating her own shot. In the WNBA everybody is even bigger, stronger, and faster than in college and KML is struggling with the increased athleticism at that level.

I beg to differ mainly because KML was the greatest 3 point shooter to ever play the game. Because of this, Geno made certain she was always ready to fire off that shot "almost exclusively". That shot was a game changer not something done as an alternative to anything. Now there were times when she would play down low and always burn another guard if they elected to check her. Then she could fake from the perimeter and sidestep her opponent. Yes, she is a chubby strong agile player.

 

[Carnac]

I like this type of back and forth on a given topic. Lots of different perceptions and observations. Here's another thought. How long does KML
endure her current roll? Does she embrace the status quo?, or does he seek a trade or a free agent move to another franchise? It's not unusual for players to move several times during their WNBA careers. Do her fortunes lay in Seattle, or somewhere else?

 

[Fairfield Fan]

I like this type of back and forth on a given topic. Lots of different perceptions and observations. Here's another thought. How long does KML
endure her current roll? Does she embrace the status quo?, or does he seek a trade or a free agent move to another franchise? It's not unusual for players to move several times during their WNBA careers. Do her fortunes lay in Seattle, or somewhere else?

Exactly. Tonight in the first half, Seattle has played Monica Wright, a journeyman guard the same height as KML who has scored less than 2 ppg the past two seasons. Yet she gets in the game, but KML is just siting their twiddling her thumbs.

Time for KML to request a trade. Again, she was leading her French team the first half of the season to a winning record. But she can't even get in the game with a losing Seattle team? Give me a break!!!!

Let's put aside the "can't make the transition" nonsense. Seattle isn't using a great and talented player. So let someone else make use of her. Maybe New York would be a good home. It's a team that needs outside shooting to take the pressure off of their bigs under the bucket. The Liberty can give Seattle a late 2nd round draft choice in 2018. That sounds like a fair swap for a player that Seattle refuses to let off the bench.

Oh, and about the inability to transition, Kelly Faris scored in double-digits tonight. If she gets off the bench, why on earth is KML still there?!

 

[Fairfield Fan]

I like this type of back and forth on a given topic. Lots of different perceptions and observations. Here's another thought. How long does KML
endure her current roll? Does she embrace the status quo?, or does he seek a trade or a free agent move to another franchise? It's not unusual for players to move several times during their WNBA careers. Do her fortunes lay in Seattle, or somewhere else?

Exactly. Tonight in the first half, Seattle has played Monica Wright, a journeyman guard the same height as KML who has scored less than 2 ppg the past two seasons. Yet she gets in the game, but KML is just siting their twiddling her thumbs.

Time for KML to request a trade. Again, she was leading her French team the first half of the season to a winning record. But she can't even get in the game with a losing Seattle team? Give me a break!!!!

Let's put aside the "can't make the transition" nonsense. Seattle isn't using a great and talented player. So let someone else make use of her. Maybe New York would be a good home. It's a team that needs outside shooting to take the pressure off of their bigs under the bucket. The Liberty can give Seattle a late 2nd round draft choice in 2018. That sounds like a fair swap for a player that Seattle refuses to let off the bench.

Oh, and about the inability to transition, Kelly Faris scored in double-digits tonight. If she gets off the bench, why on earth is KML still there?!

 

[malevocalist#]

Wow. Only what, 6 minutes tonight? Well I guess you have time to make a few passed and breath a little.

You know what? I don't care what No one says. I am not going to continue to sit here and allow my game to become stagnant.

Get a trade brewing...Not now, right now.

 

[triaddukefan]

Wow. Only what, 6 minutes tonight? Well I guess you have time to make a few passed and breath a little.

You know what? I don't care what No one says. I am not going to continue to sit here and allow my game to become stagnant.

Get a trade brewing...Not now, right now.

Trade her straight up to NY for Schimmel

Seattle could use a backup PG..... and the Liberty would acquire a shooter... which would give them a grand total of one on their roster.

 

[NoelAustin]

Wow. Only what, 6 minutes tonight? Well I guess you have time to make a few passed and breath a little.

You know what? I don't care what No one says. I am not going to continue to sit here and allow my game to become stagnant.

Get a trade brewing...Not now, right now.

I think San Antonio might be interested in KML. They are a guard-rich team that needs more scoring.