Olivia Nelson-Ododa stay focused!

[phil sampieri]

Liv certainly does draw a ton of attention on the Boneyard, and no shortage of advice and criticism, most of the latter focused on her lack of bulk and strength, her lack of a baby hook, etc. I've contributed some criticism here and there, hopefully without sarcasm or being demeaning or meanspirited. Please indulge me here, at season's end, after watching her closely for three seasons. I offer this summary based only on video viewing (and re-viewing) her habits and tendencies. I'm still not sure I can claim to "know" why she falls short of what we think is her full set of capabilities. For any of us fans to be sure of a full diagnosis, we would need extended observation, day-to-day, of her practice and scrimmage sessions. But only the UConn coaching staff can offer that.
But . . . this is what I think I see: a tall, earnest young player who is not a richly gifted natural athlete. This is not someone who lacks "character" or a desire to improve herself. But I see in games someone who does not use her jumping ability (her legs) or have a feel for a proper jump shot:
1. she does not get lift from her legs when on offense
2. takes long steps instead of shorter quicker ones that allow
her to keep her balance, make reversals, make quick upward
movement. (A la N Collier, Stewie, even Steph Dolson)
3. often shoots layups and "gimmie" jumpers by shoving the
the ball with her arms, often off the heel of her hand. True
and controlled layups, jumpers are finessed and directed
with fingers/finger tips. She doesn't seem to do that, so
every layup, etc. is an adventure. I don't know if or when she
has been intensively coached on those principles. Heaven
knows I spent hours with "beginning" players about basic
shooting principles. I have to assume that Liv's coaches
have worked with her about those mechanics.
4. She often seems to have planned her first moves in the
low blocks before she has located her defender(s) instead of
feeling where they are and then faking (shot or spin move) to
move them before committing herself.
She has had three full seasons to improve her game, but i don't think she has yet found the way to refine or add to her offensive skill set. I'm not sure why. Is it partly a confidence issue?

I was about to write something very similar but you put it much better. Folks have to stop acting like we are out to kill a player when offering their opinion to hopefully help the player improve. No intent to demean, just a persons opinion. My one observation along with these stated is in shooting a layup she actually releases the ball at shoulder height which negates some of her height advantage. I believe she will come back very
strong .

 

[Viet Vet]

Face it. The toughest-as-nails, run-through-the-wall woman on the UConn sidelines is wearing civvies..........................Jamelle. Second toughest too.........................Shea.

 

[CocoHusky]

Liv missed 7 shots [in a crowd] against AZ .. CW missed 10 shots against AZ, eh?
So draw your own conclusions.

Liv brings a LOT to the table that CW doesn't:
Rebounding: Liv led the club in rebounding by a wide margin
Passing: in 27% less minutes than CW, Liv recorded 35% more assists!
Defense: Liv is an intimidator, defensive player-of-the-year [POY], the anchor of UConn's defense.
Blocked Shots: Liv led the club in blocked shots by a wide margin; her two monster blocks in the 4th-quarter vs TN turned the game around
FG% - Liv led the starters in field goal percentage
Setting screens: most of Paige's pullup jumpers are off ONO high-post screens; Liv is the hub of UConn's offense at the high post with her passing and picks.
Scoring: Liv is an extremely versatile 'big' who can score in the low post, from the high post, in transition [often] and off the pick-n-roll. In one game, her 24 points in only 22 minutes shows her capabilities, eh?

So, I think it's time [don't you?] to stop glorifying CW at Liv's expense. IMO, I think they will BOTH be important pawns in next season's gambit.

My conclusion is you don't like Christyn Williams. But I kind of already knew that.

 

[Superhuskies]

She was rated #5 overall in her high school class. IMO, it’s hard to remember a more-underperforming “big” at UConn.

Tammy Arnold ??

 

[Superhuskies]

We don't win it without each one of the startes either.

Nor that ref .... (?)

 

[Superhuskies]

We just UConn and basketball freaks.....what else is there in Connecticut ? (The Sun? So-so stuff)....
Nothin' personal.....

 

[HuskyNan]

Liv missed 7 shots [in a crowd] against AZ .. CW missed 10 shots against AZ, eh?
So draw your own conclusions.

Liv brings a LOT to the table that CW doesn't:
Rebounding: Liv led the club in rebounding by a wide margin
Passing: in 27% less minutes than CW, Liv recorded 35% more assists!
Defense: Liv is an intimidator, defensive player-of-the-year [POY], the anchor of UConn's defense.
Blocked Shots: Liv led the club in blocked shots by a wide margin; her two monster blocks in the 4th-quarter vs TN turned the game around
FG% - Liv led the starters in field goal percentage
Setting screens: most of Paige's pullup jumpers are off ONO high-post screens; Liv is the hub of UConn's offense at the high post with her passing and picks.
Scoring: Liv is an extremely versatile 'big' who can score in the low post, from the high post, in transition [often] and off the pick-n-roll. In one game, her 24 points in only 22 minutes shows her capabilities, eh?

So, I think it's time [don't you?] to stop glorifying CW at Liv's expense. IMO, I think they will BOTH be important pawns in next season's gambit.

Christyn missed 10 shots but she made 7, shooting the same 7-17 as Aari McDonald. She was also the second high scorer in the game with 20 points and the only Husky besides Evina that didn’t have a deer in the headlights look. You’ve had a constant drumbeat of criticism towards Christyn all year but it is really misplace in the post-season. She was a rock for the team in the tourneys.

 

[Jingo]

My conclusion is you don't like Christyn Williams. But I kind of already knew that.

No .. I like CW .. I just think Liv is more valuable to the team.
Both players have had their ups-and-downs this season.
But, when CW plays poorly, she gets a lot of support and encouragement on this forum.
When Liv plays poorly, she gets kicked when she's down. Not fair, eh?

 

[dcheng021]

With the incoming class next year, maybe we don't need ONO's scoring in the post and she can be a Ben Wallace type defensive specialist with the added bonus of being able to pass well. The Pistons with Ben Wallace were able to win a championship in 2004 against a Lakers team that had Kobe and Shaq in their prime plus Karl Malone and Gary Payton. Ben Wallace was a career 40% free throw shooter.

 

[Bigflip12]

I know this is an ONO thread, but I'm curious to know what folks think about
the possibility that Piath could develop to the point where she is able to provide
the team with meaningful minutes by the time she's a senior.

To my untutored eye it appeared that by the end of the season she maybe sorta
knew what she was doing on the defensive end. With that big strong body it's
tempting to think she will be useful once she learns how to play the game.

I think she (Piath) is like a Tacko Fall project for the Celtics. She should focus on defense, rebounding and blocking shots basically carve a niche out for her playing time.

 

[chrissaran]

What most players don't do when shooting a layup or near the basket is to fake. Get the defensive player out of position, and then shoot the ball. Too many blocks because they go right to the rim and shoot, or they get the ball in the post and shoot. Fake, then shoot.

 

[chrissaran]

With the incoming class next year, maybe we don't need ONO's scoring in the post and she can be a Ben Wallace type defensive specialist with the added bonus of being able to pass well. The Pistons with Ben Wallace were able to win a championship in 2004 against a Lakers team that had Kobe and Shaq in their prime plus Karl Malone and Gary Payton. Ben Wallace was a career 40% free throw shooter.

Olivia is not physical like Aaliyah or Ben Wallace.

 

[pvdoggy]

No .. I like CW .. I just think Liv is more valuable to the team.
Both players have had their ups-and-downs this season.
But, when CW plays poorly, she gets a lot of support and encouragement on this forum.
When Liv plays poorly, she gets kicked when she's down. Not fair, eh?

Ha! You must be reading the wrong forum. CW was trashed quite a few times when she played badly during the regular season including a game where she had ZERO across the scoring line but she was definitely a baller in the NCAA tournament.

 

[jaundicedeye]

Christyn missed 10 shots but she made 7, shooting the same 7-17 as Aari McDonald. She was also the second high scorer in the game with 20 points and the only Husky besides Evina that didn’t have a deer in the headlights look. You’ve had a constant drumbeat of criticism towards Christyn all year but it is really misplace in the post-season. She was a rock for the team in the tourneys.

Agree. Isn't it about time to lock this thread? I would rather see posters disparage Adia Barnes than one of our own players. Enough already.