OT: Diamond DeShields is Back!!!..[edit] but the Brooklyn Dodgers aren't!

[BroadwayVa]

It would also help if she had better shot selection, wasn't such a ball hog and learned to move without the ball. Also, how about staying in front of your man on defense?

NAN MUST BE IN RIO---OR YOU ARE A FAIR HAIRED POSTER---
I WAS TAKEN TO TASK A FEW MONTHS AGO FOR USING THE SAME TERM FOR A PLAYER.(I think it was DD). Maybe it matters if they are Freshmen or Juniors??
IT'S A TRUE STATEMENT BUT-----

 

[SCGamecock]

All I know is two players in WCBB last year really elevated on their jump shots; Courtney Williams and Diamond DeShields.

Aren't they really good friends? I remember reading somewhere that Williams really helped DeShields with her shot..

Williams was one of my favorite guards last year.. DeShields could learn a bit from her, especially the way Williams controls the game and never lets it get away from her.

 

[Orangutan]

At UNC she shot 42% overall and 27% from 3 & lead UNC in TO by a wide margin and attempted 220 more shots than any other teammate.

Yep, a/to ratio and 3-pt shooting are a consistent problem for her. 42% is not bad for a high-usage guard but I question whether she needed to shoot so much when she had Mavunga, McDaniel, and Gray on her team.

She's a guard who is neither a great shooter nor a great passer. She's good attacking the basket but Tennessee has no shooters to space the floor for her.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

I've been an "on again-off again" Diamond fan. She has the ability and potential to be among the great. She's had physical issues including the time at NC.
The "mouth" is the kind of mouth Geno loves--over loaded with confidence, ala DT! However, Geno would demand that she back that up on the floor during big time games.
Look at the kid and how she impacted the NC team--. We, as fans don't know what physical or mental issues she may have.

DT never had this kid's mouth. She was an impact player - with plenty of freshman thrown in -at UNC. That's it. Last year was pretty hideous. She can talk it, but can she walk it? Time will tell. If I' a WNBA GM/Coach absent a spectacular,sustained change I would not risk a first round pick or my locker room on her.

 

[JordyG]

NAN MUST BE IN RIO---OR YOU ARE A FAIR HAIRED POSTER---
I WAS TAKEN TO TASK A FEW MONTHS AGO FOR USING THE SAME TERM FOR A PLAYER.(I think it was DD). Maybe it matters if they are Freshmen or Juniors??
IT'S A TRUE STATEMENT BUT-----

Well, the ultimate defense against slander is the truth, censured or not. And I'd thank you to know my hair went down the drain years ago.

 

[mkwstar23]

have to say that Diamond is a very talented player...that being said i firmly believe that great players never have to talk about themselves because someone else is always talking about them...other than her freshman year she has been up and down...think there is no question as to her ability but rather her heart and desire...can't see her making comments like that if Pat were the coach...Lady Vols would be much better served by developing team unity than worrying about POY awards...curious what Boneyard would say if KLS had made those statements....just a thought or two

 

[BroadwayVa]

Well, the ultimate defense against slander is the truth, censured or not. And I'd thank you to know my hair went down the drain years ago.

Slander or truth is in the perception of those hearing or those who own the game. I try NOT to libel anyone--it's much harder to say written worda were not printed.
Ok--so it's fair-scalped--join the increasingly large crowd.

 

[Blueconn]

A full water glass does not make any noise. A half filled water glass, on the other hand.....

Excellent. Your own insight ? If so, kudos ! If not, thanks.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Diamond is possibly the most athletic player out there, but she has yet to show that she can consistently be a great basketball player. She needs to demonstrate a high basketball IQ and play within a team framework. And stop pouting when things don't go her way.

I'm disappointed in her quotes. Her focus is herself and not her team. Given that focus, she'll be in the pros next year, not back at Knoxville.

 

[CajunHusky]

2017 is largely expected to be a weak WNBA draft class. Scaife-Rutgers, McCall-Stanford, Jessica Jackson-Arkansas, & Coates-South Carolina, Shatori Walker-Kimbrough-MD are some of the names in contention for the top spots. IMO diamond would be doing herself a favor because she would stand taller in this draft than competing with Turner and Wilson a year later.

I think it would put the article in a different perspective if you think of this as a "contract" year for DD

 

[CajunHusky]

All I know is two players in WCBB last year really elevated on their jump shots; Courtney Williams and Diamond DeShields.

and Moriah Jefferson.....

 

[CajunHusky]

Geno himself said she was a great player, but it's the "other stuff " that comes with Diamond that would have been a clash had she went to uconn. Not that it mattered but had Geno and co known she would have picked UNC maybe Holmes would have gotten a Uconn offer.

say what? your first sentence: Geno did say she was a great player but the second part of that implies that Geno also commented on her having "other stuff" ..... is that true, I love to hear that proof........

 

[meyers7]

You can argue she's not with stats and facts. Sure.. but it would be futile, for me at least.

Yea, it's like that with some people. "Facts, truths, reality? Mean nothing to me, I have my own warped opinions. "

 

[SCGamecock]

Yea, it's like that with some people. "Facts, truths, reality? Mean nothing to me, I have my own warped opinions. "

You're so predictable. Hello to you too.

 

[CajunHusky]

Diamond is possibly the most athletic player out there, but she has yet to show that she can consistently be a great basketball player. She needs to demonstrate a high basketball IQ and play within a team framework. And stop pouting when things don't go her way.

I'm disappointed in her quotes. Her focus is herself and not her team. Given that focus, she'll be in the pros next year, not back at Knoxville.

Here are two athletic players, DD and Gabby...... you are a WNBA GM, so potential vs portential who would you draft?

 

[CajunHusky]

say what? your first sentence: Geno did say she was a great player but the second part of that implies that Geno also commented on her having "other stuff" ..... is that true, I love to hear that proof...

The quote from a Jeff Jacobs article in November 2015 is provided:

"There was never any doubt she was the kind of talent coming out of high school that could have kind of a Maya [Moore] impact on a program," Auriemma said. "It was managing all the other stuff that went along with it that was going to be an issue for wherever she went. Now that she's at a place that's used to that, they know how to do that somewhat.
"Just by your program's culture, who you are and how you do things almost can guarantee you a Sweet 16 spot. Those next two weekends, it's a player, maybe two if you're lucky, who then takes over and gets you to Tuesday night [for the national title]. They haven't had that player. I think they do now."

Context! This is a positive thing he said about DD ..... If anything he was talking about North Carolina's program.

 

[stwainfan]

Diamond was never on the court with Breanna Stewart.

 

[Justavisitor]

Please don't go there! It is a travesty to the sport that Candace Parker is not representing her country.

Yes, it is.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Yes, it is.

That's an overstatement. The decision has a clear basis, though some folks refuse to recognize it.

 

[Kibitzer]

That pic qualifies as a bigtime smackdown.

Game. Set. Match.

 

[CajunHusky]

Yes, it is.

even the argument for screams me not team.....

 

[Justavisitor]

NAN MUST BE IN RIO---OR YOU ARE A FAIR HAIRED POSTER---
I WAS TAKEN TO TASK A FEW MONTHS AGO FOR USING THE SAME TERM FOR A PLAYER.(I think it was DD). Maybe it matters if they are Freshmen or Juniors??
IT'S A TRUE STATEMENT BUT-----

Ball hog? Puhlease, when Maya played, she took the bulk of the shots because she was the best scorer and could easily get her shot. As a senior, she took 30.0% of all shots. It was Kara Lawson that said it best during the NCAA tourney. When you have players that have so much offensive abilities and the athleticism to always be able to get their shot, it's a learning process on when to take your shot and it's also not an easy thing to hold back. By comparison, I calculated Diamond's percentage of all shots taken starting with the SEC tourney, because this is when she was put in the starting line up permanently and her minutes were very high per game. She took 30.7% of the shots.

 

[Justavisitor]

Diamond is possibly the most athletic player out there, but she has yet to show that she can consistently be a great basketball player. She needs to demonstrate a high basketball IQ and play within a team framework. And stop pouting when things don't go her way.

I'm disappointed in her quotes. Her focus is herself and not her team. Given that focus, she'll be in the pros next year, not back at Knoxville.

Her consistency will improve with her health. Through the tourneys, when she was better, but still not full strength, she shot 40% from the field. As for her quotes, I sure do remember all the haters when the Williams Sisters spoke with a never before seen type of confidence. It's put up or shut up time. When the greats find the confidence to speak up, watch out, because that type of supreme confidence typically equates to great results.

 

[Justavisitor]

even the argument for screams me not team.....

She wants to win titles. You don't win those alone. What's funny is when she was being recruited by Geno, she said way back then that she wanted to set records. She spoke of the things "she wanted to do." Back then though, since it was rumored she was headed to UConn, she was celebrated by many on this board and certainly wasn't chastised.

 

[Adesmar123]

She wants to win titles. You don't win those alone. What's funny is when she was being recruited by Geno, she said way back then that she wanted to set records. She spoke of the things "she wanted to do." Back then though, since it was rumored she was headed to UConn, she was celebrated by many on this board and certainly wasn't chastised.

All players are heroes until they aren't anymore.

 

[meyers7]

You're so predictable. Hello to you too.

You said yet.

 

[Kibitzer]

Ball hog? Puhlease, when Maya played, she took the bulk of the shots because she was the best scorer and could easily get her shot. As a senior, she took 30.0% of all shots. It was Kara Lawson that said it best during the NCAA tourney. When you have players that have so much offensive abilities and the athleticism to always be able to get their shot, it's a learning process on when to take your shot and it's also not an easy thing to hold back.

A major deficiency in recent play by the USA Men's team is that Kevin Durant has averaged only 9 shots per game. Only Carmelo has been firing away.

 

[CajunHusky]

She wants to win titles. You don't win those alone. What's funny is when she was being recruited by Geno, she said way back then that she wanted to set records. She spoke of the things "she wanted to do." Back then though, since it was rumored she was headed to UConn, she was celebrated by many on this board and certainly wasn't chastised.

was Candace Parker recruited by UConn? my response was to a post about Candace Parker ....

 

[Beemer]

No question DeShields has the talent. Now that she's healthy, the question is can Warlick help her harness that talent so DeShields can become that player she says she wants to be. Stay tuned....

 

[Alydar]

Ball hog? Puhlease, when Maya played, she took the bulk of the shots because she was the best scorer and could easily get her shot. As a senior, she took 30.0% of all shots. It was Kara Lawson that said it best during the NCAA tourney. When you have players that have so much offensive abilities and the athleticism to always be able to get their shot, it's a learning process on when to take your shot and it's also not an easy thing to hold back. By comparison, I calculated Diamond's percentage of all shots taken starting with the SEC tourney, because this is when she was put in the starting line up permanently and her minutes were very high per game. She took 30.7% of the shots.

Any comparison of the two is an insult to Moore. Maya may have taken 30 % of the shots but her fg% was 52% and she shot 38% from 3. DeShields shot 39% of her fg's and 25% from 3. The only reason her stats look any good is because the rest of the team couldn't shoot . Moore also had almost twice as many assists, 151 to 82 for DeShields. Moore had 313 rebounds to 186 for DeShields. And for those who don't find stats very compelling, try watching some games and decide who put out more energy on the court.

Moore was a leader. DeShields is a star.