My comments were directed at
individual players, NOT the team. Individual players make up the team, and a 5 man unit on the floor at any given time. We know what the retuning players can do and what we'll get from them. I need a 4-5 game sample size to see what the freshmen and Dorka can do within the structure of our team, that is playing the type of offense and defense that Geno wants. Nika did not look like the Nika we saw at the end of the season last year. Aaliyah did not look like her old self either. Dorka failed to impress. I'm not going to make judgements from 1 game.
I agree that THE TEAM needs to play and execute better as a unit. Several times Azzi got beat and her man went by her to the basket where Liv did not stop her or pick her up. When Azzi's man got by her, she should have run directly into Liv, our rim protector. Liv didn't make any attempt to stop her. The player scored an easy lay up. I think Liv was afraid of picking up another foul.
That is what I mean by the starters and upperclassmen have to help or carry the newbies until they get their "sea legs." THAT will not happen in 1 game. Azzi and everyone else have to have confidence that if they get beat, Liv or whoever is guarding the paint has their back. That's the case in women's and men's basketball.
I was a post player. My guys knew that if they got beat, I'd pick up their man. THAT was my job. I'm either going to stop him, make him pass it, or shoot a shot he doesn't want to shoot. He's NOT getting a free pass to the rim. You don't have to block every shot. If you can make the payer change their shot, you've done your job. Liv has to guard the rim, and do it WITHOUT fouling. I saw her fly swat at a shot during the game (smh). Still has not learned after 3 years that fly swatting will put you on the bench with fouls.
Using that technique, you will almost surely foul the shooter. You NEVER try to block a shot while the ball is still in the player's hand. If you miss it, you're going to hit his hand and foul him. You aim for where the ball will be AFTER it leaves his hand. If you time it correctly like Paige did on her block, you don't foul the player, and you live to player another possession.
My first concern is ALWAYS to win the game. Second, that the team play good "in your face" defense, and hold the competition to 59 points or less. Any team is only as good as its weakest link. If the unit contains a player that can't keep their man in from of them, they are going to be exploited every time down the court. If you have a player that can't shoot free throws, that player is a liability late in a close game that may be decided by free throws. Remember, a player DOES NOT have to have the ball to get fouled. You can grab a player and get the ref's attention to get the foul called. We use to do it, and I've seen it done many times. Most refs will not call an intentional foul in that case, even though they should.
It's perfectly OK if you don't agree with my view point. I appreciate your response.
The Dallas Cowboys beat the Atlanta Falcons yesterday 43-3. I guarantee the two head coaches and all of the players saw that game differently depending which side of the score they were on. 
I'll bet their fans are roasting their players like a steak. 
We're doing the same and we won.
