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Team chemistry in the superteam portal age

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bballnut90

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12 shots still seems like a lot of shots for Morrow when you break down the numbers. Even if her FG% went back up to her freshman numbers.
LSU averaged 54 shots per game last year which is pretty much in line with most other elite teams(more than Iowa and Uconn, slightly less than SC) . If she were to shoot 12, and assume you bring Hailey Van Lith down to 12 (who was at 17) and you have Angel shoot 12 (down from 16) and you kept all the returning LSU players at their averages FJ (shot 9) Poole (4) Smith (4) you leave have one shot remaining for the incoming freshman, one of which might be the best shooter on the team (Williams). Basically what I'm saying is that for her to shoot 12, more efficient shooters will end up with less shots. I don't think a shot breakdown like the one above is a winning formula for LSU imo. I think around 9 shots per game would be ideal for Morrow - averaging around 10-12 points and 8-10 rebounds would make this a successful add for LSU.

LSU shot 65 times per game, not 54. Worth noting, they were also #3 in the country in FTA per game, so a lot of offensive possessions ended up with trips to the line.

My guess is Morrow gets 10-12 shots per game next year. If there are 65 shots to go around, I'd expect Hailey Van Lith/Angel to be in the 13-15 range, Morrow 10-12, Williams/Flaujae 8-10, Poole/Poa/Smith 2-4. It'll be a more balanced offense than we saw a year ago, where LSU was overly reliant on Morris/Reese to produce in some big games.
 

bballnut90

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And Maddy carried her team into the tournament two years in a row.

As for Anessah, I think she is more likely what she did her freshman year by that calculation, which was her best in my opinion: 22 p/g on 52% shooting. She only took 17 shots/g that year and got 14 reb/g. Of course, I doubt she'll be allowed to take 17 shots/g at LSU. But even taking a dozen at that rate, and making 4 FTs/g she'll probably clock in at a respectable 16p/g, which will put her on the AA watch list.

I think this is the most likely outcome. I'd expect her shot selection to increase drastically from a year ago with fewer looks and a more structured system than she had at DePaul.
 

nwhoopfan

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and a more structured system than she had at DePaul.
Didn't watch them much the last year or two, but whenever I have watched DePaul I have been appalled at their team wide shot selection. If you touch the ball, you have the green light to launch it, especially behind the 3 point arc.
 

bballnut90

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Didn't watch them much the last year or two, but whenever I have watched DePaul I have been appalled at their team wide shot selection. If you touch the ball, you have the green light to launch it, especially behind the 3 point arc.
Part of Bruno's style of play/coaching. To his credit, his teams have largely done quite well over his career but it's far from the most structured offense. It was a lot like Quentin Hillsman style at Syracuse, and he was able to get his team to the title game back in 2016.
 
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LSU shot 65 times per game, not 54. Worth noting, they were also #3 in the country in FTA per game, so a lot of offensive possessions ended up with trips to the line.

My guess is Morrow gets 10-12 shots per game next year. If there are 65 shots to go around, I'd expect Hailey Van Lith/Angel to be in the 13-15 range, Morrow 10-12, Williams/Flaujae 8-10, Poole/Poa/Smith 2-4. It'll be a more balanced offense than we saw a year ago, where LSU was overly reliant on Morris/Reese to produce in some big games.
Curious where you got 65 per game from? ESPN stats say they attempted 1954 shots last year across 36 games which nets out at 54 FGA per game. I am probably dumb and missing something though? If they averaged 65 shots per game they would have ended the year with 2340 shots at the end of the season.
 

Carnac

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If our players stay healthy, then we should be viewed as a super team. LSU now may have 3 of the 10 best players in WBB today, but so has UConn. We have chemistry, the one thing that will make an average team very good, and a very good team great. LSU does not, though it may be fun for them in the beginning going against mediocre teams, that will go away later on when they encounter other good teams. Who will be running the team, who will take that "last shot", who will allow others to excel when they themselves were always in that position? We basically know those answers for UConn, so lets not be afraid of the "Super Team". We stay healthy we are the team to beat, so all we have to concentrate on is our schedule and not worry about anyone else. We will be great, and we will prove it in March.
If UConn really believes and embraces that concept, then they MUST go out into the WCBB world and command that respect one game at a time. Respect is EARNED, not given. If you put the hammer down (15-20 pt wins) on enough good top-tier teams, you will "earn" a reputation, and get that desired respect.
 
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I kind of look at this as there being many chemistry questions adding Van Lith and Morrow to a team that has a big personality in Reese already. Having said that, I think Kim is the type of strong willed leader that could bring them together and make it work, or it could be a combo that just doesn't work. I suspect Kim likes this challenge, but knows there are risks too.

To her credit I notice that her previous transfers have demonstrated better decision making and discipline after coming there. What I mean by that is fewer fouls, more assists, better assist turnover ratios, better shooting percentages by being more selective etc. That suggests that players have mostly bought into the system and team play.

With Van Lith, the main issue is her position. Yes they can use her shooting/scoring, but the main trait they lost with Morris that will be a challenge for Van Lith is the playmaking. She played more like a short shooting guard at Louisville, but the greatest need at LSU is a true point guard, particularly with a top recruit like Williams coming on board. Maybe Van Lith can be more of a PG, but her numbers are clear that she has not played like one so far. in fact you could make a case that LSU potentially should have pursued one of the Oregon guards that might have been a better PG fit than Van Lith, but time will tell.

With Morrow there are also interesting position and style of play issues. Morrow's best position is the same as Reese's. I don't think Angel wants to play C, but with Morrow at PF that would probably be the best way to use them together. It sounds like part of Yim's recruiting pitch to convince Morrow she could get starter like minutes, is to encourage her perimeter play, as the SF opposite Reese at PF.

Personally I think that would be a mistake and a misuse of her talents, but it might have been necessary to support Morrow's apparent belief she can be a very good perimeter threat. If she could lift her 3pt percentage substantially it could work, but given she is nothing special from the FT line I think the odds are very much against it.

With both of the portal additions, the players may be looking past their college careers for the same reason. What's best for Van Lith (a 5-7 SG) might be convincing WNBA scouts she can play PG. What's best for Morrows future aspirations (as a 6-1 PF) could be to show the same scouts she can play on the perimeter as a SF. The potential conflict is what might be best for a players pro future might be the opposite of what is their best use for their college team.

When I look at what Dawn did in the portal, I have to wonder if Kim might have been better off with Dawn's picks. Pao Pao is about as good as Van Lith anyway, and surely has more point guard skills and might have been a better fit. In addition they picked up a 6-5 C that was the juco player of the year. She could have filled the need at C for LSU for a year while grooming Del Rosario for the ultimate role.

Kim went for talent more than fit, accepted the challenge, and now has to see if she can make it work. Should make for an interesting season.
Great post!
 

bballnut90

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Curious where you got 65 per game from? ESPN stats say they attempted 1954 shots last year across 36 games which nets out at 54 FGA per game. I am probably dumb and missing something though? If they averaged 65 shots per game they would have ended the year with 2340 shots at the end of the season.
I just looked, ESPN has an error and didn't factor in 6 games (probably the NCAA tournament) it their totals. They took 2345 shots on the season.

 
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I just looked, ESPN has an error and didn't factor in 6 games (probably the NCAA tournament) it their totals. They took 2345 shots on the season.

Got it, thanks for that I thought the low fifties sounded low for every team as average but what do I know?

12 shots seems right for Morrow out of 65. If I were LSU I’d still probably prefer more shots go to Flaujae and Williams based on percentages but I doubt that will be the case. I think those three players all want to play the position so the chemistry development between those three will be most interesting to watch for me.
 

Carnac

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I’d expect UConn to have the best chemistry merely because the core is all veterans who know each other really well. Paige will be the beating heart of this team, and she knows how to shape everyone’s passions into a single unit.

Dawn has a challenge building chemistry having lost the core veterans, but I expect she’ll bring them all together, perhaps around Raven.

Kim, of course, is another chemistry expert, and I will not be surprised if she solves this particular puzzle by the end of January. In her case, it’s all about bringing the big 3 together.
I don't understand why some folks are doubling Kim. :eek: She's been coaching WCBB for 38 years, 27 as a head coach. She knows how to recruit, how to assemble teams, how to talk to the media, and how to deal with egos..........of all sizes. Players understand that when they sign up. They will figure it out. Kim will make it work.
 

HuskyNan

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This thread is so far off topic I thought I was reading one of the other 10 LSU/Morrow threads I’d either locked or moved.

Take LSU topics to the General board.
 
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