The Azzi Experiment

[tchalla1]

I also thought it was an in game practice strategy. I think he is trying to get her comfortable with having an uncomfortable shooting situation for when she has to put the team on her back and win ugly.

This was primarily a 3 pt situation but it also reminded me of the Maya Moore days where the offense was largely about her. Maya knew she had to make something out of nothing for the team.

Your points are well taken, and I agree with Old Dude's assessments as well--Geno undoubtedly told Azzi to shoot every time she touched the ball--however playing alongside Azzi this year, just happens to be a pretty country fair shooter of her own right. I don't think Azzi will have to be sharing the scoring load alone... And the offense won't be largely about Azzi..

 

[Geesworld]

This Azzi experiment is a great call and makes sense if that is truly what it is. Watching these exhibition games and it's very noticeable that we are undersized and we'll be depending on perimeter play way more than we ever had in the past. Azzi, reluctance to take shots or should I say, hunt for her shot could be a hinderance if we aren't able to get the ball inside against much taller teams.

 

[awhom111]

A lot has been said about the double rims in the gym. One must keep in mind that Murano is a series of islands famous for glassworks and tourists, with a population of less than 5000 people. I was surprised they even had a gym, but it was certainly not built to be a major sports venue.

It is the home court of a men's team in the lower divisions.

 

[Skeets]

I don't have a problem with the 9 for 31 shooting exhibition so long as Azzi's teammates were dialed in and supportive of the "Azzi Experiment". Geno is the Philadelphia Experiment

 

[diggerfoot]

I agree Fudd’s shot volume was by Auriemma’s design. I am uncertain what the purpose was, but more certain what it was not.

Fudd is not a reluctant shooter. Her shots per minute has always been high for a UConn player, while her assists per minute for a UConn guard has been low. Has she passed up shots? Absolutely, as has every great UConn player, with the possible exception of M. Moore (her career spg was over 18, 2 shots higher than any other player’s season high). They pass up the occasional shot because they are trained in an efficient team offense to take the best shot.

Which might explain the lower shooting percentage for Fudd in that game. The training for high efficiency offense was overridden which led to shots Fudd did not take psychologically in the flow for her. Though every shooter has bad games, I doubt we will ever see a 9/31 stat line from any UConn player in a real game. I do not know what Auriemma’s purpose was, I just know he is a great coach while Fudd does not have a reluctance to shoot problem.

 

[Jumper33]

As far as I know, only Sue Bird.

Believe it or not, Diamond Johnson shot 50/40/90 her freshman year at Rutgers. This was over the course of just 19 games though. But still, nice accomplishment for a freshman.

 

[Bone Dog]

They pass up the occasional shot because they are trained in an efficient team offense to take the best shot.

Absolutely. Though I have wondered sometimes with Azzi in the first two years (or partial years) whether she too often passed up the shot a play was run to get her even though it was a decent shot. The hope to get "the best shot" with one more pass may sometimes undermine the rebounding setup that is built into a particular play.

I've seen two versions of Geno's frustrations with this:

1) he publicly urged players two years ago to adopt more of a "just break off the play and go [to the rim]" mentality. Nika has been the recipient of this advice, but I think Azzi, too. Paige has always understood this as well as anyone in he history off the game.

2) he discourages prolonging the play to get an even better shot than planned.

Without a creator like Paige on the floor, 2 can be deadly for an offense because the shot eventually taken (assuming there is one) is out of the flow. And by "flow" I mean the rest of the team expects the shot at one of the inflection points in the play they're running, and they know when to get position for a rebound. 1 doesn't suffer from this, since breaking off the play early to get a shot usually means midrange or closer and the need to have position for the rebound isn't quite as urgent.

A "read and react" offense is built around the communal improvisational skills of the whole team. But we haven't had a steady enough roster the last two years to develop this shared sense. This may be why he has focused more on 1, since mistakes in this mode are less deadly and demoralizing than passing around for 30 seconds and never getting "the best shot" or being stuck with an off-balance perimeter shot with no chance for a rebound.

In the annals of the "read and react" offense, we've had a lot of great teams. The Gabby-Katie Lou-Phee years were particularly well-attuned to each other. They read each others' movements as well as the defense, knew when to make one more pass and when to break off the play. The beginning of this past season looked like it could recreate that magic, until Azzi went down, and then Dorka, etc. Nika was able (almost single-handedly!) to compensate for this a bit, but in the end we just were not a great "read and react" team by the end of March. I won't dwell on this sore subject.

Think back to two seasons ago, when Paige came back in March, and even though it took a few games, they began to look like one of those teams, especially in the Indiana game. Well, Paige is coming back again, and it begins to look like we might have another inspired "read and react" squad. It's not just about who will be the pg, since everyone has to be ready to trigger the offense when we're really clicking. But it won't hurt to have Paige making lots of decisions, and Nika able to find Azzi Aubrey Q and Caroline in the clutch, and KK who seems to have a strong sense of when to break a play off and just go.

 

[TCC Kid]

I agree Fudd’s shot volume was by Auriemma’s design. I am uncertain what the purpose was, but more certain what it was not.

Fudd is not a reluctant shooter. Her shots per minute has always been high for a UConn player, while her assists per minute for a UConn guard has been low. Has she passed up shots? Absolutely, as has every great UConn player, with the possible exception of M. Moore (her career spg was over 18, 2 shots higher than any other player’s season high). They pass up the occasional shot because they are trained in an efficient team offense to take the best shot.

Which might explain the lower shooting percentage for Fudd in that game. The training for high efficiency offense was overridden which led to shots Fudd did not take psychologically in the flow for her. Though every shooter has bad games, I doubt we will ever see a 9/31 stat line from any UConn player in a real game. I do not know what Auriemma’s purpose was, I just know he is a great coach while Fudd does not have a reluctance to shoot problem.

You are correct, Geno is the Boss, she shoots or not as Geno decides. However, when a shooter thinks--take or don't take it ruins accuracy. I'm sure the words from Geno are --always--if open shoot.
Poor Geno, Poor Uconn--talent, talent, talent, shooters, shooter shooters--what is Geno to do??? I hope Mulkey reads this.

 

[The deacon]

'as well as anyone in the history off the game.'

Lots of good perspective here, Bone Dog, as usual, yet it's tough to get by your praise for Paige above. I'm sure I'm as much a fan and admirer of Paige as you are, but maybe something like 'the best on the team,' or 'right up there amongst the best in WCBB right now' would work just fine?

I agree Paige is outstanding in that regard, but why embellish it?

Hyperbole like this doesn't suit you. We've got plenty in the BY who are willing to make statements like that without one of our wiser souls falling prey, too.

 

[Bone Dog]

Lots of good perspective here, Bone Dog, as usual, yet it's tough to get by your praise for Paige above. I'm sure I'm as much a fan and admirer of Paige as you are, but maybe something like 'the best on the team,' or 'right up there amongst the best in WCBB right now' would work just fine?

I agree Paige is outstanding in that regard, but why embellish it?

Hyperbole like this doesn't suit you. We've got plenty in the BY who are willing to make statements like that without one of our wiser souls falling prey, too.

Thanks for the compliment, @The deacon.

But I don't mean it as hyperbole. I only said she was comparable to the best.

But back to the question: I have to say Paige when healthy has always had a really finely attuned sense of the moment on the court, a coach's sense. I can't think of another recent player in D1 WCBB who is this finely attuned. Even Caitlin and Hailey Van Lith and Grace Berger... I could go on. The closest recent player I can think of is Aari Macdonald but only in her senior year.

It's really just a question how far to extend this praise. Now, I've watched a lot (A LOT) of videos of Paige's HS games -- Minnesota is a well developed market for televised HS sports -- and you can see the remarkable way she developed from 8th grade through senior year. it's really quite distinctive. The local NBA players even came to her games occasionally. I would include Diana, Maya and Sue as comparable players, to be sure. Cynthia Cooper, Katie Smith, Jewell Lloyd, Kelsey Plum, even Nancy Lieberman. Yes, all comparable. You can see I'm mainly focused not on bigs. In any event, that's why I said what I said. Paige belongs in this comparison group -- mainly on potential, but also on the basis of the developmental curve lots of folks saw when she was in HS.

And remember, Diana and Sue agree with me.

 

[CTBballfan243]

Wasn’t this ball they were using a totally different weight? I have to believe that could be a factor?

Yeah, I believe they were using the Fiba Molten basketball. That basketball takes some getting use to.

 

[The deacon]

Thanks for the compliment, @The deacon.

But I don't mean it as hyperbole. I only said she was comparable to the best.

But back to the question: I have to say Paige when healthy has always had a really finely attuned sense of the moment on the court, a coach's sense. I can't think of another recent player in D1 WCBB who is this finely attuned. Even Caitlin and Hailey Van Lith and Grace Berger... I could go on. The closest recent player I can think of is Aari Macdonald but only in her senior year.

It's really just a question how far to extend this praise. Now, I've watched a lot (A LOT) of videos of Paige's HS games -- Minnesota is a well developed market for televised HS sports -- and you can see the remarkable way she developed from 8th grade through senior year. it's really quite distinctive. The local NBA players even came to her games occasionally. I would include Diana, Maya and Sue as comparable players, to be sure. Cynthia Cooper, Katie Smith, Jewell Lloyd, Kelsey Plum, even Nancy Lieberman. Yes, all comparable. You can see I'm mainly focused not on bigs. In any event, that's why I said what I said. Paige belongs in this comparison group -- mainly on potential, but also on the basis of the developmental curve lots of folks saw when she was in HS.

And remember, Diana and Sue agree with me.

I enjoyed the elaboration, Bone Dog, and would suggest only replacing shoot-first proponents Van Lith and Loyd with perhaps Olivia Miles (don't like her, but she's a great player) in your list. Lots of room for discussion here, and I'm drifting from 'The Azzi Experiment.'

Keep 'em coming.

 

[Audi1954]

Sounds like something Dawn Staley would say.

I like that! Very true. I do remember reading somewhere that the ball for the overseas trip was heavier?

 

[Skeets]

I have a theory about what might appear as a reluctance to shoot. This isn't about Azzi, just a comment in general. When I was playing sometimes I would pass up a relatively open shot because "it just didn't feel right". Or it was from a spot on the floor I didn't like (being a horrible baseline shooter). So, when we see someone, a good shooter, pass up an open shot, maybe it just didn't feel right. When it doesn't feel right the odds of it going in are lower. Ever try to hit a golf ball when something didn't feel right? How did that work out?

 

[Bone Dog]

I have a theory about what might appear as a reluctance to shoot. This isn't about Azzi, just a comment in general. When I was playing sometimes I would pass up a relatively open shot because "it just didn't feel right". Or it was from a spot on the floor I didn't like (being a horrible baseline shooter). So, when we see someone, a good shooter, pass up an open shot, maybe it just didn't feel right. When it doesn't feel right the odds of it going in are lower. Ever try to hit a golf ball when something didn't feel right? How did that work out?

I hated elbow jumpers. Something never felt right. I’d try to compensate by going for a bank shot but this was not a good tactic beyond 10 feet out. On the other hand, baseline jumpers really suited me. Maybe it was a visual thing. I could more easily imagine what the ball would look like going in. Some kids prefer the view from the top of the arc.

I’m sure you’re right about this. Geno and CD often emphasize the importance of kids knowing their spots. I expect they run plays for those spots.

 

[MooseJaw]

Is she "double-teamed from 3 as she takes the shot" often? I doubt that.

I used to argue with a Laker fan on the old ESPN board. He was a pro-Kobe fan even over Jordan, and one of his comments I'll never forget was that "Kobe is better than Michael Jordan because he takes tougher shots."

I kid you not.

If true, it's only because Jordan was better at being open. during a time when defenses were much better.

 

[Charliebball]

Wasn’t this ball they were using a totally different weight? I have to believe that could be a factor?

I'm sure some crappy courts/rims and a different ball had something to do with her lackluster numbers but the fact is she will be under less pressure to shoot this season than in the past as long as Paige is also in the line up.........if she can remain healthy this season, I expect Azzi to average between 18 and 23 points per game on 55% shooting from two and 44% shooting from three..........not too bad at all..........