Three women comparison

[wire chief]

Much has been written about Parker, Delle Donne & our own Breanna. Now, they are all long and make things happen from anywhere. How would you fine tune their skill sets relative to one another?

 

[doggydaddy]

Much has been written about Parker, Delle Donne & our own Breanna. Now, they are all long and make things happen from anywhere. How would you fine tune their skill sets relative to one another?

Great question!

I think there is more similarities between Parker and Stewart. EDD, while she does block some shots, is not the defensive player that the other two are.

EDD is the best shooter, but Stewart is improving every year and her 3 point shot is a lot better now than last year.

Stewart has the best handle and as much as some like to say Parker can play all 5 positions, Stewart's skill set is closer to that than Parker. EDD? Can handle the ball but more like in slower motion than the other two.

All 3 have excellent post games and use both hands very well down low. Hard to find an edge here.

Stewart is the the best passer IMO followed by EDD and then Parker. EDD has to shoot more, so she does.

I think the biggest edge for Stewart is her motor. She is always running and works harder on the court than either Parker or EDD. And EDD just doesn't run hard a lot of the time.

All 3 are terrific players and UConn is very lucky to have Stewart for 4 years.

 

[msf22b]

I think EDD's running has a lot to do with the weight of present responsibilities and minutes.
Will certainly change in the Pro's
I keep thinking that Stewie is going to be the most revelatory object since the invention of sliced bread.

 

[MilfordHusky]

All need to get stronger. At this stage in her career, I don't see Candace taking that step.

All are good ball handlers for their height. I think that Breanna is a good ball handler--period. She uses those long arms and keeps the ball low.

Candace has some all-world moves inside. Elena is the superior shooter. Breanna likely will never be the shooter that Elena is, but she is already very good and improving. She uses both hands very well. I believe that Candace and Elena also use the left well.

In terms of intensity, Breanna appears to be in a group with Jen, Shea, and Maya. That makes a huge difference.

 

[arty155]

...I keep thinking that Stewie is going to be the most revelatory object since the invention of sliced bread.

Wonder Girl !

 

[doggydaddy]

I think EDD's running has a lot to do with the weight of present responsibilities and minutes.

I'll have to disagree with you here. There have been other players with just as much responsibilities and minutes over the years and they find a way to put more effort into getting up and down the court.

 

[Shenandoah]

I'll have to disagree with you here. There have been other players with just as much responsibilities and minutes over the years and they find a way to put more effort into getting up and down the court.

Like, oh, maybe, Maya Moore, her senior year???

 

[Scotter]

EDD like Lauren Jackson and Sue Bird in that she plays inside of a box, but she is the best in the world at what she does is inside of that box. EDD's game is the most refined and disciplined of the three, especially offensively. Candace Parker and Breanna Stewart may be able to do more with the ball, but EDD's balhandling and decision making is more polished.

A Tennessee fan once bragged on the Boneyard about Candace Parker going through a long workout and never using the same post move twice. EDD is the polar opposite of that. She will practice the same move over and over until it is perfect. She doesn't have the same variance in her game as Candace Parker, but there is extreme efficiency and proficiency in what EDD does do whether it is ball handling, passing, or shooting.

Candace Parker in contrast tries to play outside of the box. She attempts things other players don't even have the ability to attempt either because of physical ability or their brains aren't wired to make attempts outside the box. Most players aren't even going to think about attempting a left-handed floater. There is some lost efficiency and consistency from not always make the best percentage play, but there are times particularly against great defenses where having a player that can make a left-handed scoop shot is very valuable. Although I'm frustrated with just how undisciplined Parker has become on both offense and defense. Pat Summitt and her clear team philosophy did help ground her in my opinion. Her play has become too untethered.

Breanna Stewart is somewhere in the middle, and she is still finding herself as a player much more than either EDD or Candace Parker was at the same age. Unlike the other two her father wasn't a DI college basketball player. Breanna didn't have older brothers that were athletes. She didn't have a personal trainer at a young age. She wasn't nationally regarded as an 8th grader.

And as a result Breanna's game at this point isn't as refined as either Parker or EDD at the same age. Since she's not that refined she doesn't play inside her box yet like EDD in part because I'm not sure anybody really knows what her box is yet including her. She'll attempt shots and plays that EDD wouldn't. That said she doesn't play outside the box with the same abandon s Candace Parker. I suspect playing at UConn will tip her more towards EDD and learning to her understand what Breanna's box will become. Somewhat similar to the way Maya Moore developed at UConn versus if she had stayed home and gone to Georgia for example.

 

[tennfanatic00]

In my opinion, you guys are putting way way too much pressure on ms. Stewart.

Clearly, she will be a special player, but to put her in the same breath as Candace Parker at this stage is a bit of a reach. Let's see how she handles the college game before we compare the two.

I get that message boards are the place for this sort of conjecture, but I think this is a bit too much.

The thing that separates Candace from 99 percent of the world is her skill set mixed with her drive. I witnessed over 100 practices while she was at ut, and she put in more time refining her game than any player I've ever seen..and it wasn't even close. I too think she's gotten away from her strengths as a layer since she's gone pro. I think she's been told to establish herself more away frm the basket. She has defnitely improved that aspect of her game, but she should be n the block more...a lot more.

Bottom line, if I had to pick one of these players for my team, it is Parker..and it isn't close. Even if you wanted to compare them all at Stewart's age now...I'd still take Parker, mostly because, as mentioned before, her skill was more refined at that age. Plus her athleticism is obviously off the charts. I now, I'm biased, but just my opinion.

 

[VAMike23]

Great question!

I think there is more similarities between Parker and Stewart. EDD, while she does block some shots, is not the defensive player that the other two are.

EDD is the best shooter, but Stewart is improving every year and her 3 point shot is a lot better now than last year.

Stewart has the best handle and as much as some like to say Parker can play all 5 positions, Stewart's skill set is closer to that than Parker. EDD? Can handle the ball but more like in slower motion than the other two.

All 3 have excellent post games and use both hands very well down low. Hard to find an edge here.

Stewart is the the best passer IMO followed by EDD and then Parker. EDD has to shoot more, so she does.

I think the biggest edge for Stewart is her motor. She is always running and works harder on the court than either Parker or EDD. And EDD just doesn't run hard a lot of the time.

All 3 are terrific players and UConn is very lucky to have Stewart for 4 years.

A big part of evidencing a great handle is controlling the ball and executing moves against high level competition and high level (quick/fast) athletes. Parker's handle is excellent and variety and fluidity of her moves--both in the pivot and in transition--is world class, against world class competition. A couple of weeks ago I saw her go coast to coast, slicing and spinning through the defense (she was not ahead on the break) with incredible ball control. It was completely ridiculous, and this is against top athletes in the W.

From the vids and games I've seen, Breanna does indeed look to have a very good handle. (I caught as much of her Team USA stuff as possible, all-star games, etc.) More than that, she appears to have a natural comfort level facing up on the perimeter that many forwards, such as Maya, do not possess. But there's no way I would say she has a better handle than Candace Parker at this moment. She may very well be further ahead at the same point in their development when it comes to 'handle,' etc.; I didn't see much of Parker as a frosh. Likewise, she does move very well down low, but there is a reason Parker is starting for Team USA. When the OP asked "How would you fine tune their skill sets relative to one another?" I don't see this as necessarily asking--or implying--that we should be comparing these players even up right now. Stewart has incredible gifts and could eclipse the other two (and she has already shown amazing stuff) but she is still a rising freshman.

 

[doggydaddy]

In my opinion, you guys are putting way way too much pressure on ms. Stewart.

Clearly, she will be a special player, but to put her in the same breath as Candace Parker at this stage is a bit of a reach. Let's see how she handles the college game before we compare the two.

I get that message boards are the place for this sort of conjecture, but I think this is a bit too much.

The thing that separates Candace from 99 percent of the world is her skill set mixed with her drive. I witnessed over 100 practices while she was at ut, and she put in more time refining her game than any player I've ever seen..and it wasn't even close. I too think she's gotten away from her strengths as a layer since she's gone pro. I think she's been told to establish herself more away frm the basket. She has defnitely improved that aspect of her game, but she should be n the block more...a lot more.

Bottom line, if I had to pick one of these players for my team, it is Parker..and it isn't close. Even if you wanted to compare them all at Stewart's age now...I'd still take Parker, mostly because, as mentioned before, her skill was more refined at that age. Plus her athleticism is obviously off the charts. I now, I'm biased, but just my opinion.

Parker has had 4 years of college (3 playing) and several years in the WNBA along with several years on the national team. At this point in time, of course you have to take Parker.

You haven't seen Stewart enough. And being the USA women's player of the year, the HS ESPY winner, NPOY for HS, only the 2nd HS player on the Pan Am team while leading them in scoring, etc....etc....etc....I think that her game is PLENTY refined.

Stewart is also every bit as athletic as Parker.

 

[VAUConnFan]

Great question!

I think there is more similarities between Parker and Stewart. EDD, while she does block some shots, is not the defensive player that the other two are.

EDD is the best shooter, but Stewart is improving every year and her 3 point shot is a lot better now than last year.

Stewart has the best handle and as much as some like to say Parker can play all 5 positions, Stewart's skill set is closer to that than Parker. EDD? Can handle the ball but more like in slower motion than the other two.

All 3 have excellent post games and use both hands very well down low. Hard to find an edge here.

Stewart is the the best passer IMO followed by EDD and then Parker. EDD has to shoot more, so she does.

I think the biggest edge for Stewart is her motor. She is always running and works harder on the court than either Parker or EDD. And EDD just doesn't run hard a lot of the time.

All 3 are terrific players and UConn is very lucky to have Stewart for 4 years.

I have little doubt that the opinions you express are made with considerable thought and deliberation, but, in all fairness, Stewart has yet to play at the college level. How can she even be evaluated at this point?

 

[tennfanatic00]

Parker has had 4 years of college (3 playing) and several years in the WNBA along with several years on the national team. At this point in time, of course you have to take Parker.

You haven't seen Stewart enough. And being the USA women's player of the year, the HS ESPY winner, NPOY for HS, only the 2nd HS player on the Pan Am team while leading them in scoring, etc....etc....etc....I think that her game is PLENTY refined.


Stewart is also every bit as athletic as Parker.

I've seen stewart play several times. I'm certainly not knocking her game at all. I do think she will be very special.

I do not think she's as athletic as Candace. I don't think I could name many players that are.

My point...and you sort of made it for me...is that we should wait to see what Stewart produces and how she adjusts in the college game. She has got tons of justifiable praise and pressure coming her way. We need to see if she can handle those expectations before we can realistically compare those two.

 

[TheTruthBelow]

Although I'm frustrated with just how undisciplined Parker has become on both offense and defense.

Great post, Scotter, but could you expound on the part I quoted?

And how would you characterize Tina Charles? My biggest (and pretty much only) complaint with Tina is her average to below-average scoring efficiency, and a lot of that stems from poor shot selection. She's mentioned Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan as role models... perhaps she's trying to be too much like them.

 

[doggydaddy]

I have little doubt that the opinions you express are made with considerable thought and deliberation, but, in all fairness, Stewart has yet to play at the college level. How can she even be evaluated at this point?

I've seen enough of Stewart in video to give an opinion. And her play against older women in the Pan Am games was impressive. And I'll trust the opinions of Geno and Chris when they talk about her.

"She has something a lot of kids don't have," Auriemma said. "She has an incredible competitive spirit about her. She is one of the greatest competitors I have ever seen. "Maya Moore was a competitor. Diana Taurasi and Jen Rizzotti were competitors. Swin Cash was a competitor. We've had a ton of them here. This kid is in the mold of the best competitors we've ever had at UConn in how hard she plays, how great she wants to be, how much she wants to impact the game. And she's just a young kid who is learning.
"Based on her high school career, she's as good as any recruit we've ever had at UConn."

Dailey - "I am not predicting that she will come here and be national player of the year for four years or have a career like Diana [Taurasi], Tina [Charles] and Maya [Moore] did. No one can predict that. The only thing that's true is, there hasn't been a high school basketball player that encompasses size, speed, agility and the qualities this kid has."

I'm pretty comfortable with my observations.

 

[UcMiami]

Back to the original post question:
CP - I really haven't seen enough outside USABB where she is learning a new system so I can't comment. Early on with USABB she seemed to really struggle on both ends, but as the training and games have gone on she is looking much more comfortable and able to play her game within the team structure.
EDD - She needs to get her head straight and play with other great players. I don't know that she will be successful as a pro unless she can deal mentally with being away from home, and beyond her natural talent and the skill work that she has done, she really has never played on a team with comparably talent players. Until she does, it is tough to guage her game. Playing one on five offensively and having to protect against foul trouble defensively is not a great way to develop.
BS - Great at this age - needs to gain strength (similar to CP at the same age - and most young players.) She will get the chance that EDD did not to really develop in a 'team of equals' (as CP did at TN)