UConn Ball Screens and Pick & Rolls

[Bajan Best]

School is in Session,
PICK and ROll Masterclass - Larry Bird
options Galore - His bounce passes are a thing of beauty... I think Nika took this class.🥰

 

[oldude]

100% old dude
There's a reason the entire NBA runs pick and rolls. Because it's impossible to stop.
Like HS teams in MD, it's dribble-drive kick out. Impossible to stop. (Arkansas)
Prereq: Gotta have good ballhandlers. I think we do. (Just kidding) You have to bring the ball to the defense to run the play. Defense can actually trap the ball if they wanted to. Defense can also hawk the ball for steals when the O brings the ball toward them. We have savvy ballhandlers (E, PB) and would you step in front of Nika. Good luck with that.
My college program did everything with screens away from the ball. So we screen away, player uses the screen and cuts off it, toward the ball. So the ball doesn't go toward defenders.
I'm all in! Wish Liv didn't get it on top, but just nit-pickin. Go Huskies!

You mention the defense trapping the ball. That’s exactly how UConn has been defending ball screens lately. But as you point out, it’s a risk, because now someone is uncovered.

 

[bluedevil]

I wonder if we have any interest in Maya.

Well we did have the best Maya ever so its ok..

 

[browns]

We need to wear Boston down and drive the ball right at her to try and get her in foul trouble early without Boston USC gets blocked out by UConn

USC ? The trojans are coming to town

 

[MD#12Fan]

You mention the defense trapping the ball. That’s exactly how UConn has been defending ball screens lately. But as you point out, it’s a risk, because now someone is uncovered.

I like what UConn has been doing on defense. The hedging by AE and Liv has been really effective IMO. Even if the big is beaten by the screen rolling to the hoop, there still should be help and the center then picks up the next open player. I called for hedging a month ago. We weren't doing anything on top early in the season. I also truly believe, mistakes or not, iffy shooting or not, Nika is giving us a ton. She is so tough and strong, that offenses will stop messing with her. She hurts!

 

[Alydar]

Just think what an actual genius like Geno could tell you. We're morons in comparison.

LOL Yeah, but we work for a lot less.

 

[JordyG]

LOL Yeah, but we work for a lot less.

I'd do it for peanuts, but that would enrage all the elephants in the room.

 

[Big Mick]

Liv is what makes everything go .. she's a savvy hi-post .. since she moved up high after the TN debacle, the offense has improved immeasurably .. everyone sees it!

Agree, Liv at the hi-post is a key.

However, the major difference in UCONN now versus UCONN 4 games ago is Nika.

She is a mini version of Paige and willing to give everything for the team. With the 6 that got all the minutes last night it is difficult to see UCONN winning the game without each one's contribution. I've watched a lot of UCONN games these past 25+- years and this was in my top category of, the most fun to watch. You could see the UCONN win coming by both teams body language: UCONN relentless and SC shaking their heads.

It's going to be interesting when Anna returns...

 

[Jingo]

Agree, Liv at the hi-post is a key.

However, the major difference in UCONN now versus UCONN 4 games ago is Nika.

She is a mini version of Paige and willing to give everything for the team. With the 6 that got all the minutes last night it is difficult to see UCONN winning the game without each one's contribution. I've watched a lot of UCONN games these past 25+- years and this was in my top category of, the most fun to watch. You could see the UCONN win coming by both teams body language: UCONN relentless and SC shaking their heads.

It's going to be interesting when Anna returns...

And I think the narrative that Evina is the "glue" took a big hit against SC .. I think the title of the "glue" is beginning to fall to Nika, eh? ..