UConn Ball Screens and Pick & Rolls

[BBallF]

The problem with that is CW pull up has mostly been MIA since last year. She's yet to hit one in transition this year. Note as well Geno doesn't have her curling around screens much, and that's ever. He has her mostly in the corner or the weak side opposite (okay, the weak side always has the opposite). CW scores mainly on open shots where her feet are planted, dribble drives or put backs. She hit one pull up last game, but in actuality, she walked and it wasn't called.

I just rewatched the first half of the Marquette game and she took two pull up jumpers off the bounce. One was off the curl, went in, may have been a walk, and one didn't. I still think it is her best shot. I also think she shoots better off the bounce than with her feet planted. That's why she is such a poor 3 point shooter. What is happening now with Nika and a pick and roll offense is that the lane is open. CW moves well without the ball and is always looking for it when she cuts and with the emphasis by the defense on Paige and her increased shots, she has a lot of opportunities to score without having to create her own. That is the difference and why her shooting woes from the arc have not been an obvious issue since Arkansas. In my mind, that was a bright line loss. After it, Paige became the primary offensive weapon. Instead of hurting CW, it has actually helped her.

 

[JordyG]

I just rewatched the first half of the Marquette game and she took two pull up jumpers off the bounce. One was off the curl, went in, may have been a walk, and one didn't. I still think it is her best shot. I also think she shoots better off the bounce than with her feet planted. That's why she is such a poor 3 point shooter. What is happening now with Nika and a pick and roll offense is that the lane is open. CW moves well without the ball and is always looking for it when she cuts and with the emphasis by the defense on Paige and her increased shots, she has a lot of opportunities to score without having to create her own. That is the difference and why her shooting woes from the arc have not been an obvious issue since Arkansas. In my mind, that was a bright line loss. After it, Paige became the primary offensive weapon. Instead of hurting CW, it has actually helped her.

When you dribble drive around a defender off a screen that is not off the curl. The curl is moving around a screen, then you take the pass for the shot.

 

[BBallF]

When you dribble drive around a defender off a screen that is not off the curl. The curl is moving around a screen, then you take the pass for the shot.

I know what a curl is and if you watch it she came around the screen, received the ball, walked, dribbled and shot. I also doubt very much that she hasn't hit a pull up in transition all year. I think this new offense takes the pressure off of her and plays to her strengths. I was not a big CW fan last year at all and was very disappointed. I like the way she is playing these last 2 games after the offensive reorientation towards Paige. We clearly see her impact differently. To me, we need her to perform well as a second scorer to go the distance and she can do it more freely now.

 

[MD#12Fan]

I’

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!

Of course I’m good with you being happy about it and I’m also good with you saying everyone sees it. IMO they can do everything they are doing well without her ending up with the ball at the top, beyond the 3 point line. Me personally, I don’t want her shooting from there and I also don’t want her attacking the basket from there. Therefore, she should not get it there. We have 3, sometimes 4 guards on the floor that can do damage there. Her defender sluffs off her there and clogs up the middle. She can flash high and set screens and like another good thread is analyzing today, roll to the basket. And get open down low on the blocks and in the middle of the lane. We can agree to disagree.

 

[Cuango]

She came out with a top 10 list already and uconn didn't make it.

Was she even offered?

 

[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? ..