04-01-2012, 08:34 PM
Jacketree, the game really did turn around on about three calls.
(1) Bonnie Samuelson being called for stepping on the sideline as she knocked down a 3 early in the second half. That would have given Stanford a 34-32 lead. Instead, Baylor turned that into the middle section of the 13-1 run that gave them the lead they maintained all game.
The thing about it is, we NEVER saw a replay. Given the number of times you can check whether a shot was actually a 3 or not, I found the lack of a replay disturbing. Also, having been in Fresno, I really dislike the penny ante camera setup ESPN is employing in the women's game. I noticed exactly 2 (in the same spot, high at midcourt) and three mobile cameras. That's not a lot for a national championship. And really, how many shots that weren't (1) high from midcourt or (2) directly under the basket did you see the entire game?
Also, given how hot the entire bench was over that call, I would've like to have seen a replay. Called by Lisa Mattingly.
(2) Less than a minute later, Chiney gets called for an offensive foul holding off Griner while Kokenis (Orrange?) drives the lane in transition. In all my years of watching basketball, I have seen that call made maybe 3 times. The offensive player has a right to that position. The foul, Chiney's third, was called by Lisa Mattingly from the midcourt stripe.
(3) The offensive foul on Nneka for a screen on Sims. MAYBE she was moving slightly, but again, Lisa Mattingly called it, which was Nneka's third.
Those three calls really enabled the decisive run in the game.
More generally, only three players really didn't play scared on offense tonight: Nneka, and to a lesser extent Chiney and Toni. We couldn't win this game without shooting well, and we didn't. Jos and Amber a combined 2-16? That was never going to get it done.
What makes it sadder is that Nneka really did outplay Griner - she took her off the dribble, powered through her for a couple of stickbacks, and really showed up.
VG
(1) Bonnie Samuelson being called for stepping on the sideline as she knocked down a 3 early in the second half. That would have given Stanford a 34-32 lead. Instead, Baylor turned that into the middle section of the 13-1 run that gave them the lead they maintained all game.
The thing about it is, we NEVER saw a replay. Given the number of times you can check whether a shot was actually a 3 or not, I found the lack of a replay disturbing. Also, having been in Fresno, I really dislike the penny ante camera setup ESPN is employing in the women's game. I noticed exactly 2 (in the same spot, high at midcourt) and three mobile cameras. That's not a lot for a national championship. And really, how many shots that weren't (1) high from midcourt or (2) directly under the basket did you see the entire game?
Also, given how hot the entire bench was over that call, I would've like to have seen a replay. Called by Lisa Mattingly.
(2) Less than a minute later, Chiney gets called for an offensive foul holding off Griner while Kokenis (Orrange?) drives the lane in transition. In all my years of watching basketball, I have seen that call made maybe 3 times. The offensive player has a right to that position. The foul, Chiney's third, was called by Lisa Mattingly from the midcourt stripe.
(3) The offensive foul on Nneka for a screen on Sims. MAYBE she was moving slightly, but again, Lisa Mattingly called it, which was Nneka's third.
Those three calls really enabled the decisive run in the game.
More generally, only three players really didn't play scared on offense tonight: Nneka, and to a lesser extent Chiney and Toni. We couldn't win this game without shooting well, and we didn't. Jos and Amber a combined 2-16? That was never going to get it done.
What makes it sadder is that Nneka really did outplay Griner - she took her off the dribble, powered through her for a couple of stickbacks, and really showed up.
VG