11-26-2021, 12:38 PM
Hmmmm....
- Crazy finish. We take the lead and Cam misses 2 bunnies, which she normally makes with ease. But we keep possession. Then a great read by Cam to hit Lacie who knocked down a brobdingnagian three. Then Cam with the block at the other end. Then Demetre misses a FT (not to single her out as the team was awful at the line again). Harvey hits a deep 3 over Anna. We advance it, still have time, Demetre travels. Ball game. Then they actually give us another chance by making both ft's and letting us advance it - wasn't that a brobdingnagian mistake instead of intentionally missing the 2nd? But we couldn't get a good shot off. Dang.
- It's clear that Tara is experimenting and searching for productive combinations. This is the time to do it. Just a bummer we lost this one. I really like what Demetre gives us. We are a way different team with Jump and Demetre on the court. Spreads the court, opens it up inside. And hitting 3's is an absolute must in today's game. However, 28 minutes and riding Demetre to the finish line seemed to much to me with our veterans (e.g. Lexie) on the bench.
- Don't think we have anywhere near the whole story on Haley. She is looking like she has the yips out there. Badly missing layups, airballs, etc. This isn't some young player - this is the National Champion MVP and our team leader. Tara's comments after yesterday's win were puzzling. "She's doing great" after a rough game seems like a show of support for something she's going through. Not sure I'm buying the illness or an injury. You don't sit on the bench next to everyone if you're sick and there aren't a lot of injuries (like a jammed finger) that allow you to play 50+ minutes in 24 hours. Certainly not an ankle or hip injury. And the fact that Tara is leaving her out there while she is struggling leads me to believe she's letting her play through something. Whatever it is might also be affecting the team. Their morale is way down, not a lot of smiles from generally a happy bunch. Haley brings happiness and energy and we just don't have it.
- It's gotta be tough for Belibi, Prechtel, Lexie, Wilson to have their PT yoyo-ing all over the place. I sort of understand some of what Tara was doing today, but the Jones mystery leaving her in the game and sitting Lexie most of the 4th was very puzzling. I can see bringing in some offensive potency with Jump/Demetre but once we caught them I would have liked Lexie back on the court earlier in the 4th. When she finally does sub in she immediately impacts the game, locking down her player and generating those "Lextra possessions".
- As others have mentioned, missed free throws are killing us. They asked Tara in one of her press conferences what she would do about that and she brushed it off saying something like "it's hard to focus on it because then it gets in the players' heads". A little smiling and relaxing would help.
On to the Terps. If we take them down and go 2-1 on this road trip, that's not bad.
- Crazy finish. We take the lead and Cam misses 2 bunnies, which she normally makes with ease. But we keep possession. Then a great read by Cam to hit Lacie who knocked down a brobdingnagian three. Then Cam with the block at the other end. Then Demetre misses a FT (not to single her out as the team was awful at the line again). Harvey hits a deep 3 over Anna. We advance it, still have time, Demetre travels. Ball game. Then they actually give us another chance by making both ft's and letting us advance it - wasn't that a brobdingnagian mistake instead of intentionally missing the 2nd? But we couldn't get a good shot off. Dang.
- It's clear that Tara is experimenting and searching for productive combinations. This is the time to do it. Just a bummer we lost this one. I really like what Demetre gives us. We are a way different team with Jump and Demetre on the court. Spreads the court, opens it up inside. And hitting 3's is an absolute must in today's game. However, 28 minutes and riding Demetre to the finish line seemed to much to me with our veterans (e.g. Lexie) on the bench.
- Don't think we have anywhere near the whole story on Haley. She is looking like she has the yips out there. Badly missing layups, airballs, etc. This isn't some young player - this is the National Champion MVP and our team leader. Tara's comments after yesterday's win were puzzling. "She's doing great" after a rough game seems like a show of support for something she's going through. Not sure I'm buying the illness or an injury. You don't sit on the bench next to everyone if you're sick and there aren't a lot of injuries (like a jammed finger) that allow you to play 50+ minutes in 24 hours. Certainly not an ankle or hip injury. And the fact that Tara is leaving her out there while she is struggling leads me to believe she's letting her play through something. Whatever it is might also be affecting the team. Their morale is way down, not a lot of smiles from generally a happy bunch. Haley brings happiness and energy and we just don't have it.
- It's gotta be tough for Belibi, Prechtel, Lexie, Wilson to have their PT yoyo-ing all over the place. I sort of understand some of what Tara was doing today, but the Jones mystery leaving her in the game and sitting Lexie most of the 4th was very puzzling. I can see bringing in some offensive potency with Jump/Demetre but once we caught them I would have liked Lexie back on the court earlier in the 4th. When she finally does sub in she immediately impacts the game, locking down her player and generating those "Lextra possessions".
- As others have mentioned, missed free throws are killing us. They asked Tara in one of her press conferences what she would do about that and she brushed it off saying something like "it's hard to focus on it because then it gets in the players' heads". A little smiling and relaxing would help.
On to the Terps. If we take them down and go 2-1 on this road trip, that's not bad.