[ljw63]

... you have to create, take, and make what the defense gives you.

Absolutely and totally agree. 
If the defense clogs the paint and only blankets Jump hovering in the corner, then you have to adjust and take and make the midrange jumpers, or make 3's from other players.
It's about making in game adjustments.
It's the memo MBB Coach Haase never got.

I have not seen it mentioned but we have a problem that is not easy to fix. Our four best three point shooters – Jump, Lepolo, Prechtel, and Demetre all shoot set shots, not jump shots. It is very difficult to utilize a screen to shoot a set shot. Further, Jump shoots from her waist. She has a very quick release and is very accurate but her release point appears to be about shoulder height, several inches below six feet. That makes her relatively easy to guard. Lepolo also has a low release point but she only shoots when she is wide open so it doesn't matter. Prechtel seems to shoot from her chest with a release point slightly above her head. Since she is 6'5” she is not easily defended except by someone almost as tall or taller. Demetre starts her shot above her head and seems to have a very high release point, well above her 6'3” height so she can also get off her shot fairly easily. Brink's shot is a lot like Prechtel's – hard to defend. From what I can tell, we only have three or four jump shooters – Bosgana, Emma, and Harriel and perhaps Nivar. Bosgana probably has the highest release point of any since she is tall, actually jumps, and extends before releasing.

Tara seems to have a short fuse on all of these jump shooting players. If they miss their first shot they are probably soon out pf the game. If they make their first shot they may get one or two more chances and if they miss those they are out. That puts a lot of pressure on these shooters. I would guess they would all have better 3 point averages if they knew they would not get pulled for an early miss. Tara seems to have no restriction at all on Jump, and is a little more tolerable with Prechtel and Demetre because both have had some success. Brink and Jones are special cases. Tara wants them in the game and while she probably hates their 3 point attempts, she will not bench them for misses.

It is probably worth noting that most of the shooter who really hurt us are jump shooters and they often rely on screens to get their shot.

So, what does this imply for playing time? I would like to see a lineup with Brink, Prechtel and Demetre on the front line and Jones and Lepolo in the backcourt. Until Jump can find a way of getting off her shot much more frequently than she has lately, I would sit her more. I would like to see the jump shooters on the floor a little more and give them more than 1-2 minutes. Don't yank them if they miss. I would even risk losing another game or two if we can develop one of the jump shooters into a constant threat.

I am also in the camp of more mid range shots. Jones, Brink, Iriafen, and Demetre have all shown they can hit these shots although rarely take them, probably because Tara discourages them. Several of the others might be good at these shots as well.

A comment on Betts. She has a lot to learn but she has great hands and great height, two things you cannot coach. She will get better and better. One thing I would like to see is when she gets the ball and two or more players maul her, she needs to try and get off a shot. Refs will much more likely call a foul when you are shooting than when you are holding the ball.

We still need Brink near the basket and Jones doing her penetrating but we cannot be reliant on one three point shooter who cannot get her shot as we are now.

[ljw63]

... you have to create, take, and make what the defense gives you.

Absolutely and totally agree. 
If the defense clogs the paint and only blankets Jump hovering in the corner, then you have to adjust and take and make the midrange jumpers, or make 3's from other players.
It's about making in game adjustments.
It's the memo MBB Coach Haase never got.

I have not seen it mentioned but we have a problem that is not easy to fix. Our four best three point shooters – Jump, Lepolo, Prechtel, and Demetre all shoot set shots, not jump shots. It is very difficult to utilize a screen to shoot a set shot. Further, Jump shoots from her waist. She has a very quick release and is very accurate but her release point appears to be about shoulder height, several inches below six feet. That makes her relatively easy to guard. Lepolo also has a low release point but she only shoots when she is wide open so it doesn't matter. Prechtel seems to shoot from her chest with a release point slightly above her head. Since she is 6'5” she is not easily defended except by someone almost as tall or taller. Demetre starts her shot above her head and seems to have a very high release point, well above her 6'3” height so she can also get off her shot fairly easily. Brink's shot is a lot like Prechtel's – hard to defend. From what I can tell, we only have three or four jump shooters – Bosgana, Emma, and Harriel and perhaps Nivar. Bosgana probably has the highest release point of any since she is tall, actually jumps, and extends before releasing.

Tara seems to have a short fuse on all of these jump shooting players. If they miss their first shot they are probably soon out pf the game. If they make their first shot they may get one or two more chances and if they miss those they are out. That puts a lot of pressure on these shooters. I would guess they would all have better 3 point averages if they knew they would not get pulled for an early miss. Tara seems to have no restriction at all on Jump, and is a little more tolerable with Prechtel and Demetre because both have had some success. Brink and Jones are special cases. Tara wants them in the game and while she probably hates their 3 point attempts, she will not bench them for misses.

It is probably worth noting that most of the shooter who really hurt us are jump shooters and they often rely on screens to get their shot.

So, what does this imply for playing time? I would like to see a lineup with Brink, Prechtel and Demetre on the front line and Jones and Lepolo in the backcourt. Until Jump can find a way of getting off her shot much more frequently than she has lately, I would sit her more. I would like to see the jump shooters on the floor a little more and give them more than 1-2 minutes. Don't yank them if they miss. I would even risk losing another game or two if we can develop one of the jump shooters into a constant threat.

I am also in the camp of more mid range shots. Jones, Brink, Iriafen, and Demetre have all shown they can hit these shots although rarely take them, probably because Tara discourages them. Several of the others might be good at these shots as well.

A comment on Betts. She has a lot to learn but she has great hands and great height, two things you cannot coach. She will get better and better. One thing I would like to see is when she gets the ball and two or more players maul her, she needs to try and get off a shot. Refs will much more likely call a foul when you are shooting than when you are holding the ball.

We still need Brink near the basket and Jones doing her penetrating but we cannot be reliant on one three point shooter who cannot get her shot as we are now.