11-07-2012, 06:02 AM
Very interesting article by Elliot Almond in the Merc today, following an interview with Tara.
http://www.mercurynews.com/stanford-card...up-offense
It seems that Tara may abandon the triangle--at least until Tess becomes a major force--and rely more on Amber breaking down defenses using faster play and pick and rolls. Tara also seems willing to experiment with different people and different combinations to find the best offense.
Here are a couple of quotes from this interesting piece:
This is what I like about Tara. She has always been willing to modify her strategy to take advantage of whatever players she happens to have. It shows flexibility and creativity. She won't get the most out of Amber using the Triangle.
However, the story also highlights a weakness. It was clear to anyone in the stands that Chiney was in fact limited by being a "one post offense" in our Vanguard game. I thought Joslyn might be our second post until new relief from Tess this year or Ally and/or a new recruit (McCall?) could arrive next. But it is becoming clear that Joslyn is not being considered as that kind of post player.
In time, Tess could develop into an imposing inside presence and we might have that 2 post offense. My guess is that Tess will be our only possible hope to limit Griner. The problem is that beginning players tend to pick up a lot of fouls--like Chiney did her first year especially. Tess did show that tendency. It takes time to learn how to guard bigger, quicker players at the college level without fouling them, and we can't expect Tess to develop that technique instantly.
Stanford is going to have to make a lot of jumpers, and Chiney may actually be less productive offensively this year than last, when she could hang around and put back a lot of her sister's misses. She is going to have to be able to shoot over a zone or else her offense will be limited to put backs of 3 point misses and a smaller number of feeds inside than we are used to seeing from the triangle and high-low play.
http://www.mercurynews.com/stanford-card...up-offense
It seems that Tara may abandon the triangle--at least until Tess becomes a major force--and rely more on Amber breaking down defenses using faster play and pick and rolls. Tara also seems willing to experiment with different people and different combinations to find the best offense.
Here are a couple of quotes from this interesting piece:
Quote:When asked about the patented triangle, VanDerveer said: "We're not always running that. We're trying to be more creative on offense -- stuff we've never done before." In recent years Stanford relied on a steady diet of low-post offense behind future WNBA players Jayne Appel and Ogwumike. Cardinal guards rarely drove through the lane to break down defenses until Orrange arrived. Now her slashing style will be featured because the school's best inside player, Chiney Ogwumike, isn't as imposing inside as her sister Nneka. "We will flash her in there, but we're not going to have a one-post offense," VanDerveer said of the preseason All-American...."I'll consider anything," VanDerveer said.Kudos to Elliot for getting this story out of Tara!
This is what I like about Tara. She has always been willing to modify her strategy to take advantage of whatever players she happens to have. It shows flexibility and creativity. She won't get the most out of Amber using the Triangle.
However, the story also highlights a weakness. It was clear to anyone in the stands that Chiney was in fact limited by being a "one post offense" in our Vanguard game. I thought Joslyn might be our second post until new relief from Tess this year or Ally and/or a new recruit (McCall?) could arrive next. But it is becoming clear that Joslyn is not being considered as that kind of post player.
In time, Tess could develop into an imposing inside presence and we might have that 2 post offense. My guess is that Tess will be our only possible hope to limit Griner. The problem is that beginning players tend to pick up a lot of fouls--like Chiney did her first year especially. Tess did show that tendency. It takes time to learn how to guard bigger, quicker players at the college level without fouling them, and we can't expect Tess to develop that technique instantly.
Stanford is going to have to make a lot of jumpers, and Chiney may actually be less productive offensively this year than last, when she could hang around and put back a lot of her sister's misses. She is going to have to be able to shoot over a zone or else her offense will be limited to put backs of 3 point misses and a smaller number of feeds inside than we are used to seeing from the triangle and high-low play.
