So, any guesses as to how the defensive assignments will start tonight?
Clearly Coffee/Dodson on Hebard. They must push her away from the basket because she is nearly a certain 2 points if she catches the ball close. They will need help. I don't see Smith in there that much due to the fear of fouls. So who comes off their mark to help Coffee on Hebard?
Smith on Sabally? Smith may be the only person who could defend Sabally on the perimeter and possibly move with her.
Carrington on Boley? Williams on Cazorla? Williams seems best to me at defending the stationary three point shooters and not as strong at defending those who can drive. Unfortunately, they all can drive.
Lacie Hull on Ionescu? A wise person once told me it seems a little unfair to ask a freshman to guard the #1 WNBA choice, but that is how the season has developed. And even though Lacie had some problems staying with Melgoza in the 4th quarter last night (who wouldn't?), there is no questioning her drive and intelligence--she learns fast.
I wonder if we mix in some zone? Can we stay on the perimeter shooting sufficiently if we do?
On offense, how do you think Tara will go after the Oregon zone given the fact that it has at times worked very well against us? The Princeton doesn't work against zone in general. We have a model for what does work--McPhee killed Oregon last year with many stop-and-pop jumpers from the elbow and some more acrobatic penetration. That sounds to me like a prescription for Carrington.
Finally, can we afford to have a deep rotation, given the talent disparity between the Oregon starters and our second string? But if we can rotate, is there a chance we can do to Oregon in the 4th quarter what we did to Cal?
Clearly Coffee/Dodson on Hebard. They must push her away from the basket because she is nearly a certain 2 points if she catches the ball close. They will need help. I don't see Smith in there that much due to the fear of fouls. So who comes off their mark to help Coffee on Hebard?
Smith on Sabally? Smith may be the only person who could defend Sabally on the perimeter and possibly move with her.
Carrington on Boley? Williams on Cazorla? Williams seems best to me at defending the stationary three point shooters and not as strong at defending those who can drive. Unfortunately, they all can drive.
Lacie Hull on Ionescu? A wise person once told me it seems a little unfair to ask a freshman to guard the #1 WNBA choice, but that is how the season has developed. And even though Lacie had some problems staying with Melgoza in the 4th quarter last night (who wouldn't?), there is no questioning her drive and intelligence--she learns fast.
I wonder if we mix in some zone? Can we stay on the perimeter shooting sufficiently if we do?
On offense, how do you think Tara will go after the Oregon zone given the fact that it has at times worked very well against us? The Princeton doesn't work against zone in general. We have a model for what does work--McPhee killed Oregon last year with many stop-and-pop jumpers from the elbow and some more acrobatic penetration. That sounds to me like a prescription for Carrington.
Finally, can we afford to have a deep rotation, given the talent disparity between the Oregon starters and our second string? But if we can rotate, is there a chance we can do to Oregon in the 4th quarter what we did to Cal?