[mbdude]

TheFarm07,

I would love to see the same kind of analysis for us included. Just for laughs, I'll add my own unschooled thoughts.

I think Alanna is a big loss--bigger than her points and boards (and blocks). She was the mature "glue" that held the team together. At the same time, I think we will have more overall talent next year. I think I think that we will go as far as Haley Jones takes us next year. Not that she will necessarily be the star of the team, but I think she might be key in reconstituting the team post-Alanna. Fran B. could make important contributions, but I am concerned she is too raw as a basketball player to make those contributions early on.

Who is our post player? I think Ashton P. will have a ways to go before she is a realistic threat to take over that slot. Maya D.? I just don't see it unless there is a pretty dramatic transformation over summer. Nadia F.? I hope, but, still, I haven't seen enough from anyone to suggest Alanna will not be missed in a big way. That's why I am hoping Jones, in a Magic Johnson kind of way, can do whatever is needed to make us a strong, well-rounded team.

But, it is your analysis I'd like to see.

I agree about Alanna - it was as much her presence on the court as her production - someone to go to when they needed a score, especially down low, someone to take pressure off the others.

As to Maya's improvement - whenever I had the opportunity to see Alanna warmup (albeit very brief snippets when on tv) she would always stand under the basket and shoot balls off the little square on the backboard from both sides.She also looked for that spot whenever she drove. I don't know if Maya practices that but so very often Maya appears to just throw the ball up in the vicinity of the backboard. Bird had the same tendency

[mbdude]

TheFarm07,

I would love to see the same kind of analysis for us included. Just for laughs, I'll add my own unschooled thoughts.

I think Alanna is a big loss--bigger than her points and boards (and blocks). She was the mature "glue" that held the team together. At the same time, I think we will have more overall talent next year. I think I think that we will go as far as Haley Jones takes us next year. Not that she will necessarily be the star of the team, but I think she might be key in reconstituting the team post-Alanna. Fran B. could make important contributions, but I am concerned she is too raw as a basketball player to make those contributions early on.

Who is our post player? I think Ashton P. will have a ways to go before she is a realistic threat to take over that slot. Maya D.? I just don't see it unless there is a pretty dramatic transformation over summer. Nadia F.? I hope, but, still, I haven't seen enough from anyone to suggest Alanna will not be missed in a big way. That's why I am hoping Jones, in a Magic Johnson kind of way, can do whatever is needed to make us a strong, well-rounded team.

But, it is your analysis I'd like to see.

I agree about Alanna - it was as much her presence on the court as her production - someone to go to when they needed a score, especially down low, someone to take pressure off the others.

As to Maya's improvement - whenever I had the opportunity to see Alanna warmup (albeit very brief snippets when on tv) she would always stand under the basket and shoot balls off the little square on the backboard from both sides.She also looked for that spot whenever she drove. I don't know if Maya practices that but so very often Maya appears to just throw the ball up in the vicinity of the backboard. Bird had the same tendency