04-01-2012, 02:32 PM
Griner is no 300-pounder with slow feet, but she does have a tendency to jog down the court. To test my assertion, I just went back and watched the first 10 minutes of each half of Baylor@A&M, that was a close game. (The most notable thing about this is that Sims had 3 fouls with 17 minutes left; Griner got her 3rd with about 15 minutes left, and her fourth with about 11 minutes left. With 12 minutes left, one A&M big had fouled out; the other had 4 fouls.)
In the first 10 minutes of the first half, Baylor was well out in front. There were surprisingly few transitions to A&M offense (after missed basket, etc). In the first 10 minutes of the second half, A&M tied it up, took the lead, and was 3 points down when Griner went out with just over 10 minutes left.
Here are Griner's positions among the Baylor players in getting down the floor on transititions. (1=first player at the top of the 3 point arc, x = non-transition possession change, F=fast break (Griner not involved))
Baylor transitions to offense: 33Fxx22513423xxx4Â x1xF32xxxxx4x1x
A&MÂ Â transitions to offense: xxxx34xxxxx2xxxx3Â x553xxx4xxxxx?xx
It is the A&M transitions to offense that I'm talking about. (I don't care if she is slow coming down on her own offense. If she's quick coming down, that gives them an opportunity for a fast break.)
One would expect Griner to be 3rd down on A&M offensive transitions (Baylor defensive transitions) normally. Typically two guards are defending the A&M guards bringing the ball down, so they'll be 4th and 5th. Those two 5s and two 4s are possible opportunities for the opponent. Griner may be slow because she was trying to rebound. Whatever the reason, if Stanford can hustle to get the ball down court, Griner may have to run more than she is used to, or Stanford has a big advantage on offensive rebounding early in the possession.
Even if we are dribbling up behind Griner as she's still coming down the court, I believe there is an opportunity to follow her into the lane and then pass off to the opposite side if she turns. (If Griner turns to her left, pass off to Nneka on the right, etc)
As I said, "It is harder to estimate the effect of altered shots."Â But, for a block, I stand by my numbers.
In the first 10 minutes of the first half, Baylor was well out in front. There were surprisingly few transitions to A&M offense (after missed basket, etc). In the first 10 minutes of the second half, A&M tied it up, took the lead, and was 3 points down when Griner went out with just over 10 minutes left.
Here are Griner's positions among the Baylor players in getting down the floor on transititions. (1=first player at the top of the 3 point arc, x = non-transition possession change, F=fast break (Griner not involved))
Baylor transitions to offense: 33Fxx22513423xxx4Â x1xF32xxxxx4x1x
A&MÂ Â transitions to offense: xxxx34xxxxx2xxxx3Â x553xxx4xxxxx?xx
It is the A&M transitions to offense that I'm talking about. (I don't care if she is slow coming down on her own offense. If she's quick coming down, that gives them an opportunity for a fast break.)
One would expect Griner to be 3rd down on A&M offensive transitions (Baylor defensive transitions) normally. Typically two guards are defending the A&M guards bringing the ball down, so they'll be 4th and 5th. Those two 5s and two 4s are possible opportunities for the opponent. Griner may be slow because she was trying to rebound. Whatever the reason, if Stanford can hustle to get the ball down court, Griner may have to run more than she is used to, or Stanford has a big advantage on offensive rebounding early in the possession.
Even if we are dribbling up behind Griner as she's still coming down the court, I believe there is an opportunity to follow her into the lane and then pass off to the opposite side if she turns. (If Griner turns to her left, pass off to Nneka on the right, etc)
As I said, "It is harder to estimate the effect of altered shots."Â But, for a block, I stand by my numbers.