11-03-2022, 01:11 PM
Devil’s advocate here
Caveat: Only saw the first quarter and a half (apparently Stanford looked much better in the 2nd half)
1. Very disappointed by crowd size. Who is responsible for community outreach and making sure the stands don’t look like that on national TV? The pictures during the red/white scrimmage were equally discouraging. I’d be more than a little upset with the marketing efforts if I was Tara but I haven’t seen any quotes from her complaining about the issue.
2. Not a big fan of Haley at the point. She had a real shot to overtake Boston as the #1 pick in next year’s draft but I think we can all agree not as a point guard. I hope this ill-advised decision doesn’t cost her the opportunity to make history since it’s been awhile since the Ogwumikes went #1. Also Stanford relies on Haley too much as a scorer to tiring her out seems ill-advised too.
3. Historically (last 20+ years? 30 years?) when Stanford has struggled, it has almost always been because their point guard spot or guard spots in general were not very good. Therefore, I was very surprised that Tara rolled out only 1 guard in her starting lineup that can handle the ball. Wouldn’t you want at a minimum 2 or championship year 3 ballhandlers in the starting lineup?
4. Unlike most here, not that impressed with the new Freshman point guard, especially if between her and Agnes, they are mostly going to put up donuts on the perimeter (in other words, “0” points). She reminds me of a much shorter Marta. I think Stanford historically is much more effective with a scoring point guard who can hold her own defensively (Kiana, Orange). Vanguard is not even Division III maybe and their guards had no problem driving around her or more problematic, inverting her, at least in the first quarter and a half that I saw. I can’t imagine she will be effective against Division I guards on offense or defense. If I was the opposing coach, my entire offense would switch to inverting her, much like Vanguard did when she came in. I didn’t see some her better passing in the 2nd half. In the part I saw, she whipped the ball in before her post established position and sealed their defender. In transition, she made a very dangerous pass to Brink when defenders were under Brink’s legs.
5. If you are trying to replace the 40% 3pt shooting of the Hulls as well as their generational defensive talent, then Agnes is probably not the answer on offense or defense, which leads me to bigger issue . . .
6. You must be able to surround Cam and Haley with good perimeter shooters so they can have room to operate (SPACING); otherwise, they will get doubled and tripled and multiple defenders will collapse in their driving lanes creating situations where they can turn over the ball or turn their ankles or . . well, you get the point. No really good opposing coach (or even mediocre one) will guard Agnes or the freshman point guard on the perimeter. Let me put it another way - Stanford is known for its “scouting report” defense where they completely disregard players like Agnes and the Freshman point guard the entire game forcing opposing coaches to either lose the game or make changes. Do you think Stanford would guard its own perimeter if the starting backcourt included Agnes and the Freshman?
7. Kiki didn’t look as good as I’d hope and was earlier reported. That could be nerves or lack of spacing. Regression to the mean - neither Cam nor Haley are going to provide spacing for Kiki to be effective as most teams will be happy that they are hanging out at the 3-pt line and not terrorizing them on the interior.
I think there are better shooters and ballhandlers to choose from, and I am perplexed why Tara went the direction she did as certainly her own history should serve as a reminder. The players chosen to surround Brink and Haley should compliment their skillset. Hannah does. Hannah is the only other starter yesterday that provides spacing on offense for Brink and Haley.
Caveat: Only saw the first quarter and a half (apparently Stanford looked much better in the 2nd half)
1. Very disappointed by crowd size. Who is responsible for community outreach and making sure the stands don’t look like that on national TV? The pictures during the red/white scrimmage were equally discouraging. I’d be more than a little upset with the marketing efforts if I was Tara but I haven’t seen any quotes from her complaining about the issue.
2. Not a big fan of Haley at the point. She had a real shot to overtake Boston as the #1 pick in next year’s draft but I think we can all agree not as a point guard. I hope this ill-advised decision doesn’t cost her the opportunity to make history since it’s been awhile since the Ogwumikes went #1. Also Stanford relies on Haley too much as a scorer to tiring her out seems ill-advised too.
3. Historically (last 20+ years? 30 years?) when Stanford has struggled, it has almost always been because their point guard spot or guard spots in general were not very good. Therefore, I was very surprised that Tara rolled out only 1 guard in her starting lineup that can handle the ball. Wouldn’t you want at a minimum 2 or championship year 3 ballhandlers in the starting lineup?
4. Unlike most here, not that impressed with the new Freshman point guard, especially if between her and Agnes, they are mostly going to put up donuts on the perimeter (in other words, “0” points). She reminds me of a much shorter Marta. I think Stanford historically is much more effective with a scoring point guard who can hold her own defensively (Kiana, Orange). Vanguard is not even Division III maybe and their guards had no problem driving around her or more problematic, inverting her, at least in the first quarter and a half that I saw. I can’t imagine she will be effective against Division I guards on offense or defense. If I was the opposing coach, my entire offense would switch to inverting her, much like Vanguard did when she came in. I didn’t see some her better passing in the 2nd half. In the part I saw, she whipped the ball in before her post established position and sealed their defender. In transition, she made a very dangerous pass to Brink when defenders were under Brink’s legs.
5. If you are trying to replace the 40% 3pt shooting of the Hulls as well as their generational defensive talent, then Agnes is probably not the answer on offense or defense, which leads me to bigger issue . . .
6. You must be able to surround Cam and Haley with good perimeter shooters so they can have room to operate (SPACING); otherwise, they will get doubled and tripled and multiple defenders will collapse in their driving lanes creating situations where they can turn over the ball or turn their ankles or . . well, you get the point. No really good opposing coach (or even mediocre one) will guard Agnes or the freshman point guard on the perimeter. Let me put it another way - Stanford is known for its “scouting report” defense where they completely disregard players like Agnes and the Freshman point guard the entire game forcing opposing coaches to either lose the game or make changes. Do you think Stanford would guard its own perimeter if the starting backcourt included Agnes and the Freshman?
7. Kiki didn’t look as good as I’d hope and was earlier reported. That could be nerves or lack of spacing. Regression to the mean - neither Cam nor Haley are going to provide spacing for Kiki to be effective as most teams will be happy that they are hanging out at the 3-pt line and not terrorizing them on the interior.
I think there are better shooters and ballhandlers to choose from, and I am perplexed why Tara went the direction she did as certainly her own history should serve as a reminder. The players chosen to surround Brink and Haley should compliment their skillset. Hannah does. Hannah is the only other starter yesterday that provides spacing on offense for Brink and Haley.