[81alum]

I would say the worst was with 16 seconds left in regulation, up 4, not guarding her player on the 3pt line.   Unfortunately, that's typical of her and it looked to me like SoCar was taking advantage of it.

We have noticed this and commented on this about her in previous years.  It is hard for me to believe, however, that these are all mistakes on Jones's part, because it seems so obvious.  Someone gets the ball and Jones will make no effort to close or contest the shot, but just watches.  I've speculated before that this may be part of the scouting report.  Tara will sometimes tell her team not to contest shots by the opposing team's weakest jump shooter, but instead to hang back so you can double on anyone that shooter might pass to.  This is also probably what Staley meant when she said her team did better when it learned to "take what the defense gives you" rather than trying to force it. 

Could this be a plausible explanation for the many obvious times that Jones has allowed uncontested shots over the years?  I just find it hard to believe that she would consistently just watch someone shoot and then receive praise from Tara.  It makes more sense that she is acting on instructions of some sort that we don't know about, since MT is absolutely right that this is something of a pattern of what Jones does on defense.

[81alum]

I would say the worst was with 16 seconds left in regulation, up 4, not guarding her player on the 3pt line.   Unfortunately, that's typical of her and it looked to me like SoCar was taking advantage of it.

We have noticed this and commented on this about her in previous years.  It is hard for me to believe, however, that these are all mistakes on Jones's part, because it seems so obvious.  Someone gets the ball and Jones will make no effort to close or contest the shot, but just watches.  I've speculated before that this may be part of the scouting report.  Tara will sometimes tell her team not to contest shots by the opposing team's weakest jump shooter, but instead to hang back so you can double on anyone that shooter might pass to.  This is also probably what Staley meant when she said her team did better when it learned to "take what the defense gives you" rather than trying to force it. 

Could this be a plausible explanation for the many obvious times that Jones has allowed uncontested shots over the years?  I just find it hard to believe that she would consistently just watch someone shoot and then receive praise from Tara.  It makes more sense that she is acting on instructions of some sort that we don't know about, since MT is absolutely right that this is something of a pattern of what Jones does on defense.