[chimera]

Treetop, I do think Cam has been focused to the low block. I won't take the time to go and count, but over and over again the team is trying to get her the ball down low. Yes, she does start at the high post sometimes and the ball is passed to her there, but that really is more for when she turns to do dribble hand off action or to pass down low to another big. The majority of her opportunities are coming from the low block. I was so glad she did take a handful of midrange high post shots vs UCLA and made them - we haven't seen that much over the past month. I think it's yet another weapon in her arsenal. But the uber point I'm making is that earlier in the season Cam was often found on the PERIMETER (not the high post), facing the basket, with the ball in her hands and had freedom to shoot, attack, kick, etc. I can't remember the last time Cam was passed the ball on the wing, and that's because we've changed and she doesn't go there anymore. As examples of what I'm talking about, look at the plays on this clip, at 0:00, 0:19, 1:29. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_pF7p8To7s. Where did that Cam go? Where did that team go? I really liked that team...

Cam is a multi-faceted talent who is being reduced to more of a role like a "thicker" player would have (play back to the basket on the low block, roam the high post and set a lot of screens). Again, maybe Tara is right and when we get out of conference teams will really struggle against our bigs down low. I'll tell you this though - when we dominated Tennessee, Creighton, Gonzaga, and were drilling South Carolina for a large chunk of that game, Cam was all over the place. Attacking, shooting 3's, etc. That team was way more offensively effective than this team, and Haley didn't even shoot well. That team could win the Natty. This one...I don't think any of us like what we're seeing. 

Last point, the lineup I like has made appearances throughout the season and has performed well oftentimes. I'm not talking about a lineup "close to" that lineup, I'm talking about that actual lineup. And that lineup, I'm pretty sure, was never on the court together vs. UCLA in the 4th quarter. Regardless, it's more than just the bodies. They have to be configured differently in order to gain the advantages. I really think playing 4 out and letting Cam OR Haley (putting Cam on perimeter) go to work and then have great options to pass out of double teams would pay big dividends. This would also allow Prechtel, one of our biggest weapons, to see some court time.

Those were highlights so they will show the offense at its best, but I do agree I miss that Stanford offense.  I will be honest here and say my biggest disappointment this season and I think a key reason the offense has been more of a struggle than we expected is that our two star players have not been close to what they have done shooting threes.  

Brink wasn't a great three point shooter before this season but she was competent and made some key ones.  She has not taken threes as much or made as many, and has been used way more on the low block than earlier this season.  If she was back to hitting a three or two now and again not only do we get more threes made from non-Jump players but she pulls defenders out to open things up for Betts or Iriafen, or Jones to cut to the basket.  Brink is not a one dimensional player, but that's how she has mostly been used after January.

The bigger problem is Jones has no three ball this season at all, no longer even looks to take them.  Without a three, Jones is still a star and a tough guard, but she is much more guardable when teams can play off her and cut off her driving lanes, make her passing harder as they lurk in passing lanes.  If Jones had a decent three she would be unguardable, the whole offense would look different, and her pro prospects would be improved.  

My biggest wish for the season was for someone to take over the point and be good enough at it so that Jones did not have to play there too much, and we got that.  Even if you don't think Lepolo is an ideal answer at the point, she is certainly a competent point guard who can cope with pressing teams.  My second biggest wish, and it was a very close second, maybe even first, was that Jones got her three point shooting to 30% or better and could average hitting two or three a game maybe.  I felt that would be a key given who else we had coming back and that it would open up the offense for her and by extension the whole team, because she is such a big part of the offense.

That a three would be a massive help for Jones in the pros is obvious.  Doubtful she is a 4 at the next level.  She will be a 3, and they usually can shoot threes.  I was hoping we would see her taking threes a lot in the early easier games and build on that, whether they went in or not, just work it.  I don't know why she hasn't been able to shoot threes even as well as past seasons.  I am not blaming her.  Gotta assume she has tried her best and is trying her best.  But that lack to me is one key reason the offense has been a struggle.  Everything looks a lot different if opposing defenses have to be out on her.  She is just one player but she is a key player, the straw that stirs the drink, if you will, for Stanford.  

That more open offense got stopped in its tracks when teams just said nah, we can just sit in and wait for you to miss outside shots, good luck driving or passing into double and triple teamed posts.  I think the offense went the wrong way.  Pounding the ball in to Brink doesn't make life easier for Jones.  Where are her driving lanes?  Where are anyone's driving lanes?  We bemoan the lack of driving perimeter players, but with teams packed in, where can they go?  Right now the offense seems to be try to get Jump a shot or hit Brink down low, and it is just too tough to do either of those things well against some defenses.  We need to open things up for other players.  Don't ask me how.  With all the changes in line-ups and schemes this season I am not really clear on how capable let's say Nivar would be if we tried to find her driving lanes more, or how Demetre would do if we got her those sweet mid-range shots she has shown she can hit well.  Emma-Nnopu and Lepolo have shown they can hit threes.  Maybe run plays for them every now and again, just to mix things up, make the defense think and work harder to anticipate what the offense will do?  I think I am running on so I will stop here.  Talking out my butt again but I am serious about this.

[chimera]

Treetop, I do think Cam has been focused to the low block. I won't take the time to go and count, but over and over again the team is trying to get her the ball down low. Yes, she does start at the high post sometimes and the ball is passed to her there, but that really is more for when she turns to do dribble hand off action or to pass down low to another big. The majority of her opportunities are coming from the low block. I was so glad she did take a handful of midrange high post shots vs UCLA and made them - we haven't seen that much over the past month. I think it's yet another weapon in her arsenal. But the uber point I'm making is that earlier in the season Cam was often found on the PERIMETER (not the high post), facing the basket, with the ball in her hands and had freedom to shoot, attack, kick, etc. I can't remember the last time Cam was passed the ball on the wing, and that's because we've changed and she doesn't go there anymore. As examples of what I'm talking about, look at the plays on this clip, at 0:00, 0:19, 1:29. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_pF7p8To7s. Where did that Cam go? Where did that team go? I really liked that team...

Cam is a multi-faceted talent who is being reduced to more of a role like a "thicker" player would have (play back to the basket on the low block, roam the high post and set a lot of screens). Again, maybe Tara is right and when we get out of conference teams will really struggle against our bigs down low. I'll tell you this though - when we dominated Tennessee, Creighton, Gonzaga, and were drilling South Carolina for a large chunk of that game, Cam was all over the place. Attacking, shooting 3's, etc. That team was way more offensively effective than this team, and Haley didn't even shoot well. That team could win the Natty. This one...I don't think any of us like what we're seeing. 

Last point, the lineup I like has made appearances throughout the season and has performed well oftentimes. I'm not talking about a lineup "close to" that lineup, I'm talking about that actual lineup. And that lineup, I'm pretty sure, was never on the court together vs. UCLA in the 4th quarter. Regardless, it's more than just the bodies. They have to be configured differently in order to gain the advantages. I really think playing 4 out and letting Cam OR Haley (putting Cam on perimeter) go to work and then have great options to pass out of double teams would pay big dividends. This would also allow Prechtel, one of our biggest weapons, to see some court time.

Those were highlights so they will show the offense at its best, but I do agree I miss that Stanford offense.  I will be honest here and say my biggest disappointment this season and I think a key reason the offense has been more of a struggle than we expected is that our two star players have not been close to what they have done shooting threes.  

Brink wasn't a great three point shooter before this season but she was competent and made some key ones.  She has not taken threes as much or made as many, and has been used way more on the low block than earlier this season.  If she was back to hitting a three or two now and again not only do we get more threes made from non-Jump players but she pulls defenders out to open things up for Betts or Iriafen, or Jones to cut to the basket.  Brink is not a one dimensional player, but that's how she has mostly been used after January.

The bigger problem is Jones has no three ball this season at all, no longer even looks to take them.  Without a three, Jones is still a star and a tough guard, but she is much more guardable when teams can play off her and cut off her driving lanes, make her passing harder as they lurk in passing lanes.  If Jones had a decent three she would be unguardable, the whole offense would look different, and her pro prospects would be improved.  

My biggest wish for the season was for someone to take over the point and be good enough at it so that Jones did not have to play there too much, and we got that.  Even if you don't think Lepolo is an ideal answer at the point, she is certainly a competent point guard who can cope with pressing teams.  My second biggest wish, and it was a very close second, maybe even first, was that Jones got her three point shooting to 30% or better and could average hitting two or three a game maybe.  I felt that would be a key given who else we had coming back and that it would open up the offense for her and by extension the whole team, because she is such a big part of the offense.

That a three would be a massive help for Jones in the pros is obvious.  Doubtful she is a 4 at the next level.  She will be a 3, and they usually can shoot threes.  I was hoping we would see her taking threes a lot in the early easier games and build on that, whether they went in or not, just work it.  I don't know why she hasn't been able to shoot threes even as well as past seasons.  I am not blaming her.  Gotta assume she has tried her best and is trying her best.  But that lack to me is one key reason the offense has been a struggle.  Everything looks a lot different if opposing defenses have to be out on her.  She is just one player but she is a key player, the straw that stirs the drink, if you will, for Stanford.  

That more open offense got stopped in its tracks when teams just said nah, we can just sit in and wait for you to miss outside shots, good luck driving or passing into double and triple teamed posts.  I think the offense went the wrong way.  Pounding the ball in to Brink doesn't make life easier for Jones.  Where are her driving lanes?  Where are anyone's driving lanes?  We bemoan the lack of driving perimeter players, but with teams packed in, where can they go?  Right now the offense seems to be try to get Jump a shot or hit Brink down low, and it is just too tough to do either of those things well against some defenses.  We need to open things up for other players.  Don't ask me how.  With all the changes in line-ups and schemes this season I am not really clear on how capable let's say Nivar would be if we tried to find her driving lanes more, or how Demetre would do if we got her those sweet mid-range shots she has shown she can hit well.  Emma-Nnopu and Lepolo have shown they can hit threes.  Maybe run plays for them every now and again, just to mix things up, make the defense think and work harder to anticipate what the offense will do?  I think I am running on so I will stop here.  Talking out my butt again but I am serious about this.