Watch out the KLS apologists are now gunning for you. But I agree KLS is not the most complete player. She is the most hyped player on the team. (1) There are some stating that she is a good ball handler and defender...eh
TBH she is slow. (2) and (3) She does well against smaller or less athletic defenders. She is a excellent spot up jump shooter not as great if she has to create her own shot. If she is open with time to get off her shot- she is deadly.
To her credit she is trying to add post play, driving and defense to her game. She is improving noticeably. (4) She is now making assists where she would most definitely shoot.
(5) The truth is she is a 6'3" guard that can't defend good to elite guards. She is the tallest person in our starting line up but most certainly can't play inside or on the wing against B.Turner, A.Wilson, B.Jones, K.Brown or any other player 6'3"+.
This year the team is more than each of the individual parts. KLS is the shooting threat. Collier is a true post player who is very dangerous on the block, mid-range and on the outside. Gabby is a match up offensive and defensive nightmare. Nurse and Chong are dangerous combo guards. They can shoot anywhere, drive and defend. Together they are unstoppable.
Everyone can produce points and effect the momentum of the game. UCONN can't win without all 5 (six really) players producing.
IMO your entire tone is not even close to what is really happening. I wonder if your tone is more of frustration because some fans appreciate Lou's game a lot more than you so you make some things up to try to tear them down and/or overanalyze the negatives similar to what the NBA did a long time ago with Cliff Robinson. The "Lou-apologists," really?
First off she IS a good ballhandler. She's not quick enough to "blow by defenders" but she IS a good ballhandler.
Secondly- when you speak of her height- imo your post sounds like code to never giver her any credit --- because do you realize she is 6'3? Otherwise how can you say "she does well vs smaller players" yet make the type of post you just made? Because she IS taller at the wing than any team that guards her. Yes she does well against smaller defender which means she does well A LOT which means she is an all-american.
Third- I guess you missed the games vs Texas, Notre Dame and Maryland? Unless you are trying to suggest they aren't "athletic?" Ohh that's right they were ALL smaller defenders too just as every other she has gone against was.
Fourth -- She is NOW making assists because she has recognized that her teammates are shooting well and she isn't. For example Gabby's shot seems to be taken with much more confidence now and Nurse has been BEYOND incredible shooting 3's. So the high-low is so efficient and Gabby shooting so well and Nurse's shooting amazing, why would you run curls for Lou? SO why focus on getting Lou to score? You wouldn't do that, would you? SO why wouldn't she be passing the ball more? She's smart like all UCONN players. Yet your tone "she is passing the ball now," you've twisted it to a negative from before.
What do you think would happen if Kia starts missing her 3's and Gabby misses a few jumpers and the becomes reluctant to shoot? I could also throw in Collier being in foul trouble IMO a poster like you when this happens you won't give any credit to Lou or you'll forget it like you forget the ND, Texas and Md. So if we lose in these scenarios it will be because 'Lou stopped passing the ball, right?"
Fifth- and again you look at all the negatives but I wonder if you've forgotten that all those
good to elite guards are as you mentioned above "smaller than Lou." And if she can't guard those players at all then I guess when they say UCONN switches on everything it means Lou seldom had ot guard these
good to elite guards over the course of the game? That's ridiculous imo.
Final points- the Golden State Warriors Steph Curry was a beast for a coupe of years and he wasn't "Mich00lle Cooper" defensively. So what? And as for the defenders against Lou- I remember watching a lot of matchups between Ewing and Olajuown. Ewing had a sweet jumper but you could see with Olajuwon sometimes he'd actually force Ewing to throw up his shot with more arch. With Lou- rarely have I seen an oppsoing team force her to arch her shot more etc. She just misses.
.
