(12-31-2013 03:56 PM)northcoastRocket Wrote:  The stats to date clearly show that defense is what is killing the team thus far.

This team is giving up 5 more points per game than any team since 99-00. Opponent FG percentage, 3-pt FG percentage and assists are also the worst in that stretch. We are also giving up significantly more free throws per game than the last 2 seasons. This just goes to illustrate how good Naama, Cre, and Yo were on defense ... how overlooked that was.

Recker was probably our 3rd best defender after Dola and Inma, so losing her hurt a lot. Also, when Dola and Janelle are both in the game, it seems that Janelle is guarding point more often than not, which limits Dola's ability to be agressive on the ball handler, which is her best strength. Krunch's movement seems clearly hampered by her injury and we have been playing a lot of teams who don't play an offense with a true post, so she has to roam which is not her strength. Against teams with a true post, defensively I believe she is much better. All the other junior players (including Ana) are still learning to play D, and sometimes they make good plays, but often they get exposed. They will get better, but it will take time.

+1 Totally agree. Good team defense depends on ALL 5 players on the floor playing good defense together and that requires experience--and this year that experience is missing---so it is on-the-job training for a while.