Graves Where Have You Been?

#1
teacherdean

teacherdean

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#1
I like the Graves I have seen the last two games. We need that Graves for the rest of the season and the next. She has really stepped up to the plate.:good!:
 
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#2
#2
Previously were running most of the post plays for Izzy. The Graves you saw last night is the way she played in high school. Mid-range jumper and drive to the basket. She will never be a great post up player not tall enough. She can hit the mid-range jumper and can take a big to the basket off the dribble.
 
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#3
#3
Volfan2012 said:
Previously were running most of the post plays for Izzy. The Graves you saw last night is the way she played in high school. Mid-range jumper and drive to the basket. She will never be a great post up player not tall enough. She can hit the mid-range jumper and can take a big to the basket off the dribble.
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Related to that, the 3 guard offense spreads the floor a bit more where with Izzy, teams were packing the paint. Now Graves has some room to maneuver.

Realistically, it appears that the LVs can compensate on the offensive side for Izzy's absence. The harder to fill gaps are on the defensive and rebounding sides.
 
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#4
#4
She is big and tough enough to drive thru the bigs. What we are missing to win big. Need to clone several like her.

GO LADY VOLS!!!!!!
 
#5
#5
madtownvol said:
Related to that, the 3 guard offense spreads the floor a bit more where with Izzy, teams were packing the paint. Now Graves has some room to maneuver.

Realistically, it appears that the LVs can compensate on the offensive side for Izzy's absence. The harder to fill gaps are on the defensive and rebounding sides.
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I agree! Moore has proven in the earlier part of the season she can be a last resort option for the defense and block shots, but I don't think Moore realistically can fill the offense role.

It is evident last night, and just like you mentioned, Graves is a better player when she has room. Izzy can get the ball in the low block and use her height and quickness to go one on one. Put Moore on the floor with Graves, and your putting Graves at the elbow, and she is limited at that point to score because if she drives, Moore will already be camped down there, and she will be driving into traffic.
 
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#6
#6
Volfan2012 said:
Previously were running most of the post plays for Izzy. The Graves you saw last night is the way she played in high school. Mid-range jumper and drive to the basket. She will never be a great post up player not tall enough. She can hit the mid-range jumper and can take a big to the basket off the dribble.
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does this make yo say duh! why isn't the coach doing this more often. hint a driving player may score or dish the ball to a 3-point shooter.
 
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#8
#8
rickyb712 said:
does this make yo say duh! why isn't the coach doing this more often. hint a driving player may score or dish the ball to a 3-point shooter.
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Because she had Izzy in the paint with her, and Izzy had more ways to score. Isolating her on the block and letting her take her defender 1-to-1, or passing to Burdick/Graves when their defender came over to help was their best scoring plays.

Only Ariel is a dependable 3-pt shooter, and she was guarded tightly last night. Carter/Reynolds are not consistent enough to pass the ball out of the paint to have them shoot...at least on a regular basis.
 
#9
#9
Volfan2012 said:
Previously were running most of the post plays for Izzy. The Graves you saw last night is the way she played in high school. Mid-range jumper and drive to the basket. She will never be a great post up player not tall enough. She can hit the mid-range jumper and can take a big to the basket off the dribble.
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she HAS developed her offensive game. She's is taking the ball to the basket--and most notably she's developed a pretty good mid-range jumper. She often hesitates before shooting it, and she has a slow release--but she often makes it, which is the important thing.

I disagree about her scoring potential as a post player. She could be--and SHOULD BE--a better scorer in the paint, because she's not only 6'2 but she's got a strong body. But you have to know HOW to score in the paint--and that is an issue. You have to have a good feel for where your defender is (assuming you are catching the ball with your back to the basket), and when you get the ball you have to move decisively and have a quick release--and use your body to leverage some space to go up with the ball. It's not that hard for people who are practicing every day.

Graves has always been slow with the ball and slow in the paint--she dithers. You can't dither because you are in the teeth of the defense. She's gotten a little better--but the key is a quick release. She's become a better offensive player, thanks to her driving and her perimeter game. If she can learn to catch, turn and shoot in the paint, she will have taken even one more step in her development. But her play has been very good.
 
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#10
#10
Amb3096 said:
Because she had Izzy in the paint with her, and Izzy had more ways to score. Isolating her on the block and letting her take her defender 1-to-1, or passing to Burdick/Graves when their defender came over to help was their best scoring plays.

Only Ariel is a dependable 3-pt shooter, and she was guarded tightly last night. Carter/Reynolds are not consistent enough to pass the ball out of the paint to have them shoot...at least on a regular basis.
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I agree with you 100%.....there were 2 instances where Reynolds and Carter had two wide open 3s where had went in, would have IMO changed the game somewhat...I remember distinctly one where Reynold's 3 would have tied the game in the waning minutes. We HAVE to have consistent 3 point shooting the rest of the season in order to beat the good teams. Ariel is somewhat consistent but we need more than just her making them every once in a while.
 
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#12
#12
volfanIND said:
I agree! Moore has proven in the earlier part of the season she can be a last resort option for the defense and block shots, but I don't think Moore realistically can fill the offense role.

It is evident last night, and just like you mentioned, Graves is a better player when she has room. Izzy can get the ball in the low block and use her height and quickness to go one on one. Put Moore on the floor with Graves, and your putting Graves at the elbow, and she is limited at that point to score because if she drives, Moore will already be camped down there, and she will be driving into traffic.
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No, this is backwards. Moore should be at the high post. She's got a nice shot from around the foul line, and a step back shot that will allow her to put it up over bigger posts. She's not big/tough enough to play down low. That's where Graves needs to be.
 
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#14
#14
You can play Moore and still keep the floor spread. Actually Moore and Graves work well together, especially in the high-low situation. Bash picks up Izzy's scoring, Nia compensates for a little of her rebounds. It won't hurt anything because Burdick can still continue to rebound out the three position.
 
#17
#17
I agree that Graves is playing well, offensively, but defensively not so much. Too small for center position. Not a good rebounder for then position she has inherited, I know she isn't used to it. She didn't even contest many shots. For that matter hardly any Lady Vols would leave their feet to contest shots last night. We had a chance but need to rebound better. All in all with the cards we have been dealt, I think we can make a run. Just need to cover the boards better!!
 
#18
#18
I will never say a bad thing about Graves...she has done in three years what Burdick and Harrison took 4 to do and they both get more praise from Volnation...Graves keep it up!!!
 
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#20
#20
S anandvol said:
I have never thought that Graves and Izzy play well together.
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The Lady Vols were moving toward this offense before Izzy got hurt,cos it's easy to defend a player when you'll know where she will be,so we starting moving Izzy around, she was out on the wing too.. She was back in Izzy mode.

Holly is right, this is the start of our offense the next two year perhaps four, with no post players, we shoot the 3 better, we become a very good team, four and five guard lineups, look like our future.

Russell needs space too, but she still has to go through the progression of learning how to play with her back to be basket to post up smaller defenders or mismatches, and be decisive. Otherwise it be the same problem with Graves next year. All of our players need space to maximize their, which has been poor since forever.

Izzy and Graves complimented each well in the five out offense, cos Izzy mid range game to was money and she was getting to the space in the high post to take opposing post player to the rack.

Graves, could be taking that step forward to become an All American. Lets hope so.

What the Lady Vols developing players? Who would have thunk?

Every player on our roster has gotten better this year and that gives me comfort that we are heading in the right direction, we will have very versatile team the next couple of years without depth at post.

Graves keep it going. I hope her and Carter play there way into the starting lineup next year.
 
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