Now, for the first of three straight former Huskies ...
Tamika Raymond
6-foot-2 forward
Averages: 2.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, 10.7 minutes
The Good: Raymond's number are probably consistent with what the Sun expected of her. Coming off two seasons in which she was riddled by injuries (torn ACL, concussion, tweaked knee, pulled hamstring), she physically isn't being asked to do as much, but she has proven to be a valuable energy player off the bench who can rebound, especially on the offensive boards, and spell Asjha Jones for necessary stretches. Number-by-number, Raymond, who was exchanged for Kristen Rasmussen in the offseason, is essentially giving Connecticut what it got from Rasmussen in 2007 (3.5 points, 2.8 rebounds) and what Minnesota is getting from her this year (3.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, 13.4 minutes).
But Raymond's entire value really isn't measured in that. Sun coach Mike Thibault wanted her for her leadership in the locker room and her role as a mentor and fourth coach on the team. She's been all that and more. With Jones, Tamika Whitmore and Lindsay Whalen, she's helped given the team a veteran core that leads in several different ways, and was instrumental in keeping the team together during its five-game losing streak. Raymond has also been invaluable with the younger players. She's especially taken Sandrine Gruda under her wing, acting as an instructor and big sister. A weeks ago, when Thibault said the rookie Gruda would benefit from less advice from a number of people and more from just a few, he specifically pointed to assistant coach Scott Hawk, who does individual work with Gruda following every practice, and Raymond, the person Gruda goes to most often on the bench and on the court. I can't tell you how many times I've seen Raymond drawing out plays on her palm, or pointing here or there to point something out while she and Gruda are leaving the court.
Raymond's also helped Jones, her best friend, relax more now also in her seventh season, and at least from my standpoint, she's a great person in the locker room to bounce ideas and discussion off of, even if she didn't play a whole lot on a particular night.
The Sun's chemistry has been so good this season for many reasons, perhaps none more so than how well all the different personalities have come together. And anybody in that locker room will tell you Raymond -- always amicable, always smiling -- is the glue in all that.
The Bad: Raymond wasn't brought to the Sun to be a scorer, but her 37.7 shooting percentage puts her on pace for the lowest of her seven-year career. UConn's all-time leader in shooting (.703, a mark that I can't see ever being broken), she's had trouble finishing around the rim at times, despite setting herself up with her offensive rebounding. (She ranks second on the Sun in offensive boards (40), 19 behind the team-leader, Jones, despite playing 490 fewer minutes, or nearly 19 per game.)
In her defense, she probably isn't able to get as good a rhythm as she's been used to her in her career. Before this summer, she never played fewer than 20 minutes per game, aside from an injury-riddled 2007 season, and if she continues to shoot as often as she has, she'll finish with roughly 70 attempts this season, less than half of what she shot during her full seasons in Minnesota.
Jones has tried prodding her to shoot more.
"I’m like, ‘Score. I know you’re a great rebounder, but score,’" Jones said earlier in July. "In her past, that’s what she used to do, and somehow, somebody pushed her away from that. Here, I have great confidence in her abilities and I want her to do that. I get mad when she doesn’t do the things that she can do. I’m like, ‘Man, what are you doing? Don’t give it to me. You shoot it. That’s why you got it.’ But when I shoot, I know she’s going to go get it."
Outlook: I don't want to jinx Raymond, but a huge plus for her as been her ability to stay healthy. She's played in every game, playing double-digit minutes 16 times, and is part of a bench that's allowed Thibault to only play one starter (Whalen) 30 minutes per game (and Whalen has played exactly that). Raymond and Jones has rarely been on the court together because it's usually she that's replacing Jones (29.5 minutes per game). Don't expect that dynamic to change much when the season starts back up, though as the playoffs approach it will be a little different for Raymond. She hasn't been to the WNBA postseason since 2004, and in five career playoff games, she owns averages of 14.8 points and 7.8 rebounds. I'm not saying she'll even come close to those numbers this year, but between her, Whitmore (second all time in playoff games with 40) and Jones and Whalen (who have been to two WNBA finals), the Sun rookies have a lot of playoff experience around them.
On deck: Ketia Swanier
In the hole: Barbara Turner
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
A few notes on ... Danielle Page
We're officially past the midway point ...
Danielle Page
6-foot-2forward
Averages: 1.0 point, 2.5 rebounds (two games)
The Good:I've been planning on doing something for the paper on Page — and the break may be a good opportunity — but although the rookie out of Nebraska hasn't played much, you can still see during practice why the Sun kept her. She's long and athletic at 6-foot-2, and like everybody else in the Sun's frontcourt, has a nice touch from 12 feet out, especially at the elbows and the top of the key. She's also what every team needs: A hard-working practice player who's constantly voicing her support of teammates. She probably was the biggest long-shot to make the team out of training camp — more so than Kerri Gardin — but made the final cut by displaying the things she did well in college (rebounding, defense) while showing a little unexpected offensive flair, too. Page holds Nebraska's program record for blocks in a season.
Also — and this is just a funny observation — but Page spends a part following most practices attempting to dunk. She usually has someone throw the ball up near the rim as an alley-oop, including Sun media relations director Bill Tavares. And she definitely gets close, at times pinning the ball against the bottom of the rim or losing a handle on the ball as she elevates, but I've heard no word yet that she's actually accomplished it. Stayed tuned, though.
The Bad:It's hard to critique Page because we haven't seen much of her in games, but there are some things she needs to do if she hopes to get playing time in future seasons, namely adding strength and different facets to her game, including in the post. But a year working in the Sun's system will certainly help in all areas.
Outlook:With essentially four players at her current position (Asjha Jones, Tamika Whitmore, Tamika Raymond and Sandrine Gruda), don't expect Page to immediately jump into any sort of time, unless someone from that group is misses time with an injury. She hasn't dressed since May 24, and any bumps and bruises that may have forced the Sun's regulars to the bench for a game (Whitmore, for one, has been playing through knee and back troubles) should be relieved by the Olympic break. Personally, I haven't seen enough of Page to say whether she has a definitive future in the league after this season, but for someone who wasn't expected by many to even be in the WNBA at this point, she definitely has a good start.
On deck: Tamika Raymond
In the hole: Ketia Swanier
Danielle Page
6-foot-2forward
Averages: 1.0 point, 2.5 rebounds (two games)
The Good:I've been planning on doing something for the paper on Page — and the break may be a good opportunity — but although the rookie out of Nebraska hasn't played much, you can still see during practice why the Sun kept her. She's long and athletic at 6-foot-2, and like everybody else in the Sun's frontcourt, has a nice touch from 12 feet out, especially at the elbows and the top of the key. She's also what every team needs: A hard-working practice player who's constantly voicing her support of teammates. She probably was the biggest long-shot to make the team out of training camp — more so than Kerri Gardin — but made the final cut by displaying the things she did well in college (rebounding, defense) while showing a little unexpected offensive flair, too. Page holds Nebraska's program record for blocks in a season.
Also — and this is just a funny observation — but Page spends a part following most practices attempting to dunk. She usually has someone throw the ball up near the rim as an alley-oop, including Sun media relations director Bill Tavares. And she definitely gets close, at times pinning the ball against the bottom of the rim or losing a handle on the ball as she elevates, but I've heard no word yet that she's actually accomplished it. Stayed tuned, though.
The Bad:It's hard to critique Page because we haven't seen much of her in games, but there are some things she needs to do if she hopes to get playing time in future seasons, namely adding strength and different facets to her game, including in the post. But a year working in the Sun's system will certainly help in all areas.
Outlook:With essentially four players at her current position (Asjha Jones, Tamika Whitmore, Tamika Raymond and Sandrine Gruda), don't expect Page to immediately jump into any sort of time, unless someone from that group is misses time with an injury. She hasn't dressed since May 24, and any bumps and bruises that may have forced the Sun's regulars to the bench for a game (Whitmore, for one, has been playing through knee and back troubles) should be relieved by the Olympic break. Personally, I haven't seen enough of Page to say whether she has a definitive future in the league after this season, but for someone who wasn't expected by many to even be in the WNBA at this point, she definitely has a good start.
On deck: Tamika Raymond
In the hole: Ketia Swanier
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
A few notes on ... Asjha Jones
And so on ...
Asjha Jones
6-foot-2 forward
Averages: 16.8 points, 6.2 points, 2.2 assists
The Good: In her seventh season, Jones is playing like an All-Star starter ... and a dark horse in the MVP race. She leads the Sun in scoring, rebounding and shooting (48.9 percent), and she's already had streaks of 14 straight games in double figures and 10 straight games in leading Connecticut in scoring. She also ranks 10th in the league in points and 20th in boards, and among players with as many as 300 field-goal attempts, she is fourth in percentage.
Jones is only now entering the discussion as one of the WNBA's top forwards because A, she played as a reserve for the first five years of her career, and B, she had't before been the top scoring option on her team, despite averaging similar numbers last season (15.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, 44.9 percent shooting).
The difference this year: She's more consistent; only four times she's scored under 10 points and two of those games she has nine, and seven times she's grabbed eight or more rebounds, including 10 twice for double-doubles. More importantly, with all the change Connecticut went through during the offseason, Jones has never been more important to the team's success, to which she's responded with her best year in the pros.
How is she doing it? Jones has added a few more wrinkles to her game this year. Though her jump shot remains streaky at times, her jump hook has never looked better. She's used it more and more, and if it's on, no one's been able to deter her from using it. In 26 games, she also has many offensive rebounds (59) as she did in 34 games during the 2006 season, with some of her best rebounding games coming in the last month. When asked about Jones -- and he has been more so this year than ever -- Sun coach Mike Thibault has constantly said Jones is playing with a more confident mindset, that she knows she's one of the league's top players. Jones, in turn has, said she is simply being more aggressive. I wrote in (great) length about this before, but having Tamika Raymond has also helped Jones. Jones has become a more vocal leader and a bigger presence in the Sun's clubhouse, things that were also asked of her through all the offseason change.
One of the best parts of Jones' game remains her versatility. She has the ability to create loads of match-up problems for other forwards, as there's few others can do what she does. (Candice Dupree and Sophia Young have similar games.) If I had to choose a team (and subsequent league) MVP, I would probably lean toward Lindsay Whalen, only because she is doing things few, if any, one in league history has ever done (and I'll get to those in a few days). But Jones is playing her best basketball -- and it doesn't get much better in the WNBA.
The Bad: I'm not trying to be a homer, but I really can't say much here. Even in games where's she struggled shooting, such as against Chicago on July 20 (5-for-19) and against Phoenix on June 29 (5-for-17), Jones made up for it in other ways, like at the free throw line and by limiting her mental mistakes. She also had a stretch during June where turnovers really hurt her productivity; in seven games, she committed at least three turnovers five times, including five twice. But she's largely corrected that, and any other small things I could find would be nit-picking at this point.
Outlook: By playing through a severely sprained ankle, Jones struggled at times last year, and really wasn't herself. She said prior to the break that she could feel her legs starting to tire, but with time off -- and some free days to actually celebrate her 28th birthday -- Jones should be prepared for a strong stretch run. I know I say that about virtually everyone on the Sun -- and it's probably true for everyone in the league not playing in the Olympics -- but considering Jones has played nearly 30 minutes a game (only Whalen has played more), it makes a difference in this case.
Also, I've written previously that if there was an All-Star game, Jones would be in it. But it will be interesting if she gets All-WNBA honors. At this point, she seems like a shoe-in for second-team honors, but we'll see. With games against some very good frontcourts (such as Seattle, Houston and San Antonio) left, she'll definitely have opportunity to make her case for more. (By the way, if I had to pick a first team right now and do it quickly, it would go: Whalen, Diana Taurasi, Seimone Augustus, Candace Parker, Lauren Jackson. Don't be surprised if I change that at least twice before the end of the season.)
On deck: Danielle Page
In the hole: Tamika Raymond
Asjha Jones
6-foot-2 forward
Averages: 16.8 points, 6.2 points, 2.2 assists
The Good: In her seventh season, Jones is playing like an All-Star starter ... and a dark horse in the MVP race. She leads the Sun in scoring, rebounding and shooting (48.9 percent), and she's already had streaks of 14 straight games in double figures and 10 straight games in leading Connecticut in scoring. She also ranks 10th in the league in points and 20th in boards, and among players with as many as 300 field-goal attempts, she is fourth in percentage.
Jones is only now entering the discussion as one of the WNBA's top forwards because A, she played as a reserve for the first five years of her career, and B, she had't before been the top scoring option on her team, despite averaging similar numbers last season (15.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, 44.9 percent shooting).
The difference this year: She's more consistent; only four times she's scored under 10 points and two of those games she has nine, and seven times she's grabbed eight or more rebounds, including 10 twice for double-doubles. More importantly, with all the change Connecticut went through during the offseason, Jones has never been more important to the team's success, to which she's responded with her best year in the pros.
How is she doing it? Jones has added a few more wrinkles to her game this year. Though her jump shot remains streaky at times, her jump hook has never looked better. She's used it more and more, and if it's on, no one's been able to deter her from using it. In 26 games, she also has many offensive rebounds (59) as she did in 34 games during the 2006 season, with some of her best rebounding games coming in the last month. When asked about Jones -- and he has been more so this year than ever -- Sun coach Mike Thibault has constantly said Jones is playing with a more confident mindset, that she knows she's one of the league's top players. Jones, in turn has, said she is simply being more aggressive. I wrote in (great) length about this before, but having Tamika Raymond has also helped Jones. Jones has become a more vocal leader and a bigger presence in the Sun's clubhouse, things that were also asked of her through all the offseason change.
One of the best parts of Jones' game remains her versatility. She has the ability to create loads of match-up problems for other forwards, as there's few others can do what she does. (Candice Dupree and Sophia Young have similar games.) If I had to choose a team (and subsequent league) MVP, I would probably lean toward Lindsay Whalen, only because she is doing things few, if any, one in league history has ever done (and I'll get to those in a few days). But Jones is playing her best basketball -- and it doesn't get much better in the WNBA.
The Bad: I'm not trying to be a homer, but I really can't say much here. Even in games where's she struggled shooting, such as against Chicago on July 20 (5-for-19) and against Phoenix on June 29 (5-for-17), Jones made up for it in other ways, like at the free throw line and by limiting her mental mistakes. She also had a stretch during June where turnovers really hurt her productivity; in seven games, she committed at least three turnovers five times, including five twice. But she's largely corrected that, and any other small things I could find would be nit-picking at this point.
Outlook: By playing through a severely sprained ankle, Jones struggled at times last year, and really wasn't herself. She said prior to the break that she could feel her legs starting to tire, but with time off -- and some free days to actually celebrate her 28th birthday -- Jones should be prepared for a strong stretch run. I know I say that about virtually everyone on the Sun -- and it's probably true for everyone in the league not playing in the Olympics -- but considering Jones has played nearly 30 minutes a game (only Whalen has played more), it makes a difference in this case.
Also, I've written previously that if there was an All-Star game, Jones would be in it. But it will be interesting if she gets All-WNBA honors. At this point, she seems like a shoe-in for second-team honors, but we'll see. With games against some very good frontcourts (such as Seattle, Houston and San Antonio) left, she'll definitely have opportunity to make her case for more. (By the way, if I had to pick a first team right now and do it quickly, it would go: Whalen, Diana Taurasi, Seimone Augustus, Candace Parker, Lauren Jackson. Don't be surprised if I change that at least twice before the end of the season.)
On deck: Danielle Page
In the hole: Tamika Raymond
A few notes on ... Amber Holt
Despite some technical difficulties (this post is getting up extremely late) the evaluations forge on with ...
Amber Holt
6-foot forward
Averages: 6.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, 20.7 minutes
The Good: A lot of people will look at what Holt did her senior year in college (she led the nation in scoring at 27.4 points per game), what's she doing now (she's shot under 40 percent and boasts seven of 26 games in double figures scoring) and think the rookie's game hasn't translated well to the pros. In a way, they might be right. A post player in Middle Tennessee State, Holt is under-sized at the power forward position in the WNBA and has rarely gotten the chance to utilize her experience down low, save for a few match-ups with undersized shooting guards.
But frankly, scoring may not define Holt early in her career. As she adjusts to taking more jump shots and 3s -- and finding not just the confidence but the rhythm in doing so -- she'll make a name for herself as a solid defender, a quality rebounder at the two and three positions, and a hard-nosed but quiet gamer.
That's what the Sun were hoping for. Largely, that's what they've gotten.
I don't have the exact numbers, but if there were a race for the most charges drawn on the Sun, Holt would be leading the team, probably with a slight edge over Tamika Whitmore. Their flops would make Vlade Divac blush. Holt's acting skills aside -- and you'd know she's not a bad singer, either, if you were on hand for when they played her '60 seconds with the Sun' piece on the arena scoreboard a few weeks ago -- she's taken on some of the league's toughest assignments on the wings (Diana Taurasi, Deanna Nolan, Alana Beard, etc.) and in most cases, done an admirable job. She's far from a lock-down defender, but for a rookie now learning the league's personnel, there have been few times where she's looked totally overmatched.
That said, it's not as if Holt hasn't score or shown potential to carry this team for stretches. Three of those seven double-digit scoring games came in July and her seven points in three minutes to close Connecticut's win over Chicago on July 20 -- in turn, carrying the Sun to their first win in six games at the time -- was the best example of how dangerous she can be when she gets on a roll. Sun coach Mike Thibault has said several times that Holt almost enjoys not having the burden of the offense on her, as she did in college. And Holt has stuck to one line over any other the entire year: Defense comes first, and her offense will come from that. She's been the most consistent rookie the Sun have had, even if she's not the most talked about. She's started every game and hasn't played under 11 minutes in any single contest. Yeah, maybe she's not scoring like her numbers in college would have indicated, but there are reasons Thibault likes to keep her on the court.
Also, as far as her personality goes, Holt is by the far the quietest player on the team. But she's quick to laugh, doesn't make things too complicated and isn't afraid to be a little funny herself. I tend to talk too fast at times, and one time while interviewing her, I finally getting to my point after a long-winded question that maybe took 25 seconds of rambling to ask ... only to have Holt stare back at me with a puzzled look.
"Uh ..." I started again.
"Look," she said smiling, "you ... gotta ... slow ... down." Then she chuckled like she does seemingly after everything she says.
I slowed down, asked it again and she gave me a little nod of approval right before answering it.
The Bad: I mentioned there weren't too many times when Holt hasn't appeared totally overmatched defensively, but there were games -- more so early in the year -- when she just looked a little lost. She usually snapped out of it, but more than once Thibault had to go to the quick hook on her because it just didn't seem to be here night defensively. That said, the Chicago game when she scored all of her points late also didn't appear to be her night before she bounced back to save COnnecticut.
Similar to Kerri Gardin, Holt's also just learning now how to shoot consistently from the outside, so there have been some growing pains. In three games against New York, for example, she's shot a combined 3-for-14, and one of those contests marked the only time she's gone scoreless this season (and, as far as she could remember, maybe the only time ever). Ten times this year she's also had one or fewer made field goals.
Outlook: I can't see any reason why the Sun won't continue to lean on Holt like they have. She's continued to work hard in practice, gives the Sun what they want defensively and seems to be finding a better offensive groove the last few weeks before the break.
I can't say she's going to come out be another major scoring option alongside Lindsay Whalen and Asjha Jones (that role should fall to Tamika Whitmore, who has always proved better later in seasons), but Holt was highly coveted by Thibault and his staff. And though the coach has been more extravagant in his outlook of Sandrine Gruda, he believes Holt can be a major-impact player, too. If, as a rookie, she holds up to the pressure in the playoffs (she doesn't come from a UConn or Tennessee background where players are bred in the pressure of winning all the time), she just may continue to assert herself as an impact player now. Remember, Holt is the Sun's highest draft pick since Lindsay Whalen was taken fourth in 2004. They picked her knowing they'd need her to play well this year. (Note: I'm not counting Katie Feenstra, who was taken eighth overall in 2005, but was traded to San Antonio as part of the Margo Dydek and never played a single game for Connecticut).
On deck: Asjha Jones
In the hole: Danielle Page
Amber Holt
6-foot forward
Averages: 6.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, 20.7 minutes
The Good: A lot of people will look at what Holt did her senior year in college (she led the nation in scoring at 27.4 points per game), what's she doing now (she's shot under 40 percent and boasts seven of 26 games in double figures scoring) and think the rookie's game hasn't translated well to the pros. In a way, they might be right. A post player in Middle Tennessee State, Holt is under-sized at the power forward position in the WNBA and has rarely gotten the chance to utilize her experience down low, save for a few match-ups with undersized shooting guards.
But frankly, scoring may not define Holt early in her career. As she adjusts to taking more jump shots and 3s -- and finding not just the confidence but the rhythm in doing so -- she'll make a name for herself as a solid defender, a quality rebounder at the two and three positions, and a hard-nosed but quiet gamer.
That's what the Sun were hoping for. Largely, that's what they've gotten.
I don't have the exact numbers, but if there were a race for the most charges drawn on the Sun, Holt would be leading the team, probably with a slight edge over Tamika Whitmore. Their flops would make Vlade Divac blush. Holt's acting skills aside -- and you'd know she's not a bad singer, either, if you were on hand for when they played her '60 seconds with the Sun' piece on the arena scoreboard a few weeks ago -- she's taken on some of the league's toughest assignments on the wings (Diana Taurasi, Deanna Nolan, Alana Beard, etc.) and in most cases, done an admirable job. She's far from a lock-down defender, but for a rookie now learning the league's personnel, there have been few times where she's looked totally overmatched.
That said, it's not as if Holt hasn't score or shown potential to carry this team for stretches. Three of those seven double-digit scoring games came in July and her seven points in three minutes to close Connecticut's win over Chicago on July 20 -- in turn, carrying the Sun to their first win in six games at the time -- was the best example of how dangerous she can be when she gets on a roll. Sun coach Mike Thibault has said several times that Holt almost enjoys not having the burden of the offense on her, as she did in college. And Holt has stuck to one line over any other the entire year: Defense comes first, and her offense will come from that. She's been the most consistent rookie the Sun have had, even if she's not the most talked about. She's started every game and hasn't played under 11 minutes in any single contest. Yeah, maybe she's not scoring like her numbers in college would have indicated, but there are reasons Thibault likes to keep her on the court.
Also, as far as her personality goes, Holt is by the far the quietest player on the team. But she's quick to laugh, doesn't make things too complicated and isn't afraid to be a little funny herself. I tend to talk too fast at times, and one time while interviewing her, I finally getting to my point after a long-winded question that maybe took 25 seconds of rambling to ask ... only to have Holt stare back at me with a puzzled look.
"Uh ..." I started again.
"Look," she said smiling, "you ... gotta ... slow ... down." Then she chuckled like she does seemingly after everything she says.
I slowed down, asked it again and she gave me a little nod of approval right before answering it.
The Bad: I mentioned there weren't too many times when Holt hasn't appeared totally overmatched defensively, but there were games -- more so early in the year -- when she just looked a little lost. She usually snapped out of it, but more than once Thibault had to go to the quick hook on her because it just didn't seem to be here night defensively. That said, the Chicago game when she scored all of her points late also didn't appear to be her night before she bounced back to save COnnecticut.
Similar to Kerri Gardin, Holt's also just learning now how to shoot consistently from the outside, so there have been some growing pains. In three games against New York, for example, she's shot a combined 3-for-14, and one of those contests marked the only time she's gone scoreless this season (and, as far as she could remember, maybe the only time ever). Ten times this year she's also had one or fewer made field goals.
Outlook: I can't see any reason why the Sun won't continue to lean on Holt like they have. She's continued to work hard in practice, gives the Sun what they want defensively and seems to be finding a better offensive groove the last few weeks before the break.
I can't say she's going to come out be another major scoring option alongside Lindsay Whalen and Asjha Jones (that role should fall to Tamika Whitmore, who has always proved better later in seasons), but Holt was highly coveted by Thibault and his staff. And though the coach has been more extravagant in his outlook of Sandrine Gruda, he believes Holt can be a major-impact player, too. If, as a rookie, she holds up to the pressure in the playoffs (she doesn't come from a UConn or Tennessee background where players are bred in the pressure of winning all the time), she just may continue to assert herself as an impact player now. Remember, Holt is the Sun's highest draft pick since Lindsay Whalen was taken fourth in 2004. They picked her knowing they'd need her to play well this year. (Note: I'm not counting Katie Feenstra, who was taken eighth overall in 2005, but was traded to San Antonio as part of the Margo Dydek and never played a single game for Connecticut).
On deck: Asjha Jones
In the hole: Danielle Page
Sunday, August 3, 2008
A few notes on ... Sandrine Gruda
Another day, another in-depth look into ...
Sandrine Gruda
6-foot-4 center
Averages: 6.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 15.7 minutes
The Good: Gruda came into this season surrounded by hype, and she still is; Sun coach Mike Thibault has said she can be one of the WNBA's top five players during her career. The 21-year-old rookie is still a ways away from that, but she has given the Sun several things few other players can: Height, quickness at her position, tenacity in the post and an athleticism that's rare in this league. She's only improved, too, since arriving earlier this season. Since June 29, she's had four games of 10 points or more, recorded her first double-double against Chicago and has looked increasingly comfortable within Thibault's system.
Daily post-practice workouts with Sun assistant Scott Hawk have begun to produce results as well. Her post game and shot arsenal are developing at best, but she's broken out the occasional jump hook or drop step in recent games in addition to an already deadly jump shot. For a post player, Gruda has a touch on her jumper that I've rarely seen; with just a flick of her wrist, she puts so much rotation on the ball and considering that's where she's gotten the majority of her points from this season, it makes her shooting percentage (roughly 47 percent) that much more impressive. She's taken shots from the baseline and wings, but there's not a young frontcourt player in the league that can hit so consistently from the elbow as she does.
One final observation: Gruda's best offensive game (16 points, 5-of-9 shooting) came against a Sparks squad that was missing its entire Olympic frontcourt, so take from that what you will. But the fact that she was able to be a force when she should have been does say something. With young players, it's often difficult to predict when they'll exactly break out. Sometimes they're just feeling it, and because of the natural ups and downs of a rookie season, consistency can become a white whale. In Gruda's case, it was expected she should do well against L.A. that night. For her to take advantage of the opportunity instead of shrinking from it is meaningful, if that makes sense.
The Bad: That said, Gruda is still searching for consistency, especially defensively. That will come with improved footwork (a main area of focus) and when she gets a better handle on the league's personnel, and it's shown at times, as she leads the Sun in blocks per game (just under one per contest). But overall, her defensive game is far from where she is offensively at the moment. Thibault would also like to Gruda cut back on turnovers. There are stretches where she'll go games without costly mental mistakes, but there have been times where she's tried to force passes instead of just shooting it or read a defense wrong and forced the action despite the double-team. For example, in that L.A. game, she also had a season-high four turnovers.
I touched on this in the week after it happened, but Gruda also showed she's still has some maturing to do after letting her frustrations get the better of her during the Sun's win over Chicago on July 20. She bounced back nicely from it with the L.A. game, but considering she's played professionally for three years and has loads of international talent for her age, you can sometimes forget how young she really is. (She turned 21 in only late June.)
Outlook: Gruda's rapid, yet steady, improvements should only continue. The coaching staff has raved about her basketball I.Q. and Thibault has called her a "good visual learner."
"We can break the tape down and show her the mistakes and she tends to correct them pretty quickly," Thibault said after the L.A. game. "When we come back, she'll have another month of practice and individual (work) with coaches, getting more used to it. We'll get some scrimmages in against some guys. I think she'll be even better when we come back."
But how good can be this season? I think Gruda can be something similar to what Asjha Jones was her first and second season in Connecticut: A more-than-reliable frontcourt reserve with the ability to play like a starter on some nights. She's basically been that for the last month, but I don't think it's out of the realm to expect nine or 10 points and five rebounds a game down the stretch. (Remember, a main problem for the Sun last year was bench production, especially late in the season when Evina Maltsi and Kristen Rasmussen seemed to hit a lull.) Past that, Gruda may just become the player Thibault has touted her as. As for now, I mentioned this when I discussed Jolene Anderson, but the Sun also finish the regular season against several taller teams, and I wouldn't be surprised if Gruda gets the majority of the assignment in guarding San Antonio's Ann Wauters when Connecticut plays the Silver Stars, who have looked more and more like the favorite out West with each passing game.
On deck: Amber Holt
In the hole: Asjha Jones
Sandrine Gruda
6-foot-4 center
Averages: 6.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 15.7 minutes
The Good: Gruda came into this season surrounded by hype, and she still is; Sun coach Mike Thibault has said she can be one of the WNBA's top five players during her career. The 21-year-old rookie is still a ways away from that, but she has given the Sun several things few other players can: Height, quickness at her position, tenacity in the post and an athleticism that's rare in this league. She's only improved, too, since arriving earlier this season. Since June 29, she's had four games of 10 points or more, recorded her first double-double against Chicago and has looked increasingly comfortable within Thibault's system.
Daily post-practice workouts with Sun assistant Scott Hawk have begun to produce results as well. Her post game and shot arsenal are developing at best, but she's broken out the occasional jump hook or drop step in recent games in addition to an already deadly jump shot. For a post player, Gruda has a touch on her jumper that I've rarely seen; with just a flick of her wrist, she puts so much rotation on the ball and considering that's where she's gotten the majority of her points from this season, it makes her shooting percentage (roughly 47 percent) that much more impressive. She's taken shots from the baseline and wings, but there's not a young frontcourt player in the league that can hit so consistently from the elbow as she does.
One final observation: Gruda's best offensive game (16 points, 5-of-9 shooting) came against a Sparks squad that was missing its entire Olympic frontcourt, so take from that what you will. But the fact that she was able to be a force when she should have been does say something. With young players, it's often difficult to predict when they'll exactly break out. Sometimes they're just feeling it, and because of the natural ups and downs of a rookie season, consistency can become a white whale. In Gruda's case, it was expected she should do well against L.A. that night. For her to take advantage of the opportunity instead of shrinking from it is meaningful, if that makes sense.
The Bad: That said, Gruda is still searching for consistency, especially defensively. That will come with improved footwork (a main area of focus) and when she gets a better handle on the league's personnel, and it's shown at times, as she leads the Sun in blocks per game (just under one per contest). But overall, her defensive game is far from where she is offensively at the moment. Thibault would also like to Gruda cut back on turnovers. There are stretches where she'll go games without costly mental mistakes, but there have been times where she's tried to force passes instead of just shooting it or read a defense wrong and forced the action despite the double-team. For example, in that L.A. game, she also had a season-high four turnovers.
I touched on this in the week after it happened, but Gruda also showed she's still has some maturing to do after letting her frustrations get the better of her during the Sun's win over Chicago on July 20. She bounced back nicely from it with the L.A. game, but considering she's played professionally for three years and has loads of international talent for her age, you can sometimes forget how young she really is. (She turned 21 in only late June.)
Outlook: Gruda's rapid, yet steady, improvements should only continue. The coaching staff has raved about her basketball I.Q. and Thibault has called her a "good visual learner."
"We can break the tape down and show her the mistakes and she tends to correct them pretty quickly," Thibault said after the L.A. game. "When we come back, she'll have another month of practice and individual (work) with coaches, getting more used to it. We'll get some scrimmages in against some guys. I think she'll be even better when we come back."
But how good can be this season? I think Gruda can be something similar to what Asjha Jones was her first and second season in Connecticut: A more-than-reliable frontcourt reserve with the ability to play like a starter on some nights. She's basically been that for the last month, but I don't think it's out of the realm to expect nine or 10 points and five rebounds a game down the stretch. (Remember, a main problem for the Sun last year was bench production, especially late in the season when Evina Maltsi and Kristen Rasmussen seemed to hit a lull.) Past that, Gruda may just become the player Thibault has touted her as. As for now, I mentioned this when I discussed Jolene Anderson, but the Sun also finish the regular season against several taller teams, and I wouldn't be surprised if Gruda gets the majority of the assignment in guarding San Antonio's Ann Wauters when Connecticut plays the Silver Stars, who have looked more and more like the favorite out West with each passing game.
On deck: Amber Holt
In the hole: Asjha Jones
Saturday, August 2, 2008
A few notes on ... Kerri Gardin
Day 3 of our look into the Sun's roster takes us to ...
Kerri Gardin
6-foot-1 forward
Averages: 3.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 30.1 shooting percentage
The Good: As far as pleasant surprises go in the WNBA, few, if any, have Gardin topped this season. A third-round pick two years ago by Chicago, Gardin spent the last two years overseas trying to become a more perimeter-oriented player Portugal and Turkey. Meanwhile, the Sun coaching staff kept tabs on her, though they weren't in need of frontcourt/wing help until this season after the departures of Nykesha Sales and Katie Douglas. Since, Gardin has started seven games, has proved to be a good presence on the boards and on defense, and at times, has shown progress with her range and scoring abilities. The highlight is a 14-point performance in the Sun's lone win over Detroit this season, though she's had other strong games, including a nine-rebound night at Indiana. For a training camp invitee who largely wasn't on any radars since graduating from Virginia Tech two years ago, the Sun probably couldn't be happier. She may not be the most surprising rookie (Sacramento's Crystal Kelly has her topped), but she's definitely in the mix.
The Bad: Sun coach Mike Thibault has cautioned observers about this, but Gardin largely represents how long the process of switching positions takes. For all the good she's done, the former power forward's spotty shooting has largely been the one thing that's held her out at times and cost her a regular spot in the starting lineup. She's made 11-of37 3s and is only a 50 percent foul shooter (11-for-22), and overall, she's just over 30 percent shooting from the floor. That's not to say anyone around the Sun was expecting her to be a sniper, but as Gardin slowly learns her position more and becomes more consistent with her shot, she can make more of a daily impact.
Outlook: Gardin's seeing roughly 14 minutes a game, but she's had an even larger role the last few weeks. She's played 20 or more minutes in seven of her last nine games, and though she isn't being counted on as a huge offensive force (in that span, she's averaged just under four shots per game), she's been solid in most other phases of the game. Once Barbara Turner recaptures her shooting stroke, Gardin's minutes may see a dip — and Turner's 12-point performance against L.A. before the break may be a sign of things to come. But I expect gardin to maintain a fairly consistent role off the Sun's bench.
On deck: Sandrine Gruda
In the hole: Amber Holt
Kerri Gardin
6-foot-1 forward
Averages: 3.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 30.1 shooting percentage
The Good: As far as pleasant surprises go in the WNBA, few, if any, have Gardin topped this season. A third-round pick two years ago by Chicago, Gardin spent the last two years overseas trying to become a more perimeter-oriented player Portugal and Turkey. Meanwhile, the Sun coaching staff kept tabs on her, though they weren't in need of frontcourt/wing help until this season after the departures of Nykesha Sales and Katie Douglas. Since, Gardin has started seven games, has proved to be a good presence on the boards and on defense, and at times, has shown progress with her range and scoring abilities. The highlight is a 14-point performance in the Sun's lone win over Detroit this season, though she's had other strong games, including a nine-rebound night at Indiana. For a training camp invitee who largely wasn't on any radars since graduating from Virginia Tech two years ago, the Sun probably couldn't be happier. She may not be the most surprising rookie (Sacramento's Crystal Kelly has her topped), but she's definitely in the mix.
The Bad: Sun coach Mike Thibault has cautioned observers about this, but Gardin largely represents how long the process of switching positions takes. For all the good she's done, the former power forward's spotty shooting has largely been the one thing that's held her out at times and cost her a regular spot in the starting lineup. She's made 11-of37 3s and is only a 50 percent foul shooter (11-for-22), and overall, she's just over 30 percent shooting from the floor. That's not to say anyone around the Sun was expecting her to be a sniper, but as Gardin slowly learns her position more and becomes more consistent with her shot, she can make more of a daily impact.
Outlook: Gardin's seeing roughly 14 minutes a game, but she's had an even larger role the last few weeks. She's played 20 or more minutes in seven of her last nine games, and though she isn't being counted on as a huge offensive force (in that span, she's averaged just under four shots per game), she's been solid in most other phases of the game. Once Barbara Turner recaptures her shooting stroke, Gardin's minutes may see a dip — and Turner's 12-point performance against L.A. before the break may be a sign of things to come. But I expect gardin to maintain a fairly consistent role off the Sun's bench.
On deck: Sandrine Gruda
In the hole: Amber Holt
Friday, August 1, 2008
A few notes on ... Jamie Carey
We continue our daily look at the good, the bad and the outlook for the Sun roster. Next up ...
Jamie Carey
5-foot-6 guard
Averages: 4.0 points, 1.1 assists, 42.4 percent 3-point shooter (team best)
The Good: Statistically, Carey has never been better in her four-year career. Her points per game are on pace for a career high, as are her rebounds and overall, she's never shot better from the field (42.7 percent). Of course, Carey's main strength is her ability to stretch defenses with her 3-point shooting ability and though she's a few ticks off the 45.1 percent she was shooting last season (which led the league), she already has 28 3s (compared to 32 all of last year) and has enjoyed some of the best games of her career, including a six-3-pointer, 18-point game against New York. With rookies Amber Holt and Ketia Swanier in the backcourt and Barbara Turner struggling in recent weeks to recapture her stroke, coach Mike Thibault has asked Carey to shoot more than she ever has, and she's obliged. Carey entered this season in as good of physical shape as she's ever been and despite the sore Achilles' tendon she's dealt with all season, she's been among the league's most reliable back-up point guards.
The Bad: There's not much Carey has failed to do, though her size puts her in tough spots defensively at times. She's often made up for with effort, but the Sun do give up height with her in (as they do Swanier), something they usually can't afford to do as one of the smallest teams in the league anyway. There were times earlier in the year when Carey wasn't shooting like she has in recent weeks, and that's a problem. Besides handling the ball, there's not one thing Thibault asks of her more than providing the occasional scoring lift.
Outlook: It will be interesting to see how the introduction of Erin Phillips to the Sun's lineup affects Carey's playing time. Between her, Jolene Anderson and Ketia Swanier, I would suspect Carey would be affected the least because of A) her recent play, and B) she's a veteran who's experience only grows in value later in the season. Thibault has gone to two-point guard sets at times, including combinations of Lindsay Whalen and Carey, and Whalen-Swanier, so if Phillips adjusts quickly, I wouldn't be surprised to see a Carey-Phillips backcourt at times. Thibault's philosophy also says one 3-point shooter should always be on the floor, so that only helps Carey's cause to keep her 14 or 15 minutes per game.
The question is: Will Carey continue to shoot as well as she has? I believe so. Fatigue, especially in the legs, affects shooters more than anyone, so the last month off will help Carey stay strong through the season's final weeks. She's also only gotten better as this season has gone along. If, in the end, she loses time to Phillips, which in turn hurts her confidence, then that might affect how willing she is to pull the trigger. But being a coach herself (she'll lead the girls program at Legacy High School in Colorado this winter), she has a better understanding that fewer minutes doesn't mean fewer responsbilities when you're actually in the game.
Some notable milestones for Carey as well: She's three field goals from setting a new career high with 38 for the season (she has 28 3s and seven two-point baskets so far this year); she needs eight more points for a new career high; and she needs only 46 minutes of time on the court to set a new career best in that category.
On deck: Kerri Gardin
In the hole: Sandrine Gruda
Jamie Carey
5-foot-6 guard
Averages: 4.0 points, 1.1 assists, 42.4 percent 3-point shooter (team best)
The Good: Statistically, Carey has never been better in her four-year career. Her points per game are on pace for a career high, as are her rebounds and overall, she's never shot better from the field (42.7 percent). Of course, Carey's main strength is her ability to stretch defenses with her 3-point shooting ability and though she's a few ticks off the 45.1 percent she was shooting last season (which led the league), she already has 28 3s (compared to 32 all of last year) and has enjoyed some of the best games of her career, including a six-3-pointer, 18-point game against New York. With rookies Amber Holt and Ketia Swanier in the backcourt and Barbara Turner struggling in recent weeks to recapture her stroke, coach Mike Thibault has asked Carey to shoot more than she ever has, and she's obliged. Carey entered this season in as good of physical shape as she's ever been and despite the sore Achilles' tendon she's dealt with all season, she's been among the league's most reliable back-up point guards.
The Bad: There's not much Carey has failed to do, though her size puts her in tough spots defensively at times. She's often made up for with effort, but the Sun do give up height with her in (as they do Swanier), something they usually can't afford to do as one of the smallest teams in the league anyway. There were times earlier in the year when Carey wasn't shooting like she has in recent weeks, and that's a problem. Besides handling the ball, there's not one thing Thibault asks of her more than providing the occasional scoring lift.
Outlook: It will be interesting to see how the introduction of Erin Phillips to the Sun's lineup affects Carey's playing time. Between her, Jolene Anderson and Ketia Swanier, I would suspect Carey would be affected the least because of A) her recent play, and B) she's a veteran who's experience only grows in value later in the season. Thibault has gone to two-point guard sets at times, including combinations of Lindsay Whalen and Carey, and Whalen-Swanier, so if Phillips adjusts quickly, I wouldn't be surprised to see a Carey-Phillips backcourt at times. Thibault's philosophy also says one 3-point shooter should always be on the floor, so that only helps Carey's cause to keep her 14 or 15 minutes per game.
The question is: Will Carey continue to shoot as well as she has? I believe so. Fatigue, especially in the legs, affects shooters more than anyone, so the last month off will help Carey stay strong through the season's final weeks. She's also only gotten better as this season has gone along. If, in the end, she loses time to Phillips, which in turn hurts her confidence, then that might affect how willing she is to pull the trigger. But being a coach herself (she'll lead the girls program at Legacy High School in Colorado this winter), she has a better understanding that fewer minutes doesn't mean fewer responsbilities when you're actually in the game.
Some notable milestones for Carey as well: She's three field goals from setting a new career high with 38 for the season (she has 28 3s and seven two-point baskets so far this year); she needs eight more points for a new career high; and she needs only 46 minutes of time on the court to set a new career best in that category.
On deck: Kerri Gardin
In the hole: Sandrine Gruda
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