Gotnext Women's Basketball Boards

SportsFan48 · Joined: 12 Jun 2002 Posts: 1132

I know that some of you out there believe Jennifer can not defend. Well, I disagree. I have been paying alot of attention to her game and she does many things that do not show up in the stats. I personally witnessed several times when shots were not taken or changed and missed because Jennifer was there. She does a good job of rotating over to help cover and makes smart plays.

mb, I know your beef with Jennifer is her rebounding. She has had some low rebounding games, but quite often, the things she does allows others on the Mercury team to get the ball. She is in the top 10 in total rebounds in the WNBA. What I like about her rebounding is that when she is in position for the board with a player on her back, she often goes up with one hand for the ball and you can be sure the other hand is holding on the opponents shorts. If they jump, they might leave something exposed. That is a Larry Bird move. You gotta love it.

Dunkin' Dan · Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2002 6:57 am Post subject:

It's also true that if you're defending an excellent rebounder, then it is often better to just purely block them out rather than contesting with them for the rebound. If you can cancel your opponent out and allow another teammate the rebound, then you've done your job even though you don't personally get credited the board.
Not saying that Jen is or isn't an exponent of this, but just that the personal rebounding statistic is not the be-all and end-all of team rebounding, and observing a player is always better than judging purely on stats.

Still wish Jen got more boards though :P

Keegan · Joined: 13 Jun 2002 Posts: 977

If I was the opponent, I'd jump anyway because you're bound to expose Jen's rather illegal short holding (pun intended).

Jen is a sub-par defender because of her lack of speed. She's an okay rebounder but there's more to defense than rebounding.

Vladimir Taltos · Joined: 15 Jun 2002 Posts: 72

WRT Jenn is a "good defender"...

ahem, mee mee mee mee....

hahahahahhahahahlololololhahahahahahahahjeje
jejejejlololohehehehehehehehehahahahahahhho
hohohohohohohohahhahhhhahahahahahahaha
hahahohohohohohllolololololjejejejejeujehhaha
um, no? :twisted:
VT

Mat H · Joined: 24 Jun 2002 Posts: 168 Location: Glendale AZ

Whatever Jennifer lacks in speed, she exceeds in wisdom. She is one of the smartest players in the league, that is the reason she can still perform at this level. Eventhough she isn't lightning quick, she still has the ability to get to the basket as well as any player on the team. :mrgreen: vel.

Vladimir Taltos · Joined: 15 Jun 2002 Posts: 72

Yea, and my toast popping up in the morning has a greater vertical leap...

ahem, mee mee mee mee....

lololololhehehehehehehehehehejajajajaja
hahahahahjejejejejelolololhee hee hee hee

...um, ya...
VT

SportsFan48 · Joined: 12 Jun 2002 Posts: 1132

VT - laugh all you want. :lol: Jen is doing it on the court. At 38 she is having one of her best seasons statistically. But I know that stats play a small part in Jen's contribution to the team. I agree she is a very smart player and uses that to her advantage (and ours).

Have you played much basketball? I have seen players with little or no real speed run and play circles around other players because they knew where to be on the court and when to be there.

I think Jen would be the first to admit she doesn't have the best vertical leap or speed, but she uses her head to make up the difference and then some.

gia · Guest

Kayte, Adrain, and Bobo have young legs but Jen has the savvy and confidence and that makes her more valuable on the floor over the course of a game. She knows when she needs to come out and she knows when she needs to go back in. Those 3 combined aren't going to give you what Jen gives you when a game is on the line.

I think she's playing a better all around game than past seasons
.......though last game she needed to get up a tad faster from the floor :)