Early Report Card - ATL Dream

[idream22]

Hello. I'm Justin and I'll get right to it.

Courtney Paris - (A) solid, crowd pleaser. you know shes going to score or rebound or block or do something. Should draw up some plays for her and take some of the pressure off Erica inside instead of using her for garbage and dirty work.

Shalee Lehning - (D) same old, same old. How can you be a coach and can't handle the ball?? If I was one of her players I couldn't take her seriously.

Izzy - (B-) She can't dribble, we know this, but dangerous on the drive off the glass. you give and take.

CoCo (A+) Shes awesome this season so far. In my opinion, the most consistant on the team.

Lindsey Harding (F) Atlanta should have kept Kelly Miller and the draft pick 6-6 Phillips. Actually they should have kept Latta!!! Harding can't pass..can't shoot. Why is she here again?

Kelly Mazzante (F) Why is she here?

Erika DeSoua (A) She can't do EVERYTHING, but the Dream are making her the only player in the halfcourt game and teams are doubling and tripling down on her. Whats she got? One more year on her contract? I'd make the Dream pay if I was her to make her work like this again.

A. Price (B) She's looking a lot better than last year. Hopefully she can develope a jump shot. Again, a coach with game faults, but shes playing better.

Sandora Irvin (D) Should've kept the rookie draft picks.

Alison Bales (D) Its hard seeing a 6'7 girl that has no inside game at all.

Angel McCoughtry (A) Shes the allstar that the coach is benching at times and taking out of the game. How does the team expect to win with her on the bench? She'll be asking for a trade soon if this keeps up.

Coach Meadors (F) - I don't like her style of coaching. Its the college game and this is the pros. I think the Dream went as far as they did last year because the team banded together. The coach had nothing to do with it. I also don't agree with a college style coach having GM power either. Hopefully with the new owners, they won't be afraid to let her go if the team doesn't get back to winning soon.

[ljohnverrell]

Amazing how we are all agreeing on the "coach". I think she is a fairly good GM, but a bad coach. As I said in another post - somethings gotta give.

[bballer]

Hopefully the Dream will turn it around and we won't have to sign the report card and send it back to the GM. Obviously the GM won't like it.

[ljohnverrell]

Jun 27, 2011 22:47:31 GMT -5 bballer said:

Hopefully the Dream will turn it around and we won't have to sign the report card and send it back to the GM. Obviously the GM won't like it.

LOL.. ;D

[jaye]

a good gm doesn't waive her second leading scorer... and then be forced to go back and resign the same player when her decisions don't pan out.... a good gm doesn't waive the teams leading scorer and get absolutely nothing in return for her.... a good gm doesn't make behind the scenes agreements with her players and then lie and cheat to get out of said agreements that she has given her word on... a good gm doesn't get rid of little and sign feenstra.... i could go on... but why bother....

[ljohnverrell]

Jun 29, 2011 13:22:41 GMT -5 jaye said:

a good gm doesn't waive her second leading scorer... and then be forced to go back and resign the same player when her decisions don't pan out.... a good gm doesn't waive the teams leading scorer and get absolutely nothing in return for her.... a good gm doesn't make behind the scenes agreements with her players and then lie and cheat to get out of said agreements that she has given her word on... a good gm doesn't get rid of little and sign feenstra.... i could go on... but why bother....

Well, I for one was enjoying it. ;D

You are right, but if the Dream play like they did last night..the "coach" is going to get another COTY and we may get a championship, and I still probably won't like her. haha.

[idream22]

Jul 1, 2011 10:43:07 GMT -5 ljohnverrell said:

Jun 29, 2011 13:22:41 GMT -5 jaye said:

a good gm doesn't waive her second leading scorer... and then be forced to go back and resign the same player when her decisions don't pan out.... a good gm doesn't waive the teams leading scorer and get absolutely nothing in return for her.... a good gm doesn't make behind the scenes agreements with her players and then lie and cheat to get out of said agreements that she has given her word on... a good gm doesn't get rid of little and sign feenstra.... i could go on... but why bother....

Well, I for one was enjoying it. ;D

You are right, but if the Dream play like they did last night..the "coach" is going to get another COTY and we may get a championship, and I still probably won't like her. haha.

I know right. Well on the bright side, Harding is punching a hole straight through my "F" grade. I like being proved wrong in this way.

[pusser]

idream22, that's an interesting take on coaching you made in your initial post. I'm wondering how good at dribbling you think Bobby Knight, John Wooden and Mike Krzyzewski were as coaches? Playing skill and coaching skill are not necessarily related.

[idream22]

Jul 6, 2011 16:50:58 GMT -5 pusser said:

idream22, that's an interesting take on coaching you made in your initial post. I'm wondering how good at dribbling you think Bobby Knight, John Wooden and Mike Krzyzewski were as coaches? Playing skill and coaching skill are not necessarily related.

You make a great point on that puss. You could also add Dean Smith and Rick Pitino to that list. (Although Rick was ok). They were awful players but good coaches.

One diff though. Those guys started coaching after they stopped playing. Arminite and Shalee are still playing. It would be tough for some players if they see their coach out there making mistakes and trying to tell them not to make the same ones. At least for me it would.

[loco4coco]

idream22, you said so many things I have wanted to say. I'm new to the boards. My thoughts:

1. MM makes too many substitutions when the girls are hot & her theory (stated in post-game interview last yr) that everyone's feet get to touch the court is crap. This isn't YMCA bball. Also, where is her passion for the game and your competitive spirit? Sometimes, I feel like she should be lighting a fire under their butts. Her laid back approach feels unmotivating.

2. When Harding first came, I was baffled. Kelly just needed more court time. Kelly is having an awesome season. BUT, Harding is making me a fan against my will.

3. Coco (and I am obviously a fan) an amazing player. Only things: she needs to pull in together when she misses shots rather than letting it impact her confidence (job of the coach to get her back in the right mindset) and needs to get her FT% back up.

4. Shalee is overvalued, IMHO. I would have traded Shalee before Kelly. For me, it's not that she coaches and can't handle the ball, it's that she's a PG and can't handle the ball. IMO, the PG should be lightening fast, a sure thing on FTs (and she is good in this area), and have amazing ball handling skills. I think MM likes her b/c she is good on camera - looks good/speaks well. But Armentie is great for that and so is Harding.

5. Sancho wasn't waived due to scoring issues, she was allowed to go assist her country (well, Spain) to make it to the Olympics. I'm glad to have her back. If we didn't agree to the temporary suspension, we probably would have had a situation like McCarville.

6. Paris is a rock star. Best coaching choice in ages.

7. Izzi and Angel need to get their mojo back and Angel needs to work on her attitude when she is pulled or isn't playing to her ability. It's hard for fans to rally behind her when she gets like that.

8. Erika can also pout and stay separate from the team when they huddle for TOs. She also needs to realize that positive energy is more motivating than her angry-ish arm flapping to get the cheering going. But, was glad to see her penalties down last game.

9. I, for one, am happy without Leuchenka. Not loving Irvin as her replacement, but I don't think Leuchenka was effective for us.

10. Ali needs to get more aggressive. Pull the ball down like it's the winning lotto ticket. We need a beast under the basket.

11. I would like to see us get back to the fundamentals: Don't put your back to the ball ever; get your arms up and get aggressive on D with a hand or your face to the handler's face and who needs personal space, this is bball; why are we flat-footed? Why does it take so long to get down the court? Hustle down there and set the play up.

12. We need to run more plays. It seems like we are mish-mosh out there. And, building on my #11, it's hard to run plays when we are the last ones down the court.

13. Also on that - More Armentie. That girl's got hustle.

14. I had to go back up because I forgot Irvin, and that pretty much sums that all up.

It will be an uphill climb, but we definitely have the chops (especially with Sancho back) to pull ourselves out of the ditch. If only I were coaching! LOL.

[idream22]

Jul 8, 2011 11:13:39 GMT -5 @loco4coco said:

idream22, you said so many things I have wanted to say. I'm new to the boards. My thoughts:

1. MM makes too many substitutions when the girls are hot & her theory (stated in post-game interview last yr) that everyone's feet get to touch the court is crap. This isn't YMCA bball. Also, where is her passion for the game and your competitive spirit? Sometimes, I feel like she should be lighting a fire under their butts. Her laid back approach feels unmotivating.

2. When Harding first came, I was baffled. Kelly just needed more court time. Kelly is having an awesome season. BUT, Harding is making me a fan against my will.

3. Coco (and I am obviously a fan) an amazing player. Only things: she needs to pull in together when she misses shots rather than letting it impact her confidence (job of the coach to get her back in the right mindset) and needs to get her FT% back up.

4. Shalee is overvalued, IMHO. I would have traded Shalee before Kelly. For me, it's not that she coaches and can't handle the ball, it's that she's a PG and can't handle the ball. IMO, the PG should be lightening fast, a sure thing on FTs (and she is good in this area), and have amazing ball handling skills. I think MM likes her b/c she is good on camera - looks good/speaks well. But Armentie is great for that and so is Harding.

5. Sancho wasn't waived due to scoring issues, she was allowed to go assist her country (well, Spain) to make it to the Olympics. I'm glad to have her back. If we didn't agree to the temporary suspension, we probably would have had a situation like McCarville.

6. Paris is a rock star. Best coaching choice in ages.

7. Izzi and Angel need to get their mojo back and Angel needs to work on her attitude when she is pulled or isn't playing to her ability. It's hard for fans to rally behind her when she gets like that.

8. Erika can also pout and stay separate from the team when they huddle for TOs. She also needs to realize that positive energy is more motivating than her angry-ish arm flapping to get the cheering going. But, was glad to see her penalties down last game.

9. I, for one, am happy without Leuchenka. Not loving Irvin as her replacement, but I don't think Leuchenka was effective for us.

10. Ali needs to get more aggressive. Pull the ball down like it's the winning lotto ticket. We need a beast under the basket.

11. I would like to see us get back to the fundamentals: Don't put your back to the ball ever; get your arms up and get aggressive on D with a hand or your face to the handler's face and who needs personal space, this is bball; why are we flat-footed? Why does it take so long to get down the court? Hustle down there and set the play up.

12. We need to run more plays. It seems like we are mish-mosh out there. And, building on my #11, it's hard to run plays when we are the last ones down the court.

13. Also on that - More Armentie. That girl's got hustle.

14. I had to go back up because I forgot Irvin, and that pretty much sums that all up.

It will be an uphill climb, but we definitely have the chops (especially with Sancho back) to pull ourselves out of the ditch. If only I were coaching! LOL.

You are darn tooting right about this not being the YMCA with these dumb substitutions!!!

Look, heres the best starting lineup - Harding, McCoughtry (backcourt) - stop putting Angel at the 3 position --its not working. Paris, Lyttle and DeSouza frontcourt. That should be first string!!!

Then substitute Price, Izi and Miller for McCoughtry and Harding as needed..Bales for Paris only when she is really tired and teach Irvin how to cheer from the bench.

A few more games and the Dream owners will get the picture about the coaching soon.

[bballer]

Jun 26, 2011 19:19:47 GMT -5 idream22 said:

Angel McCoughtry (A) Shes the allstar that the coach is benching at times and taking out of the game. How does the team expect to win with her on the bench? She'll be asking for a trade soon if this keeps up.

Against Sky on 7/9 in less than 30 min:
6 of 23 from the field
5 turnovers
7 blocked shots (hers)

shooting less than 40% for the year, sometimes you have to take her out

[shaleefan]

I'm baffled by those of you saying that Shalee cannot handle the ball... she has very good assist/turnover numbers. I'm not going to sit here and add it all up but I know her numbers were some of the highest in the league (a/to ratio) last season and whie they are probably down some this year, they certainly aren't bad. She may not be lightening quick but she makes good decisions with the ball and sets up her teammates for scoring opportunities.

I'd love to see Izi get more active - she doesn't seem like herself this year and I have to wonder just how much her Achilles injury is bothering her. From what I've heard, those kinds of injuries can take a very long time to fully heal and playing year round isn't going to allow her body the rest it probably needs.

I love seeing Paris out on the court and doing well. It actually appears to me that she and Shalee have some good chemistry going. I know Courtney is very smart and is a hard worker so I think she only has positives to add to the team.

Angel is my biggest concern. She is as inconsistant as ever. When she's hot, there is no one more fun to watch but when she's struggling she gets out of control so quickly. I loved seeing her get some assists against the Sky tonight. The more that happens, the better the team will get. Angel has so much to offer - it doesn't always have to be points.

All in all, I'm worried about the team and I'm sure the players are frustrated. These ladies are all proven winners and they can't be having much fun as they lose one game after another. Let's keep supporting them and hope things get better very soon. Actually, within the next week would be great since I'll be making the trip to ATL in a week!

[ljohnverrell]

Jul 9, 2011 23:16:25 GMT -5 bballer said:

Jun 26, 2011 19:19:47 GMT -5 idream22 said:

Angel McCoughtry (A) Shes the allstar that the coach is benching at times and taking out of the game. How does the team expect to win with her on the bench? She'll be asking for a trade soon if this keeps up.

Against Sky on 7/9 in less than 30 min:
6 of 23 from the field
5 turnovers
7 blocked shots (hers)

shooting less than 40% for the year, sometimes you have to take her out

Those numbers are worrying me. She has something in her head and is not playing with the same confidence she had last year.

[bballer]

Jul 10, 2011 2:58:18 GMT -5 shaleefan said:

I'm baffled by those of you saying that Shalee cannot handle the ball... she has very good assist/turnover numbers.

Shalee is playing ok in her role as backup. She is not the reason the team is losing.
Lyttle and de Souza were awesome on the boards last year and set up the running game where McCoughtry and Izzie could shine. Bales and Leuchenka could spell them for a few minutes. It's just not happening this year - so far. Scoring is inconsistent.