Liberty still less than adequate
After one decent game against an injury-prone Detroit team, the Liberty continue their horrendous play losing to the Lisa .jpg)
Leslie-less Los Angeles Sparks 69-60 on Thursday night. Despite the opening minutes of the first quarter, the 3-7 Liberty put up a pretty abysmal showing. Janel McCarville was the one of the few bright spots finishing the game with 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists. Those 3 assists were a team high - an obvious indication of trouble when it comes from a center, even as great a passer as McCarville. Head Coach Pat Coyle has done nothing to utilize this team’s strengths. Coyle overplays Cathrine Kraayeveld who’s been less than stellar this season. Kraayeveld never roles anywhere when she sets (moving) screens, making the whole action useless. As a forward, she spends an exorbitant amount of time outside the three point arc passing the ball haphazardly around the perimeter, and she still has no three-point shot. Why is she starting and averaging 30 minutes a game?
When McCarville was benched on Thursday, her team had no offense and practically played a five out with little motion. No wonder the Liberty are having trouble scoring from the perimeter this season. There is no inside game to get the defense moving. The addition of Ann Donovan to the coaching staff has done little, if nothing, to improve the posts’ game. Loree Moore is probably one of the worst starting point guards in the league and has been totally ineffective at running the tempo. Essence Carson had a break out post-season last year. I’ve only seen flashes of her brilliance thus far. Back-up point guard Leilani Mitchell needs to play more with the starting rotation. She can’t possibly improve her game if she is constantly playing with the scrubs. Sidney Spencer? Really? Why sign a shooting guard who won’t look at the basket?
Without McCarville there is no go-to player. How great of a shooter she is,
Shameka Christon isn’t exactly an ankle breaker when it comes to shedding the defense. I would love to see Carson circa September 2008.
In 2007, the Liberty traded their star player, Becky Hammon, for an unproven rookie, Jessica Davenport, who spent most of her two seasons sitting on the sideline before being waived. This was probably one of the worst trades in WNBA history. It would be analogous to Ann Meyers trading Diana Taurasi or Cappie Pondexter for
Megan Frazee. New York no longer has a star player. McCarville has the potential, but she is not being used efficiently. The Liberty are sinking fast. Years ago I hoped that we would see a new face in the coach’s chair. Anybody with a clue. Unfortunately, New York has been just good enough for Pat Coyle to keep her job. Maybe her luck has run out.
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Liberty still less than adequate
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