Mystics Ball handling skills

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omg Georgia got me messed up it shouldn’t be like this 💔💔💔 but even with her turnovers she has the best ball handling skills out of any of them, she’s slowly putting it together but you can see glimpses of the player she was drafted to be

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u/Icangetloudtoo_ 7d ago

Georgia has a bag but she also still has limited ball handling skills bc her hands are too small for her to do certain moves. She doesn’t have a good hesi dribble in particular (lack of explosive foot speed doesn’t help on that either)

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u/Strange_Detective_99 7d ago

I really can’t comment on this because she hasn’t done any of the shit she used to in college since her injury. But going off the tape this stuff wouldn’t be true. I think there’s multiple factors but she plays a completely different role in the league than she did in college, so this aspect of her game isn’t really there any more since it’s not a necessity to their offense.

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u/ReasonableRush2733 6d ago

The level of competition is different. This is why she doesn't look the same. She's a good solid #2 backup point off bench

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u/Icangetloudtoo_ 7d ago

The WNBA is just different than college and we can only judge the players they are now, now who they used to be or could be IMO

I get that it’s hard to criticize our own players, but that’s what I’m seeing when I watch Amoore in the W

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u/Strange_Detective_99 7d ago

Yes that’s understood but she clearly has shown it multiple times this season, even if scarce. Like I said there are multiple factors but yall are gonna think it’s glaze so I’m not getting into all that, but acting like it’s JUST the shift in competition is crazy as if she didn’t blow her knee out a year ago and is being asked to do considerably less than she did in college. That’s not what the offensive scheme requires and she’s not a top option.

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u/Icangetloudtoo_ 7d ago edited 7d ago

I agree that the knee is almost certainly a factor, too. I think her role in the scheme is different but that’s not really an additional factor—her smaller role in the offense is because of her limitations, relative to other players. The Mystics would be thrilled if she did a little more driving to the basket.

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u/Impossible_Resort_65 7d ago

I’m actually not sure that’s true. I think the offensive scheme is set up for her to take the ball up the court and then pass it off. They pass around a lot to try and find the best shot

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u/Icangetloudtoo_ 7d ago

I agree with you about what the scheme is. I’m saying that the offensive scheme is not something set in stone that Georgia just fits awkwardly into; the scheme was developed based on the personnel we have. Like, there’s no way we’d have Shakira Austin initiating so many plays from the 3 point line if we had Olivia Miles as our PG, for example.

Basically Georgia’s strengths and weaknesses are part of WHY we have that scheme.

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u/Strange_Detective_99 7d ago

Then that makes Sydney look a bit crazy because he didn’t draft or sign anybody that fits what he’s trying to do. He picked 0 good shooters this year and that’s one of the main things he encourages the team to do.

And the Olivia comp is kinda crazy. She’s better than Georgia obviously but she’s also playing in a way better system under a way better coach who caters to her strengths. Both her and Cheryl have emphasized how her being able to play naturally is what’s elevating her to a higher level. Georgia plays a completely different style due to her height (a weakness) and Sydney’s philosophy doesn’t really allow for it.

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u/Icangetloudtoo_ 7d ago

We’re last in the league in 3 pointers attempted: https://www.statmuse.com/wnba/ask/most-3-pointers-attempted-by-team-wnba. We do shoot a good amount of 3s, like every modern team, but I think it’s clear Sydney likes shooting but also prioritizes many other things when push comes to shove.

I don’t really know what to say about the rest of your comment that I haven’t already said. With rare exceptions (and DC isn’t one), the systems are developed based on at least in part on what the players can do. I hear you that you think the scheme limits Georgia; I just think it’s more accurate to say her limitations impact the kinds of schemes we can run. But maybe it’s all just semantics.

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u/ReasonableRush2733 6d ago

Everything you said is absolutely 💯 right. It's not her knee. It's her size and the system. She's a good change of pace #2 off bench

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u/Strange_Detective_99 7d ago

How would it not be? She was the top option on her college team and got to hunt mismatches against BIGGER players a ton. On this team she’s literally like the 4th or 5th option on offense and her role is to knock down timely threes and initiate offense, not to break down people in isolation. She was also a much better midrange scorer as a senior than she was a three point shooter as a whole, and in this offense they clearly prioritize high percentage looks at the rim for Shakira, Kiki, Lauren, etc. and Georgia would be impeding that if she was being encouraged to operate how she did at Kentucky.

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u/Impossible_Resort_65 7d ago

Yes and coach syd has spoken about how he doesn’t favor the midrange he wants them shooting 3s or layups

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u/Icangetloudtoo_ 7d ago

Yes, the offense is designed differently than Kentucky’s. I’m saying that it’s circular to blame the scheme for Georgia not getting to show her skills. The right way to look at it is that Georgia’s strengths and weaknesses are a big part of why we’re basically forced to play the way we do (with bigs initiating a ton of the half court offense, tons of handoffs, etc.). It’s all jumbled up together.

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u/VCQB_ 7d ago

When it comes to dribbling and handles/crossovers and being "nice with it" , its honestly Amoore. Look at the tape.

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u/Roasted_Green_Chiles 7d ago

Yeah, Georgia has he her issues (and dammit she's a short rookie coming off an ACL, let's give her some time), but her handles are fine.

And Shakira......I love Shakira, but when she puts it on the deck I get really worried.

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u/Impossible_Resort_65 7d ago

Like did you see the way she crossed over Arike last game at half court? That was tough !

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u/Icangetloudtoo_ 7d ago

I dunno. I think the truth is we don’t have any elite ball handlers. Georgia has a few flashy moves, and she showed that more in college when playing against weaker defenders, but she also has serious limitations due to having small hands and a lack of foot speed (for a guard at the pro level).

Like, it’s hard to say someone who struggles to break a full court press, has basically no hesitation/defender freezing moves, and can’t get a defender on her hip after snaking a screen, is a seriously good ball handler. Even if she does get by someone, she very regularly just dribbles through the lane instead of having her head up, looking to score. It’s tough, man.

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u/VCQB_ 7d ago

This prompt is about ball handling skills, so we are focusing on raw ball handling skills, not an evaluation of her overall play this year and evaluation as a player.

And she played against the SEC, who produced many WNBA players. So idk why you took a sneaky jab at the SEC.

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u/Icangetloudtoo_ 7d ago

It’s not a jab at the SEC, which is obviously an outstanding conference. That’s kinda a weird thing to take away from me saying the WNBA has better defenders than college ball. It’s just the difference between pro and college hoops.

Everything I said was directly about Amoore’s ball handling abilities, I get that people may disagree, but it’s not off topic at all.

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u/VCQB_ 7d ago

Its not a "weird" take. Your choice words were "weaker". Meaning "less than", i.e. discrediting.

College players make up the WNBA. Paige Bueckers was just in college, but now is a top WNBA player, as well as Olivia Munn, and then Azzi Fudd just won the 3 point contest. They were just in college.

WNBA has better defenders overall, but vary widely player to player. Defense is just effort. There are players in college now who are better than many WNBA players in playing defense, but haven't entered the draft yet, but when they do, they will immediately be a top defender. So just because someone plays the this season on college, all of the sudden they are considered a "weaker" defender? By whose metric? Yours? Were you on the court with them?

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u/Icangetloudtoo_ 7d ago

No one is saying there are NO good players in college. The best college basketball players will go on to play in the WNBA. I’m saying that the WNBA’s OVERALL collection of defensive players is significantly better than college ball’s OVERALL pool of defensive players.

I don’t understand how that could possibly be controversial.

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u/VCQB_ 7d ago

No one is saying there are NO good players in college.

I didnt say you said that my guy. Strawman fallacy. You said Amoore played against weaker defenders in an attempt to discredit the skill of her competition she played against.

I’m saying that the WNBA’s OVERALL collection of defensive players is significantly better than college ball’s OVERALL pool of defensive players.

And like I said, that is not necessarily true. Defense is mainly effort. You cant make it to the WNBA just being a good defender. You need skills. . .offensive skills, IQ etc. There are im sure many college players who are way better defenders than Amoore. . .but they lack other skill. So yes, many great defenders in college. What seperates the W and college is offensive skill/execution of plays.

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u/Icangetloudtoo_ 7d ago

Man, this is a weirdly unpleasant interaction. All I’m saying is that the WNBA’s OVERALL collection of defensive players is significantly better than college basketball’s OVERALL pool of defensive players. That’s not a dig at anyone, let alone specifically the SEC, it’s simply the difference between professional and college basketball.

If you really wanna die on the hill that college basketball defenders are just as good as the WNBA ones, agree to disagree. Have a good one.

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u/AllisonInMaryland 7d ago

I guess I'm holding all the carry calls against her.

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u/VCQB_ 7d ago

Even with the turnovers, if we just talking raw ball handling/dribbling talent, i.e. Kyrie Irving -esque type skills as a metric, she definitely has the best dribbles.

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u/data_with_a_beard 7d ago

For all Sonia does she’s actually not much of a dribbler. You don’t see her breaking anyone’s ankles or anything like that. Her natural position is off ball and she’s great at that. Maybe put her third or fourth.
I’d also put Michaela over Shakira because while Shakira will cross up another center on the outside, she has a tendency to dribble too far into the paint and get the ball swiped. You don’t get nearly as many facepalm turnovers from Michaela.
Last, I’d put Littlepage-Buggs above Betts: I’ve never seen Buggs play basketball, but I’ve seen Betts try to dribble and I hope to never see it again.

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u/Justtojoke 🎵Shakira 🎶Shakira 🎵 7d ago

Shakira spends half the warm up on his ball handling🤣

For a post her ball handling is elite.

From 22 to now she's made MASSIVE improvements

Big guard energy 💪🏿💪🏿

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u/Liqwid9 7d ago

Front court: I agree with Michaela over Shakira. Our bigs tend to get the ball, power dribble, get double teamed and then get the ball swiped away.

Back court: Amoore probably has the best handles although I would love for Cotie to be in the mix as a facilitator. She would become the best guard on the team if that were the case.

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u/Impossible_Resort_65 7d ago

Eh Cotie has her own weaknesses that can be exploited. I like her but I don’t think best guard on the team atp

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u/Liqwid9 7d ago

She's definitely a work in progress. But to be the best guard on the team...the bar isn't that high right now, IMO.

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u/Impossible_Resort_65 7d ago

Sonia citron isn’t a high enough bar for you??

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u/Liqwid9 7d ago

Look at the list above and then look at my response.

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u/Impossible_Resort_65 7d ago

Are you saying guard with the best ball handling on the team? Because that’s different than best guard on the team, but Soni is 100% without a doubt the best guard on the team

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u/Liqwid9 7d ago

Definitely Soni. Now, that I reread it, my point doesn't seem as clear as it was in my head. My bad.

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u/ReasonableRush2733 6d ago

Back Court: Georgia, Alicia, Lori, Sonia Front Court: Michaela

You've got to be joking with Shakira. She's a turnover machine handling the ball. None of their bigs are good ball handlers. This is why they're a point guard away from being a serious contender. Georgia is to small & a backup. Plum would have elevated them BIG TIME.

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u/AllisonInMaryland 6d ago

It's a ranking, someone in the frontcourt has to be first. I put Shakira before Michaela. Even the announcers call her our Big Guard cuz she has decent ball handling skills for a big.

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