setshot said:
-----------------------------------------------------DeCosta has the capability for spectacular plays that you just don't see from most Division I players, and her athleticism is off the charts. I saw about six of her high school games last season and she made plays in every game that had the "wow" factor. Unfortunately, the coach did not seem to know what he had in her and misused her more often than not.
The defense at her high school was a zone press, falling back into a lazy zone. She has never learned how to defend one on one until arriving at Baylor, and she was slowed by her toe injury at the very time she should have been immersed in the defense that Mulkey teaches and she did not get nearly enough practice time. If she sets her mind to absorbing the defensive lessons and forming the habits that make for solid defense every time out, she will become a huge asset for this program, because she can score and she can rebound, big time. She could be a shut down defender if she is willing to learn and to apply what has been taught.
Very good and insightful post. Agree 100% except for the part I bolded. I also remember a past post where you pretty much made the same statement along with you take on the ball handlers who tended to dominate the ball. Based on what you saw i would not disagree. However there were mitigating circumstances that would give a better perspective to your observations. DeCosta's Jr and Sr seasons were generally a clusterfluck. They were not typical of what could be expected from the program she was in. Generally during the last two years a player plays at the position that they will play at the next level. This did not happen with DeCosta for a number of reasons. Basically because of adjustments made due to massive loss of key players through injury and a multitude of other factors. It all started to unravel after the won the State Open and Nike the subsequent year.
The defense you saw was also not typical. Generally they ran a full court zone trap which was considered the best and most intense in the nation. They never ran a lazy zone except for her last two seasons. They did that because the did not have the personal and were protecting the ones they did.
Many posters in the NO Cal area believe that the zone trap hinders players in respect to playing man to man. That is not true, because the players that came out of that system end up being very good defenders early on as freshman. The reason is that in a zone trap position is not only important but you have to constantly move and re-establish position. DeCosta's issues were not because of the zone trap but because they did not run the trap and she never really defended elite parameter players before. As I stated in another post she is transitioning.
They also did not have a true point guard and the ball was controlled by shooting guards and they lived up to that name. The reason I am even mentioning these things is to give context i respect to your perspective in respect to your observations about her coach which were not entirely fair. The program is one of the most successful in California both in winning state championships, national rankngs, and also their success in transitioning players to the next level. What you saw was not typical of the program, but rather an aberration.
Other than that point very good insight. I do give Mulkey a lot of credit for what she is doing with DeCosta. Transitioning her to a parameter players is a long term advantage to both DeCosta and the Bears. This is what was supposed to and ordinarily would have happened in her high school program, but unfortunately did not.
As I stated in another thread on this site, DeCosta took third in the skills competition at the 3x3 worlds. She represented the USA even though Christine Williams was on the team. Even though she can rebound her real talent offensive talent is displayed in space and that will only happen on the parameter. As you stated, she needs to develop a more consistent focus on defending elite guards. She has the talent, but with her it is generally a matter of focus. Which the soft zone they played her last two years in high school did not help.
