Read Coach Collen's quotes [indicate what attributes she finds important]:
The ability to play both on & off the ball....in other words both a facilitator & a finisher.
The prior staff focused on plays where only one person [the PG] facilitated 100% of the time. That approach is the opposite of modern basketball philosophy [which seeks the max # of players who can both facilitate & finish (think Butler, Mitchell, Teague & Meyer playing together)]. The thought is that teams attack, distribute, attack, distribute, attack, finish. No D can withstand constant help rotation, shuffle back, reattach again & again & again.
Great fit for offensive style....floor spacer [3 point shooting] and ability to initiate front side (ball side) or back side. Collen wants duel threat guards on both frontside & backside. Landrum, Ursin, etc. were "catch to shoot/score" guards. Collen wants players who can shoot but also "reinitiate" after a swing pass. Shooting primary guards are useful [think Flagler] but shooter/initiator guards are far more useful [think Butler & Mitchell].
The added benefit to multiple initiators is improved transition basketball. When teams have a sole primary ballhandler it limits transition [think rebound left side, ballhandler right side.....requires a "loop back"]. With multiple ball handlers/initiators, any rebound should present immediate transition opportunities. Coach Collen has repeatedly emphasized her desire to play fast and get easy transition buckets. [As an aside: faster pace equals more shot opportunities, more shot opportunities equals easier ability to keep more players happy. In OTT World, slow pace of play means greater risk of losing players].
Remember Coach Collen's comments to NaLyssa Smith re lack of assists. She sees Smith as both a facilitator and a finisher. This improves Smith's basketball value to Pros and makes Smith a far deadlier player [knowing she is not simply looking to score but also to pass]. With the number of double teams that Smith draws, she can easily average 4 assists per game (if used correctly). But like any player, Smith needs space [which loops the discussion back to 3 point shooters providing floor spacing].
The ability to play both on & off the ball....in other words both a facilitator & a finisher.
The prior staff focused on plays where only one person [the PG] facilitated 100% of the time. That approach is the opposite of modern basketball philosophy [which seeks the max # of players who can both facilitate & finish (think Butler, Mitchell, Teague & Meyer playing together)]. The thought is that teams attack, distribute, attack, distribute, attack, finish. No D can withstand constant help rotation, shuffle back, reattach again & again & again.
Great fit for offensive style....floor spacer [3 point shooting] and ability to initiate front side (ball side) or back side. Collen wants duel threat guards on both frontside & backside. Landrum, Ursin, etc. were "catch to shoot/score" guards. Collen wants players who can shoot but also "reinitiate" after a swing pass. Shooting primary guards are useful [think Flagler] but shooter/initiator guards are far more useful [think Butler & Mitchell].
The added benefit to multiple initiators is improved transition basketball. When teams have a sole primary ballhandler it limits transition [think rebound left side, ballhandler right side.....requires a "loop back"]. With multiple ball handlers/initiators, any rebound should present immediate transition opportunities. Coach Collen has repeatedly emphasized her desire to play fast and get easy transition buckets. [As an aside: faster pace equals more shot opportunities, more shot opportunities equals easier ability to keep more players happy. In OTT World, slow pace of play means greater risk of losing players].
Remember Coach Collen's comments to NaLyssa Smith re lack of assists. She sees Smith as both a facilitator and a finisher. This improves Smith's basketball value to Pros and makes Smith a far deadlier player [knowing she is not simply looking to score but also to pass]. With the number of double teams that Smith draws, she can easily average 4 assists per game (if used correctly). But like any player, Smith needs space [which loops the discussion back to 3 point shooters providing floor spacing].