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stever
Joined: 16 Nov 2004
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 Posted: 08/06/08 9:37 am ::: Larkins adjusts to the pros. |
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http://www.chapelhillnews.com/sports/story/16059.html
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She averaged 3.8 points and 2.4 rebounds per game in her first 18 outings (all off the bench) for the Liberty in games through July 27. But the last game she played was July 5 at Phoenix, when she played 11 minutes and had two points and two rebounds in a New York win.
After that, Larkins traveled with the team but was not activated to play.
Said New York head coach Pat Coyle: "It is not unusual for rookies to be on the inactive list (for some games). Erlana has a bright future in New York."
Larkins said the New York coaches tell her to be positive.
"They tell you, 'Just always be open and willing to learn.' This is a new thing. There is always something that can be taught," she said. |
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abontorab9
Joined: 19 Jun 2008
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Location: Connecticut
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| Posted: 08/06/08 10:00 am ::: |
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| Love her game. She should NOT be on the IL.
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KeiraNY
Joined: 19 Nov 2004
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Location: New York, NY
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| Posted: 08/06/08 10:11 am ::: |
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I like her game too but you gotta pay your dues as a rookie...it's that simple. Next year, I bet she'll play a whole lot more....
| nickv1025 wrote: |
| Love her game. She should NOT be on the IL. |
_________________ Since this "FUCK this 'signature is too long' bullshit!!!" is no longer applicable, I'm gonna have to get creative - just not right now. Oh, GO LIBERTY!!!!  |
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NYL_WNBA_FAN
Joined: 28 May 2007
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| Posted: 08/06/08 11:26 am ::: |
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| I have mixed feelings about Larkins. On the positive side she gives energy, a physical presence, a good offensive rebounder and some offensive moves. On the negative side she is undersized in terms of height, overweight, has a non-existent vertical leap and she has really short arms. I don't see how she will ever be good defensively given her physical limitations, even if she is in shape. As an offensive player and a rebounder she stands a chance to be good if she gets in shape. The Lib already have post players who score for a high % inside in Jackson and McCarville. What they need more than anything is a defensive presence and a night-in, night-out rebounder on the defensive boards. Those will likely not be her main strengths even in the future. An in-shape Larkins who can be active and give offense could be valuable however. If not to the Lib maybe as part of a deal that might bring over a more defensive-minded player. I really wish the Lib had taken Anosike. Anosike has so many more qualities that the Lib need than Larkins does. That's not to denigrate Larkins. But Anosike would give so much of what the Lib need and she would be an active defender when the Lib trap.
Last edited by NYL_WNBA_FAN on 08/06/08 2:29 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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RedEqualsLuck
Joined: 28 May 2005
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| Posted: 08/06/08 12:30 pm ::: |
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| Seems to me EL has a chance to turn in to a D-Train -- Much depends on which D-Train she wants to become....
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MattinDE
Joined: 24 Jul 2008
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| Posted: 08/06/08 1:03 pm ::: |
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| LibWNBAFan wrote: |
| I have mixed feelings about Larkins. On the positive side she gives energy, a physical presence, a good offensive rebounder and some offensive moves. On the negative side she is undersized in terms of height, overweight and she has really short arms. I don't see how she will ever be good defensively given her physical limitations, even if she is in shape. As an offensive player and a rebounder she stands a chance to be good if she gets in shape. The Lib already have post players who score for a high % inside in Jackson and McCarville. What they need more than anything is a defensive presence and a night-in, night-out rebounder on the defensive boards. Those will likely not be her main strengths even in the future. An in-shape Larkins who can be active and give offense could be valuable however. If not to the Lib maybe as part of a deal that might bring over a more defensive-minded player. I really wish the Lib had taken Anosike. Anosike has so many more qualities that the Lib need than Larkins does. That's not to denigrate Larkins. But Anosike would give so much of what the Lib need and she would be an active defender when the Lib trap. |
You might be on to something there. I've gotten the feeling since they drafted her that they've been trying to trade her (for Candice Wiggins???). In all reality, she should NOT have fallen that far in the draft (some people, like Carolyn Peck, had EL going as high as #3 in the draft). Houston made a mistake with Ajavon and Connecticut made a mistake with Swanier. Larkins would probably be active on both of those teams had she not been drafted on an already deep NY team. |
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KeiraNY
Joined: 19 Nov 2004
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Location: New York, NY
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| Posted: 08/06/08 1:08 pm ::: |
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Except EL can actually finish around the basket!! D-Train couldn't buy a basket...
| RedEqualsLuck wrote: |
| Seems to me EL has a chance to turn in to a D-Train -- Much depends on which D-Train she wants to become.... |
_________________ Since this "FUCK this 'signature is too long' bullshit!!!" is no longer applicable, I'm gonna have to get creative - just not right now. Oh, GO LIBERTY!!!! |
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Str8_Butta
Joined: 24 Nov 2004
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| Posted: 08/06/08 1:32 pm ::: |
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| Erlana isn't going anywhere, she'll be here next year too. There just isn't enough minutes to go aroung to play everyone on the team. Fans sometimes act like Coyle should play every last player, which is impossible. I am a big Erlana Supporter who also wishes she was playing, but right now it can't happen..
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KeiraNY
Joined: 19 Nov 2004
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Location: New York, NY
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| Posted: 08/06/08 1:49 pm ::: |
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And we agree once again!!!! Well said, Str8!!!
| Str8_Butta wrote: |
| Erlana isn't going anywhere, she'll be here next year too. There just isn't enough minutes to go aroung to play everyone on the team. Fans sometimes act like Coyle should play every last player, which is impossible. I am a big Erlana Supporter who also wishes she was playing, but right now it can't happen.. |
_________________ Since this "FUCK this 'signature is too long' bullshit!!!" is no longer applicable, I'm gonna have to get creative - just not right now. Oh, GO LIBERTY!!!! |
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bballfan2005
Joined: 22 Aug 2005
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| Posted: 08/06/08 1:55 pm ::: |
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| Str8_Butta wrote: |
| Erlana isn't going anywhere, she'll be here next year too. There just isn't enough minutes to go aroung to play everyone on the team. Fans sometimes act like Coyle should play every last player, which is impossible. I am a big Erlana Supporter who also wishes she was playing, but right now it can't happen.. |
So, who's going to lose minutes next year so that Larkins can play more? Is she going to lose the 25+ pounds she'd need to lose to keep up with the pace of the game at this level? Will she incorporate the long-range jumper back into her arsenal? Will she commit to improving defensively?
What you're looking at now is a fat 6-1 center with zero athleticism. That is IL-worthy, IMO. It no longer matters who she is, where she went to school, and what she did while she was there. All that matters is that she's not a WNBA-caliber player in her current form. Can she change? Sure. But going to Europe for one offseason isn't going to do her a whole lot of good.
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abontorab9
Joined: 19 Jun 2008
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| Posted: 08/06/08 1:57 pm ::: |
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| After reading that, I'm not sure you've ever seen her play.
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mannman
Joined: 02 Jan 2006
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| Posted: 08/06/08 2:06 pm ::: |
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| MattinDE wrote: |
| LibWNBAFan wrote: |
| I have mixed feelings about Larkins. On the positive side she gives energy, a physical presence, a good offensive rebounder and some offensive moves. On the negative side she is undersized in terms of height, overweight and she has really short arms. I don't see how she will ever be good defensively given her physical limitations, even if she is in shape. As an offensive player and a rebounder she stands a chance to be good if she gets in shape. The Lib already have post players who score for a high % inside in Jackson and McCarville. What they need more than anything is a defensive presence and a night-in, night-out rebounder on the defensive boards. Those will likely not be her main strengths even in the future. An in-shape Larkins who can be active and give offense could be valuable however. If not to the Lib maybe as part of a deal that might bring over a more defensive-minded player. I really wish the Lib had taken Anosike. Anosike has so many more qualities that the Lib need than Larkins does. That's not to denigrate Larkins. But Anosike would give so much of what the Lib need and she would be an active defender when the Lib trap. |
You might be on to something there. I've gotten the feeling since they drafted her that they've been trying to trade her (for Candice Wiggins???). In all reality, she should NOT have fallen that far in the draft (some people, like Carolyn Peck, had EL going as high as #3 in the draft). Houston made a mistake with Ajavon and Connecticut made a mistake with Swanier. Larkins would probably be active on both of those teams had she not been drafted on an already deep NY team. |
Minnie would not make that trade, not before, not now, nor in the future - CDub is a budding superstar.
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bballfan2005
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NYL_WNBA_FAN
Joined: 28 May 2007
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| Posted: 08/06/08 2:22 pm ::: |
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| bballfan2005 wrote: |
So, who's going to lose minutes next year so that Larkins can play more? Is she going to lose the 25+ pounds she'd need to lose to keep up with the pace of the game at this level? Will she incorporate the long-range jumper back into her arsenal? Will she commit to improving defensively?
What you're looking at now is a fat 6-1 center with zero athleticism. That is IL-worthy, IMO. It no longer matters who she is, where she went to school, and what she did while she was there. All that matters is that she's not a WNBA-caliber player in her current form. Can she change? Sure. But going to Europe for one offseason isn't going to do her a whole lot of good. |
I basically see it the same way. Especially when the things that she can do even moderately well on the offensive end are done better already by McCarville and Jackson. Meanwhile, the things she does poorly in terms of defense are likely not to improve even if she gets in shape. And looking at her and knowing that her favorite postgame meal is "junk food" (her own exact words) one wonders how long it will take her to mature and work to develop her body.
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NYL_WNBA_FAN
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abontorab9
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bballfan2005
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abontorab9
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MattinDE
Joined: 24 Jul 2008
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| Posted: 08/06/08 2:49 pm ::: |
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| Guys, can we agree that she is a developing player with a LOT of potential who has a lot of work to do to realize her potential? |
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abontorab9
Joined: 19 Jun 2008
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| Posted: 08/06/08 2:50 pm ::: |
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| Never said she wasn't.
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bballfan2005
Joined: 22 Aug 2005
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cherrystreet
Joined: 24 Jul 2005
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| Posted: 08/06/08 3:11 pm ::: |
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I definitely don't think Houston made a mistake taking Ajavon over Larkins as someone stated. Matee is good for what she can do. She just has to learn to play within the team concept and not try to dominate the ball on offense. And for godsake go to the basket and not settle for the outside shot.
As far as Larkins goes, she still knows how to box out. But seems a little too slow and a little too short. Active post will eat her alive. And I can't see her really taking time away from the post players on her team.
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KeiraNY
Joined: 19 Nov 2004
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| Posted: 08/06/08 3:39 pm ::: |
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Um Jessica Davenport for starters. I'd rather have Larkins out there than J-Dav right now...
Besides, before you guys keep foaming at the mouth at the thought of Larkins being athletic or not, let's see how she plays overseas first. Besides, we in Libertyville like her quite a lot. She's better than DTrain already but she's going thru rookie "pains".
| bballfan2005 wrote: |
So, who's going to lose minutes next year so that Larkins can play more? Is she going to lose the 25+ pounds she'd need to lose to keep up with the pace of the game at this level? Will she incorporate the long-range jumper back into her arsenal? Will she commit to improving defensively?
What you're looking at now is a fat 6-1 center with zero athleticism. That is IL-worthy, IMO. It no longer matters who she is, where she went to school, and what she did while she was there. All that matters is that she's not a WNBA-caliber player in her current form. Can she change? Sure. But going to Europe for one offseason isn't going to do her a whole lot of good. |
_________________ Since this "FUCK this 'signature is too long' bullshit!!!" is no longer applicable, I'm gonna have to get creative - just not right now. Oh, GO LIBERTY!!!! |
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UTexRulz23
Joined: 17 Jun 2006
Posts: 2611
Location: Austin, Texas
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| Posted: 08/06/08 3:50 pm ::: |
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| cherrystreet wrote: |
I definitely don't think Houston made a mistake taking Ajavon over Larkins as someone stated. Matee is good for what she can do. She just has to learn to play within the team concept and not try to dominate the ball on offense. And for godsake go to the basket and not settle for the outside shot.
As far as Larkins goes, she still knows how to box out. But seems a little too slow and a little too short. Active post will eat her alive. And I can't see her really taking time away from the post players on her team. |
I agree. We're fine in the post position right now. Mistie barely plays as it is as does Tot. Maybe Matee wasn't the best choice, but she certainly was a better choice than Erlana.
Edited to fix my stupidity and poor reading comprehension.
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Last edited by UTexRulz23 on 08/06/08 4:33 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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bballfan2005
Joined: 22 Aug 2005
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| Posted: 08/06/08 3:51 pm ::: |
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| KeiraNY wrote: |
| Um Jessica Davenport for starters. I'd rather have Larkins out there than J-Dav right now... |
Larkins was approaching the end of the rotation BEFORE Davenport was activated. Davenport has something that Erlana will never have--four extra inches of height.
| KeiraNY wrote: |
| Besides, before you guys keep foaming at the mouth at the thought of Larkins being athletic or not, let's see how she plays overseas first. Besides, we in Libertyville like her quite a lot. She's better than DTrain already but she's going thru rookie "pains". |
How is Larkins playing overseas going to help? Is she going to have healthy meals prepared for her? Is someone from the Liberty staff going to monitor her weight loss or whether or not she's installed something new in her game? I doubt it. It's hard for a player to improve her skill set if all she's doing is playing against weaker competition in her current state. She'll just rack up numbers over there and then come back here the same way she left--undersized, overweight, and not athletic.
She may be better than DTrain (up for debate), but she's also playing in a different league than the one White played in--one where the post players are more athletic and, to be honest, more skilled. If she doesn't improve what she can control (her physique and her skill level), she won't make it.
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