From Opening Tip to Final Horn, Houston Summer Slam Delivers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I often have people come to me and say I missed a good game, I get it, you know what you know, and since I've been around since before the turn of the century and watched this stuff flip for several reasons, a close game<strong> DOES NOT</strong> equate to a good game, so when I have a chance to see them in person, I get that extra <strong>BOLT</strong> of energy. One more time, I am a <strong>REAL EVALUATOR </strong>who doesn't write things to sound pretty and filled with nonsense, so the <strong>[program_tooltip program_id='715346' first='Houston' last='United']</strong> versus<strong> [program_tooltip program_id='712630' first='Lady' last='Thunder'] </strong> in the <strong>WNBA Division</strong>, closed out my <strong>WHAT THE CHUCK</strong> weekend as several stepped up to the plate to hit home runs, here are a few and more will be coming </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1864510"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a1d9e8317b96"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Willis is one of the most exciting<strong> NEW FACES</strong> I have seen this season, and she left a lasting first impression. She's a <strong>"long and athletic" </strong>guard who scored off the dribble, even gave me a reverse layup after contact. Her turnaround jumper looked good, as well as her <strong>"catch and shoot"</strong> from deep. Her "on the ball" pressure looked good; she even played the passing lane</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1232069"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a1d9e8317c53"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Reid is also a<strong> "long and athletic" </strong>guard, and she gave defenders problems all event with her ability to get by them, either with a quick first step or a slight <strong>HEZ</strong> to get them off balance, but she finished strongly after contact. Her pull-up jumper looked good, so did her court vision, and she applied heat on the defensive end as well</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["975841"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a1d9e8317cd6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Square continues to elevate her game and run circles around defenders as she understands how to set them up by creating her shot well under pressure. Her ability to drop the jumper, including the <strong>"catch and shoot" </strong>is a plus because if you give her too much room, she can drop it, play her too close, she can attack and score</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1045248"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a1d9e8317d55"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hernandez played one of the most complete games I saw at the event as she never took a play off on either end. She played the passing lane, dove for loose balls on the floor, blocked shots, applied <strong>"on the ball"</strong> heat in the set, as well as baseline to baseline. Her pull-up jumper looked good, she nailed the long ball ala <strong>"catch and shoot"</strong> and her court vision was solid</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["921749"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a1d9e8317dcf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Willis is<strong> "long and athletic"</strong> which is the base, and she also happens to be one of the most improved players over the past couple of seasons I have personally seen in Texas. Yes, she could defend baseline to baseline and play the passing lane, but watching her go "coast to coast" after rebounding while being pressured and score as well as face the basket for buckets are huge pluses</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1256918"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a1d9e8317e46"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hodde's name preceded her as Coach Maggie told me a couple of years ago, <strong>"Colson, I got another you need to see,"</strong> and as usual, she was right. Here's the deal: most level coaches love big guards who can shoot, and yeah, I saw that when I initially caught her, but <strong>"IT'S DIFFERENT" </strong>now, as the <strong>"stop and pop" </strong>as well as the <strong>"catch and shoot" </strong>are even more fluid. She also scored off the dribble, saw the floor, rebounded, and defended tightly in the set</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->