Watching the Fever vs the Wings, I am reminded of the coaching adage- “Shooting makes up for a multitude of sins.” The Fever made 52% of there shots. It is tough not to look good when you shoot 52%.
The Fever shooting was not the result of just being hot. Some eye popping stats tell you Indiana was very good offensively.
** 56 points in the paint- the moved the ball and the ran.
** 30 assists on 40 made field goals- that is great offense.
** 8 turnovers in a fast paced game with a lot of possessions.
Screwed Up My Plans- I had made a little chart and was going to chart what the Fever did offensively when Clark was point guard, when she was off-guard, and when she was out of the game. The last two games I had been frustrated how much the Fever took the ball out of Clark’s hands by having her off the ball. Halfway thru the first quarter I stopped charting- they were back playing Clark as they had before her injuries. They slide her occasionally to off the ball which I have no problem with.
Why Point Guard- Clark has the ability to be an incredible shooter at times. But at this point in her career, her shooting is inconsistent. Before her latest injury, she was in a horrible three point shooting slump. In her three games back, she is 5 for 19 from three. I know she scored a lot in college and a lot last year, but she is not at this point in her career a great shooter. She can make great logo shots. Most pro players develop into great three point shooters over several seasons- she will. As she gets more back in a grove, her three percent will go up this year.
Caitlin Clark right now is a GREAT passer. Her vision and her timing are spectacular. In her last two games, she has a total of only 4 turnovers. That is 26 assists to only 4 turnovers. For those of you math challenged, that is a ration of 6.5 to 1.0. Tyrese Haliburton led the NBA with ratio of 5.0 assists to 1 turnover. So my point is that at this point in her career- keep the ball in her hands as much as possible.
Dallas Transition Defense- if you went to a clinic with Bob Knight, he would talk about the number one thing defensively is your transition defense. If you are good defensively, you want to force the other team to have to go vs a set defense. Dallas is not a good transition defense team- honestly they are a horrible transition defensive team.
Arike Ogunbowale was the number one culprit in the bad transition defense. Paige Bueckers does a lot of driving for mid-range jumpers. In that case, the other guard needs to be ready to get back and probably 1-2 other players, depending on their scheme. A number of times Ogunbowale was the one who should have been back. Indiana would get the rebound and Ogunbowale was 15 feet off the top of the key. Instead of going back, she would actually go up like she wanted to pick up Clark in the back court on a miss. If that was the strategy- it was bad strategy. If it was not the team strategy- it was bad individual defense. As she moved up- Howard, Cunningham, and Mitchell were running layup drills from Clark’s passes.
“She Keeps Doing Things That Make You Keep Her On The Court”- That was Coach White two weeks ago when talking to the press about playing Lexie Hull over DeWanna Bonner. I am not saying it is good or bad- things have changed in regards to Hull this past week. In the last three games the minutes are- Cunningham 73, MacDonald 72, Hull 57 minutes.
For now it would appear that MacDonald is the sub for Mitchell and Clark. Hull no longer is getting those minutes. White may feel the ball pressure is better with MacDonald’s quickness. So for now that leaves Hull and Sophie Cunningham to split minutes.
All of this will adjust some when Clark is off her minutes restriction after the All-Star game. The important thing is that unlike in the previous two games, the sub pattern seemed to have a plan to it.
Offensive Wrinkles- The last two games, Indiana had run a lot of stagger screens for Clark or Mitchell. They run some nice things out of that action. If Hull is supposed to be the cutter coming up, she is great going backdoor.
In addition they have run the ball screens with Mitchell and Boston, and for Clark and Boston. That has kind of been the staple for Indiana. (The last two games they did not use Boston much at all for anything.)
This game they used two things a lot which were very effective for them. They are not new but were used more and were executed better.
Horns Set- They would enter the ball to Boston. The point guard would go away from the pass. This left Boston usually with Mitchell on one side. Boston would dribble at Mitchell for a dribble hand off. Usually this was on the right side of the court. This brings Mitchell up for a handoff where she can go to her strong left hand for a nice shot.
Both Clark and Mitchell are great getting the handoff, Boston rolling hard, Boston getting a layup.
Just when the defense tries to react early and get over the Boston handoff, Mitchell planted and got a backdoor layup.
Clark Off The Ball But On The Ball- An argument for taking Clark off the ball sometimes is to save her from getting beat up dribbling the ball up the floor. If you haven’t noticed, refs don’t call fouls on point guards.
What Indiana has done with her off the ball is to have her run off staggers for a catch and shoot. It has not been one of the better Fever actions.
Today they chose to use a post as a screener to set her up for on the ball- ball screens. In other words- Clark is best using ball screens, reading and passing. The defense wears her down. So let someone else in deadballs bring it up- pop Clark out to the top or wing- now she can come off ball screens.
Pin down into side ball screens.
Cut up the gut for catch and ball screen.
Rebecca Lobo, Paige Bueckers, and UConn- An absolutely great insight by Lobo. She told that Paige said the tough thing was to go from college where they were taught not to foul. I have heard Geno at clinics give a presentation on “Fouls Are Errors.” And now in the pros realizing that the way refs call the game, to be an effective defender, you need to learn foul when you defend.
Paige Bueckers Handling Press- In post-game conference a reporter asked an absolutely stupid question of Paige. The question was basically- “Boy, the way Clark got some steals off you, she is really good defensively and really react well.” In other words- “I think Clark is great, don’t you think she is great.” Paige paused and paused before giving a measured response that showed class.
Standings- The win bounces the Fever up in either 6th or 7th with Washington who upset Seattle at Seattle. The Fever (11-10) are 1 game behind Atlanta (12-9). And two behind 4th place Seattle (13-8).
Before the All-Star game, the Fever schedule: Tuesday at Sun and Wednesday at New York. The Vlakyries play the Mercury and the Storm. The Mystics just have the Sparks at LA. If the favorites wing going into the All-Star game, maybe the Fever can pick up a gap on the teams behind them.
Kate Martin- If you are like me, it is not like you can watch the Valkyries very often. When she started and played well vs the Fever, I figured that was her usual. It turns out that is only her second start of the season. She is averaging 17 minutes, 7.3ppg, 2.5rpg, and shooting 35% from three. So she has a much bigger role than a year ago.
With expansion occurring over the next few years, Kate Martin sure seems set to have nice WNBA career.
If you get a chance, I would recommend going back and listening to her interview on Bird’s Eye View Podcast with Sue Bird. One of several things that impressed me was when she said something like this- While I want to play well on the court, my priority is that I want to show the other players and my coaches that I am an asset to this team as a good teammate who bring energy every practice and game. Listen to it- she is inspiring.
Pistol Pete- read this and absorb it. Wow!!!!
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