Here are seven things that a student of the game can learn from the Indiana Fever…
Never Totally Satisfied But Totally Invested- Thoughout the early part of this season, Lexie Hull, Monique Billings, Makayla Timpson, and Sophie Cunningham each had games where they would play only 5-6 minutes and games where they played 25-30 minutes. That roller coaster of minutes is tough for a player to handle.
Not one of these four players ever said anything either verbally or nonverbally that indicated they were upset. The message to their teammates was that they were in it for the Fever, whether they played a little or a lot.
For you as a JH, HS, or college player, part of the challenge is that you may not be able to control your parents’ verbal and nonverbal reactions. Your parents may make it tougher for you.
When they got chances to play, they were ready. Over time, things have sorted themselves out and their minutes are consistent. You don’t have to be satisfied in your role but you need to be invested and committed to being a star in your role.
Let Game Come to You- Kelsey Mitchell has been the MVP of the Fever for most of this season. You NEVER get a sense that she goes into a game hunting for her stats. She is the #2 scorer in the WNBA, but she doesn’t enter games looking for the points. When the star of a team has a “team first” attitude, it makes the team better.
Older Doesn’t Mean Better- When it comes to wine, age makes it better. When it comes to basketball, you don’t automatically get better with age. I would argue that a senior in high school who enters the season with the same skill set they had as a junior is usually a weaker player as a senior. The expression in basketball is- “You never stay the same, you either are going to get better or worse.”
Aliyah Boston’s investment to become a better three point shooter has made her so much more valuable. Teams now have to defend ball screen actions with Clark and Mitchell completely differently.
Too many players work on intricate one on one moves that can seldom be used- there are four other defenders on the floor. The best way to elevate your game is to improve your shot- shoot from farther out, shoot off the dribble, shoot quicker.
Emotional Drain- The Fever are on a nice winning streak as I write this. During this stretch, Caitlin Clark has played with positive energy and emotion vs playing angry and upset.
Earlier she may have been emotionally upset because of frustrations with injuries, frustrations with her own play, reacting to taunting of opponents, or just tired of bad calls. Whatever her reasons for her emotions, they hurt her play.
More importantly, when a player reacts to calls emotionally, it negatively impacts the team. Instead of your teammates being able to focus on the game, they have to use energy to stabilize their teammate. Negative emotions by a player come across as selfish to their teammates.
Simple Game- When the Fever are clicking on offense, they make things look so simple. When they try to overplay and prevent Mitchell from getting the ball, she goes backdoor. When they look to jump Clark coming off a Boston handoff, Boston fakes the handoff and goes to the basket. When they double team Boston then Timpson cuts hard to the basket for a layup or just goes to the offensive board. When they want to get physical with Clark, she has learned to drive toward the basket and lean into the contact, and shoot ft’s.
Great players learn to take what the defense gives them.
Fouls Are Errors- Seldom does a team who fouls the most win the game. Fouls are bad on so many levels- players may have to sit, other team shoots ft’s, the clock stops and everyone rests.
Early in the season when the Fever players got beat off the dribble, they always seemed to want to make the great block on the shooter. Seldom when a player beats you will you be able to make the great block- 95% of the time you give them either two free throws or create an “and one” for them.
The Fever have improved defensively but they are still getting beat off the dribble. The big difference is that they don’t try to make the great defensive block. The other teams are getting fewer free throws, and the game is more of an up and down game.
More to Game Than Points- It is easy for parents and young players to think that the key to getting more playing time is to score more points. Parents will sometimes pay their son or daughter to shoot or pay them if they score more points.
A young player should watch Lexie Hull and Monique Timpson on offense and on defense. Don’t watch the ball, watch them away from the ball. You will see them sprinting to the offensive boards and getting a rebound. You will see them getting a deflection on defense. You will see them giving help on defense. And you will see them diving on the floor for a loose ball. You will see them on the bench jumping up and cheering a great play by their teammate.
Most of these things don’t show up in the boxscore, but these are all things your coach will see.
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