There are many causes to tune in and watch the Indiana Fever, together with the plain one — the rookie season and ongoing improvement of Caitlin Clark, the No. 1 decide within the 2024 WNBA Draft.
However one small deal with viewers get when tuning in to observe Indy is attending to watching probably the most expressive teaching employees within the WNBA, led by Head Coach Christie Sides…
On each of these performs, a participant units an off-ball display screen for Clark, who briefly attracts two defenders. She cracks the protection simply sufficient to let the screener slip to the basket and catch a go. However the go doesn’t come on both play, regardless of the gesticulations from Sides and Co. on the sideline.
Indiana’s teaching employees is not simply making an attempt to direct offensive units in these clips, however as an alternative trying to will the workforce into a really perfect future. Clark is flying off screens and bending the protection in a manner that her teammates can feed off of, a core tenet of a read-and-react offense that’s easy to game-plan for however unimaginable to cease.
These performs aren’t simply performs; they’re how the Fever wish to play
These are the moments during which you consider in them. The moments during which you consider Christie Sides when she says, “That’s timing, all these actions are timing. We’re gonna get there. I imply, we don’t have loads of time to follow, enjoying each different day, however we are going to get there. They’ll get there.”
After which, there are moments the place you don’t precisely lose perception, however start to ask questions. Moments during which the extent of execution isn’t price contemplating as a result of the Fever don’t know what they wish to execute. Moments after which an announcement from Sides like “it’s a course of, and I do know everyone needs us to be actually, actually good now and and simply isn’t the way it works,” falls flat, making you marvel if that first quote is the top coach reassuring herself and her bosses, reasonably than us.
No, the Indiana Fever aren’t presupposed to be actually good now. However are they presupposed to be 1-7 with second-worst offense within the WNBA? Are they presupposed to have already tried 94 distinctive lineups, probably the most within the league?
That is uncharted territory for each the Fever and their sudden franchise savior, and a few of the questions they make you ask are directed inwards. What ought to I anticipate from this workforce in 12 months one, in weeks one and two no much less? What does a powerful timeline even appear like?
These are the philosophical knots that making an attempt to reply a special, seemingly easier query will tie you into.
How are Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever doing on offense?
Let’s transfer out of the realm of philosophy and see what the movie has to say.
The Good
Scripted offense
Right here is one purpose to consider in Sides and her employees. They’ve known as some glorious units to start the season, and lots of of them are concise actions to get the non-Clark Fever going.
In her first begins of the season, Kelsey Mitchell struggled in opposition to the New York Liberty and Connecticut Solar, taking pictures 14-34 and sometimes having to work powerful matchups in isolation to get her pictures off. So to start their subsequent recreation in Seattle, Indiana known as variations of the identical, easy pin-down for Mitchell to get her downhill, constructing a lot of their first-quarter offense round her…
Love that the Fever will run the identical play (and counters to it) over and over to create strong seems. And a lot of their scripted offense has Caitlin Clark doing minimal on-ball work: pic.twitter.com/gJusb11ej1
— Lucas Kaplan (@LucasKaplan_) Might 28, 2024
A lot of Indiana’s go-to units characteristic Clark exerting minimal on-ball effort. Often, her job is merely to make a easy go to Mitchell and maintain one potential assist defender out of the way in which.
However Sides is conscious about the off-ball gravity Clark possesses. And when the Fever don’t capitalize on it (see: intro), it turns into each a instructing second for the younger squad and a defensive weak spot that the subsequent play-call can handle.
Of their recreation vs. the Los Angeles Sparks, when Mitchell missed Katie Lou Samuelson on the above slip, there was a media timeout simply after that possession. So, what did the Fever name popping out of the break?
Two “away” screens for Clark, the place she is directed to chop in entrance of the second to tug that defender together with her. The Sparks don’t change it, and Samuelson will get an open 3-point look, albeit one which she bricks. The teaching employees rises with glee as quickly as the proper go is made…
Via eight video games, it’s uncommon that the Fever will name a play that doesn’t make sense, that misuses the obtainable expertise on the ground. After all, there are long-term questions on who to encompass Clark with and what path to take the franchise in, however Sides’ play-calling reveals her grasp on completely different people’ strengths, learn how to use what’s obtainable to her.
Temi Fagbenle
With Caitlin Clark on the entrance traces of this present embrace of the WNBA and ladies’s basketball at massive, there are undoubtedly many new followers tuning into the Fever in 2024, watching the W recurrently for the primary time of their lives. Which is nice, as a result of they get to witness a narrative solely the WNBA may produce in Temi Fagbenle, a ahead who spent the final 4 seasons away from the league, solely to return at age 31 to thrive as an ideal match subsequent to Clark.
At 6’4, she has a glitchy athleticism that provides each opposing 4s and 5s bother, particularly as a result of she will run the ground like this off a made basket…
Beginning behind all 5 Sparks defenders is hardly an impediment for Fagbenle, nor for Clark, who might need walked into the W as its most audacious outlet passer — a few of which should be toned down, as Clark’s turnovers in that space are contributing to the No. 11 rating the Fever have in points-per-transition alternative, per Synergy Sports activities.
Except Fagbenle is on the courtroom. Nearly no go is simply too wild for her to deal with, and she or he has the stability and coordination in tight areas to complete performs. She would embarrass you in a recreation of tag even in the event you have been enjoying within the backseat of a automotive…
Fagbenle’s greatest qualities make her an ideal sidekick for Clark within the halfcourt as effectively, notably when the No. 1 general decide will get trapped on ball screens. That’s been defenses’ most popular manner of guarding Clark within the pick-and-roll, not simply because it eliminates the specter of her taking pictures a 3, but additionally as a result of the Fever haven’t excelled at making selections within the 4-on-3.
But, Fagbenle is sufficient of a downhill pressure that she will both rating herself or entice sufficient protection to make a straightforward, high-value learn to a different open participant…
An elite athlete who’s the most effective cutter on the workforce, who can win 1-on-1 matchups whereas not being a black gap on offense? It’s no marvel the Brit has emerged as Indiana’s fifth starter, a call that ought to stick. In 144 minutes with Clark and Fagbenle on the courtroom, Indiana is outscoring opponents by over 5 factors per 100 possessions.
And after writing all that, the Fever introduced Fagbenle will miss 2-3 weeks with a left foot damage, at which level she will probably be re-evaluated. Upon her return, she must be inserted again into the beginning lineup barring one thing really sudden occurring in her absence, however it’s a disappointing blow to Fever followers who haven’t seen a lot go proper for his or her workforce to date.
The Dangerous
Offensive rebounding
This one I don’t fairly perceive. The Indiana Fever are tenth in offensive-rebound fee, albeit one bruising recreation from leaping just a few spots. Nonetheless, the movie suggests offensive rebounding isn’t a excessive precedence for Indiana, regardless of typically having two of Aliyah Boston, NaLyssa Smith, and Fagbenele on the courtroom without delay.
Is a part of it as a result of they’ve the worst protection within the league to date, and are specializing in getting again after the shot goes as much as not hand over much more straightforward buckets? Positively.
However for a workforce that sees so many ball screens defended aggressively 40 toes from the rim, their very own lack of aggression on the offensive glass is a white flag. There’s no urgency to crash from the corners, regardless of enjoying in opposition to defenses which might be always too scattered to field out.
On this play, Clark hoists a deep three that misses, however with Boston rolling to the rim and Cameron Brink contesting the shot, the Fever have a built-in benefit on the glass. But, no person goes to assist Boston assault…
Positive, the Fever don’t get an excellent bounce on this particular shot, however there’s no purpose to not crash the glass with fury.
Moreover, the one shot they’ve been making at a constant clip — once more, in simply eight video games — is the off-the-dribble jumper. Not catch-and-shoots, not layups, however pull-ups. Defenders like Brink gained’t be coached to put off these pictures simply but. The Fever have to start out cashing in down low.
Spacing
The offensive rebounding is at the very least a stylistic concern. It’s comprehensible that the Fever’s teaching employees would really like their younger workforce to get again in transition and match the hell up, even when they’re leaving factors on the board by being conservative.
However the spacing in Indiana’s unscripted offense has left a ton to be desired, and it’s disappointing even contemplating a busy schedule that’s erased follow time. Lacking some slip cuts and backdoor alternatives is a forgivable sin that ought to enhance with pure cohesion, and as we’ll see, a few of these spacing issues are related.
However too typically, gamers merely aren’t in the appropriate spots. Clark has to cease gravitating towards the ball in transition and simply dash the ground…
She’ll do that within the half-court too when she’s not operating off screens, often loafing by the emblem or simply operating towards the ball when she feels it’s time to do her factor.
The teaching employees has additionally made some complicated selections in particular video games, enjoying into opponent strengths. For instance, Indiana has insisted on filling the dunker spot on excessive pick-and-rolls, even in opposition to the New York Liberty, a fearsome shot-blocking workforce with two dominant bigs.
When Clark would get trapped and hit Boston on the quick roll, Breanna Stewart was already in place to make a play. On this play, it seems like Fagbenle goes out of her technique to make Boston’s life troublesome, and it ends the way you’d anticipate…
After all, there are occasional timing gaffes that throw off the Fever, like setting screens a hair too early or late. Nonetheless, these performs could be excused, to some extent, by a scarcity of familiarity that ought to enhance over the season.
However whereas particular play-calls and actions — like guard-to-guard screening between Mitchell and Clark — are sometimes constructive, common ideas could be complicated. Why is Clark, a gifted off-ball mover, stifling her personal workforce in transition? Why is Boston’s life typically made tougher on the quick roll?
These are the much less philosophical however much more complicated questions that pop up when watching Indiana.
The In-Between
NaLyssa Smith and Aliyah Boston
NaLyssa Smith is caught in a pickle.
Temi Fagbenle has compelled her manner into the beginning lineup, instantly rising as a key piece for Indiana. This isn’t dangerous information for Smith in and of itself — these two type a dynamic frontcourt that has sufficient size and athleticism to get by on protection and thrive offensively.
That pair additionally characterize two viable launch valves for Clark and Mitchell, every able to navigating a 4-on-3 scenario and posting up mismatches. Smith is even a semi-threatening pick-and-popper.
And in opposition to the Seattle Storm, we briefly noticed Smith because the 5 subsequent to 4 shooters, an offensively-slanted lineup that, regardless of all of the ball-handling on the ground, allowed her to cook dinner a bit…
And why not? Not solely does Smith have the ballhandling chops and dimension to get to her spots down low, however she’s proven a capability as a hub to pretend dribble handoffs and hit back-door cutters. So, she hasn’t totally been benched due to poor play, however largely as a result of Fagbenle compelled the teaching employees into selecting between her and Aliyah Boston, and Boston remains to be a franchise cornerstone.
Subsequent to the 2023 No. 1 general decide, Smith’s position modified a bit. With much less area to function inside, her offense grew to become extra perimeter-oriented, notably because the Fever attempt to combine Boston as Clark’s major pick-and-roll accomplice, getting her comfy within the quick roll.
Within the beginning lineup, Smith grew to become a bystander, her mid-post isolation recreation current in its personal universe, separate from Caitlin Clark’s impression. Of the 31 distinctive two-player combos to play at the very least 25 minutes this season for the Fever, Smith-Boston has been the worst one, getting out-scored by 43.8 factors per 100 possessions.
Smith will nonetheless contribute to Indiana, and web score is way from definitive after simply two weeks of ball. Nonetheless, anticipate lots of her minutes to return with Boston off the courtroom, probably as a hyper-charged, offense-focused 5 subsequent to a ton of taking pictures.
As for Boston, she’s undoubtedly began 2024 slowly, enjoying a totally completely different model of hoop than the one she’s grown accustomed to since arriving at South Carolina manner again when. However she remains to be Aliyah Boston, and has already made enhancements earlier than June has hit.
Fortunately, her screening is on the high of the record. She has developed a little bit of a rhythm with Clark in semi-transition to free her for open seems. She’s truly making a little bit of contact on these now, and it makes all of the distinction on the earth…
However Boston nonetheless has a methods to go as a screen-and-roller. That is unsurprising, on condition that she’s now beginning a few of her touches from 25 toes out, reasonably than posting up within the restricted space.
She’s going to set a display screen and drift too distant from the motion, permitting Clark to get engulfed by traps with no launch valve to hit. And beginning possessions exterior the paint, Boston remains to be getting used to slicing to the entrance of the rim when Indiana’s guards go, discovering the cracks in a dribble-drive offense.
The identical goes for her passing in 4-on-3 conditions, together with her entire short-roll recreation being a piece in progress. Indiana appears to have accepted this; so there will probably be a ton of possessions like the next, the place a half-ass stunt from Alysha Clark turns what may very well be a lay-up right into a pull-up 10-footer for Boston…
However she will make this shot, so Indiana will dwell with this on the highway to extra productive course of.
Within the quick future, there are two keys to growing Boston’s quick offensive impression and permitting her to learn from enjoying with a guard who attracts as a lot consideration as Clark, reasonably than simply enjoying subsequent to her.
First, she has to show a few of these rolls into pseudo-post-ups, the place we all know she’s comfy working. Right here, she catches the ball down low in opposition to the smaller Rickea Jackson, and may simply movement into a fast back-to-the-basket transfer. However she rapidly offers up on that concept, and kicks the ball right into a much less harmful place…
Second, the Fever have to assist her out a bit.
Sides and Co. ran this play out of a time in opposition to Los Angeles, an isolation alternative for Boston with Clark scrambling round on the weak aspect to remove any undue defensive consideration…
Once more, nice play-calling in a managed scenario, however Boston sorely lacks such a construction in most of Indiana’s offense. There’s lots on her plate proper now, and it’s taking away from her conventional effectiveness within the put up; in transition, she’s typically caught in between sealing down low and setting a excessive ball display screen for Clark or Mitchell. Now not is her first impulse to get all the way down to the paint and bury her mismatch.
However for a workforce taking the third-fewest layup makes an attempt this season, per Synergy, the Fever may use some extra of that. They’ve proven a need to make use of Clark’s gravity to unlock Mitchell for drives and Samuelson for open pictures. Throwing Boston a bone each infrequently may go a great distance in easing her into this brand-new offense.
Via two weeks of her skilled profession, we haven’t realized a lot about Caitlin Clark. She remains to be the lethal 3-point shooter who warps the ground 35 toes out, who forces double groups and can run a bunch of excessive pick-and-rolls; not an All-WNBA participant but, however may very well be on her manner.
Nevertheless, we’ve additionally realized there is no such thing as a lightning in a bottle with these Indiana Fever. There will probably be no in a single day transformation with one of many WNBA’s all-time nice offensive prospects turning them right into a high-powered offense. Each single enchancment they make will probably be one scratched and clawed for, each accomplished go by visitors a minor victory.
Ought to we be disenchanted? Is Indiana’s 1-7 begin an indictment on Christie Sides and her gamers? Is their faltering offense discouraging after simply two weeks? The right reply isn’t no or sure, however abstaining from a last reply till we get extra info.
The one factor we’ve realized about Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever is that they’re going to be a long-term undertaking, and it’s too early to inform what path they’re headed.
