Completely agree with all you said, MaxPower. I just saw her presser after the Dallas game yesterday and she understands she has to get physically stronger for offense/defense and knows she has to allow her talented teammates to share in the offensive load. I also noticed in college she needed to develop a mid-range jumper/floater to avoid getting caught in defensive collapses and boxed in when she drives to the net. Like you said, all these are fixable, but the coaching staff has to be aware of them and devise strategies to make CC even more effective. But the most crucial part is her teammates MUST step up to take some burden off her. With the talent they have, she shouldn't have to carry the team like she did in college. I'm confident they will. The season just started, so its way too early to be worried.
This was recorded before the Dallas Wings game (slow upload speed prevented it from going live earlier). But it confirmed what I already thought. She will still be an effective scorer, it will just be less efficient because of the defense. Even though she only had 2 assist, I still think she will have high assist totals throughout the season. Once Kelsey Mitchell replaces Eric Wheeler in the starting lineup, that will make a massive difference. Her on ball defense and turnovers are definetely a problem. She will be one of the best offensive players in the league but this will hurt the fever in terms of winning against the higher level teams
I have a treat for you. Amin Elhassan invented the term "Lovedales", referring to Steph Curry's Davidson teammate Andrew Lovedale. The premise is, Steph Curry throws these absolute dimes to less talented players and the fumble the bag 🎒. Caitlin Clark got at least 7 Lovedales tonight but only 2 assists. It's just a product of familiarity in her case. Indiana is LOADED with talent. As they used to playing with Caitlin, the assist totals will rise. Excellent breakdown. You nailed it with her defense and turnovers being an issue. Watching her and Sheldon both play defense was a fascinating contrast. Sheldon stuck her player like glue and Caitlin literally funneled girls to the baseline unguarded 🤦♂️
I was pissed (I'm talking about COMPLETE MELTDOWN) when LA didn't get the 1st Pick. She is a Jordan or a Tiger Woods...only better, as far as pure impact. Michael and Tiger elevate a great product. Caitlin is elevating a sport that has ZERO commercial appeal. It is unbelievable what she has done so far. Seeing what unfolded, I'm actually happy she went to Indiana. She's a married woman and will have no huge distractions in a small town. Plus my Sparks got Rickea Jackson and Cameron Brink who were literally built for LA Fame. Everything worked out. Caitlin (I'll write this as though I didn't see the game yet) will limit her shots early and try to fit in with the bigs. Eventually she'll get comfortable and play her usual game. She'll resemble Iowa Caitlin, but on less volume. She will have the ball in high leverage moments, but will largely be a distributor for most of the game. She has plenty of mouths to feed. I think she'll average 18 & 6, win 24 games and win ROY. Rickea Jackson will score more, but won't win nearly as much. Look forward to Caitlin's next few games and seeing how she adjusts to better athletes guarding her.
I agree with everyone you said. It’s better for the sport she went to a midwestern market. It also helps Brink and Rickea were made for LA. They won’t draw as much as CC but they should still be able to fill up arenas
Coach Sides won’t last past the Olympics break! The WNBA can’t afford for Caitlin Clark not to have her Stephen Curry moments of shooting about 25 to 30 shots a game-and yes I’m talking about launching 3$-which is her money shot and what the fans wants to see out of Caitlin Clark this year! Nobody cares if the Fever has a winning record in Caitlin Clark’s rookie season. Anybody that has coached or played basketball on any meaningful level knows it take more than three practices for a team to learn each others strengths and weaknesses and where they like to receive the ball at or the floor. If I were the coach of the Indianapolis Fever I would run the Paul Westphal offense (just run and gun and try to out score the Fever’s opponents!) Then during the offseason the Fever can work on their defense- and offensive sets…But, for this year… can we please turn Caitlin Clark loose and let her run the same offense she ran at Iowa-that worked… Iowa made it to back-to-back NCAAW Championship games! Therefore, the style of basketball Caitlin Clark needs to play has been time tested and proven. And I know her teammates won’t have a problem playing the Paul Westphal style of offense because of Caitlin Clark’s passing ability they would be getting a lot of layups and wide open spot up jump shots and 3$! Enough said…Call Coach Bluder so that she can show the WNBA fans would CC can do in Paul Westphal’s Run and Gun offense! The WNBA can’t afford to mess this up because as Eminem said-in “Lose Yourself…Look (WNBA you [have] one shot or one opportunity To seize everything you ever wanted in one moment, Would you capture it or just let it slip? Yo” (credit for the Eminem reference goes to “Behind the Line” podcaster. So come on WNBA owners of the Indiana Fever get Caitlin Clark and the rest of your Indiana Fever the coach they need or else you will [lose your fan base and that of the WNBA’$] or to quote Eminem - “Lose Yourself!”
I think with her matchup vs the Aces,Seattle and the Lynx,you're discounting a point you made earlier.She has a lot of offensive talent in her team .With Minnesota, Courtney williams isnt a player good enough to guard her and most likely with Diamond, the coach will most likely put someone else on her.With Seattle,you said SDS will wear her out considering she's close to her mid 30s and we know Jewell isnt considered among great defenders. Finally,the Aces.I do agree that they have a 3 headed monster at the guard positions and they can try to attack her when she's on defense ( I say 'try' because I think she won't be a liability on defense like Sabrina for example ) but they all arent elite defenders.Jackie young is the only one I see as a truly elite defender and Kelsey Plum is someone I truly believe Caitlin will be able to torch simply because of tgeir height difference. Everything else I agree with
I am not sure she will be an all star. She needs to add more to her offensive game. And I know that sounds crazy. But I think she will primarily be a three point shooter at this level if she doesn’t improve. I am also not going to get carried away with the preseason performance. She shot well. Dallas defended her poorly at times. And players that will be cut played for both teams.
Good analysis, and I think she will need a proper off season to work on her weaknesses. If she wants to play PG, she needs to learn how to attack the basket and manouver better around screens, a lot of times the screen set by the bigs don´t do anything in the flow of the game because she does not have a creative handle + quickness + midrange threat, so her only play in the half court is the tough ISO 3 pointer and she reset the play instead of attacking quickly. I know she´s a god in transition passing, but when her teammates are not there with her pace, that´s when she needs to attack the basket too instead of letting the defense set. Clark was great all NCAA Tournament with the playmaking, but her lack of bag showed in the last 2 games, Kate Martin was the one who had to save Iowa in clutch time against Uconn with those fadeaway jumpers on Bueckers, Clark should´ve been the one doing that but she does not have the bag yet.
I mean, this is a team the won 30 games combined over the last 4 seasons and got the #1, #1 and #2 pick three years in a row. They're not a good team and that's what we saw. They have 3 good vets, a bunch of players with 2 years or less experience and tbh they have about 6 players that just aren't good enough to be on a roster, even though they only need to cut 3. those 3 should be super obvious atp. I wouldn't put huge expectations on this team as a whol this season.
@@_M.... 13-27 last year and 16 losses were all single digits. Clark easily adds 10+ points per game which means most of those losses become wins. That would be 23-18 at a minimum and more likely closer to 28-12 and that’s the over under that Vegas odds has the line at.
Completely agree with all you said, MaxPower. I just saw her presser after the Dallas game yesterday and she understands she has to get physically stronger for offense/defense and knows she has to allow her talented teammates to share in the offensive load. I also noticed in college she needed to develop a mid-range jumper/floater to avoid getting caught in defensive collapses and boxed in when she drives to the net. Like you said, all these are fixable, but the coaching staff has to be aware of them and devise strategies to make CC even more effective. But the most crucial part is her teammates MUST step up to take some burden off her. With the talent they have, she shouldn't have to carry the team like she did in college. I'm confident they will. The season just started, so its way too early to be worried.
Really good and realistic analysis. This is the definition of constructive criticism, good job, sir.
This was recorded before the Dallas Wings game (slow upload speed prevented it from going live earlier). But it confirmed what I already thought.
She will still be an effective scorer, it will just be less efficient because of the defense. Even though she only had 2 assist, I still think she will have high assist totals throughout the season. Once Kelsey Mitchell replaces Eric Wheeler in the starting lineup, that will make a massive difference.
Her on ball defense and turnovers are definetely a problem. She will be one of the best offensive players in the league but this will hurt the fever in terms of winning against the higher level teams
I have a treat for you. Amin Elhassan invented the term "Lovedales", referring to Steph Curry's Davidson teammate Andrew Lovedale. The premise is, Steph Curry throws these absolute dimes to less talented players and the fumble the bag 🎒.
Caitlin Clark got at least 7 Lovedales tonight but only 2 assists. It's just a product of familiarity in her case.
Indiana is LOADED with talent. As they used to playing with Caitlin, the assist totals will rise.
Excellent breakdown. You nailed it with her defense and turnovers being an issue. Watching her and Sheldon both play defense was a fascinating contrast.
Sheldon stuck her player like glue and Caitlin literally funneled girls to the baseline unguarded 🤦♂️
Funnily enough, I think she did ok in staying in front of her assignments. The ticky tak fouls she'll have to improve as well
Knowledgeable analysis!
once CC gets her floaters elite, its game over
She does have a floater though.She'll just have to use it more than she did in college
I was thinking this last night when she had her lay up blocked in final 2 minutes.
@@sloothix Howard hit her elbow first though
@@giizodamulla7492she doesn’t
@@giizodamulla7492so, wouldn’t have happened if she had a floater
Contrary to the video narration, the three-point distance is the same in NCAA, WNBA, and FIBA.
I was pissed (I'm talking about COMPLETE MELTDOWN) when LA didn't get the 1st Pick. She is a Jordan or a Tiger Woods...only better, as far as pure impact.
Michael and Tiger elevate a great product. Caitlin is elevating a sport that has ZERO commercial appeal. It is unbelievable what she has done so far.
Seeing what unfolded, I'm actually happy she went to Indiana. She's a married woman and will have no huge distractions in a small town.
Plus my Sparks got Rickea Jackson and Cameron Brink who were literally built for LA Fame. Everything worked out.
Caitlin (I'll write this as though I didn't see the game yet) will limit her shots early and try to fit in with the bigs. Eventually she'll get comfortable and play her usual game. She'll resemble Iowa Caitlin, but on less volume. She will have the ball in high leverage moments, but will largely be a distributor for most of the game. She has plenty of mouths to feed.
I think she'll average 18 & 6, win 24 games and win ROY. Rickea Jackson will score more, but won't win nearly as much.
Look forward to Caitlin's next few games and seeing how she adjusts to better athletes guarding her.
9:53 v
9:53 v nm..
I agree with everyone you said. It’s better for the sport she went to a midwestern market. It also helps Brink and Rickea were made for LA. They won’t draw as much as CC but they should still be able to fill up arenas
She isnt married though😂
@@giizodamulla7492 So....is Caitlin single then?
Coach Sides won’t last past the Olympics break! The WNBA can’t afford for Caitlin Clark not to have her Stephen Curry moments of shooting about 25 to 30 shots a game-and yes I’m talking about launching 3$-which is her money shot and what the fans wants to see out of Caitlin Clark this year! Nobody cares if the Fever has a winning record in Caitlin Clark’s rookie season. Anybody that has coached or played basketball on any meaningful level knows it take more than three practices for a team to learn each others strengths and weaknesses and where they like to receive the ball at or the floor. If I were the coach of the Indianapolis Fever I would run the Paul Westphal offense (just run and gun and try to out score the Fever’s opponents!) Then during the offseason the Fever can work on their defense- and offensive sets…But, for this year… can we please turn Caitlin Clark loose and let her run the same offense she ran at Iowa-that worked… Iowa made it to back-to-back NCAAW Championship games! Therefore, the style of basketball Caitlin Clark needs to play has been time tested and proven. And I know her teammates won’t have a problem playing the Paul Westphal style of offense because of Caitlin Clark’s passing ability they would be getting a lot of layups and wide open spot up jump shots and 3$! Enough said…Call Coach Bluder so that she can show the WNBA fans would CC can do in Paul Westphal’s Run and Gun offense! The WNBA can’t afford to mess this up because as Eminem said-in “Lose Yourself…Look (WNBA you [have] one shot or one opportunity To seize everything you ever wanted in one moment, Would you capture it or just let it slip? Yo” (credit for the Eminem reference goes to “Behind the Line” podcaster.
So come on WNBA owners of the Indiana Fever get Caitlin Clark and the rest of your Indiana Fever the coach they need or else you will [lose your fan base and that of the WNBA’$] or to quote Eminem - “Lose Yourself!”
Well. Highest scorer in her first wnba game.
I think with her matchup vs the Aces,Seattle and the Lynx,you're discounting a point you made earlier.She has a lot of offensive talent in her team .With Minnesota, Courtney williams isnt a player good enough to guard her and most likely with Diamond, the coach will most likely put someone else on her.With Seattle,you said SDS will wear her out considering she's close to her mid 30s and we know Jewell isnt considered among great defenders. Finally,the Aces.I do agree that they have a 3 headed monster at the guard positions and they can try to attack her when she's on defense ( I say 'try' because I think she won't be a liability on defense like Sabrina for example ) but they all arent elite defenders.Jackie young is the only one I see as a truly elite defender and Kelsey Plum is someone I truly believe Caitlin will be able to torch simply because of tgeir height difference. Everything else I agree with
I am not sure she will be an all star. She needs to add more to her offensive game. And I know that sounds crazy. But I think she will primarily be a three point shooter at this level if she doesn’t improve.
I am also not going to get carried away with the preseason performance. She shot well. Dallas defended her poorly at times. And players that will be cut played for both teams.
Even in her debut as a pro,you could see her talent shine.She'll easily be an all star
Definitely all star and Roty 100% no doubt
the 3 point line is the same in the wnba isn’t it?
Yeah you’re right they changed the NCAA line in 2021.
no the coach will destroy her if she isnt removed
Good analysis, and I think she will need a proper off season to work on her weaknesses. If she wants to play PG, she needs to learn how to attack the basket and manouver better around screens, a lot of times the screen set by the bigs don´t do anything in the flow of the game because she does not have a creative handle + quickness + midrange threat, so her only play in the half court is the tough ISO 3 pointer and she reset the play instead of attacking quickly.
I know she´s a god in transition passing, but when her teammates are not there with her pace, that´s when she needs to attack the basket too instead of letting the defense set. Clark was great all NCAA Tournament with the playmaking, but her lack of bag showed in the last 2 games, Kate Martin was the one who had to save Iowa in clutch time against Uconn with those fadeaway jumpers on Bueckers, Clark should´ve been the one doing that but she does not have the bag yet.
DC has Sykes who will give her a problem.
Who guards Mitchell then
Atkins, they also have SWK on the bench.
@@khalfanjunim2982 they have to also guard Katie Lou,Aliyah Boston and Nalyssa as well.Indy's strength is in the their talent on offense
@giizodamulla7492 DC has players to deal with them and they just drafted Aaliyah Edwards.
I agree, can't wait to see Cloud and Sykes at Clark. That will be a BIG test for Clark.
It looks like it.
I think I'd put the Mercury in the though category. Natasha Cloud and Rebecca Allen should be able to contain Caitlin.
I think you're forgetting is this isnt Iowa ,she isn't coming alone.She will have an all star in the back court supporting her
Clark is as good as she's going to get. PERIOD.T
After seeing the first pre-season game, it looks like the Fever don't have much talent to support Caitlin Clark, and that includes the coaching staff.
1. It's a preseason game 2. They still need to build team chemistry 3.Smith had 20, Wheeler 16, Boston 8pts , 8 Rebounds,2 blocks and was +3
I mean, this is a team the won 30 games combined over the last 4 seasons and got the #1, #1 and #2 pick three years in a row. They're not a good team and that's what we saw. They have 3 good vets, a bunch of players with 2 years or less experience and tbh they have about 6 players that just aren't good enough to be on a roster, even though they only need to cut 3. those 3 should be super obvious atp. I wouldn't put huge expectations on this team as a whol this season.
@@_M.... 13-27 last year and 16 losses were all single digits. Clark easily adds 10+ points per game which means most of those losses become wins. That would be 23-18 at a minimum and more likely closer to 28-12 and that’s the over under that Vegas odds has the line at.
Getting the all time d1 scorer and first pick is definitely a plus10+ in the plus minus points column. Generational
The Fever coaching staff SUCKS.
Her vision is not better than Chelsea gray’s