Caitlyn Clark

Par4QC

Like I said, don't think CC is getting too serious about any pre-season game.....

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1CvbGifAsG/

johnnydoom

Par4QC If they do, by some miracle have a scheme to run the offense through Caitlin, they definitely aren't going to reveal it until it counts.

Par4QC

johnnydoom I'm picking up on what they are going to be doing a lot this season, after getting Raven. Her and CC will be on the floor at the same time(not all the time) with Raven at point. Even if Kelsey is also on the floor. This opens CC up for shooting freely, or at least, more freely. Plus she won't be under a lot of pressure with having to take the ball down court. They are looking at it as 'rest/less stress' for CC, and maybe less beatings. Wanna keep her sound all season this year.
If Raven plays as she can, she will be getting the double-teaming.

johnnydoom

Par4QC If Raven plays as she can, she will be getting the double-teaming.

She won't be double-teamed. They will always have a body on Caitlin until the refs start calling fouls, or until the rest of the team can beat the other team's brains out because all of the focus is still on Caitlin on or off the ball. IMO.

Par4QC

johnnydoom If CC is playing off the ball, and they do not pass it to her, like they have not been doing, no one will be on her. No need.
This is where the plan will fail, imo, not passing the ball to her. The whole idea is to spread the floor, meaning everyone gets touches. She just as well be on the bench resting if they are not going to do that.

johnnydoom

Still no Boston, Hull, Harris, for tomorrow's preseason game.

Par4QC

johnnydoom AB and Lexi played in Unrivaled, so more than likely just resting to make sure. They'll be ready, if fit, opening game. They are probably going to take more time with Harris and the knee. No hurry there either with their line up.

Other big names on teams have not been playing either. 'Resting' is always the listed reason.

Par4QC

johnnydoom Pissot is also now out tonight....'lower leg'.
I think this is a ruse.

She can be taken/given an offer by another team on that developmental assignment. The Fever would have to match/sign to full contract in order to keep her.

johnnydoom

Par4QC Every time I've seen Caitlin in off ball movement, she's received the same treatment as though she has the ball. They grab her, slap her, kick her and body check her to keep her from moving into an open catch and shoot position. The only way she gets the ball back is with a screen hand-off, and some of her teammates won't do that either. The only time Caitlin is without physical contact is when she stands still without the ball from what I've seen.

In the first game, when Caitlin was bringing the ball up and being fouled (uncalled) at every turn, Sophie finally got pissed and ran up to and pretty violently screened the Liberty player. If the refs are going to continue to allow disruptive physical play against Caitlin, it's going to take every member of the team setting hard screens to get her free. But then the refs will probably start calling moving screen fouls against the Fever every time they try. Until I see otherwise, I can only assume that the league seriously just wants to continue as a DEI write-off and nothing more, but it's also hard to believe that paying the bigger contracts that they've agreed to wouldn't influence their attitude towards the physicality. If so, it wasn't apparent in the first pre-season game.

Par4QC

Shocking news out of Indy yesterday, concerning CC...........
They picked up her 4th year option.
🤣

johnnydoom

Par4QC I wish I could see more of Pissott. Right now, she seems very similar to Dantas and I don't know how they manage playing time with both. But I think you're right, they want to keep her on the cheap if they can find a way to make other teams not notice, although I assume the others must've scouted her before the draft also.

johnnydoom

I'm looking forward to the pre-season game tonight to see if Caitlin is getting anywhere with regards to trying to improve her defensive play and if her teammates are trying to improve their screen setting skills. Also would love to see if Raven can play decently off the ball since Caitlin can't/won't/shouldn't (last one IMO). However, Caitlin might be better off the ball with Raven already more than capable of distributing and the rest of the team being 3-point threats that can't go unguarded. Even AB was starting to make 3's at a decent percentage by the end of Unrivaled from what I heard. I still think every team is still always going to have someone in constant physical contact with CC unless or until the refs make that an issue though.

Par4QC

johnnydoom until the refs make that an issue though.

Not sure what's going on with them. I had read where they were being schooled for a couple weeks as to how to do things differently than in the past. I've seen over 50 foul calls in some of these games so far. And they are still making wrong calls, per coach challenges. And some bad ones, imo.

That (moving)screen hit that Stewie put on Sophie should have been a flagrant, in order to stop that kind of thing. Someone is going to get hurt badly.

garyt1957

CC attacking the basket with the intent to score is a very good thing.

johnnydoom

I was hoping to see some defensive improvement from Caitlin, but not seeing it here. I also hope Dantas shakes off the rust before the real games start. Next to her, Pissott is looking better even sitting on the bench. Dallas has some really dangerous looking players to go with Paige. They are playing loose and beating the Fever in the speed game.

johnnydoom

I haven’t seen anything but good from Raven Johnson in her 2 pre-season games. She’s starting to look like a steal at the 10th pick.

darpar

WHAT nobody watching the Knicks/Hawks nailbiter????
83-36 at the half! WTF

Par4QC

CC off the ball is not going to work. She wasn't even pressured when she was on point, bringing the ball down; barely even closely guarded, and never doubled. But, it's pre-season.

Traylor is on a training camp contract that I think will be made a full contract. Not sure how they will work that but the hustle and knowing where to be/what to do has to account for a lot. And she can shoot.

Dantas needs the reps....shooting baskets. Not 'at' the basket. For sure. 😄

What was with Sophie only getting 1 touch in the whole time she played? Odd. But it did seem like CC was taking charge, maybe even hogging the ball at times.

Wings may have a similar problem as the Fever with too many good players.

johnnydoom

It looked like the refs actually called almost all grabbing and holding last night against both teams. Hope that becomes a thing and the WNBA can get back to playing basketball with some freedom of movement instead of just the bigger women just doing what they want. If so, Aliyah Boston will have to unlearn all of the physicality she spent last year developing to counterbalance. 🙂

Par4QC

johnnydoom I think they made 53 calls last night. That really is too many in a short game, which makes them longer games. I didn't think the flagrant on Smith was a very good call though. Did not seem a deliberate move, merely more of a losing her balance thing. Those hard screens though need to be dealt with every time, every team/game.....knee injuries, concussions, etc..

The 'learning' the refs underwent was to call more 'touch them nots'. So, we'll be seeing more calls. Maybe just not for some teams/some players though.😉

johnnydoom

Par4QC Refs have a learning curve, and the players will too (if there really is a shift in how the refs call the games🤞). They'll get used to it after a while.

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