I think the Fever could creep into that #5 playoff spot with the way things are lining up for them concerning their schedule and team chemistry. Barring injuries, I think they will surpass the Mercury and widen the gap between them and the teams below them, thus at least locking down the #6 seed.
Quick reminder, azfan: the Fever happened to beat the Mercury three straight this season without Lexie going nuts from three.
I wouldn't call Indy a bottom dweller, at least not since the first 10 games
After starting 1-8 they’ve gone 12-7. They could make noise in the playoffs.
Ikr.
As they showed today. Although they won't start at home in the playoffs
Agreed, they don't look like a real title contender IMO and are running out of time. The biggest problem is Stokes is a huge offensive liability (1.9 ppg in 20.6 mpg) and Chelsea Gray isn't close to being the player she was a year ago. Gray was cut and dry the best PG in the world a year ago, now she's a shell of herself coming off the achilles injury. Plum/Wilson/Young is as good a trio as you'll find in the league but the lack of production in options 4/5 will kill them going up against the Sun or Liberty who have balance offensively
Doesn't help that Clark seems to be fading. Hayes has had some good games but overall hasn't helped w/ scoring punch off the bench as much as I hoped. And Gustafson went from tearing everybody up at the Olympics playing for Spain back to doing just short of nothing for the Aces. Martin also has faded a lot since her early season bigger than expected splash.
They got Parker and Gray to go with 3 number 1 choices the first year. The 2nd year they got Clark one of the best defenders last year. Everyone is one year older, and Clark ins't the same defender and scorer. Hayes is a nice addition, but not the same player she was either.
She has said recently she just broke her foot, no ligament damage apparently.
Signs are all good.....but I was a bit disappointed that the balance in shot attempts between the two guards and Boston was far too much in their favor. I suppose one can say it is taking advantage of opportunities but the scoring dynamics between the three is important to have some semblance of balance between the backcourt and the frontcourt. It was trending towards that balance already, I hope they don't regress to their early season form in that regard. They are winning, so no one will complain but harder games are ahead....
I suspect at least a part of today's shot atempt disparity between Aliyah and Caitlin/Kelsey was named Ezi Magbegor. It wasn't easy for Boston to get her shots, hence fewer shot attempts but lots more assists from her... I doubt she was complaining.
I know. It was almost sad watching her play at the Olympics. She was getting her pocket picked by speedy guards on offense, and blown by on defense, and she used to be among the best two-way guards the W has ever seen. I'm hoping she just needs another off-season to fully recover, but it felt a little like she was playing her podcast at x0.75 speed when everyone else was at x1.
Praise be. She was more than that in college, and expected to be that given her no. 6 pick (in an admittedly weak draft). I've never really understood why it hasn't clicked for her in the W - heck, even in AU she has shined as in college, where she was a trey draining machine when left open. I'm hoping her charming camaraderie with Clark and Boston provides the confidence boost it's seemed like she's needed. Indiana has a ton of young talent and it feels like they're really clicking into gear now.
Easy there. Having Canada, Howard and Gray available has improved guard play. Hillmon continues to prove those who thought she was too small wrong and has done well as a starter. With Parker-Tyus suffering a foot injury, it reduces their front court strength a bit. While I'm glad to see Atlanta grind a couple tough games out, let's see how things play out.