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Message: [QUOTE="CamrnCrz1974, post: 2269407, member: 1052"] Cam's random CT Sun observations: 1) Last year, I was critical of the Alex Bentley-Jasmine Thomas backcourt, believing that trading one was necessary. Well, I was wrong. Jasmine Thomas (finally) developed an outside shot! This has made her a tremendous threat off the drive and beyond the arc. Also, moving Alyssa Thomas to power forward while allowing her to be a secondary (or primary) ballhandler/distributor has worked wonders. Thomas has never had an outside shot, but Miller allows her to maximize what she does best - scoring close to the basket and facilitating. Bentley had overseas commitments, I believe, and came late. This has allowed her to be a scorer off the bench, where she is better suited. Courtney Williams has turned into the lethal scorer we knew she could be (wish Phoenix would have kept her), and she is a much better fit in the starting lineup. Also, putting Thomas at the four allows Tuck to be a scorer off the bench with Bentley. This gives the Sun opportunities to provide a scoring punch off the bench, while giving the starters some rest. 2) After Elizabeth Williams won MIP in Atlanta, I was down on the Sun for the trades that they made. But one Boneyarder (cannot remember which poster, my apologies) told me take a second look at Jonquel Jones. Said poster was right. Jonquel is the PERFECT complement in the frontcourt for Alyssa Thomas at the 4. While AT has her shooting limitations, Jones is a legitimate threat from three, allowing the Sun to run Jones outside when needed and Thomas on the inside or have Thomas facilitate from the outside to Jones on the inside. 3) Shekinna Stricklen is a legit three-point specialist, averaging nearly 2.5 made threes per game on 44.0 percent shooting from beyond the arc. Again, a great complement to the offense, being able to catch and shoot from Jasmine Thomas/Alyssa Thomas as well as providing a threat on the perimeter to cut down on double teams inside. This has maximized the Sun's shooting from three, as the Sun currently lead the entire WNBA in three-point percentage (over 41 percent) and made threes per game (7.1) S0 whats next for the Sun? 1) This team is YOUNG. Jasmine Thomas is the oldest starter at 28. Getting more time to develop and play together is key. But this starting five should be the core going forward - great combination of shooting, passing, facilitating, and diversity on offense. 2) Free throws. CT shoots 72 percent as a team (last in the league), but takes three attempts less per game than Sun opponents who shoot 80 percent against CT. The biggest culprit is Alyssa Thomas, who is 58-108 from the line (53.7 percent); the rest of the team is shooting 79.7 percent from the line. Thomas has to make more free throws, plain and simple, especially when CT is shooting less attempts from the line than its opponents. 3) What does this mean for Chiney Ogwumike when she comes back? Well, putting her at the four, moves Alyssa Thomas to the three, which won't work because of the lack of shooting. Putting Alyssa on the bench gives the team a secondary playmaker, but also limits the facilitating of the starting lineup, as both Thomases (Thomii? Thomasii? LOL) are great passers - having two players who average over four assists per game is key to good ball movement and offensive flow. Now, Chiney would be a great "super sub" off the bench. This is a player whose career averages are 14 ppg and 7 rpg. But this is also a player who missed the entire 2015 season rehabilitating from micro-fracture surgery on her right knee. And this is a player who is missing 2017 because of her Achilles. The team has extended her contract, so she will be part of the future. But the question is in what capacity. [/QUOTE]

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