You know all those times you’ll be watching a basketball game and it’s out of reach, but the losing team is still fouling? And you’re thinking, “Good grief, give it up! It’s over. We’d all like to go home sometime tonight.”
Well, Tuesday’s 91-85 Minnesota victory over Atlanta was NOT one of those times. In fact, it was just the opposite. I imagine a lot of viewers were like me, sitting there watching this game end and saying, “What the hell just happened?”
If you were not tuned in, here’s what went down: Atlanta’s Iziane Castro Marques was unstoppable early on and eventually finished with a career-high 31 points. (I know she’s not from Rio de Janeiro, but teammate Erika de Souza is. And when the camera focuses on either of them, does anybody else hear “The Girl from Ipanema” playing in their head? Or is it just me?)
When Minnesota went to a zone, however, the Dream’s dreadful lack of 3-point shooting was fully exposed.
Minnesota built its lead to as much as 19, led by Candice Wiggins, Nicky Anosike and Roneeka Hodges. But in the final minutes, the Lynx were playing hot-potato with the ball and seemed to just be waiting for the clock to run out.
During a late timeout, Minnesota coach Jennifer Gillom – who was wired for sound during the game _ had this priceless advice for her suddenly scatter-brained team: “Run a freaking play!”
It was my favorite moment all night.
Well, the Lynx still didn’t quite close it out with authority. In fact, it was a two-possession game – a six-point Minnesota lead – and everyone watching surely was saying, “The Dream has to try to milk these final seconds for any chance to win. Foul ‘em, send ‘em to the line, hope they miss. Then hope you can nail a couple of 3-pointers.”
Now, admittedly, Atlanta had made just two 3-pointers all game, so the odds weren’t good. But, still, shouldn’t the Dream have at least tried?
Instead, the clock ran out with no fouls, as if the Dream players maybe were hoping to get to a 9:30 movie. ESPN2 announcer Terry Gannon sounded as baffled as we viewers felt. Like, “Did they really just do that?” Now, maybe a few of the Dream players gave a half-hearted effort at fouling … but it wasn’t good enough.
Atlanta fell to 4-6 and might want to look at … well, where to start? Defense? Perimeter shooting? Ball movement? Clock management? Really giving a damn until the final buzzer?
The Dream has talent, but it’s not fully taking advantage of it. And Atlanta seems to have a pretty severe shortage of behind-the-arc firepower.
Meanwhile, the kiddie Lynx got another Seimone-less victory, and did it on the road, no less. It should almost count as a victory and a half.
The Lynx, who made 13 3-pointers, won their third game in a row to move to 7-3. And lately Wiggins almost looks as if she’s back in the 2008 NCAA tournament.
I don’t know anyone that wasn’t confused at the end of that game. Especially after that last layup cut it to a 2 possession game. It just seemed like all of the Dream players were kind of unaware of how little time was left.
Candice Wiggins looks like she did when I hated her because I’m a Husky fan.
the past few games the Dream’s lack of defense against the 3 and our lack of ability to shoot the 3 has been blindingly obvious.
I can only imagine how aggravated the players must be, because us fans watching them waver back and forth from brilliance one game (quarter!?) to… well something less another game/quarter is frustrating for sure.
Another thing I found baffling about that game was how Atlanta Asst Coach Carol Ross always seemed to take the lead role in coaching the team at time-outs.
I’m used to seeing the HC confer with her assistants before talking with her team. But after that, the assistants (from what I’ve observed) step back and let the HC take the lead. The assistants may instruct individual players, but not the team as a whole.
I just thought that the way Ross jumped in was kind of strange. It makes me wonder whether the team is receiving mixed signals from the coaching staff. Who’s really the captain of the Atlanta ship?
What in the H E Double Hockey sticks is the Coach of Atlanta doing. I was at the game. First, She can’t coach. She doesn’t seem to have confidence in all of her players.
Why would you bother to pick Angel as the #1 Draft pick and don’t play her in the games. She has a tenacity to want to win, she’s all about The Team, and she Can DOWNRIGHT Play.
Why were you running a ZONE and everytime they shot a three it was money in the Bank. I dont see the assistant coaches doing anything but sitting on the bench afraid to say anything.
Why would you take Izzy out of the game when she had the hot hand?
Why Didn’t Nikki Teasley get back in the game. I was at the game in Atlanta and only stayed to the end because I was with some friends otherwise I would’ve been out of there. Somebody needs to do some Reassessing.
Angel Hang In There, It cant be Easy on You.
Watching that game, I thought Atlanta was trying to foul, but for some reason they were doing a really bad job of it, and the refs weren’t calling it. I was very confused. But apparently the scoreboard was borked, and I still don’t know if it was actually 93-85 or not- and that extra possession would have made all the difference.
I also got the sense that just about everything Jennifer Gillom needed to learn about coaching, she learned from Cheryl Miller. “Run a freakin’ play!” has got to be the new catchphrase among WNBA fans.
I thought all of the same things, too. The Dream coaching situation reminds me of last year, when Lennox was always consulting with the assistant over Meadors….I’m not an expert critique of coaches, but I’ve wondered lately if Meadors is … well …. not fully in charge-respected-whatever. I can’t believe NOBODY on the bench didn’t call for those late fouls, but then, maybe we just couldn’t hear. Also, it sure seems as though she’s UNDERutilizing Angel. There’s a player who could easily have been POY in the NCAA last season, and she’s not getting enough minutes to make the contributions she’s capable of. JMO. I was rooting for the Lynx anyways…:-) Wiggins, Anosike, Houston, Hodges, Montgomery, Miller, Pringle…awesome.