Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever are nonetheless a piece in progress

There are many causes to tune in and watch the Indiana Fever, together with the apparent one — the rookie season and ongoing improvement of Caitlin Clark, the No. 1 decide within the 2024 WNBA Draft.

However one small deal with viewers get when tuning in to look at Indy is attending to watching essentially the most expressive teaching workers within the WNBA, led by Head Coach Christie Sides…

On each of these performs, a participant units an off-ball display for Clark, who briefly attracts two defenders. She cracks the protection simply sufficient to let the screener slip to the basket and catch a cross. However the cross doesn’t come on both play, regardless of the gesticulations from Sides and Co. on the sideline.

Indiana’s teaching workers is not simply attempting to direct offensive units in these clips, however as a substitute making an attempt to will the group into a great future. Clark is flying off screens and bending the protection in a approach that her teammates can feed off of, a core tenet of a read-and-react offense that’s easy to game-plan for however inconceivable to cease.

These performs aren’t simply performs; they’re how the Fever need to play

These are the moments by which you imagine in them. The moments by which you imagine Christie Sides when she says, “That’s timing, all these actions are timing. We’re gonna get there. I imply, we don’t have plenty of time to observe, enjoying each different day, however we’ll get there. They are going to get there.”

After which, there are moments the place you don’t precisely lose perception, however start to ask questions. Moments by which the extent of execution isn’t price contemplating as a result of the Fever don’t know what they need to execute. Moments after which an announcement from Sides like “it’s a course of, and I do know all people needs us to be actually, actually good now and and simply isn’t the way it works,” falls flat, making you surprise if that first quote is the pinnacle coach reassuring herself and her bosses, quite than us.

No, the Indiana Fever aren’t imagined to be actually good now. However are they imagined to be 1-7 with second-worst offense within the WNBA? Are they imagined to have already tried 94 distinctive lineups, essentially the most within the league?

That is uncharted territory for each the Fever and their sudden franchise savior, and among the questions they make you ask are directed inwards. What ought to I count on from this group in 12 months one, in weeks one and two no much less? What does a formidable timeline even appear like?

These are the philosophical knots that attempting to reply a unique, seemingly less complicated query will tie you into.

How are Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever doing on offense?

Let’s transfer out of the realm of philosophy and see what the movie has to say.

The Good

Scripted offense

Right here is one motive to imagine in Sides and her workers. They’ve known as some wonderful units to start the season, and lots of of them are concise actions to get the non-Clark Fever going.

In her first begins of the season, Kelsey Mitchell struggled towards the New York Liberty and Connecticut Solar, taking pictures 14-34 and infrequently having to work powerful matchups in isolation to get her pictures off. So to start their subsequent recreation in Seattle, Indiana known as variations of the identical, easy pin-down for Mitchell to get her downhill, constructing a lot of their first-quarter offense round her…

Lots of Indiana’s go-to units characteristic Clark exerting minimal on-ball effort. Sometimes, her job is merely to make a easy cross to Mitchell and preserve one potential assist defender out of the best way.

However Sides is conscious about the off-ball gravity Clark possesses. And when the Fever don’t capitalize on it (see: intro), it turns into each a educating second for the younger squad and a defensive weak spot that the subsequent play-call can tackle.

Of their recreation vs. the Los Angeles Sparks, when Mitchell missed Katie Lou Samuelson on the above slip, there was a media timeout simply after that possession. So, what did the Fever name popping out of the break?

Two “away” screens for Clark, the place she is directed to chop in entrance of the second to tug that defender along with her. The Sparks don’t swap it, and Samuelson will get an open 3-point look, albeit one which she bricks. The teaching workers rises with glee as quickly as the proper cross is made…

By eight video games, it’s uncommon that the Fever will name a play that doesn’t make sense, that misuses the obtainable expertise on the ground. After all, there are long-term questions on who to encompass Clark with and what course to take the franchise in, however Sides’ play-calling reveals her grasp on completely different people’ strengths, how one can use what’s obtainable to her.

Temi Fagbenle

With Caitlin Clark on the entrance strains of this present embrace of the WNBA and ladies’s basketball at massive, there are undoubtedly many new followers tuning into the Fever in 2024, watching the W usually for the primary time of their lives. Which is nice, as a result of they get to witness a narrative solely the WNBA may produce in Temi Fagbenle, a ahead who spent the final 4 seasons away from the league, solely to return at age 31 to thrive as an ideal match subsequent to Clark.

At 6’4, she has a glitchy athleticism that provides each opposing 4s and 5s hassle, particularly as a result of she will run the ground like this off a made basket…

Beginning behind all 5 Sparks defenders is hardly an impediment for Fagbenle, nor for Clark, who might need walked into the W as its most audacious outlet passer — a few of which must be toned down, as Clark’s turnovers in that space are contributing to the No. 11 rating the Fever have in points-per-transition alternative, per Synergy Sports activities.

Except Fagbenle is on the court docket. Virtually no cross is simply too wild for her to deal with, and he or she has the steadiness and coordination in tight areas to complete performs. She would embarrass you in a recreation of tag even in the event you had been enjoying within the backseat of a automobile…

Fagbenle’s greatest qualities make her an ideal sidekick for Clark within the halfcourt as nicely, significantly when the No. 1 total decide will get trapped on ball screens. That’s been defenses’ most popular approach of guarding Clark within the pick-and-roll, not simply because it eliminates the specter of her taking pictures a 3, but additionally as a result of the Fever haven’t excelled at making choices within the 4-on-3.

But, Fagbenle is sufficient of a downhill drive that she will both rating herself or entice sufficient protection to make a simple, high-value learn to a different open participant…

An elite athlete who’s the very best cutter on the group, who can win 1-on-1 matchups whereas not being a black gap on offense? It’s no surprise the Brit has emerged as Indiana’s fifth starter, a choice that ought to stick. In 144 minutes with Clark and Fagbenle on the court docket, Indiana is outscoring opponents by over 5 factors per 100 possessions.

And after writing all that, the Fever introduced Fagbenle will miss 2-3 weeks with a left foot damage, at which level she might be re-evaluated. Upon her return, she must be inserted again into the beginning lineup barring one thing actually surprising occurring in her absence, however it’s a disappointing blow to Fever followers who haven’t seen a lot go proper for his or her group thus far.

The Unhealthy

Offensive rebounding

This one I don’t fairly perceive. The Indiana Fever are tenth in offensive-rebound charge, albeit one bruising recreation from leaping just a few spots. Nonetheless, the movie suggests offensive rebounding isn’t a excessive precedence for Indiana, regardless of usually having two of Aliyah Boston, NaLyssa Smith, and Fagbenele on the court docket directly.

Is a part of it as a result of they’ve the worst protection within the league thus far, and are specializing in getting again after the shot goes as much as not quit much more straightforward buckets? Positively.

However for a group that sees so many ball screens defended aggressively 40 toes from the rim, their very own lack of aggression on the offensive glass is a white flag. There’s no urgency to crash from the corners, regardless of enjoying towards defenses which might be always too scattered to field out.

On this play, Clark hoists a deep three that misses, however with Boston rolling to the rim and Cameron Brink contesting the shot, the Fever have a built-in benefit on the glass. But, no person goes to assist Boston assault…

Positive, the Fever don’t get an awesome bounce on this particular shot, however there’s no motive to not crash the glass with fury.

Moreover, the one shot they’ve been making at a constant clip — once more, in simply eight video games — is the off-the-dribble jumper. Not catch-and-shoots, not layups, however pull-ups. Defenders like Brink received’t be coached to put off these pictures simply but. The Fever have to start out cashing in down low.

Spacing

The offensive rebounding is a minimum of a stylistic concern. It’s comprehensible that the Fever’s teaching workers would love their younger group to get again in transition and match the hell up, even when they’re leaving factors on the board by being conservative.

However the spacing in Indiana’s unscripted offense has left a ton to be desired, and it’s disappointing even contemplating a busy schedule that’s erased observe time. Lacking some slip cuts and backdoor alternatives is a forgivable sin that ought to enhance with pure cohesion, and as we’ll see, a few of these spacing considerations are comparable.

However too usually, gamers merely aren’t in the precise spots. Clark has to cease gravitating towards the ball in transition and simply dash the ground…

She’ll do that within the half-court too when she’s not working off screens, often loafing by the emblem or simply working towards the ball when she feels it’s time to do her factor.

The teaching workers has additionally made some complicated choices in particular video games, enjoying into opponent strengths. For instance, Indiana has insisted on filling the dunker spot on excessive pick-and-rolls, even towards the New York Liberty, a fearsome shot-blocking group with two dominant bigs.

When Clark would get trapped and hit Boston on the brief roll, Breanna Stewart was already in place to make a play. On this play, it seems to be like Fagbenle goes out of her strategy to make Boston’s life troublesome, and it ends the way you’d count on…

After all, there are occasional timing gaffes that throw off the Fever, like setting screens a hair too early or late. Nonetheless, these performs might be excused, to some extent, by an absence of familiarity that ought to enhance over the season.

However whereas particular play-calls and actions — like guard-to-guard screening between Mitchell and Clark — are sometimes constructive, normal rules might be complicated. Why is Clark, a proficient off-ball mover, stifling her personal group in transition? Why is Boston’s life usually made tougher on the brief roll?

These are the much less philosophical however much more complicated questions that pop up when watching Indiana.

The In-Between

NaLyssa Smith and Aliyah Boston

NaLyssa Smith is caught in a pickle.

Temi Fagbenle has pressured her approach into the beginning lineup, instantly rising as a key piece for Indiana. This isn’t dangerous information for Smith in and of itself — these two kind a dynamic frontcourt that has sufficient size and athleticism to get by on protection and thrive offensively.

That pair additionally characterize two viable launch valves for Clark and Mitchell, every able to navigating a 4-on-3 state of affairs and posting up mismatches. Smith is even a semi-threatening pick-and-popper.

And towards the Seattle Storm, we briefly noticed Smith because the 5 subsequent to 4 shooters, an offensively-slanted lineup that, regardless of all of the ball-handling on the ground, allowed her to prepare dinner a bit…

And why not? Not solely does Smith have the ballhandling chops and dimension to get to her spots down low, however she’s proven a capability as a hub to pretend dribble handoffs and hit back-door cutters. So, she hasn’t totally been benched due to poor play, however largely as a result of Fagbenle pressured the teaching workers into selecting between her and Aliyah Boston, and Boston continues to be a franchise cornerstone.

Subsequent to the 2023 No. 1 total decide, Smith’s function modified a bit. With much less area to function inside, her offense grew to become extra perimeter-oriented, significantly because the Fever attempt to combine Boston as Clark’s important pick-and-roll accomplice, getting her snug within the brief roll.

Within the beginning lineup, Smith grew to become a bystander, her mid-post isolation recreation present in its personal universe, separate from Caitlin Clark’s affect. Of the 31 distinctive two-player mixtures to play a minimum of 25 minutes this season for the Fever, Smith-Boston has been the worst one, getting out-scored by 43.8 factors per 100 possessions.

Smith will nonetheless contribute to Indiana, and internet score is way from definitive after simply two weeks of ball. Nonetheless, count on a lot of her minutes to come back with Boston off the court docket, doubtlessly as a hyper-charged, offense-focused 5 subsequent to a ton of taking pictures.

As for Boston, she’s undoubtedly began 2024 slowly, enjoying a very completely different fashion of hoop than the one she’s grown accustomed to since arriving at South Carolina approach again when. However she continues to be Aliyah Boston, and has already made enhancements earlier than June has hit.

Fortunately, her screening is on the high of the checklist. She has developed a little bit of a rhythm with Clark in semi-transition to free her for open seems to be. She’s truly making a little bit of contact on these now, and it makes all of the distinction on this planet…

However Boston nonetheless has a methods to go as a screen-and-roller. That is unsurprising, provided that she’s now beginning a few of her touches from 25 toes out, quite than posting up within the restricted space.

She is going to set a display and drift too distant from the motion, permitting Clark to get engulfed by traps with out a launch valve to hit. And beginning possessions outdoors the paint, Boston continues to be getting used to reducing to the entrance of the rim when Indiana’s guards go, discovering the cracks in a dribble-drive offense.

The identical goes for her passing in 4-on-3 conditions, along with her entire short-roll recreation being a piece in progress. Indiana appears to have accepted this; so there might be a ton of possessions like the next, the place a half-ass stunt from Alysha Clark turns what may very well be a lay-up right into a pull-up 10-footer for Boston…

However she will make this shot, so Indiana will dwell with this on the street to extra productive course of.

Within the instant future, there are two keys to growing Boston’s instant offensive affect and permitting her to learn from enjoying with a guard who attracts as a lot consideration as Clark, quite than simply enjoying subsequent to her.

First, she has to show a few of these rolls into pseudo-post-ups, the place we all know she’s snug working. Right here, she catches the ball down low towards the smaller Rickea Jackson, and may simply circulate into a fast back-to-the-basket transfer. However she rapidly offers up on that concept, and kicks the ball right into a much less harmful place…

Second, the Fever have to assist her out a bit.

Sides and Co. ran this play out of a time towards Los Angeles, an isolation alternative for Boston with Clark scrambling round on the weak aspect to remove any undue defensive consideration…

Once more, nice play-calling in a managed state of affairs, however Boston sorely lacks this sort of construction in most of Indiana’s offense. There’s lots on her plate proper now, and it’s taking away from her conventional effectiveness within the publish; in transition, she’s usually caught in between sealing down low and setting a excessive ball display for Clark or Mitchell. Now not is her first impulse to get right down to the paint and bury her mismatch.

However for a group taking the third-fewest layup makes an attempt this season, per Synergy, the Fever may use some extra of that. They’ve proven a want to make use of Clark’s gravity to unencumber Mitchell for drives and Samuelson for open pictures. Throwing Boston a bone each infrequently may go a great distance in easing her into this brand-new offense.

By two weeks of her skilled profession, we haven’t realized a lot about Caitlin Clark. She continues to be the lethal 3-point shooter who warps the ground 35 toes out, who forces double groups and can run a bunch of excessive pick-and-rolls; not an All-WNBA participant but, however may very well be on her approach.

Nonetheless, we’ve additionally realized there isn’t any lightning in a bottle with these Indiana Fever. There might be no in a single day transformation with one of many WNBA’s all-time nice offensive prospects turning them right into a high-powered offense. Each single enchancment they make might be one scratched and clawed for, each accomplished cross by means of visitors a minor victory.

Ought to we be disillusioned? Is Indiana’s 1-7 begin an indictment on Christie Sides and her gamers? Is their faltering offense discouraging after simply two weeks? The proper reply isn’t no or sure, however abstaining from a remaining reply till we get extra data.

The one factor we’ve realized about Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever is that they’re going to be a long-term venture, and it’s too early to inform what course they’re headed.