After one other tough efficiency in opposition to the Indiana Fever on Saturday, the Chicago Sky want ahead Angel Reese to increase her offensive recreation.
The Fever crushed the Sky, 79-52, at United Heart in Chicago. Star Fever guard Caitlin Clark did not play due to a left quad harm.
In 27 minutes, Reese grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds however scored simply 4 factors on 2-of-7 taking pictures from the sector and dedicated three turnovers. Regardless of the poor exhibiting from the 23-year-old ahead, Sky head coach Tyler Marsh did not blame her.
“I do not assume Angel struggled tonight. I feel we struggled as a staff,” he mentioned in a postgame information convention. “It is not about Angel being higher for us, it is us being higher for Angel, and everybody else round. And so, once more, it made it robust for anyone to get a rhythm tonight.”
Reese’s supporting forged did not step up in opposition to the Fever. The Sky shot 3-of-15 from three-point vary, had 19 turnovers and had no gamers rating in double figures.
Whereas it is obvious the Sky lack the expertise to be a championship contender, Reese nonetheless deserves some criticism.
Earlier than the season, Reese advised Jason Lieser of the Chicago Solar-Instances that she would “proceed to get higher yearly.”
Reese’s offensive numbers, nonetheless, have dipped. By means of her first seven video games this season, she has averaged 9.1 factors per recreation on 30.9% taking pictures from the sector. Throughout her rookie season, the previous LSU standout recorded 13.6 PPG on 39.1% taking pictures from the sector in 34 video games.
Groups have possible realized Reese — who has made 4 three-pointers in two seasons — is not a menace as an outdoor shooter, and thus, they’ll clog the paint when she will get the ball.
Her lack of ability to complete via contact could possibly be exacerbating her issues. In line with Basketball Reference, she’s taking pictures an abysmal 28.9% on photographs from zero to a few ft.
Clearly, Reese should enhance her taking pictures contact and develop extra inventive finishes to beat her second-year slide. If she does, that ought to assist the one-time All-Star get again on observe.
