How is CC's rookie year going to go?

[Ice Man]

That's a debate we can perhaps have next year, if and when Clark is a realistic MVP candidate.

[MrDollarBills]

That's a debate we can perhaps have next year, if and when Clark is a realistic MVP candidate.

Next year it will be a legit debate because you figure the Fever are hitting the ground running next season.

Put a pin in it. CC is a lock for ROTY and ALL WNBA.

[tmorgan]

But over last 17 games Clark has put up:
20ppg @61% TS
6.6rpg
10.2apg
1.4spg
0.8bpg
5.4topg
Fever are 11-6 in that time, that would be 4th in the league.

Over those 17 games I think she'd have an argument for MVP, so maybe next season is a chance.

Yes, that level of performance puts a player in the MVP discussion. But the 14 games before those take her out of contention, which is how things should be. Awards are for a full season.

A word on Clark's defense. It is widely denigrated, which I think is only half correct. There are games where she's quite bad. But other times, she is quite solid. Nobody was able to pick on her in either the Dream or Sun games. She kept her assignments in front of her, preventing drives to the rim, while collecting 3 steals and 2 blocks in those games. Solid defense. Indy won both games in part because they held each opponent to less than its season average, and Clark was a contributor to that.

I'm not her to just sell Clark. The Sun exposed her TO proclivities ... she looked like the rook she is when facing that level of defensive pressure. Just trying to paint the most accurate picture I can.

i think her being a below-average defender should keep her out of these races.

the current MVP caliber frontrunners, aja, stewie and napheesa, are not only the best offensive players in the league, but also the best defensive players as well. i'm not sure that her offensive contributions can so heavily eclipse what the 3 mentioned are contributing on that end such that the defensive gap becomes voided.

Eh. Pro basketball history tells us this isn’t true — and her play style comparison to “upgraded Nash” is the easiest example. She just needs gaudy, efficient numbers and highlight worthy plays (clearly capable already, when talking about next year) and a very good team record (we’ll see, for next year). If Nashty can be MVP, so can CC.

[Ghetto Gospel]

Yes, that level of performance puts a player in the MVP discussion. But the 14 games before those take her out of contention, which is how things should be. Awards are for a full season.

A word on Clark's defense. It is widely denigrated, which I think is only half correct. There are games where she's quite bad. But other times, she is quite solid. Nobody was able to pick on her in either the Dream or Sun games. She kept her assignments in front of her, preventing drives to the rim, while collecting 3 steals and 2 blocks in those games. Solid defense. Indy won both games in part because they held each opponent to less than its season average, and Clark was a contributor to that.

I'm not her to just sell Clark. The Sun exposed her TO proclivities ... she looked like the rook she is when facing that level of defensive pressure. Just trying to paint the most accurate picture I can.

i think her being a below-average defender should keep her out of these races.

the current MVP caliber frontrunners, aja, stewie and napheesa, are not only the best offensive players in the league, but also the best defensive players as well. i'm not sure that her offensive contributions can so heavily eclipse what the 3 mentioned are contributing on that end such that the defensive gap becomes voided.

Eh. Pro basketball history tells us this isn’t true — and her play style comparison to “upgraded Nash” is the easiest example. She just needs gaudy, efficient numbers and highlight worthy plays (clearly capable already, when talking about next year) and a very good team record (we’ll see, for next year). If Nashty can be MVP, so can CC.

the difference in the NBA is that the best offensive players aren't always the best defensive players. in the W, the top 3 on offense are also kind of the top 3 on defense.

even though nash won, i don't think nash was ever really that deserving or was the best player in the league. imo, the only kind of below average defensive player to bridge that defensive gap because they are so far ahead on offense in a real way has been steph, i guess possible for caitlin clark but steph gravity off-ball was carrying a whole lot of that

[zimpy27]

But over last 17 games Clark has put up:
20ppg @61% TS
6.6rpg
10.2apg
1.4spg
0.8bpg
5.4topg
Fever are 11-6 in that time, that would be 4th in the league.

Over those 17 games I think she'd have an argument for MVP, so maybe next season is a chance.

Yes, that level of performance puts a player in the MVP discussion. But the 14 games before those take her out of contention, which is how things should be. Awards are for a full season.

A word on Clark's defense. It is widely denigrated, which I think is only half correct. There are games where she's quite bad. But other times, she is quite solid. Nobody was able to pick on her in either the Dream or Sun games. She kept her assignments in front of her, preventing drives to the rim, while collecting 3 steals and 2 blocks in those games. Solid defense. Indy won both games in part because they held each opponent to less than its season average, and Clark was a contributor to that.

I'm not her to just sell Clark. The Sun exposed her TO proclivities ... she looked like the rook she is when facing that level of defensive pressure. Just trying to paint the most accurate picture I can.

Yes of course.

Just saying if this recent level was held for a season then it's MVP, possible that she reaches that next year

[Ice Man]

I think she would win MVP next year if she goes 20/10 on points/assists, as she has over the past 14 games. That would be an A'ja level accomplishment given that no WNBA player has ever averaged even 17/7.

[jc23]

I like Clarks physical tools to be a good defender. She has the size, quick hands and is a very good shot blocker and defensive rebounder for her position. just needs to upgrade her awareness and handle the pnr better.

[zimpy27]

Watch on YouTube

[Ice Man]

By my count, Clark scored or assisted on 60 points last night -- 31 points scored, 7 assists on 2s, 5 assists on 3s. Pretty close to the record she set against Dallas in July, when she tallied 66.

[MrDollarBills]

By my count, Clark scored or assisted on 60 points last night -- 31 points scored, 7 assists on 2s, 5 assists on 3s. Pretty close to the record she set against Dallas in July, when she tallied 66.

I was reading that on average she accounts for 36ppg of the Fever's points?

[MrDollarBills]

I like Clarks physical tools to be a good defender. She has the size, quick hands and is a very good shot blocker and defensive rebounder for her position. just needs to upgrade her awareness and handle the pnr better.

She needs to hit the weight room and lock in on improving her team defensive IQ.

I look at Sabrina as kind of a bench mark here. Sabrina was a horrible defender but now she's pretty decent and I think a huge reason for that is because she put work into her body.

[RSCD3_]

I like Clarks physical tools to be a good defender. She has the size, quick hands and is a very good shot blocker and defensive rebounder for her position. just needs to upgrade her awareness and handle the pnr better.

Her biggest defensive issue to me is how sometimes she leaps at defenders, and they drive when she leaves her feet.

[IlikeSHAIguys]

I think CC just confirmed she's ROY

[rmontro]

She needs to hit the weight room and lock in on improving her team defensive IQ.

Lol, have you seen that clip where she is asked something about that by a reporter and she asks "Hey, you been studying my arms?" in a funny voice?

[rmontro]

I think CC just confirmed she's ROY

I can't imagine there is any question of that by this point, and if there was that surely puts it to bed. Didn't stop Reese from going out there and doing her stat padding thing though. Yeah, I said it.

[MrDollarBills]

I like Clarks physical tools to be a good defender. She has the size, quick hands and is a very good shot blocker and defensive rebounder for her position. just needs to upgrade her awareness and handle the pnr better.

Her biggest defensive issue to me is how sometimes she leaps at defenders, and they drive when she leaves her feet.

Yep. She tends be impulsive. Experience and work can change that though

[MrDollarBills]

She needs to hit the weight room and lock in on improving her team defensive IQ.

Lol, have you seen that clip where she is asked something about that by a reporter and she asks "Hey, you been studying my arms?" in a funny voice?

Watch on YouTube

In season isn't where she's going to get stronger. A good weight training regimen catered to her body type in the offseason with proper rest will do wonders.

[Ice Man]

I'm in the camp that decision making rather than strength is her key defensive issue. She's big for a PG, big enough where she already muscles around most opposing PGs when driving to the rim, and where she can prevent them from doing the same to her. Improving her defensive awareness is the key.

[ellobo]

She needs to hit the weight room and lock in on improving her team defensive IQ.

Lol, have you seen that clip where she is asked something about that by a reporter and she asks "Hey, you been studying my arms?" in a funny voice?

Watch on YouTube

In season isn't where she's going to get stronger. A good weight training regimen catered to her body type in the offseason with proper rest will do wonders.

Sue Bird recently made what I think are some good points about Clark's strength. First, she can and should train to get stronger and will naturally get stronger as she gets older. But second, a lot of the adjusting to the physicality of the WNBA that she's already done is just being prepared for it mentally, knowing what to expect and what kinds of contact are allowed, so she can stay on balance, be in a position to initiate contact instead of just absorbing it, and be better braced to absorb contact when she has to.

A lot of functional basketball strength is skill in balance, stability, and leverage, not just raw weight room strength or muscle mass. Weight room strength and muscle mass definitely help (especially when trained appropriately for your body type and playstyle), but they aren't the whole story.

[MrDollarBills]

Lol, have you seen that clip where she is asked something about that by a reporter and she asks "Hey, you been studying my arms?" in a funny voice?

Watch on YouTube

In season isn't where she's going to get stronger. A good weight training regimen catered to her body type in the offseason with proper rest will do wonders.

Sue Bird recently made what I think are some good points about Clark's strength. First, she can and should train to get stronger and will naturally get stronger as she gets older. But second, a lot of the adjusting to the physicality of the WNBA that she's already done is just being prepared for it mentally, knowing what to expect and what kinds of contact are allowed, so she can stay on balance, be in a position to initiate contact instead of just absorbing it, and be better braced to absorb contact when she has to.

A lot of functional basketball strength is skill in balance, stability, and leverage, not just raw weight room strength or muscle mass. Weight room strength and muscle mass definitely help (especially when trained appropriately for your body type and playstyle), but they aren't the whole story.

Absolutely, you are correct. It's not all weight training.

Also, I should clarify, I'm not saying CC needs to be in the weight room squatting, benching, and deadlifting 300 lbs and becoming massive. That's not basketball resistance training I'm talking appropriate resistance work geared towards her body type that won't reduce her speed and interfere with her shot mechanics. Lower body strength improvement and upper body improvement to absorb and finish through contact are a must.

Again, Sabrina is the example I like to point to. She put a lot of work into her body that has paid dividends for her on both ends. I would like CC to gradually do the same.

It's not a one off season thing either. This stuff takes time, consistency and patience.