Indiana Fever 2024

[jc23]

if CC gets a tech the last game of the season she will be suspended the following season? that would be rough if it was for the post season.

[ellobo]

Fever looked one piece short last night.

As they got 5 points from Smith and Hull, on 1-7 shooting with 4 turnovers, I would say two pieces short! Both Clark and Mitchell were imperfect, with Clark having the turnovers and not very efficient shooting, and Mitchell having 3 TOs with no assists, but they each did contribute offensively, as did Boston. However, the other two starters were AWOL.

In contrast, while Stokes gave nothing to the Aces' offense, their next lowest scoring starter was Young, who chipped in with 12 points and 6 assists. That's a big difference.

Hull is now on the scouting report. Until recently, she was a spot up shooter who couldn't shoot (18.6% rookie year, 21.7% last year and was 9 for her first 32 this year), so teams were happy to help off her and let her take open shots. Now that she's been knocking them down consistently that's no longer the case. Last night she got one three point attempt. Remember at the start of the previous Aces game when the Aces didn't find Hull in transition and she knocked down a three and Becky Hammon immediately called a timeout less than one minute in?

I agree that the Fever need more shooting. They almost always have at least two players on the floor who you don't have to guard from the three point line. One thing that makes Minnesota so tough is that they have six knockdown shooters (the starting lineup, plus Zandalasini), plus others who are willing and capable, if not as efficient.

With the Aces, Stokes is really the only non-shooter, but she brings a lot of defense, especially matching up with the opponent's best post player and freeing Wilson for weakside help and rim protection.

[zimpy27]

Fever were better but still not playing their usual game

On the bright side, they played excellent defense, except for Clark in the first half. (She fixed that in the second half.) But they pissed the game away at the free throw line.

With that item, Smith is a real problem. She can't make outside shots and shoots only 62% for her career from the foul line, including 57% this season. So even though she's billed as an offensive talent, she's not really that. Let her take the shot if it's at all questionable, otherwise just hack her.

Yeah agree. Fever need to upgrade a few players.

Wheeler is gone in FA and KLS should be traded. They need a starting stretch big and a backup big with a bench guard in FA. They are missing 3 players from an 8 player playoff rotation.

Clark (36) | Mitchell (12)
Mitchell (20) | bench guard (28)
Hull (32) | Smith (16)
Boston (32) | Smith (8) | backup big (6)
Stretch big (30) | backup big (20)

[jumpman28]

Fever were better but still not playing their usual game

On the bright side, they played excellent defense, except for Clark in the first half. (She fixed that in the second half.) But they pissed the game away at the free throw line.

With that item, Smith is a real problem. She can't make outside shots and shoots only 62% for her career from the foul line, including 57% this season. So even though she's billed as an offensive talent, she's not really that. Let her take the shot if it's at all questionable, otherwise just hack her.

Yeah agree. Fever need to upgrade a few players.

Wheeler is gone in FA and KLS should be traded. They need a starting stretch big and a backup big with a bench guard in FA. They are missing 3 players from an 8 player playoff rotation.

Clark (36) | Mitchell (12)
Mitchell (20) | bench guard (28)
Hull (32) | Smith (16)
Boston (32) | Smith (8) | backup big (6)
Stretch big (30) | backup big (20)

Honestly there is not a whole lot of huge improvements I feel can be made due to the weakness of the 2025 Free agent class, but my dream scenario this offseason would be to:

A. Acquire through free agency one of: Satou, Natasha Howard, or Nneka to replace Smith's minutes. I feel like Dallas will probably core Satou so I'm very doubtful that will happen.

B. If Indiana is not going to give Berger any opportunities, then they should make a trade package to move up slightly in the 2025 draft and get Sonia Citron. I think Citron is going to be a very good pro, and fits Indiana perfectly as a third guard. She can play alongside either Clark or Mitchell, can initiate the offense while CC playing off-ball, is a great off ball mover, can back up Lexie Hull at SF, is a very good shooter, decent defender, high basketball IQ

[MrDollarBills]

Fever looked one piece short last night.

As they got 5 points from Smith and Hull, on 1-7 shooting with 4 turnovers, I would say two pieces short! Both Clark and Mitchell were imperfect, with Clark having the turnovers and not very efficient shooting, and Mitchell having 3 TOs with no assists, but they each did contribute offensively, as did Boston. However, the other two starters were AWOL.

In contrast, while Stokes gave nothing to the Aces' offense, their next lowest scoring starter was Young, who chipped in with 12 points and 6 assists. That's a big difference.

I like Hull, she's my kinda hooper, but I am not sure if she's a full time starter at SF.

Big wing, back up PG and possibly a stretch big are needs. Smith is just not a starting PF. I think you can live with Hull as SF if you get someone at the 4 that can defend and space/and or score consistently.

[rmontro]

Honestly there is not a whole lot of huge improvements I feel can be made due to the weakness of the 2025 Free agent class

It's even worse because of the expansion.

[zimpy27]

Satou is probably best option, she also had some of the most positive CC popularity comments in the league outside of Indiana.

[jumpman28]

Satou is probably best option, she also had some of the most positive CC popularity comments in the league outside of Indiana.

I would agree, except for the fact that I don't think she's realistic because I believe Dallas has the ability to core either her or Natasha Howard, and it would be a no brainer to core Satou

[zimpy27]

Fever secured a 0.500 or better season with the win today

[MrDollarBills]

Watch on YouTube

Good win.

[rmontro]

Fever secured a 0.500 or better season with the win today

A nice feat after that bad start. I was a little disappointed with the one point win though. Nothing against Dallas, but Clark and Mitchell combine for 65 points and you can only win by one? I kind of thought that after two games in a row against one of the best teams in the league, the Aces, I thought they would come out more sharp and battle hardened. You know, getting better by playing better teams. I did like that they were clutch again in the fourth quarter though.

[MrDollarBills]

Fever secured a 0.500 or better season with the win today

A nice feat after that bad start. I was a little disappointed with the one point win though. Nothing against Dallas, but Clark and Mitchell combine for 65 points and you can only win by one? I kind of thought that after two games in a row against one of the best teams in the league, the Aces, I thought they would come out more sharp and battle hardened. You know, getting better by playing better teams. I did like that they were clutch again in the fourth quarter though.

To be fair, Dallas has played Indiana very tough all season, and even though the rest of the roster sucks, Satou, Arike and Natasha Howard are no joke.

[MrDollarBills]

Dork squad video time for you Fever fanatics

Watch on YouTube

Lmao @ Erica Wheeler "Stud E".

Lexie Hull...uh, she could be a model dude what the hell

Watch on YouTube

CC and AB hit the weights. As you can guess, this devolves into tomfoolery quickly

[Ice Man]

A shoutout to Erica Wheeler. She's the all-time Indy leader in assists, she started every game for which she was available the past 4 years, and the instant that CC arrived Erica was sent to the bench. I mean, the first day of training camp she was benched ... she never even had a chance to compete for the job. This year, she is only getting 14 minutes per game.

Yet she's the first player off the bench to congratulate CC whenever Clark makes a big play.

It heartens me greatly to see people like Wheeler. She's pure class.

[MrDollarBills]

A shoutout to Erica Wheeler. She's the all-time Indy leader in assists, she started every game for which she was available the past 4 years, and the instant that CC arrived Erica was sent to the bench. I mean, the first day of training camp she was benched ... she never even had a chance to compete for the job. This year, she is only getting 14 minutes per game.

Yet she's the first player off the bench to congratulate CC whenever Clark makes a big play.

It heartens me greatly to see people like Wheeler. She's pure class.

I tried to tell folks the day when Erica put her chains on CC during the Fever media day shoot. She's a real one.

Erica has made some good money. She owns a restaurant in Atlanta and she invited the entire team for a meal. If you hear her speak she only wants to treat people like she wants to be treated.

[rmontro]

A shoutout to Erica Wheeler. She's the all-time Indy leader in assists

This really surprised me to hear this. This is my first year watching the Fever, so I was unaware. My impression of Wheeler has been that she was kind of a ball stopper, which would be the opposite of an assists leader. I thought I had heard that Mitchell had given up the point guard spot to CC, but maybe I misheard that and it was Wheeler who nobly stepped aside. Kind of sad to hear she was so selfless, since she seems likely to be one of the players to be replaced. Although it's clear Sides likes her.

[Ice Man]

Clarification: Wheeler is the franchise leader in assists per game, not total assists. I slightly miswrote.

As for your comment, you're not entirely off. It's not as if Wheeler has been the second coming of John Stockton, as her career mark is 3.8 assists per game. But yes, Wheeler was nominally the PG last year.

I was looking to see when Clark will break various Indy franchise records, but thanks to Tamika Catchings, it will be a while! Tamika played every season of her 15-year career in Indiana and was damned good, making 10 All Star teams. Her franchise records are no joke.

[rmontro]

Clarification: Wheeler is the franchise leader in assists per game, not total assists. I slightly miswrote.

How many games before you are eligible for this record? Clark averages more than 3.8 now (she's at 8.4).

[Ice Man]

How many games before you are eligible for this record? Clark averages more than 3.8 now (she's at 8.4).

You got me. But obviously, Clark will obliterate all WNBA assist records as soon as she logs enough games to be eligible, both for her team and for the league overall. (The career record in the WNBA for assists per game is held by Vandersloot, at 6.7.)

[tmorgan]

Yeah, there’s never been a pro female passer like CC. She’s in her own tier. She gets some better options outside of Mitchell and Boston, she could avg 10 assists pretty easily. Turnovers will come down a little, too. Would not be shocked at all to see a 20/10 season in the future.