Indiana Fever 2025

[jc23]

frustratingly ugly game by the Fever. Looked like they had no fight in them

[Ice Man]

frustratingly ugly game by the Fever. Looked like they had no fight in them

Yep, they folded like a cheap tent (as the saying goes) down the stretch. One thing that has been consistent for the Fever this season is how awful they are at defending in the paint. Foul, foul, foul, foul. The free throw tally was 27-12 and nobody can complain about the refereeing. The first instinct for Mitchell, Clark, and (sad to say) even Boston when defending drives is to hack. They don't seem to know how to stay in position, be vertical, and force a tough shot.

Full credit should be paid as well to the Valks, who were everything that the Fever were not. They played with energy, pride, and intelligence.

[Ice Man]

ugf, game is at 9pm tonight for me.

10 PM in NYC. I gotta say, living in the Eastern time zone sucks for sports.

[rmontro]

I don't know what happened, I was watching the Pacers while checking on the Fever game. Sounded like the Fever led the entire game, until I switched over when the Pacers game ended. Whereupon the Fever proceeded to completely and utterly collapse. Clark had a bad night. They have no defense to speak of. As well as the Pacers played, the Fever played that badly. They didn't even look like they were trying. Maybe they had jet lag.

[ellobo]

The Fever played like a class with a substitute teacher.

[Ice Man]

"They have no defense to speak of.

Well, that's kinda interesting. They have a shoddy interior defense, because 1) Coach White has them playing the most straight-up defense that I can recall seeing. Not doubling, no hedging, barely even help if the defender gets beaten. And 2) most of the Fever players are poor interior defenders.

On the other hand, because the Fever defenders stick to their marks, they cover perimeter shooters very well.

The result is a defense that concedes the 2nd most free throws in the league, but which also holds opponents to the lowest 3-point %. Overall, the Fever rank 5th in defense, and sit considerably closer to the best than to the worst. Although I grant, if often doesn't feel that way.

While I don't know for certain, having not paid attention last year, I think this style of defense is what Coach White also installed for the Sun, as they held opponents to the 2nd lowest 3 point % last year (just behind the Lynx).

[rmontro]

The result is a defense that concedes the 2nd most free throws in the league, but which also holds opponents to the lowest 3-point %. Overall, the Fever rank 5th in defense, and sit considerably closer to the best than to the worst. Although I grant, if often doesn't feel that way.

Well, in this case I was specifically talking about the game last night - during the time that I watched it, which was from the point after the Pacers game was over and they interviewed Tyrese Halliburton. But I am still surprised that they are 5th in defense this year. Last night they looked a lot like last year's (lack of) defense. Interesting info about Stephanie White, I'm still not sure what to think of her.

[AI_Efficiency]

Feel like maybe the Fever should bring someone else in to be the backup 5. Dantas is shooting 36% on the year and 33% from three with plenty of those attempts being wide open. Defensively though is where I feel like the problems really manifest. Her movement and positioning are terrible, so she seems to foul a ton. Idk if the data backs this up, but to me she’s the weakest link on this team right now.

[IlikeSHAIguys]

Back to .500

[IlikeSHAIguys]

I don't know what happened, I was watching the Pacers while checking on the Fever game. Sounded like the Fever led the entire game, until I switched over when the Pacers game ended. Whereupon the Fever proceeded to completely and utterly collapse. Clark had a bad night. They have no defense to speak of. As well as the Pacers played, the Fever played that badly. They didn't even look like they were trying. Maybe they had jet lag.

Indiana winning when i want them to lose. Indiana losing when I want them to win. It's tough out here.

[jc23]

The result is a defense that concedes the 2nd most free throws in the league, but which also holds opponents to the lowest 3-point %. Overall, the Fever rank 5th in defense, and sit considerably closer to the best than to the worst. Although I grant, if often doesn't feel that way.

Well, in this case I was specifically talking about the game last night - during the time that I watched it, which was from the point after the Pacers game was over and they interviewed Tyrese Halliburton. But I am still surprised that they are 5th in defense this year. Last night they looked a lot like last year's (lack of) defense. Interesting info about Stephanie White, I'm still not sure what to think of her.

well i suppose it works when you are making your 3's and trading 2 for 3. It really felt like any player on the valkyrie could get to the basket and get a bucket or free throws last night.

[Ice Man]

It really felt like any player on the valkyrie could get to the basket and get a bucket or free throws last night.

It felt that way because they could -- and did.

[jc23]

I wonder if the game vs the Sun put out a weird vibe in the locker room. guess we will see tomorrow if they come out flat again.

[rmontro]

I wonder if the game vs the Sun put out a weird vibe in the locker room. guess we will see tomorrow if they come out flat again.

I think they were tired because of the travel and time change. Not a good excuse, but it happens. Apparently they're not good enough yet to overcome these challenges consistently.

[Ice Man]

Wonderful game from Boston, both offensively and defensively. Unfortunately for the Fever, they had the same problems as last game -

1) Clark bricked her 3s
2) Clark made too many turnovers
3) Defense got shredded in the second half
3) The opposition got twice as many FTs

[jc23]

If the Fever are not lighting it up from outside teams will just chip away at them all game and then take over; as seen with the Aces and Valkyrie. just so many uncontested layups and second chance points. And Clark seems to have gotten her mojo knocked out of her. hasnt been the same since that maybery check.

[rmontro]

Second straight game Fever has led for the better of three quarters, only to fall apart at the end. That has to take the wind out of your sails, I know it does mine. Clark is 1 for 17 from three point range the last two games, something is either wrong with her, or she's going through a rough patch.

A'ja Wilson scores 24 points, was instrumental in the Aces comeback, and then apologizes after the game for her poor play. Yikes.

[rmontro]

What's frustrating is this team doesn't look any better than it did last year.

[Ice Man]

What's frustrating is this team doesn't look any better than it did last year.

Yep. Statistically, its defense is much better than last year's ... but a fair amount of that improvement owes to the two games that they completely stuffed the Sky. Against the good teams, they're not doing a better job than last year. Every good opponent that the Fever has faced (6 games comnined against Liberty, Dream, and Aces) has scored at least 80 on the Fever, save for one game that was a 77-58 Dream victory.

There's little room for offensive error when conceding points like that.

[AI_Efficiency]

The turnovers don’t help. Caitlin can’t have 8 and I’m sure she knows that.