How many 4th qtr leads have the Fever given up resulting in either a loss or a closer-than-necessary win?
At least SOME blame needs to fall on CC. She's a defensive liability and her shooting is just "off" (28%?). She still dishes some amazing dimes, but her teammates are struggling to finish them with a bucket.
The W is a freaking grind. Freedom of movement? Uh, no. Constantly being banged around has got to have an impact on her shooting. But it doesn't look like that's going to change.
I will be a CC fan regardless of her trajectory - she will always be on the Iowa Mt Rushmore IMO.
CC's defense is generally outstanding. She gets called for more bogus fouls than anyone in the league. The other night she had to back off on defense in the 4th because she had five fouls, maybe one of which was legit and would have been called on any other player. CC doesn't get calls on offense that other players do, and then she gets called for bogus fouls on the other end. How she puts up with all the BS in that league is, perhaps, her greatest achievement. Personally, I'd get a T or two every damn game.
As for her turnovers . . . Many of her passes are pinpoint and must be cleanly caught, but most of the Fever players have stone hands. They fumble the ball away, and CC gets the TO. And how many times every game does CC pass someone open for a lay-up, and they miss at point blank range? It happens at least four or five times a game. I'm lookin' at you Boston and at you Mitchell.
You are correct that "freedom of movement" is still a theory, especially when it comes to CC. She gets banged around constantly. It's like she's the ball in a pinball machine. She gets fouled every time she has the ball, but she gets maybe two or three calls a game. It's ludicrous.
The W has limited the egregious wrestling matches in the paint, but CC is being pushed, grabbed, elbowed, and otherwise assaulted every second she's on the floor.
CC's shooting has been off most of this season. A back problem would be one reason for it, and we know her back has been an issue. She was healthy her entire Iowa career, but since last season, the rugby style of the W has taken its toll, which is not only a shame for Caitlin, it's a shame on the most poorly run league in professional sports.