***CC22 and the Fever mega thread***

Bro D

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It’s not the coach. It’s the roster. It’s a reluctance to acknowledge the BIg 3 limitations relative to the other teams in the league.
It's both. This team has been unprepared all season long. The coaching staff is a joke and the roster construction is crap. They need to clean house in the offseason and build this roster, coaching staff and FO vision all around CC
 
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It's both. This team has been unprepared all season long. The coaching staff is a joke and the roster construction is crap. They need to clean house in the offseason and build this roster, coaching staff and FO vision all around CC
*I am editing this for new information.

While I agree they need to clean house, the reality is they have expensive baggage and there is not a lot they can do with the cap of $7M. Hull's and Billings' contracts are killers. Per the below, they will have $2.35M available. So if they resign Mitchell at $1.4M, that will leave $950K to sign another 4 players. Basically they need 2 rookies and 2 cheap vets, or 3 rookies and one vet who will be paid less than Hull or Billings. Looks like rookie contracts will range from $289K to $500K. So really, they can only sign 3 rookies not drafted in the first round. So basically this year's roster plus 3 non-factor rookies, minus Sophie, Harris, and Hines-Allen. I hope someone can prove me wrong on the math, because that is fookin' bleak.

2027 Active Roster & Cap Hits
    • Aliyah Boston (F): $1,550,000
    • Lexie Hull (G): $803,250
    • Monique Billings (F): $800,000
    • Caitlin Clark (G): $597,596 (option exercised; eligible for potential max/EPIC adjustments)
    • Makayla Timpson (F): $305,250
    • Raven Johnson (G): $300,698
    • Damiris Dantas (F): $288,60
 
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pablow

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Do you build a team around the best point guard/field general in basketball or do go shopping for a roster that suits the Stephanie White/Briann January coaching style (whatever that is)? Those are pretty much your choices because SW can't coach this team.

Add into the mix that White's coaching style is all about control and not empowerment (except for Kelsey).
 

Bro D

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Do you build a team around the best point guard/field general in basketball or do go shopping for a roster that suits the Stephanie White/Briann January coaching style (whatever that is)? Those are pretty much your choices because SW can't coach this team.

Add into the mix that White's coaching style is all about control and not empowerment (except for Kelsey).
+100000

I'm not sure how anyone with eyes can laugh at this statement
 
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AFM22

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Do you build a team around the best point guard/field general in basketball or do go shopping for a roster that suits the Stephanie White/Briann January coaching style (whatever that is)? Those are pretty much your choices because SW can't coach this team.

Add into the mix that White's coaching style is all about control and not empowerment (except for Kelsey).
If the front office wants to keep their job they build around Clark instead of White.

Indiana becomes irrelevant without Clark.
 

OnlyTheObscure

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If the front office wants to keep their job they build around Clark instead of White.

Indiana becomes irrelevant without Clark.
Downtown Indianapolis looks like Iowa City for Saturday Fever games.

you can bet the bars, hotels, and restaurants want Clark to stay.

Imagine the revenue spike Minneapolis would see with Clark on their team.
 

AFM22

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Downtown Indianapolis looks like Iowa City for Saturday Fever games.

you can bet the bars, hotels, and restaurants want Clark to stay.

Imagine the revenue spike Minneapolis would see with Clark on their team.
Like half of the team's value is Clark alone.

I've always been a believer that the WNBA is a sum of all parts, but it would be front office malpractice to not exhaust every last possibility to get Clark a championship in Indianapolis before giving up and moving her. Even if that means firing White for a 2nd time. Clark is way too valuable to the franchise.
 
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Kceasthawk@77

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*I am editing this for new information.

While I agree they need to clean house, the reality is they have expensive baggage and there is not a lot they can do with the cap of $7M. Hull's and Billings' contracts are killers. Per the below, they will have $2.35M available. So if they resign Mitchell at $1.4M, that will leave $950K to sign another 4 players. Basically they need 2 rookies and 2 cheap vets, or 3 rookies and one vet who will be paid less than Hull or Billings. Looks like rookie contracts will range from $289K to $500K. So really, they can only sign 3 rookies not drafted in the first round. So basically this year's roster plus 3 non-factor rookies, minus Sophie, Harris, and Hines-Allen. I hope someone can prove me wrong on the math, because that is fookin' bleak.

2027 Active Roster & Cap Hits
    • Aliyah Boston (F): $1,550,000
    • Lexie Hull (G): $803,250
    • Monique Billings (F): $800,000
    • Caitlin Clark (G): $597,596 (option exercised; eligible for potential max/EPIC adjustments)
    • Makayla Timpson (F): $305,250
    • Raven Johnson (G): $300,698
    • Damiris Dantas (F): $288,60
And that's if Clark doesn't get the bump she should
 
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Kceasthawk@77

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Like half of the team's value is Clark alone.

I've always been a believer that the WNBA is a sum of all parts, but it would be front office malpractice to not exhaust every last possibility to get Clark a championship in Indianapolis before giving up and moving her. Even if that means firing White for a 2nd time. Clark is way too valuable to the franchise.
I agree, but I'm sure @Legend12 will weigh in with an opposing view.......
 

Manfredi

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I'm guessing Clark has zero chance of getting traded. With Hull, Billings and Dantas signed for next year and all pretty much untradable unless you attach them to another player like Clark...not sure how they can fix the roster.
 
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WDSMHawk

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Why don't you let us know what you think on the topic instead of acting like an 8th grader.


I don't get how people can complain about Steph White's offense. The Fever were the highest scoring team by over 4 points per game. With CC being hurt to start the year and Aliyah being hurt most of the year.

Caitlin also had the second highest usage rate in the WNBA this year so I'm not sure why you think Steph is trying to reign CC in and control her.

The defense has been bad, obviously. At the start of the year I think a good amount of the blame should have fell on SW for having them switch 1-5 when they did not have the roster for that.

As the season went on I think the coaching staff made a really smart adjustment by having Timpson start since she could defend other teams Guards and CC could "hide" on the opposing team's worst offensive player.

Did it fix all the defensive issues, no but that also goes back to the team having three maybe four players who are average to above average defenders on the roster.

Finally and maybe most importantly Caitlin is not an easy player to coach.

Basketball wise she's a generational offensive talent who has two glaring holes in her game (defense and turnovers). She needs a coach that can walk the line in getting her to improve those two areas without taking away from the other areas she shines. While she still has some issues with these parts of her game I dont think it can be denied that Caitlin has improved in both of these areas under Steph.

Caitlin can also be a demonstrative hot head on the court so she also needs a coach that isn’t afraid to stand up to her and sit her down at times for her own good and the good of the team.

If that wasn't hard enough CC also has a spotlight on her at all times filled with grifters that will take any small interaction such as an argument on the bench or god forbid flagrant foul and turn it into a media circus.

I'm not saying Steph is perfect, but she's handled this season pretty well and I'mnot sure how many coaches could have handled it better.


TL DR

It's lazy to say fire the coach. Which is why I called it dumb af.
 

Bro D

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I don't get how people can complain about Steph White's offense. The Fever were the highest scoring team by over 4 points per game. With CC being hurt to start the year and Aliyah being hurt most of the year.

Caitlin also had the second highest usage rate in the WNBA this year so I'm not sure why you think Steph is trying to reign CC in and control her.

The defense has been bad, obviously. At the start of the year I think a good amount of the blame should have fell on SW for having them switch 1-5 when they did not have the roster for that.

As the season went on I think the coaching staff made a really smart adjustment by having Timpson start since she could defend other teams Guards and CC could "hide" on the opposing team's worst offensive player.

Did it fix all the defensive issues, no but that also goes back to the team having three maybe four players who are average to above average defenders on the roster.

Finally and maybe most importantly Caitlin is not an easy player to coach.

Basketball wise she's a generational offensive talent who has two glaring holes in her game (defense and turnovers). She needs a coach that can walk the line in getting her to improve those two areas without taking away from the other areas she shines. While she still has some issues with these parts of her game I dont think it can be denied that Caitlin has improved in both of these areas under Steph.

Caitlin can also be a demonstrative hot head on the court so she also needs a coach that isn’t afraid to stand up to her and sit her down at times for her own good and the good of the team.

If that wasn't hard enough CC also has a spotlight on her at all times filled with grifters that will take any small interaction such as an argument on the bench or god forbid flagrant foul and turn it into a media circus.

I'm not saying Steph is perfect, but she's handled this season pretty well and I'mnot sure how many coaches could have handled it better.


TL DR

It's lazy to say fire the coach. Which is why I called it dumb af.
LO freakin L -- Get a load of this nonsense. Instead of talking about White, he rattles off how the teams struggles are all Caitlin's fault. Being a hothead, lmao... tell us how you really feel about CC. But wait, White's one big shining moment is... starting Timpson! WOW!

Absolute joke of a post. White is garbage.

Her defensive schemes are predictable as ****. BuT ItS AlL CaITLiNs FAuLT
Predetermined timed rotations enough to make you scream
Going on a heater? Take em out!
Big lead? CHANGE EVERYTHING!
I could chat gpt a better way to set screens than whatever TF they're teaching this team.
Get attacked by Carrington? Ahhh no big deal, just a hussle play!
Experimenting with rotations 2 games before the playoffs? Laughable
Have you listened to her nonsense on postgame? JFC this is a moron. Legit moron.
And finally, she doesn't have CCs back and its painfull obvious


I look forward to the next coach. Give CC the keys and GTFO of the way
 
Feb 25, 2008
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I don't get how people can complain about Steph White's offense. The Fever were the highest scoring team by over 4 points per game. With CC being hurt to start the year and Aliyah being hurt most of the year.

Caitlin also had the second highest usage rate in the WNBA this year so I'm not sure why you think Steph is trying to reign CC in and control her.

The defense has been bad, obviously. At the start of the year I think a good amount of the blame should have fell on SW for having them switch 1-5 when they did not have the roster for that.

As the season went on I think the coaching staff made a really smart adjustment by having Timpson start since she could defend other teams Guards and CC could "hide" on the opposing team's worst offensive player.

Did it fix all the defensive issues, no but that also goes back to the team having three maybe four players who are average to above average defenders on the roster.

Finally and maybe most importantly Caitlin is not an easy player to coach.

Basketball wise she's a generational offensive talent who has two glaring holes in her game (defense and turnovers). She needs a coach that can walk the line in getting her to improve those two areas without taking away from the other areas she shines. While she still has some issues with these parts of her game I dont think it can be denied that Caitlin has improved in both of these areas under Steph.

Caitlin can also be a demonstrative hot head on the court so she also needs a coach that isn’t afraid to stand up to her and sit her down at times for her own good and the good of the team.

If that wasn't hard enough CC also has a spotlight on her at all times filled with grifters that will take any small interaction such as an argument on the bench or god forbid flagrant foul and turn it into a media circus.

I'm not saying Steph is perfect, but she's handled this season pretty well and I'mnot sure how many coaches could have handled it better.


TL DR

It's lazy to say fire the coach. Which is why I called it dumb af.
CC thrived at Iowa in a pick and roll offense, and she grew in her rookie season with a pick and roll offense under Sides.

Stephanie White essentially removed that option from her floor game, because........."well because teams would try to take it away, so we'll just do it for them".

 
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Btw, I went back and watched the game again, as I was moreso following the Vikings game at the same time, and I abandoned the Fever game in the 3rd after White benched CC for bricking two no-f***s-given shots, but yikes............



The officiating was comically lopsided. I know we joke about games being "rigged" and they have "money" on the games and Vegas etc etc etc. I never really think it's actually that deep. It's just fun to mock these officials for typically being dog sh**, and I'm not saying the refs were "paid to help Vegas win"................they probably got nothing for their troubles at all, other than avoiding the wrath of Aja and Hammon.

But they clearly had a favorite whistle for Aja and Vegas yesterday. There were so many very very clear phantom fouls (unbiasedly clear), inconsistent enforcement of the rules, etc etc that even if you just want to chalk it up to them being absolutely f***ing terrible at their jobs and that there was nothing more to it than that, then fine, go ahead. But I have to believe these people have some understanding of what they're looking for and trying to accomplish.

We're not talking about a 16 yr old reffing youth basketball and making calls because he remembered he saw something similar when watching LeBron play the night before........

Multiple occasions you can see the refs waiting for something to happen and if it's even remotely close, they emphatically pump their fist in the air and blow their whistle like they caught the Fever red-handed.

And you go back and watch the replay and there's no contact to be found............

And I don't necessarily blame White for not challenging the calls because A. She only gets so many anyways, but also B. She knows what's up. She's not gonna win any of them. It'd only service as fan service for the people crying "why don't you challenge the call!?!?!"......she f***ing knows, by now.

Yesterday was made worse by the fact that the Aces shot so well and the Fever looked like a team that quit from top to bottom, but that kind of performance from the refs yesterday is enough to make you question why you still try.

And sadly the only reason is because the league gets what it wants if you don't...............🤷‍♂️
 

WDSMHawk

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CC thrived at Iowa in a pick and roll offense, and she grew in her rookie season with a pick and roll offense under Sides.

Stephanie White essentially removed that option from her floor game, because........."well because teams would try to take it away, so we'll just do it for them".



Caitlin is averaging more points per game, shooting better from the field and from three, while playing less minutes per game than she did under Sides.

Aliyah, while hurt, is averaging more points per game then when they were running pick and roll.

Kelsey is obviously having a career year.

Is CC and AB running a pick and roll going to make Lexi hit the open 3s she's been bricking all year?

If not then criticizing the offense is dumb.
 
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WDSMHawk

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LO freakin L -- Get a load of this nonsense. Instead of talking about White, he rattles off how the teams struggles are all Caitlin's fault. Being a hothead, lmao... tell us how you really feel about CC. But wait, White's one big shining moment is... starting Timpson! WOW!

Absolute joke of a post. White is garbage.

Her defensive schemes are predictable as ****. BuT ItS AlL CaITLiNs FAuLT
Predetermined timed rotations enough to make you scream
Going on a heater? Take em out!
Big lead? CHANGE EVERYTHING!
I could chat gpt a better way to set screens than whatever TF they're teaching this team.
Get attacked by Carrington? Ahhh no big deal, just a hussle play!
Experimenting with rotations 2 games before the playoffs? Laughable
Have you listened to her nonsense on postgame? JFC this is a moron. Legit moron.
And finally, she doesn't have CCs back and its painfull obvious


I look forward to the next coach. Give CC the keys and GTFO of the way

1. I never said everything was Caitlin's fault

2. If you're not going to acknowledge she can be a hot head then there's no point to discuss actual basketball.

3. I acknowledged that the defensive scheme did not fit their personnel. They've tried changing. But unless there's a defensive scheme that will let the Fever play 6 players on defense, no scheme will matter with their current roster

4. Just because she's not hurling racial slurs at Alyssa Thomas and Dijonai doesnt mean she doesn't have Caitlin's back.

5. If Steph gets fired I'll give it 8 games before you want the replacement fired for not letting Caitlin be Caitlin.
 
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