Due to some technical difficulties, I missed large chunks of Game 3 of the second half of the 2014 WNBA Finals. Since I was already watching a replay, I went through and took notes about the game in response to a question: why did Sylvia Fowles have just 6 points on 2-for-5 shooting in the second half with Ewelina Kobryn and Mistis Mims (and shout out to DeWanna Bonner's transition defense) guarding her?
I started out by just taking quick notes on every second half possession that Fowles didn't get the ball to figure out what she was doing while searching for possessions where she got open but didn't receive the ball. I took screen shots of plays when she managed to establish position but a) didn't get the ball or b) got the ball and didn't have a field goal attempt (that includes free throws or turnovers; as ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo has noted, she never attempted to pass the ball out).
Below are those notes in my shorthand, which I'll elaborate on later (stay tuned to our storystream) -- regretfully, I didn't take time stamps because I was initially focused on looking for screenshots (which do have time and score) but they should be in chronological order if you follow the play-by-play.. and I figured I'd share for reference. The plays that I took screenshots on are numbered according to their order above. Please note that not every possession that Fowles failed to get the ball was a bad possession and getting the ball to Fowles didn't automatically make it a good
Play | SylAction | Note |
EDDfga | screener |
|
Princefga | P&R screener |
|
EDD3pa | PostingUp (1) |
|
YoungFGM | Elbow |
|
SlootTov | Missed screen on P&R |
|
SlootBadPass | PostingUP (2) | Bonner clogging |
EDD3pa | Screener |
|
QuigleyFGA | RightBlock |
|
SlootEntry | KobrynPF |
|
EDDFGA | LeftBlock |
|
QuigleyEntry | MimsPF |
|
EDDLay | Screener |
|
BrelandBadPass | PostingUpCut (3) | (Phillips sagging off Sloot to defend the cut) |
Quigley3pm | PostUp (4) | (Wide open vs Mims) |
QuigleyAst | Layup off OOB |
|
EDDFTM2 | RightBlock |
|
QuigleyFGlay | ScreenAST |
|
Quigley3pa | BUZZER |
|
|
|
|
Fourth |
|
|
EDDFGM | PostingUp (5) |
|
BrelandFGA | LeftBlock |
|
BrelandTOV | RightElbow |
|
BrelandShotClock | PostingUp (6) | (Bonner pressuring Sloot, Kobryn fronting Fowles) |
EDDFGA | LeftBlock/OFoul | (One pass possession) |
QuigleyFGAblkd | LeftBlock |
|
OOBLob | ClockTOV at rim | (Fowles lost OOB/buzzer sounded) |
SlootLost | FGAlay |
|
QuigleyFTAs | PostingUp (same play as 6) |
|
QuigleyTOV | PostingUp (7) | Dropped or deflect? |
EDDAnd1 | RightElbow |
|
EDD3pa | Screen |
|
SlootFGM | PostingUP | Sagged off Sloot to guard Fowles |
YoungFGM | RightBlock |
|
SlootFGM | PostingUP (8) | WIDEOPEN |
EDDFGM | RightBlock |
|
EDD3pa | PostingUp (9) | Taurasi on EDD – wide open sight line to make a pass |
QuigleyFGM | Transition |
|
EDD3pa | RightElbow |
|