Swish Appeal - 2013 Indiana Fever Season: Can this team repeat another championship run in 2013?Basketball is basketball.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49391/swish-fave.png2013-07-11T10:00:12-04:00http://www.swishappeal.com/rss/stream/36974552013-07-11T10:00:12-04:002013-07-11T10:00:12-04:00The incomparable Tamika Catchings
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<figcaption>Tamika Catchings | Ed Mulholland-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>Indiana Fever forward Tamika Catchings is using her voice to raise awareness for diabetes. She also chats about injuries, perseverance and Pat Summitt.</p> <p>Tamika Catchings understands she has considerable influence on children and she is using it now to raise awareness for diabetes. The WNBA's reigning Finals MVP and five time Defensive Player of the Year spent an afternoon in media interviews to promote her latest endeavor.</p>
<p>"The direct thing is getting people to go to the website," Catchings said. "There are a lot of cool things on the website, but at the end there is a risk assessment test. From that, depending on what the results are, get them to the doctor and get them diagnosed properly.</p>
<p>"It's the WNBA, NBA, NBA Developmental League, Sanofi US and the American Diabetes Association. Between all of those, there are a lot of different camps, fitness clinics and programs that they do that kids can get involved and get the information."</p>
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<div class="read-more">
<b>More</b>: <a href="http://www.nba.com/nbafit/stopdiabetes/" target="new">Dribble to Stop Diabetes</a> <a href="http://catchthestars.org/" target="new">Catch the Stars</a>
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<p>Catchings runs her own foundation and is always willing to help, especially if the outreach involves youngsters. She is being honored Thursday in her college hometown when the Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame will recognize her with the Pat Summitt Ignite Greatness Award. The legendary Tennessee coach was the initial recipient and now the award is named for her.</p>
<p>"I think anytime you can get an award that exemplifies Pat, it's exciting," Catchings said.</p>
<p>Catchings won't be present to accept the award. The Indiana Fever finish a four-game home stand Thursday against the Minnesota Lynx. Tipoff is set for noon at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.</p>
<p>The Fever won the season opener and then lost seven consecutive games for a 1-7 start. The defending league champions were beset by injuries but then managed a three-game win streak to improve to 4-7.</p>
<p>Catchings missed two games in June because of a sore back but tallied 28 points, six steals, five rebounds, three assists and four blocks upon return in an 80-69 win over Tulsa on June 28 that ignited the win streak.</p>
<p>"I had a little issue with my back," she said. "I am feeling good now, so let's just keep it rolling."</p>
<p>Layshia Clarendon was sidelined for two games with a hip contusion and had been limited minutes-wise until this month. Erin Phillips is expected back soon after a torn meniscus. Katie Douglas, who has a bulging disc in her lower back, and Jeanette Pohlen, who is still recovering from ACL surgery, are supposed to be activated in August, and Jessica Davenport is out for the season with a tibia stress fracture.</p>
<p>"Our mentality was play with the people that are here," Catchings said. "It started out with that mentality of we are going to play with whoever is here. But you asked some players that have played maybe 10, 15 minutes and now you are asking them to play 30-plus minutes. It's a big adjustment.</p>
<p>"For us it was about continuing to learn to play with one another and just continue to get better. Once we got that first win under our belt, it was like, ‘OK, we just have to continue to build off of that.' We just have to continue to get better. That is what we focus on, not necessarily, ‘We gotta win,' just we've got to get better every day of practice and every single game."</p>
<p>Catchings spent Tuesday evening in front of the television, as did thousands of others, to watch the ESPN documentary about Pat Summitt, "Pat XO."</p>
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<a href="http://www.swishappeal.com/2013/6/27/4469456/espn-pat-summitt-nine-for-ix-film">
<h2>More on "Pat XO"</h2>
<img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2847475/image003.jpg"></a> <span> ESPN Films held an advance screening of their Nine for IX film honoring Pat Summitt in Knoxville, Tennessee that brought nearly everyone to tears.</span>
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<p>The hour-long feature was part of the Nine for IX series and spotlights significant women in sports. Catchings cried when Pat Summitt got emotional while talking about having to step down as the head coach in 2012, eight months after she publicly revealed her diagnosis of early onset dementia, Alzheimer's type.</p>
<p>"I got emotional just thinking about what she has meant to so many and to myself first and foremost, the impact that she had on so many lives whether directly or indirectly," Catchings said. "Everybody that watched that - we were talking about it before practice - really got emotional."</p>
<p>Remarks from current head coach Holly Warlick were scattered throughout the documentary - she and assistant coach Dean Lockwood delivered poignant lines - and Catchings was happy that Warlick became Summitt's successor.</p>
<p>"The history with her starting out as a player, that was kind of cool, seeing that in the video," Catchings said. "And then being an assistant coach for all of those years behind Pat.</p>
<p>"I think even more so the loyalty that she showed to the program and to Pat, I felt like she really deserved the opportunity to step in and be the head coach."</p>
https://www.swishappeal.com/2013/7/11/4513064/WNBA-Indiana-Fever-Tamika-Catchings-Pat-Summitt-TennesseeMaria Cornelius2013-06-22T22:47:21-04:002013-06-22T22:47:21-04:00Chicago 71, Indiana 61
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Chicago Sky (5-3) got back on the winning column by defeating the Indiana Fever (1-6) 71-61 on the road.</p> <p>Epiphanny Prince led the way for Chicago by scoring 21 points and drained three three pointers to go with 6 rebounds. In addition, Elena Delle Donne and Sylvia Fowles added 13 and 11 points respectively. A 22-10 fourth quarter run proved to be the difference in the game, which was otherwise close and a winnable one for the Defending Champions.</p>
<p>For the Fever, Shavonte Zellous scored 17 points and was a bright point for the team but didn't appear to get much help from anyone else, and part of it comes from injuries to multiple key players - five to be exact. Jessica Davenport will sit the year out due to a stress fracture in her left tibia. Katie Douglas has a bulging disc in her lower back. Erin Phillips is nursing a torn meniscus. Jeannette Pohlen is rehabbing from a torn left ACL from last year. And today, Tamika Catchings sat out due to a back injury. </p>
https://www.swishappeal.com/2013/6/22/4456024/2013-wnba-score-fever-vs-skyAlbert Lee2013-06-16T18:50:15-04:002013-06-16T18:50:15-04:00DC 64, Indy 60
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<img alt="I hit the panic button about Tayler Hill four games into the season. Should Coach Dunn hit it now herself? " src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Fkt3nvIyBhN2P0OG4BTTrLe-I-c=/0x110:2667x1888/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/14891001/20120907_ajw_ai1_134.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>I hit the panic button about Tayler Hill four games into the season. Should Coach Dunn hit it now herself? | Soobum Im-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>The Washington Mystics went on a 21-13 fourth quarter run to help them get to a 4-1 start and defeat an injury-hobbled Indiana Fever team 64-60.</p> <p>For the Mystics, Ivory Latta continued to lead her team in scoring with 17 points, including three three pointers. Crystal Langhorne had her best home game of the season by adding 16 points, and 9 rebounds. She also went 6 of 6 from the free throw line, including two late in the fourth quarter that helped DC get ahead by two possessions late in the game. Monique Currie had an excellent game by contributing in other areas besides scoring where she did have 10 points on 3-11 shooting, but she did get 9 rebounds and 5 assists.</p>
<p>In terms of the Rookie Watch for DC, all four rookies played with Tayler Hill naturally getting the most playing time. She scored five points in the game including getting the first basket of the game with a driving layup which was an and-one play. Hill also took five shots overall in the first half. I was disappointed that she didn't play much in the second half but this was the first game of the season where I noticeably saw signs of integrating her in the offense, so that's progress.</p>
<p>For the Fever, Shavonte Zellous led the way in scoring with 17 points but also took 17 shots to get there. Tamika Catchings added 16 points and 4 assists. Overall, the Fever made only 35.5% of its shots while the Mystics made 38.7% of theirs, and were outrebounded, 29-37 as well by DC.</p>
<p>As for Indiana's Rookie Watch, I was disappointed. Layshia Clarendon had a DNP-Coach's Decision.</p>
<p>The Fever has a home game this Saturday against the Chicago Sky and has three of its next four games at home to finish the month of June. As for the Mystics, they go on a three game road trip out west starting with a contest against the Seattle Storm on Tuesday where they will have a chance to lengthen their winning streak even more.</p>
<p><i>Zack, our "media-side" writer will have some more cool things to say from this game. </i></p>
https://www.swishappeal.com/2013/6/16/4436416/wnba-score-2013-mystics-vs-feverAlbert Lee2013-06-15T14:00:05-04:002013-06-15T14:00:05-04:00For Fever it's 'back to business' on Sunday
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<figcaption>Tamika Catchings and the Fever came to D.C. for two reasons - one was to see President Obama, the other is to play the Mystics. | Pool</figcaption>
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<p>The Indiana Fever are facing an uphill battle in their attempt to repeat in the East, let alone the WNBA. This is in part because the East's worst teams from a year ago, including their next opponent in the Washington Mystics, seem to be new and improved. </p> <p>Tamika Catchings has sort of been given the Peyton Manning or LeBron James treatment.</p>
<p>Many pulled for the 2001 draft pick to finally bring home the ultimate prize and many have enjoyed seeing her celebrate the Fever's 2012 title (Tamika's first) over the past eight months.</p>
<p>But while visiting President Obama to celebrate the culmination of 11 years of hard work, Catchings didn't try to forget for one second that the Fever are currently 1-4 and that climbing out of last place is the number one task at hand.</p>
<p>"Now we got to get back to business," Catchings said at the White House on Friday.</p>
<p>The Fever have lost four straight since opening the season with a win at San Antonio. Their losses have come to Atlanta, New York, Phoenix and, most recently, Connecticut. The Sun are the reigning No. 1 seed out of the East, Atlanta has been a solid team for a while now, Phoenix was the preseason favorite to win it all and the Liberty are 4-2.</p>
<p>Now some of those teams were dealing with injuries when Indiana faced them this year, but you could still make the case that they were all tough opponents and that the WNBA's parity right now is the reason the defending champs have had such a rough start. Not to mention the fact that they are now getting every team's best effort and the fact that they have a lot of injury problems themselves.</p>
<p>"You win a championship and now everybody's gunning for you," Catchings said. "When you're not at full force it's hard.</p>
<p>"We just gotta re-focus," she added. "You never want to start a season and then go all the way back to the bottom, you want to start at the top."</p>
<p>Unfortunately for the Fever, it doesn't look like you can pencil in a win against the Washington Mystic team they are about to face on Sunday as part of their trip to the nation's capital.</p>
<p>The Mystics have defeated the Tulsa Shock and the Sun and as of right now are responsible for giving the feared Minnesota Lynx (4-1) their only loss of the season. The big storyline for them coming into Sunday's game is Ivory Latta, who has moved up to No. 8 on <a href="http://www.wnba.com/features/race_to_13mvp_week2.html" target="_blank">WNBA.com's Race to the MVP</a>. She has been the leading scorer in all three of the Mystics' wins and as of right now their is no indication that she won't be the hero for them in pretty much every game for the rest of the season.</p>
<p>Washington's last game was that win over Minnesota, which was the team's first home victory of the season. Expect Verizon to have a great atmosphere now that the team has the chance to beat both of the 2012 Finals participants in back-to-back home games. However, the Mystics had momentum when they beat the Lynx, having won the night before as well. Now they will have had eight days off and could be a little rusty. The Fever, on the other hand, played as recently as Wednesday.</p>
<p>In addition, the Fever are still the defending champions no matter how poorly they are playing. They still have one of the best players in the league in Catchings, and how about Shavonte Zellous leading them in scoring right now with 18.4 points per game? Her career best ppg average prior to this season was 11.9, which she accomplished during her rookie year with the Detroit Shock.</p>
<p>All in all, there is a long way to go for both of these teams, but both could really use a win on Sunday. The Fever for obvious reasons - they are in last place - and the Mystics because even with their early success they still haven't completely washed away the bad taste from last year. Mike Thibault made it clear last weekend: they are still hungry for every win they can get at this stage of the rebuilding process.</p>
https://www.swishappeal.com/2013/6/15/4432370/wnba-2013-indiana-fever-vs-washington-mystics-preview-2012-champs-visit-white-houseZachary Ward2013-06-05T17:00:06-04:002013-06-05T17:00:06-04:00Montgomery spins, Liberty win
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<figcaption>Jim O'Connor-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p><strong>Just the Facts, Ma'am:</strong> Indiana started strong, but New York finished stronger, outscoring Indiana 14-8 in the overtime to take a 75-68 win. The Fever's Tamika Catchings led all players with 21 points, eight rebounds, and five steals. Shavonte Zellous had 15 before fouling out in the extra period, while Briann January had 13 points and a game-high five assists. Essence Carson led New York with 21 points. Cappie Pondexter had 17, 11 in the fourth quarter and overtime; Alex Montgomery added 6 of her 13 overtime.</p>
<p>For screens, thundersticks, the Katie who walks alone, floor care, relief, stupidity, physicality, and cardiac issues, join your intrepid and salty blogger after the jump.
</p> <p>Good afternoon, everyone! Your intrepid blogger comes to you on tape delay from a school day game at the Prudential Center, featuring the 2012 WNBA champion Indiana Fever and the New York Liberty.</p>
<p>No exaggeration: we had to put up with the stentorian preaching of a particularly annoying zealot from Jamaica Center to Times Square. That's twelve stops. That did not put me in the best of moods for this game. Then again, the weather is absolutely gorgeous, so that made me feel much better.</p>
<p>The seafoam green thundersticks have made their triumphant return, and they'll be going up on the wall one of these days, with the ones from ten other teams. (Talk to me, Tulsa fans! I collect inflatable banging things, and you're the one team I'm missing!)</p>
<p>Attendance is a bit disappointing so far, a half hour before tip. There are empty sections and sections that might as well be empty. The team and league keep forgetting that New Jersey actually believes field trips should be educational, don't they?</p>
<p>Layshia Clarendon's hair is just as cool up close. Really, Indiana is a good team to have come in on a school day, when you think about it: they have kids from Stanford, Cal, and Duke, and a couple of the other alma maters on the roster aren't too shabby either.</p>
<p>We're in the season ticket section, which is one over from our usual seats and a few rows down. I may consider upgrading to these or their equivalent when we move back to the Garden. I'll be able to do it, and that excites me.</p>
<p>At least the kids who did come are as loud as they're supposed to be.</p>
<p>We're getting a Timeless Torches performance today. Not sure how I feel about that. Well, actually, I am, but my opinion of the Timeless Torches has been recorded in the past- if I want to see people my mother's age gyrate, I'll give my mother Pepsi.</p>
<p>Cheryl's fashion continues to be very stylish, but I'd really, really rather see her in a uniform. I am starting to get quite irked at SFO.</p>
<p>I would very much like my "Strike It Up" back, Liberty. At least you played more of it this time, but this is a change I do not like. Not to mention that Toni's mix has two of the same songs as Kamiko's, and if I have to be exposed to mediocre rap, I'd at least like to be exposed to different mediocre rap.</p>
<p>At halftime, it's 36-30 Fever, and I can't believe how flat we're playing. Stupid passes, a horrific lack of boxing out, dumb fouls... the first half was a hot mess. The second quarter had a little more flow to it, so I can be a bit more optimistic. Essence Carson looked good in the second quarter.</p>
<p>This absolutely insipid anti-bullying presentation is not going to convince anyone that mocking their classmates is a bad idea. If this is your plan for ending bullying, honey, I don't think you're going to be Miss New York.</p>
<p>Hello, random guy in St. John's cap! Uh, you did hear that Shenneika Smith got cut and Nadirah McKenith plays for Washington, right? But I'm not going to be the one to break the news to you.</p>
<p>I really want Cheryl Ford's skirt, but I'd really rather see her in uniform.</p>
<p>Teams taking their sweet time coming out of the locker room today.</p>
<p>The box score lies. Jeanette Pohlen is with the team, just not dressed. Well, I mean, she's wearing clothes, albeit ones of questionable taste, but she's not dressed to play.</p>
<p>So that came very close to being in the same echelon as the infamous 54-44 Portland game, and then it came very close to Tamika Catchings blowing the game on an uncharacteristically stupid act, and then it turned into The Alex Montgomery Spin Show. A lot of things to happen in one game, but I tell you, if the Liberty keep doing this, you're going to be short one intrepid blogger, because my family has a history of heart conditions and I simply can't take any more of this.</p>
<p>Anthem singer was all right. Knew how to sing, just didn't have the voice for what he wanted to do.</p>
<p>Libz Bop would be terrible, but it would be amazing at the same time, and I can't help but want it. Also, Essence Carson rocks the pink leopard-print pimp hat far better than Leilani Mitchell does. Sorry, FLB.</p>
<p>We were not expecting a lack of Katie Douglas, but the lack was... um... rather noticeable. You do do a double-take when the only blonde on the floor is Layshia Clarendon...</p>
<p>Jessica Breland played off Erlana Larkins really well (which I guess makes sense, what with the North Carolina thing). They were a heck of a team on the boards, especially offensively. She also had a stunning stuff of Kelsey Bone. She looked better than she ever did in a Liberty uniform, I'll say that. Nice pickup for Indiana. (You're welcome, Lin. Again.) Sasha Goodlett threw her body around, but that was really all she did, although her one shot, a turnaround in the lane, was rather pretty. I'll give her that. Karima Christmas drew a lot of hard assignments. I don't envy her. She didn't play well, but honestly, when you're the only guard off the bench because Lin Dunn has to go three-guard set because you don't know how many minutes you can get from Breland, you're going ot end up in a lot of uncomfortable situations.</p>
<p>Layshia Clarendon is not afraid to shoot. The rim across from the Liberty bench seemed to absolutely hate her. Then the second half started and she hit her first two shots clean. Then she went cold again until one lay-up in overtime. Her hands are impressively quick, though. She poke-checks better than half the New York Rangers. (Better hope and pray that Thibault doesn't get his hands on her. You know he'd love it.) I think she set up at least two steals that were recovered by other players by causing the initial deflection. Erlana Larkins was a beast on the boards. Tough. Scary tough. Butterfingers on hands of stone, though. Six and six might have been eight and eight if she could keep her hands on the ball long enough to be effective. Shavonte Zellous committed an appalling number of stupid fouls, though for what my opinion is worth, I thought the charge that took her out of the game was a giant steaming heap of nonsense. She was very hot in the early going- ten points in the first quarter- but wore down as the game went on. Briann January is really growing on me. I think she'd annoy me more if we had a rivalry with the Fever, but as it is, I rather like her. If nothing else, I appreciate a player who knows how to fall and roll with it. Maybe martial arts training should be part of <i>all</i> players' training regimens. She carried the offense in the third quarter on sweet little outside jumpers. Tamika Catchings was Tamika Catchings, but a somewhat muted version. Because of the lead that the other players were able to stake Indiana to, she got to rest a bit in the second and third quarters. It's generally not a good thing for the opposing team when Tamika Catchings gets to rest. She cleaned up everything, and why would you even try to disconcert her at the line? Her defense was good, but not up to her high standards, IMO. Tamikaze was also in full effect, and I'm surprised she didn't get more punishment from the Liberty for it. That's not the kind of thing I'd expect the Liberty to roll over and take.</p>
<p>Toni Young played in spurts, but her youth was far too apparent. I think the physicality of the game might have gotten to her, though the one shot that she hit in the second quarter was nice. Katie Smith started the second half after Plenette Pierson was knocked out of the game, and she had to play defense all over the floor. She drew the short straw of having to cover Catchings most often, and she did as admirably as she could considering the size difference. I think she was in Catch's head a little bit, and I can deal with that. Her shot to beat the shock clock was a pure prayer, certainly one purer than that of the street preacher who annoyed me so on the way in. Leilani Mitchell got a fair bit of run, and demonstrated that she could totally be as physical as a Laimbeer player needed to be by fouling January (I think) hard on the break. She's still a defensive liability overall, though. Kelsey Bone looked okay on the boards, certainly better than the stats indicated, and I think she got more comfortable as the game went on. She also seems to have been practicing her free throws. I like that in a post. (Despite my St. John's affiliation.)</p>
<p>Alex Montgomery gets her own paragraph because she was the hero of overtime. She cranked her game up with incredible wild spin moves that somehow found the bottom of the basket. Her defense was excellent all game. For what it's worth, I think Essence Carson is the overall superior defender, but Alex has her beat defending on the ball. And she was all over every loose ball out there, too, which is good, since the veterans don't seem inclined to get their uniforms dirty. For stepping her game up in the second half and overtime, Alex is my player of the game.</p>
<p>But Essence Carson is a very close second. There were long stretches during the first half that it looked like Essence was the only Liberty player who actually woke up for the game. It looked like everything was going in for her. She wore down in the latter stages of the game- if she turns strange colors like Kraayeveld used to do, it's hard to tell, but she was shimmering with sweat by the end of the fourth. Kamiko Williams looked like a rookie. Indiana looks like a good match-up for her on the surface, and when she gets her legs under her she'll do well against them, but a rookie point guard not used to the position, running into the buzzsaw of the Indiana defense, even a buzzsaw that's missing some of its teeth- that doesn't end well for the rookie. Plenette Pierson took a hard hit in the first half and came up holding her face. When she went back to the bench, she covered her ears as soon as the loud music came on, so I suspect that she's going to be out for a couple of games with a concussion. NOW can we get Cheryl Ford on the floor? Plenette played well in the time that she was in the game, though she suffered from the same malaise as her teammates early on- no one was following their shots. No one. It was sickening. Kara Braxton was awful. Saying she looked hungover might be a compliment. Her defense was mostly limited to distracting people with her... huge tracts of land. She did have one nice feed to Alex (I think) in the middle. Cappie Pondexter was shifted all over the lineup and was basically Cappie. The turnovers made it hard for her to run the point, and the Indiana defense did the rest.</p>
<p>This is how Tamika Catchings almost became the goat for Indiana: Indiana had the ball up 2. Catchings took a hard fall and lay on the ground for a few moments longer than necessary, with no evidence of pain when she popped back up. While New York was playing five-on-four, Cappie hit an open three that gave the Liberty their first lead of the game at 60-59. Fortunately, Catch was saved from full-fledged goathood when Briann January gave Indiana the lead back and Cappie went only 1-2 from the line to force overtime.</p>
<p>The refs spent a lot of time reviewing and discussing calls. I expect better, or at least firmer, from a veteran crew like Mauer/Humphrey/J. Smith. They also had to reverse a couple of decisions based on quirks in the rulebook, such as a defensive three-seconds call reversed because the ball was in the air. 2:20 is long even for an overtime game, am I right? I think they realized things had gone too far in the first half and tried to overcompensate in the second half. That didn't go well.</p>
<p>LOL of the day: during a stoppage, the PA had a drumbeat that got faster and louder as it went on. The stoppage being particularly long, Katie proceeded to start nodding her head to the beat. It wasn't full-on headbanging, but something tells me that if the delay had been much longer, it might have. Larkins was cracking up at her. Katie is... strange.</p>
<p>It was getting kind of Indiana-Detroit out there for a while, which is not necessarily a surprise, given that half the Detroit Shock work for the Liberty in some capacity. And both teams were giving as good as they got. I really thought someone was going to lose their cool, more than Cappie did when she decided that shoving Briann January in the chest after the whistle was a brilliant plan with no hope of failure. (Cappie, I'm not saying you were wrong... actually, yes, I am, that was mind-numbingly stupid... but I'm just saying that if I were to decide to step to a Fever guard, I would probably not tango with the black belt. Do not taunt happy fun Briann.) Lots of grabbing. Lots of groping. Lots of hacking and wrestling. There was a stretch in the second half where I was squirming in my seat because I felt awkward being a Liberty fan.</p>
<p>To the school behind me that decided to cheer for Indiana after that abysmal first quarter: GTFO, get directly out, do not pass go, do not collect two hundred thundersticks.</p>
<p>I'm glad we escaped with this one, I really am, but we shouldn't have to storm back from a fifeen-point deficit and claim an overtime win over a Fever team missing four of its regular rotation players. We should be better than this. You live, you learn, and you better practice your free throws if you're going to take contact in the paint.</p>
https://www.swishappeal.com/2013/6/5/4399844/wnba-score-2013-new-york-liberty-vs-indiana-feverQueenie2013-05-31T21:19:10-04:002013-05-31T21:19:10-04:00Atlanta 86, Indy 77
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<figcaption>Josh D. Weiss-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Angel McCoughtry led the way with 29 points as the Atlanta Dream won against the defending champion Indiana Fever 86-77. A 25-14 third quarter in Atlanta's favor was a major factor along with a 36-29 rebounding advantage that held the Dream win this game. In addition, Sancho Lyttle provided 11 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals. Alex Bentley had 10 points and 6 assists off the bench, and Jasmine Thomas had 15 points on 7-11 shooting.</p>
<p>For the Fever, Tamika Catchings played a Tamika Catchings game with 20 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Katie Douglas added 17 points. Something that should be disappointing by the Fever was that the team only had 2 points from the four bench players, all from Karima Christmas, and the four bench players in this game only combined for three shot attempts with two rebounds and two steals.</p>
<p>And yes, we were all disappointed that Fever rookie Layshia Clarendon didn't get to play much in her regular season debut.</p>
<p>Atlanta heads to Washington to finish its two game road trip to play the Washington Mystics, and the Fever will have another decent break before heading off to play at New York this Wednesday.</p>
https://www.swishappeal.com/2013/5/31/4385202/wnba-score-2013-fever-vs-dreamAlbert Lee2013-05-24T22:23:20-04:002013-05-24T22:23:20-04:00Fever 79, Stars 64
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/FK8dlaUOkIYMZS58n-j7qVGmN2w=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828191/large_swishappeal.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>The game started out with a 10-0 run by the Stars, but after that it was basically all Fever all the time as Indiana came out with a solid victory.</p>
<p>For Indy, Tamika Catchings and Shavonte Zellous had 19 points each, Katie Douglas had 18 points and four dimes, and Erlana Larkins grabbed 12 boards and had 3 assists in addition to 8 points. For San Antonio, Shenise Johnson led the Stars wtih 14 points off the bench.</p>
<p>If you were wondering about how many threes were taken today given that the new near NBA length three is in use now, there were a good number. Indy made 5 of 16 shots, and San Antonio made 5-19 shots so the percentage was a bit low for them especially. Still, it's good to see that in the first regular season game for these teams, they weren't hesitating to take the shots at all which was a concern with some people in regards to the new line being used.</p>
https://www.swishappeal.com/2013/5/24/4364280/indiana-fever-beats-san-antonio-silver-star-79-64Albert Lee2013-05-24T08:00:06-04:002013-05-24T08:00:06-04:00How much will continuity help the Fever?
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/glmQOU7YiA5aJGpN8Vo1ulxMEgk=/0x414:3256x2585/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/13575657/154538329.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Michael Hickey</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>A statistical preview of the Indiana Fever based on <a href="http://www.swishappeal.com/2013/5/23/4358068/2013-wnba-preview-statistics-primer" target="new">the season preview framework described in our primer</a> the other day. </p> <p>
<style type="text/css">
</style></p>
<h4>2012 summary & offseason changes</h4>
<p align="LEFT">We asked it twice <a href="http://www.swishappeal.com/2013/2/4/3948692/2012-2013-wnba-indiana-fever-offseason/in/3697455">during the offseason</a> so we might as well do it again: can this team repeat as WNBA champs?</p>
<p align="LEFT">As difficult a feat as that has proven to be over the last decade in the WNBA, the Fever have made it clear what their answer to that question is: they brought back the majority of their roster, except for veteran center Tammy Sutton-Brown who accounted for just 8% of the team's overall statistical production last season and played less than 10 minutes per game during their playoff run. And if it ain't broke - or works well enough to win a title - why fix it?</p>
<p align="LEFT">But the number one thing that has to be said about the Fever's 2012 season is that their small ball approach - with star Tamika Catchings playing the power forward spot - was successful, even if it took a while for them to hit their stride. To keep a long story short, by moving Catchings to the 4 the Fever essentially conceded the rebounding battle to their opponents and dedicated themselves to playing to their strengths: 3-point shooting and ball control. They weren't the most efficient shooting team in the league, but their ability to manage possessions allowed them to win games. When Erlana Larkins emerged in the playoffs, it was a championship recipe.</p>
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
<colgroup>
<col width="42*">
<col width="25*">
<col width="32*">
<col width="37*">
<col width="31*">
<col width="36*">
<col width="22*">
<col width="30*">
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td height="18" width="16%">
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="10%">
<p align="CENTER"><b>eFg%</b></p>
</td>
<td width="13%">
<p align="CENTER"><b>Fta/Fga</b></p>
</td>
<td width="15%">
<p align="CENTER"><b>Oreb%</b></p>
</td>
<td width="12%">
<p align="CENTER"><b>Tov%</b></p>
</td>
<td width="14%">
<p align="CENTER"><b>TeamFacs</b></p>
</td>
<td width="9%">
<p align="CENTER"><b>MEV</b></p>
</td>
<td width="12%">
<p align="CENTER"><b>Adj Synergy</b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="18" width="16%">
<p align="CENTER"><b>Ind</b></p>
</td>
<td width="10%">
<p align="CENTER">47.84%</p>
</td>
<td width="13%">
<p align="CENTER">29.42%</p>
</td>
<td width="15%">
<p align="CENTER">29.37%</p>
</td>
<td width="12%">
<p align="CENTER">15.58%</p>
</td>
<td width="14%">
<p align="CENTER">5.33</p>
</td>
<td width="9%">
<p align="CENTER">74.23</p>
</td>
<td width="12%">
<p align="RIGHT">0.38</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="18" width="16%">
<p align="CENTER"><b>Opp</b></p>
</td>
<td width="10%">
<p align="CENTER">47.08%</p>
</td>
<td width="13%">
<p align="CENTER">26.74%</p>
</td>
<td width="15%">
<p align="CENTER">31.99%</p>
</td>
<td width="12%">
<p align="CENTER">0.20</p>
</td>
<td width="14%">
<p align="CENTER">4.95</p>
</td>
<td width="9%">
<p align="CENTER">59.34</p>
</td>
<td width="12%">
<p align="RIGHT">0.18</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="18" width="16%">
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="10%">
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="13%">
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="15%">
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="12%">
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="14%">
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="9%">
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="12%">
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="18" width="16%">
<p align="CENTER"><b>Weighted</b></p>
</td>
<td width="10%">
<p align="CENTER"><b>eFg%</b></p>
</td>
<td width="13%">
<p align="CENTER"><b>fta/fga</b></p>
</td>
<td width="15%">
<p align="CENTER"><b>Oreb%</b></p>
</td>
<td width="12%">
<p align="CENTER"><b>Tov%</b></p>
</td>
<td width="14%">
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="9%">
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="12%">
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="18" width="16%">
<p align="CENTER"><b>Ind</b></p>
</td>
<td width="10%">
<p align="CENTER">0.08</p>
</td>
<td width="13%">
<p align="CENTER">0.06</p>
</td>
<td width="15%">
<p align="CENTER">-0.11</p>
</td>
<td width="12%">
<p align="CENTER">0.35</p>
</td>
<td width="14%">
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="9%">
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="12%">
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p align="LEFT"> </p>
<p align="LEFT">They'll enter the 2013 season <a href="http://www.firstcoastnews.com/sports/wnba/article/314225/414/Indianas-Phillips-sidelined-with-torn-meniscus">nursing a number of injuries</a>, but their top pick in the 2013 WNBA Draft should help alleviate some of that stress and add to that dangerous perimeter scoring attack.</p>
<h4>2013 WNBA Draft summary:</h4>
<p align="LEFT">With the ninth pick in the draft, the Fever selected Layshia Clarendon and we might eventually see that pick as something of a steal down the road.</p>
<p align="LEFT">We've talked about what an <a href="http://www.swishappeal.com/2013/4/15/4227880/wnba-draft-prospects-2013-guards">amazingly efficient </a>jump shooter <a href="http://www.swishappeal.com/2013/2/26/4034474/video-highlights-california-golden-bears-vs-oregon-state-bears-layshia-clarendon/in/3350403">she was at Cal </a>and what makes her a particularly <a href="http://www.swishappeal.com/2013/4/9/4205740/wnba-draft-2013-prospects-final-four-clarendon-faris-diggins/in/3350403">strong WNBA scoring prospect</a> so I won't continue to just harp on that, but how that jump shooting efficiency figures into her similarity ratings is fascinating and we haven't discussed that much.</p>
<table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="4" width="100%">
<colgroup>
<col width="37*">
<col width="37*">
<col width="37*">
<col width="37*">
<col width="37*">
<col width="37*">
<col width="37*">
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr valign="TOP">
<td width="14%">
<p align="LEFT">Name</p>
</td>
<td width="14%">
<p align="LEFT">S</p>
</td>
<td width="14%">
<p align="LEFT">P</p>
</td>
<td width="14%">
<p align="LEFT">I</p>
</td>
<td width="14%">
<p align="LEFT">TS%</p>
</td>
<td width="14%">
<p align="LEFT">2-point%</p>
</td>
<td width="14%">
<p align="LEFT">PPR</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="TOP">
<td width="14%">
<p align="LEFT">Clarendon (2013)</p>
</td>
<td width="14%">
<p align="LEFT">0.86</p>
</td>
<td width="14%">
<p align="LEFT">0.68</p>
</td>
<td width="14%">
<p align="LEFT">0.17</p>
</td>
<td width="14%">
<p align="LEFT">53.23</p>
</td>
<td width="14%">
<p align="LEFT">51.72</p>
</td>
<td width="14%">
<p align="LEFT">0.11</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="TOP">
<td width="14%">
<p align="LEFT">Hill (2013)</p>
</td>
<td width="14%">
<p align="LEFT">0.86</p>
</td>
<td width="14%">
<p align="LEFT">0.65</p>
</td>
<td width="14%">
<p align="LEFT">0.19</p>
</td>
<td width="14%">
<p align="LEFT">55.66</p>
</td>
<td width="14%">
<p align="LEFT">47.17</p>
</td>
<td width="14%">
<p align="LEFT">-2.24</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="TOP">
<td width="14%">
<p align="LEFT">R. Williams (2012)</p>
</td>
<td width="14%">
<p align="LEFT">0.9</p>
</td>
<td width="14%">
<p align="LEFT">0.66</p>
</td>
<td width="14%">
<p align="LEFT">0.13</p>
</td>
<td width="14%">
<p align="LEFT">50.87</p>
</td>
<td width="14%">
<p align="LEFT">41.72</p>
</td>
<td width="14%">
<p align="LEFT">-0.8</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="TOP">
<td width="14%">
<p align="LEFT">Prince (2009*)</p>
</td>
<td width="14%">
<p align="LEFT">0.85</p>
</td>
<td width="14%">
<p align="LEFT">0.65</p>
</td>
<td width="14%">
<p align="LEFT">0.21</p>
</td>
<td width="14%">
<p align="LEFT">52.9</p>
</td>
<td width="14%">
<p align="LEFT">45.9</p>
</td>
<td width="14%">
<p align="LEFT">-0.43</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="TOP">
<td width="14%">
<p align="LEFT">Wiggins (2008)</p>
</td>
<td width="14%">
<p align="LEFT">0.84</p>
</td>
<td width="14%">
<p align="LEFT">0.63</p>
</td>
<td width="14%">
<p align="LEFT">0.23</p>
</td>
<td width="14%">
<p align="LEFT">56.16</p>
</td>
<td width="14%">
<p align="LEFT">48.99</p>
</td>
<td width="14%">
<p align="LEFT">0.78</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p align="CENTER"><i>Similarity ratings for Layshia Clarendon and Tayler Hill.</i></p>
<p align="LEFT">There's little question that Prince ended up being the best of those in this group that have played in the league to this point, but both Clarendon and Tayler Hill have a really opportunity to occupy the next two spots behind her.</p>
<p align="LEFT">Sticking with Clarendon, that 2-point percentage is quite impressive even though the other players on this list had higher usage rates that might have lowered their efficiency quite a bit. Clarendon was not a deadly 3-point shooter and didn't get to the line at a high rate, which is why her true shooting percentage is lower than some of these other players. But it's Clarendon's ability to remain that efficient over the course of a season coming off screens and curls that really stands out - for the purists that claim the art of mid-range shooting has been lost these days, Clarendon is a breath of fresh air in some sense.</p>
<p align="LEFT">Yet in terms of style of play, an even better comparison than any of these players might actually be NBA veteran <span>Richard Hamilton</span>. Hamilton was a better 3-point shooter coming out of Uconn, but has made his living in the NBA by working off of screens for mid-range shots. If the Fever can utilize Clarendon similar to how the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.detroitbadboys.com/">Pistons</a> used Hamilton, Clarendon could be a huge addition to their offense. Even if that isn't an exact comparison for her, she had the college numbers that suggest she'll have either have an extremely successful pro career - it would be surprising for a player with these tendencies to be drafted and not have an impact at this point.</p>
<h4>Balance</h4>
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="939">
<colgroup>
<col width="100">
<col width="100">
<col width="100">
<col width="100">
<col width="100">
<col width="100">
<col width="100">
<col width="100">
<col width="100">
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td height="21" width="100">
<p align="CENTER">Player</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">S%</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">P%</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">I%</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">S-P-I style</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">TS</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">Turnover%</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">Oreb%</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">FTP</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="18" width="100">
<p align="CENTER">Tamika Catchings</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">0.46</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">0.56</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">0.54</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">M</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">55.21</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">8.43%</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">7.12%</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">30.24%</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="18" width="100">
<p align="CENTER">Katie Douglas</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">0.94</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">0.53</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">0.19</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">S</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">54.29</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">8.67%</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">3.97%</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">18.20%</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="19" width="100">
<p align="CENTER">Briann January</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">0.75</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">0.96</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">0.03</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">DS</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">56.48</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">15.79%</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">1.76%</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">31.02%</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="19" width="100">
<p align="CENTER">Shavonte Zellous</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">0.66</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">0.60</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">0.41</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">S</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">47.45</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">12.52%</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">4.64%</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">26.64%</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="18" width="100">
<p align="CENTER">Jessica Davenport</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">0.38</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">0.22</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">0.75</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">IP</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">53.35</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">17.73%</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">8.10%</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">33.52%</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="18" width="100">
<p align="CENTER">Erin Phillips</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">0.46</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">0.80</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">0.38</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">D</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">51.53</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">12.97%</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">4.61%</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">15.72%</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="19" width="100">
<p align="CENTER">Jeanette Pohlen</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">0.57</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">0.72</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">0.45</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">P</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">56.27</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">15.39%</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">2.70%</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">5.47%</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="19" width="100">
<p align="CENTER">Erlana Larkins</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">0.03</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">0.54</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">0.87</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">IU</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">56.93</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">17.54%</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">15.84%</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">28.70%</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="19" width="100">
<p align="CENTER">Sasha Goodlett</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">0.61</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">0.16</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">0.69</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">IP</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">48.31</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">9.20%</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">10.88%</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">18.92%</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="19" width="100">
<p align="CENTER">Karima Christmas</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">0.25</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">0.64</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">0.63</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">IU</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">40.24</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">10.24%</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">8.89%</p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER">13.73%</p>
</td>
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<p align="CENTER"><i>2012 tendencies for the Indiana Fever's returning players.</i></p>
<p align="LEFT">The Fever have had the same problem for a couple of years now and it hasn't really changed: even if Erlana Larkins keeps the Superwoman cape that she was wearing during the 2012 playoffs, rebounding could still be an issue over the course of the season. Larkins is still their only dominant offensive rebounder and the rest are either average or below.</p>
<p align="LEFT">Otherwise, although ball handling has typically been a problem for the Fever, they're unique in that both Tamika Catchings and Katie Douglas are well above average ball handlers for their style of play. So if they can get efficient play from Briann January - who still has some room for improvement - they're able to run their offense efficiently. Erin Phillips' injury is a blow to their ball handling ability as she was very helpful as the most efficient guard on the team last season, but they still have their most efficient ball handler from last season: Tamika Catchings.</p>
<h4>Versatility</h4>
<p align="LEFT">No team in the league relied more heavily on "pure scorers" (as defined by SPI tendencies) than the Fever, which is interesting when considering their rep as a defensive team: Katie Douglas and Shavonte Zellous combined to account for 23% of the Fever's overall statistical production. But having a pair of scorers like that who can also handle the ball without turning it over too often is a huge part of what makes the Fever to stop.</p>
<p align="LEFT"> </p>
<p align="LEFT">With Catchings being a versatile player who can play multiple positions, their wing scorers being efficient ball handlers, and a pair of distributors (once Phillips returns) they have a number of lineup options and Lin Dunn showed during last year's playoffs that she knows how to use them. Clarendon figures to fit squarely in that efficient wing camp, which gives them a mid-range scoring option who could end up being more efficient than Shavonte Zellous.</p>
<p align="LEFT">Nevertheless, there's no mistaking that this is a perimeter-oriented team first and foremost and as long as the threes are falling for them (they tied the Minnesota Lynx last year with a league-high 40% 3-point shooting) there's no reason to stop being that way. But in that they are a "small ball" team that's going to try to out shoot opponents from beyond the arc, it's reasonable to say they're predictable. But knowing what they want to do and rotating around the court to defend that are two different things.</p>
<h4>Complementarity</h4>
<p align="LEFT">As the highest synergy team in the Eastern Conference last season, it should probably come as little to no surprise that Indiana has a pretty complementary set of players and that starts by going back to who they put around those pure scorers.</p>
<p align="LEFT">One of the interesting things about the Fever's roster is that despite having some measure of versatility in terms of who plays where, they also have very distinct roles in terms of production. Catchings obviously does everything, but even in being the team's highest usage player she was also their most efficient distributor with the lowest turnover ratio. So she's a player who can complement just about anyone.</p>
<p align="LEFT">Pairing her with Douglas, similarly efficient with the ball and about as willing a passer as you might expect from a scorer, gives them a dynamic duo who only need players around them that can play off of them effectively. That's part of what makes the commendable expendables so valuable: Larkins is a low-usage rebounder, Phillips was a low-usage distributor who scored relatively efficiently as distributors go. January is a relatively high usage point guard, but was also the second most efficient player on the team due to her ability to get to the line and knock down 43% of her 3-point attempts last season. Jessica Davenport was a somewhat oddly high usage interior player, but for a team that doesn't have many interior threats the fact that she too was above average efficiency as an interior scorer made her valuable off the bench even if she was not a dominant rebounder.</p>
<p align="LEFT">Ultimately, a large part of what makes this team tick is everybody has a clearly defined role, executes it efficiently and they all fit together nicely as a unit to make things tough on defenses.</p>
<h4>X-Factor: Sasha Goodlett</h4>
<p align="LEFT">The Fever could really use another rebounder and scorer and Goodlett is probably the best candidate for internal development given her VCR of 1.02 last season.</p>
<p align="LEFT">She had an average offensive rebounding percentage of 10.88%, but her 48.31% true shooting percentage was below average for a post and if she could pull that up a few percentage points - perhaps by getting to the line more often for starters - she could make the team more dynamic.</p>
<p align="LEFT">Of course, as a player who only played 7.6 minutes per game it's hard to say what she'd do in more minutes. But if she can improve as a scorer it would give the Fever one more option when they're forced out of playing small ball.</p>
<h4>Depth</h4>
<p align="LEFT">Even with the loss of Phillips for a stretch of time, this team's perimeter rotation looks fine, especially if January can contribute at the level she did during last season and Clarendon can become the efficient scorer that she seems on track to become.</p>
<p align="LEFT">With the Fever starting small and having a number of perimeter players at their disposal at full health, the Fever are probably deeper on the "interior" than a quick glance at their roster would suggest. However, with Davenport out due to injury, Goodlett and Jessica Breland will have to contribute more as the lone players over 6-foot-1 on the roster.</p>
<h4>Strengths</h4>
<p align="LEFT">This team's strengths are pretty clear: they have a very strong combination of players who can get to the rim and players who can shoot threes. They're going to spread the floor, force defenses to make decisions, and make them pay for mistakes. Catchings' versatility is certainly a large part of what made things work for them last season, but the way these players complement each other is just as important.</p>
<h4>Weaknesses</h4>
<p align="LEFT">Over the course of a 34-game season, it stands to reason that rebounding will trip them up - with Catchings at power forward, they will give up size in most matchups. Ball handling will be an issue on occasion with Phillips out, but they have players across the roster who can pick up the slack on that.</p>
<h4>Key question: How much will continuity help them in their effort to repeat?</h4>
<p align="LEFT">What the Fever have that other teams in the East don't is continuity: their core group and coach is still around and they now know what it takes to win a title. They didn't come into the offseason searching for answers, a new coach, or new players. Over the course of a 34-game regular season, all of that stuff matters. But a major question is how successful they can be with Erlana Larkins carrying their rebounding effort if nobody else steps up to help in the paint - there's certainly potential for someone to step up and they're going to need that if they intend to repeat.</p>
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