@@tabularasa9554 lol. but I have to say, this is what Sides would probably have been doing, if she'd had the faintest idea HOW. but she was a "defensive coach" in the sense of running up and down the sidecourt, yelling at them. actual practice of specific plays or skills? not so much.
She will play to their strengths and also get them playing tough D. You can do both. Plus the Fever are going to sign some more very talented players. At least 2, maybe 3 or 4. Lots of good players want to play alongside CC. It's going to be a very different team next year for sure. Better coached and more talent. It's gonna be good.
I believe in the theory defense wins championships. If this team can improve their defense even 50%from last year that could well be another 5-7 wins or more. Rebounding along with boxing out is vital. Boston can’t do it by herself so we need to get another banger on the boards to help her. By doing that the run game will definitely take off. Maybe Stephanie has someone in mind, hope so.
Well, this team will automatically win another 5 or 6 games assuming they do not have the insane punishing schedule they had this past year. That 1-11 start was engineered by forcing them to play 11 games in 20 days, which was INSANE, repeatedly playing the top THREE teams in the league, which was vicious and ugly. Give them an ordinary first dozen games, and this team wins at least half of them. But, honestly, give this team an ordinary first 12 games---if they play the way they played the second half of the season, they're likely 9-3 to start the season!
I agree, we need a good power forward to play with Boston. We need a stretch 4 and they are very hard to find. Someone tall enough to rebound, can guard bigs, shoot 3s, and run the floor are rare, think Briana Stewart and Collier. Hopefully we sign Satou, she has the side and talent to fill the role.
One thing about defense it is done when the other team has the ball. It is fast play including steals, blocks. And thoughtful play. Their screens were less than perfect and she will add to their offense by teaching good defense not slipshod defense.
I believe that with Stephanie's style of play, Fever will have a new direction that can fully harness the talents of CC and Boston, and it won't just be about defense anymore
Yes, she did. I mentioned that in this video, using one of her quotes. The offense will come from the defense, and depending on what kind of defensive pressure they put in place, that may set off their defense. Looking forward to it.
This is exactly why I said from the beginning that Stephanie White was a tremendous hire because she was going to bring that mindset of toughness and tenacity on both sides of the ball. You combine that with a core group of high IQ players, and her coach style of empowering her leaders to make on-the-spot adjustments within the game plan..and you have a recipe for domination!
According to Coach White's own words, although she wasn't a defensive player, it's a large part of how she coaches...and her history proves this. In 2023 and 2024 her Connecticut Sun was #1 both years in opposing points per game...while the Indiana Fever was second from the bottom at #11. Of course, the Sun played to their strength by slowing down the pace and being very physical on the defensive end. However, Coach White did promise (as you stated) "more than anything, we want to continue to be exactly what they are, a fun, fast paced, up tempo style of play, sharing the basketball, making teammates better...." I liked how she considers CC and AB her "bookends" to build around, comparing them to the great point guards and post players that the game has ever seen, and boldly predicted that they will go down in history as the greatest. I'd say the Fever appears to be in very good hands, and I retract every negative I said about her in previous posts...ツ
@@DavidStewart-v5e As long as we use our own style. Dijon Must...oops, DiJonai Carrington used Crane Style. Maybe we should use Praying Mantis? Lol...ツ
Fast break basketball goes hand-in-hand with great defensive skills and pressure defenses, of half and full court. Teams can fast break off: jump balls, in-bounds plays, free throw plays, etc. Clark also compliments her teams' defenses with her style and mentality of pushing the ball up court and being the catalyst of running a fast pace B-ball offense!
Larry Bird comes to mind when you talk defense. He wasn't very good at individual defense. But from within the concept of team defense, he was much better. I think Coach White will be happy if CC plays like that on the defensive end. I've said it before, what this team needs is a couple quick 3&D players along with an enforcer to give Boston help and keep CC from taking unnecessary hits.
I played in my H.S. career (I didn't go on to play in college not because I wasn't recruited - I was, but I chose as a major so difficult that I put b-ball behind me), but one year I spent on the JV team because the Varsity team was ranked #3 in the nation! They practiced us, JV and Varsity, together - we could function as one. I played p. guard, but at the start of the season, I couldn't play defense (previous years, at other schools we played zone). But now we would play a "run-and-gun" (not the correct term)..
offense, which started with the defense. The head coach challenged me to learn how to play man-to-man defense (I did). So we played m-to-m defense all the way down the court (from the time we scored until we got the ball back). The point was if we played the defense, we could get out, run down the court on offense and put the ball in the hoop.10th grade and we played some games where the score was 100-24. Defense = very good offense!
What fans want is to see Fever score 90+ points a game and play just enough defense that the other teams lose, what we don’t want is a team that scores 70 points and holds opponents to 60 points. How the Phoenix Suns are playing right now should be an example.
Some people (many posting here) won’t get the concept of defense opening up the fast-paced game, even after they see the results. Thats ok. They’ll just marvel at how many get-ahead passes CC gets next season and think that Coach White really did a great job teaching offense. Lol Very exciting season coming up.
Stephanie White-had this in her plans for about 4 to 5 years and after the Fever got the number one pick they came out the closest-all three of them- when they saw the fans fellowing Caitlin to the WNBA-Sides could’ve won thirty games and she still would have been let go -she was the pond in the game -always a game inside the game-Stephanie wants the spotlight
Defense isn't a dirty word. If you were a fan of the big ten conference 50 years you witnessed many, many games with scores that were like 48-43, etc. The emphasis was on ball control and clock management. And then the shot clock was implemented. I wanted to see a 1 minute shot clock but initially it was 45 seconds which still allowed a team to play decent defense. Now with it being 24 seconds defense is a lost art. I seen scores in the pro game that are like 120-117 and the announcer was mentioning how the defense was unusually stiff that particular day. I'm like huh???.
I totally agree with everything you said. And to add to that, the Fever sucked on defense last season. There is no way in hell that teams should have scored high 80's or 90 plus points in any game! White knows this and in the off season imo she's going to be more focused on the teams defense than offense cause they really need to get that together. People have to understand that yes you need player that can score but ultimately defense wins games..
This new coach is much more professional than Cristy Sides, she recognizes how smart her top players are ( two academic all Americans, and a Masters in Engineering) and will have them in the right spots to get stops and trigger that offence that CC is so good at. I am impressed with the new coach.
I chuckle at those who are worried the focus on defense is going to stifle the offense, yet during games this past season when the opponents went on scoring runs, complaints about the defense were aplenty. White has said the Fever doesn’t need to be the best defense in the league, but it certainly cannot dwell near the bottom… which it did in 2024.
This makes me more excited. Tempo teams are defense generated. I just hope the fans are patient enough to let the players learn. It really has to be 2nd nature before it will really shine. While they are learning some easy baskets are going to be given up.
@@theadriennerossshow you addressed it, Stephanie White addressed it -- but after that year, watching CC get dumped on and hurt and made to stand in the corner, some of us are still skeptical about this whole WNBA thing. it's not college b-ball any more -- more like hockey.
Contrast Stephanie's defense discussion, laying out ways and means to Sides "We got to work on defense" Kind of like night and day. I just hope that they can strike a balance between a much needed defense, without holding back the run and gun offense.
Box out, Rebound, run and feed! This is going to be fun. Could you analyze the free agents and who will fit the culture. I m having a hard time seeing more than about 3 players that will be clean classy High IQ hustlers...Satou, Sophie, Plum, Kia Nurse, (they can’t be obsessed with their color or they won’t fit). I think we have good guards but need big aggressive forwards with Temi and AB.
Yesssss,you are on it, fast pace and fast tempo,i think caitlin already had them getting ready for fast pace and white will be fine,we gotta back our fever. Ohhhh yeah 💯👍
I understand the whole "this team likes to run narrative" but y'all gotta understand, if you can't stop the other on defense all the running ain't gon do anything. Sooner or later they're gonna have to slow down and set-up an offense in the half court.
Geno of UCONN preaches D leads to O and it's so true. Often when one of the UCONN players is interviewed they echo Geno's mantra that defense leads to offense. Michaeanderson6290 below said it well. "defense is a springboard to any running game".
Clark's problem on defense was letting the other player go pass her right-side half the time making baskets. The other problem was leaving her player who was at side of the court helping around the paint. Then, like she would do, pass the ball out for a three shot. It was a wonder I had a TV just on these two problems. A main problem not having players block shots close to the rim or get rebounds. Reese would be the person they need or another player being like Reese. Hull was good, Boston was fair, Mitchell had problems for her height. Mitchell is what 5'8" working on getting blocks or rebounds over 6' to 6'4" will never happen most times.Mitchell would be the player on steals or tie-ups at the most.
Last season's defense was their weakest link. Defense is the key to creating turnovers, stops, and fast breaks. It feeds the offense. I don't think all the talk about defense shorts the powerful offense they have, at all. It's naturally a focal point now, since it has been a bit weak. I totally agree that SW will coach to her players' strengths. I can't wait to see who they keep and who they bring in to complement their stars. Clark, Mitchell, Boston, Hull, and Fagbenle when healthy, seem like the core. I'm sure there are plenty of good options who would rather play FOR the Fever than against them.
Because Stephanie said she didn’t play defense our didn’t like to play defense they need to bring someone in to teach defense stance , need to teach them to slide their feet. need to teach them how to play angles also on court communication between players I do think they need just some basics
Quick basketball question: My 79YO dad and I learned so much from you (boxing out/screens/etc) as newbie Fever fans! So I ask you this: I often wondered if Sides tried to slow the game down (to all of our dismay) because it was causing the team to play “tired” defense. As much as I love the high optics run and gun, I often wondered if they were wearing themselves from playing hard Defence and from being able to play a FULL game of their style of basketball … Any thoughts on this that you might have with your coaching-high-IQ basketball experience? … thanks for your show! Enjoy it!
I'm also very new to basketball, so I'm not sure about your supposition. But for me, even if that was her intent, she should have seen it wasn't working. The gains made by their running game were lost when she slowed the game down. Then they'd have to work that much harder to try and catch back up. If she *was* trying to give them a rest, wouldn't she have been better served utilizing smarter rotations, which would have given the main players a quick breather while giving those on the bench valuable playing time to further develop their skills and thus strengthen the team as a whole. Surely Sides should have tried something else when it was clear the whole let's play slow ball was costing them games and bringing down team morale. But that's just my .02.
@@SCash-rl5ee I think I agree with most of what you said -- except our bench wasn't the best to turn to for serious rotations like many teams had, IMO. Especially once we started using Lexi in the rotation, while getting nothing from KLS ...
@@marceybullYes, but some players got hardly any time on the court. Sides should have given them more time to play so they could develop. Then we'd know what they really had to offer. :)
I checked the defensive rankings for the WNBA in 2024. Guess which team was CONSISTENTLY in the TOP 5 in EVERY category? The Connecticut Sun! They were No. 1 in scoring defense. No doubt the Fever will dominate next year.
Sure, any cog in a machine can be powerful. But it's nothing, compared to ALL the cogs, working together. They are almost unstoppable. Easy to stop one cog. One wrench, things grind to a halt. Throw that wrench when all are working together? They eat the wrench. I watched, from the ground up, when they created the Sacramento Kings during the Peja/Vlade/Webber/Williams/Jackson, (and so many more) era. That's when I knew, finally, they'd gotten serious. Even bringing in Chris Webber, problem child, didn't bother me that much? Becau8se after awhile, he began to understand that he had an actual TEAM. And they began to flow together. But... where did it all begin? DEFENSE. And it took some time to convince some of those guys, especially Webber, Williams to some degree, but the Euro guys? They knew. Seeing that lightbulb finally come on, when they understood DEFENSE, leads to OFFENSE? Was awesome. Unfortunately, Shaq & Kobe stood in their way, (not to mention some of that wonderful ref bullshit we see in the WNBA today... I wonder if they came from our games?), but we got SO CLOSE. Now, I gave up on the NBA, long ago now. And I watched a little WNBA back in the Sue Bird day's, but gave that boredom up as well... Until I saw this Caitlin Clark gal. An Insane breath of fresh air, in college. I began to pay attention.. and saw Lexi Hull, Boston, and Mitchell. I saw a TEAM, that didn't yet know it was a TEAM. A REAL TEAM. I also saw/see, some cancer. That's why I say Smith is gone, she just doesn't know it yet. White's, and the other hires? Far too intelligent, to keep something like that around the insane gift, they've inherited. They get the right pieces? And the Indiana Fever is going to OUT-DRAW the NBA. Consistantly. You heard it hear first. Or not. Who cares, lol. I just want to SEE THIS. Something I've not watched to do with either Basketball league, in a VERY long time.
Other than my family, I'm not in the mood for uplifting discourse. I'll just wait for next Fever season and hope we survive what's surely to come down on us😢
Bird's Celtics played decent, although not great, defense. What they did amazingly well, though, was play at a high tempo, share the ball, and run off makes. Caitlin plays a lot like Bird did. He wasn't a great 1-on-1 defender, but he got rebounds, blocks, and steals by picking his spots and anticipating where the ball was going.
As much as I love Caitlin and fan girl over her and was brought here because of her, she has been a defensive liability for the Fever. Some of the worst in the league. So excited that she has a coach with a backbone now who WILL get on her players for the things they do wrong. CC is always saying there’s so much to improve on and she is smart enough to know defense is one of them. I see a slight reduction in her minutes if she’s throwing down on both ends of the floor and White having a valuable backup for her.
I am not a BB player having only played in gym class many many moons ago before the hills got dusty. This sounds all well and good I'll admit. However my question is this, What difference will it make with dirty officiating and CC having a target on her back with deliberately being attacked every time she is on the court and the refs needing sunglasses and a white cane, or maybe a seeing eye dog? The WNBA needs to become a BB league and stop being a woke joke. That is my opinion and I will stand by it. I enjoy your channel sis. Be blessed my friend.
She already said that she wants them to play uptempo the way they've been playing so she has no plan to play slow like sides did. People need to listen to her interviews. She just wants to make them better defensively bcuz they were terrible defending the 3 pt line. And you're not going to run every single play! Ab needs to get her hands right bcuz so many times she couldn't grip the ball on rebounds and she would let small guards out rebound her which was crazy
I ain’t trying to watch a 60-66 final score for 40 minutes from a professional game, that’s middle school scoring. I’m here for the high octane scoring courtesy of CC22 splash in with KM because this is still entertainment. They can’t dunk so I expect to see 80’s & 90’s on the score board. IJS 🤷🏾♂️
You can do both. The Fever don't have one player who is even close to an All WNBA defender. They need at least one elite defender similar to what Draymond is with the Warriors.
Boxing is key but remember you are not get every rebound you should get all that are in front of you. Sometimes they bounce deep gotta play d hard and offense will. Her success comes from her players running hard in that transition they get a rebound and they’re off hard and fast.
No excuse not to box out. The ball will go where it goes, obviously, but you still box out. Good rebounders have a nose for where the ball is going, but everyone can put a body on somebody, as we say.
@ I didn’t say you don’t box just said the exact same thing you did. Ball doesn’t always cooperate and you can’t box out successfully every time you are assuming other talent just gonna cooperate with you. Let’s be realistic do what you can play hard on both ends. As a coach you don’t get on your players to crash offensive boards. Come on be honest play hard on both sides do you get pissed every time someone gets beat shit happens.
@@scottmorin357 No disagreement about how the ball bounces, for sure. I will say, though, that as a coach, I did get on my players for not crashing offensive boards--except the one player assigned to hang back. But I get your point overall and agree.
@ agreed my point of view was as a 6’4” center in high school to then playing guard in the Air Force. Most games got most rebounds some games sometimes balls just don’t bounce your way. Reminds me of CC’s comment on her triple double. Don’t get used to her getting all those rebounds sometimes the ball just seeks you out. But on the same aspect I expect a double double every time from her. Her deep 3’s and assists are phenomenal I expect greatness from her and her team. I think she’s got a great core team one exception and she is not an on court problem but an off court problem.
so psyched. now, how to deal with "physical" teams? aggressive play? fouling? very curious to see how Stephanie White addresses that issue. because it's not going away. not with CC on the team. terrible refs -- not a lot any coach can do, besides strategize around appeals. and manage players' complaints. (yes, CC's for sure.) oh, and maybe some social media pressure around firing all the refs and building an actual professional league.
The off-season work put in now will be the payoff during the season. CC is now a veteran and team leader she will expect and demand the same commitment from her teammates as she does herself. A prerequisite to be a Fever team member.
Defense and boxing out are basket ball FUNDAMENTALS. Defense wins games. Sometimes, and def the case with Indiana, you have to GET BACK TO FUNDAMENTALS.
Ken Swift still talking about Caitlin Clark? I bet you if you invited Caitlin Clark to do an interview on your show, she wouldn't do it. Why don't you and Ken Swift ask Caitlin to come on both your platforms and do an interview, and see if she'll do it. I doubt it. Have you seen CFWB GOD's latest video about Caitlin Clark?
Worried from her history. Don't want her to indocratat Caitlin to her ways. And she is a good couch but the woke has a different mindset and goals. I don't want to judge her yet but it's the woke and don't want this for Catlin. I could be wrong but this is her fan bade.
@@davidclos6193 Oh, the nonsense of her team. Yeah, she said isms are wrong and also said reality is that most of those are trolls. I didn't like how she answered it, but I think she was trying to acknowledge her players' comments while drawing attention back to reality. Let's go, Fever! And, yes, no woke stuff.
CC needs to work on her absolute horrendous clutch playing...and yes...I'm going to say it here...CC is not a legitimate 3-point threat when she need Mitchell and Hull constantly bailing her out. This is why I don't understand people comparing her to the likes of Bird and Jordan. One thing we saw about CC this past year was she is basically a squishy. Yep, that's right. I said it. CC is not tough in those most critical moments where toughness is needed most. Does anyone really think Bird or Jordan would have allowed their team to fall so quickly in the playoffs? It's all but guaranteed if they got poked in the eye, the other team would have paid...and by that I mean P-A-I-D. When Koby Bryant had such a glaring discrepancy in his game, you know what he did in the off-season? He worked on his game in the off-season like his life depended on it. CC goes on vacation and works on her golf game. I'm not saying CC should be a workaholic. I'm saying don't call her driven in the same sense that Bird, Jordan, and Kobe are driven. I hope the new coach puts fire under the Fever's butt because their sense of urgency, hunger and competitive drive is a falling short to the point they are a threat easily discombobulated in key moments when they are being truly tested.
The Fever need at least one ENFORCER - with 6” steel nails, an appetite for blatant fouls, being very aggressive toward match officials - so that they NEVER make a single call against you. 🤬
She also basically said, I don't wanna have to teach these girls how to play offense or something to that effect. Unrelated question, it seems like the number 22 is the most popular in women's basketball, like every team has a starting player wearing 22, what is that about? Is it because of Sheryl Swoopes, is it because of Stephanie White, or something completely different?
Boston needs to get in better shape. Boston favored the inside/outside 'Sides' slow-ball instead of the outside/inside 'CC' fast ball. We need better screens and picks... Fever - 2025 Champs!! 🤍
It’s gonna be so much fun to see the immediate difference in their playing because they have a good coach with Stephanie White
I have a feeling it'll be like night and day!
Defense is a springboard to any running game
Exactly!
Someone explain that to Defense Specialist Christie Sides... oh wait she gone
@@tabularasa9554
lol. but I have to say, this is what Sides would probably have been doing, if she'd had the faintest idea HOW. but she was a "defensive coach" in the sense of running up and down the sidecourt, yelling at them. actual practice of specific plays or skills? not so much.
The game is offense and defense. I love how she says this team has a high IQ.
It would be amazing to see the Fever box out and set correct screens. You are so on point❤
I like how you quoted her referring to playing a similar style to the Pacers
She will play to their strengths and also get them playing tough D. You can do both. Plus the Fever are going to sign some more very talented players. At least 2, maybe 3 or 4. Lots of good players want to play alongside CC. It's going to be a very different team next year for sure. Better coached and more talent. It's gonna be good.
I believe in the theory defense wins championships. If this team can improve their defense even 50%from last year that could well be another 5-7 wins or more. Rebounding along with boxing out is vital. Boston can’t do it by herself so we need to get another banger on the boards to help her. By doing that the run game will definitely take off. Maybe Stephanie has someone in mind, hope so.
Well, this team will automatically win another 5 or 6 games assuming they do not have the insane punishing schedule they had this past year. That 1-11 start was engineered by forcing them to play 11 games in 20 days, which was INSANE, repeatedly playing the top THREE teams in the league, which was vicious and ugly. Give them an ordinary first dozen games, and this team wins at least half of them. But, honestly, give this team an ordinary first 12 games---if they play the way they played the second half of the season, they're likely 9-3 to start the season!
I agree, we need a good power forward to play with Boston. We need a stretch 4 and they are very hard to find. Someone tall enough to rebound, can guard bigs, shoot 3s, and run the floor are rare, think Briana Stewart and Collier. Hopefully we sign Satou, she has the side and talent to fill the role.
One thing about defense it is done when the other team has the ball. It is fast play including steals, blocks. And thoughtful play. Their screens were less than perfect and she will add to their offense by teaching good defense not slipshod defense.
I believe that with Stephanie's style of play, Fever will have a new direction that can fully harness the talents of CC and Boston, and it won't just be about defense anymore
@@ctafranceI thought that I heard that schedule was affected by the Olympics
Run, CC Run!
Well said! This will be an exciting season.
I like how she says they (the other teams are going to take the shots we want them to- you have know defense to do that
she already said she was going to utilize the fast pace Caitlin runs. Adding defense will come from the transition from offense
Yes, she did. I mentioned that in this video, using one of her quotes. The offense will come from the defense, and depending on what kind of defensive pressure they put in place, that may set off their defense. Looking forward to it.
Yes! Play full-court defense and it becomes easy to score 100+ points!
This is exactly why I said from the beginning that Stephanie White was a tremendous hire because she was going to bring that mindset of toughness and tenacity on both sides of the ball. You combine that with a core group of high IQ players, and her coach style of empowering her leaders to make on-the-spot adjustments within the game plan..and you have a recipe for domination!
According to Coach White's own words, although she wasn't a defensive player, it's a large part of how she coaches...and her history proves this. In 2023 and 2024 her Connecticut Sun was #1 both years in opposing points per game...while the Indiana Fever was second from the bottom at #11. Of course, the Sun played to their strength by slowing down the pace and being very physical on the defensive end. However, Coach White did promise (as you stated) "more than anything, we want to continue to be exactly what they are, a fun, fast paced, up tempo style of play, sharing the basketball, making teammates better...." I liked how she considers CC and AB her "bookends" to build around, comparing them to the great point guards and post players that the game has ever seen, and boldly predicted that they will go down in history as the greatest. I'd say the Fever appears to be in very good hands, and I retract every negative I said about her in previous posts...ツ
got it. Eyepoke the other team's best player. Something I can get behind with y'all.
@@DavidStewart-v5e
yeah, kind of a tricky incident (and game, and games) to live down. wonder what gets talked about in the locker room....
@@DavidStewart-v5e As long as we use our own style. Dijon Must...oops, DiJonai Carrington used Crane Style. Maybe we should use Praying Mantis? Lol...ツ
I really enjoyed this take from you--so well said and insightful.
Agree 1000%! 🙌🏼‼️💪🏽
Yesss! Let's go, Fever!
Fast break basketball goes hand-in-hand with great defensive skills and pressure defenses, of half and full court. Teams can fast break off: jump balls, in-bounds plays, free throw plays, etc. Clark also compliments her teams' defenses with her style and mentality of pushing the ball up court and being the catalyst of running a fast pace B-ball offense!
Larry Bird comes to mind when you talk defense. He wasn't very good at individual defense. But from within the concept of team defense, he was much better. I think Coach White will be happy if CC plays like that on the defensive end. I've said it before, what this team needs is a couple quick 3&D players along with an enforcer to give Boston help and keep CC from taking unnecessary hits.
Absolutely love your analysis
I played in my H.S. career (I didn't go on to play in college not because I wasn't recruited - I was, but I chose as a major so difficult that I put b-ball behind me), but one year I spent on the JV team because the Varsity team was ranked #3 in the nation! They practiced us, JV and Varsity, together - we could function as one. I played p. guard, but at the start of the season, I couldn't play defense (previous years, at other schools we played zone). But now we would play a "run-and-gun" (not the correct term)..
offense, which started with the defense. The head coach challenged me to learn how to play man-to-man defense (I did). So we played m-to-m defense all the way down the court (from the time we scored until we got the ball back). The point was if we played the defense, we could get out, run down the court on offense and put the ball in the hoop.10th grade and we played some games where the score was 100-24. Defense = very good offense!
What fans want is to see Fever score 90+ points a game and play just enough defense that the other teams lose, what we don’t want is a team that scores 70 points and holds opponents to 60 points. How the Phoenix Suns are playing right now should be an example.
We will score more by playing good defense. Stops equal fast-paced basketball.
@@theadriennerossshow
a (potential) weak spot: another fast-paced team. without defense, your main strength doesn't give you any advantage.
Some people (many posting here) won’t get the concept of defense opening up the fast-paced game, even after they see the results. Thats ok. They’ll just marvel at how many get-ahead passes CC gets next season and think that Coach White really did a great job teaching offense. Lol
Very exciting season coming up.
Fast break started with good rebounding
what a patronizing comment with no basis in reality.
Stephanie White-had this in her plans for about 4 to 5 years and after the Fever got the number one pick they came out the closest-all three of them- when they saw the fans fellowing Caitlin to the WNBA-Sides could’ve won thirty games and she still would have been let go -she was the pond in the game -always a game inside the game-Stephanie wants the spotlight
* pawn *
Defense makes you unbeatable; but there must be offense to win .
Which they will get from their defense.
Defense isn't a dirty word. If you were a fan of the big ten conference 50 years you witnessed many, many games with scores that were like 48-43, etc. The emphasis was on ball control and clock management. And then the shot clock was implemented. I wanted to see a 1 minute shot clock but initially it was 45 seconds which still allowed a team to play decent defense. Now with it being 24 seconds defense is a lost art. I seen scores in the pro game that are like 120-117 and the announcer was mentioning how the defense was unusually stiff that particular day. I'm like huh???.
Giddy up go FEVER!!!
I totally agree with everything you said. And to add to that, the Fever sucked on defense last season. There is no way in hell that teams should have scored high 80's or 90 plus points in any game! White knows this and in the off season imo she's going to be more focused on the teams defense than offense cause they really need to get that together. People have to understand that yes you need player that can score but ultimately defense wins games..
I love you Adrienne. Your outstanding takes are at the highest level!
Thank you for being here for them!
This new coach is much more professional than Cristy Sides, she recognizes how smart her top players are ( two academic all Americans, and a Masters in Engineering) and will have them in the right spots to get stops and trigger that offence that CC is so good at. I am impressed with the new coach.
Lexie was AAA as well, and Temi went to Harvard for a couple of seasons. This is a *_very_* smart team.
Listening to gave me a fuller understanding of the depths of Sides incompetence.
I chuckle at those who are worried the focus on defense is going to stifle the offense, yet during games this past season when the opponents went on scoring runs, complaints about the defense were aplenty. White has said the Fever doesn’t need to be the best defense in the league, but it certainly cannot dwell near the bottom… which it did in 2024.
This makes me more excited. Tempo teams are defense generated. I just hope the fans are patient enough to let the players learn. It really has to be 2nd nature before it will really shine. While they are learning some easy baskets are going to be given up.
She better like run and gun. Fans come to see fast ,athletic moves and shooting. Don’t make it boring fans want entertainment
I addressed this outright in the video--even quoted what she said about it. Have you watched yet?
@@theadriennerossshow
you addressed it, Stephanie White addressed it -- but after that year, watching CC get dumped on and hurt and made to stand in the corner, some of us are still skeptical about this whole WNBA thing. it's not college b-ball any more -- more like hockey.
@@outsidethegarden I totally hear you! LOL!
I can't wait for the new season to start
Good offense STARTS with good defense.
Contrast Stephanie's defense discussion, laying out ways and means to Sides "We got to work on defense" Kind of like night and day. I just hope that they can strike a balance between a much needed defense, without holding back the run and gun offense.
This is what I'm saying. The defense is what will create the fast-paced offense. They're not separate. One needs the other.
5:24: Exactly. Especially Aliyah Boston, who also can't jump. Temi boxes all the time.
I love Temi's game. She does all the"little" things so well.
We are not concerned!
Box out, Rebound, run and feed! This is going to be fun. Could you analyze the free agents and who will fit the culture. I m having a hard time seeing more than about 3 players that will be clean classy High IQ hustlers...Satou, Sophie, Plum, Kia Nurse, (they can’t be obsessed with their color or they won’t fit). I think we have good guards but need big aggressive forwards with Temi and AB.
Have people not seen the warriors? I feel like that’s exactly what Stephanie is talking about.
Yesssss,you are on it, fast pace and fast tempo,i think caitlin already had them getting ready for fast pace and white will be fine,we gotta back our fever. Ohhhh yeah 💯👍
It makes sense that if you have a shutdown defense and a high scoring offense, you're going to win.
Defense, transition and speed will be a killer combination !!! Shut them down, take the ball and go score wins titles.
YESSS!!!
Defense wins championships. I love the wide open fast breaks that CC passing enables but defense is needed.
I understand the whole "this team likes to run narrative" but y'all gotta understand, if you can't stop the other on defense all the running ain't gon do anything. Sooner or later they're gonna have to slow down and set-up an offense in the half court.
Yep, gotta have a leaning to a fast-paced game with this team, but they absolutely have to develop a half-court game also. 💯
Geno of UCONN preaches D leads to O and it's so true. Often when one of the UCONN players is interviewed they echo Geno's mantra that defense leads to offense. Michaeanderson6290 below said it well. "defense is a springboard to any running game".
Clark's problem on defense was letting the other player go pass her right-side half the time making baskets. The other problem was leaving her player who was at side of the court helping around the paint. Then, like she would do, pass the ball out for a three shot. It was a wonder I had a TV just on these two problems. A main problem not having players block shots close to the rim or get rebounds. Reese would be the person they need or another player being like Reese. Hull was good, Boston was fair, Mitchell had problems for her height. Mitchell is what 5'8" working on getting blocks or rebounds over 6' to 6'4" will never happen most times.Mitchell would be the player on steals or tie-ups at the most.
Indiana Fever is really serious to be a contender for WNBA Championship …
Last season's defense was their weakest link. Defense is the key to creating turnovers, stops, and fast breaks. It feeds the offense. I don't think all the talk about defense shorts the powerful offense they have, at all. It's naturally a focal point now, since it has been a bit weak. I totally agree that SW will coach to her players' strengths. I can't wait to see who they keep and who they bring in to complement their stars. Clark, Mitchell, Boston, Hull, and Fagbenle when healthy, seem like the core. I'm sure there are plenty of good options who would rather play FOR the Fever than against them.
Man I hope they can bring in Sabally!!!!!!!!!!
You have to play defense which will greatly help your offense just like coach Bob Knight did with his team
Finally the Fever have a real coach! Sides is a Grade school coach. White is a grown women's coach. 🤣
SW is almost god-like. A Dynasty in the making that will be legendary and we all got a front row seat.
Because Stephanie said she didn’t play defense our didn’t like to play defense they need to bring someone in to teach defense stance , need to teach them to slide their feet. need to teach them how to play angles also on court communication between players I do think they need just some basics
Simply grabbing rebounds on missed 3's would be a huge improvement over what 2024 looked like.
Quick basketball question:
My 79YO dad and I learned so much from you (boxing out/screens/etc) as newbie Fever fans! So I ask you this: I often wondered if Sides tried to slow the game down (to all of our dismay) because it was causing the team to play “tired” defense. As much as I love the high optics run and gun, I often wondered if they were wearing themselves from playing hard Defence and from being able to play a FULL game of their style of basketball … Any thoughts on this that you might have with your coaching-high-IQ basketball experience? … thanks for your show! Enjoy it!
I'm also very new to basketball, so I'm not sure about your supposition. But for me, even if that was her intent, she should have seen it wasn't working. The gains made by their running game were lost when she slowed the game down. Then they'd have to work that much harder to try and catch back up. If she *was* trying to give them a rest, wouldn't she have been better served utilizing smarter rotations, which would have given the main players a quick breather while giving those on the bench valuable playing time to further develop their skills and thus strengthen the team as a whole. Surely Sides should have tried something else when it was clear the whole let's play slow ball was costing them games and bringing down team morale. But that's just my .02.
@@SCash-rl5ee I think I agree with most of what you said -- except our bench wasn't the best to turn to for serious rotations like many teams had, IMO. Especially once we started using Lexi in the rotation, while getting nothing from KLS ...
@@marceybullYes, but some players got hardly any time on the court. Sides should have given them more time to play so they could develop. Then we'd know what they really had to offer. :)
I checked the defensive rankings for the WNBA in 2024. Guess which team was CONSISTENTLY in the TOP 5 in EVERY category? The Connecticut Sun! They were No. 1 in scoring defense. No doubt the Fever will dominate next year.
They need to improve the depth of good players. Giving players a bit more rest allows them to play with more intensity when on the court.
Sure, any cog in a machine can be powerful. But it's nothing, compared to ALL the cogs, working together. They are almost unstoppable. Easy to stop one cog. One wrench, things grind to a halt. Throw that wrench when all are working together? They eat the wrench.
I watched, from the ground up, when they created the Sacramento Kings during the Peja/Vlade/Webber/Williams/Jackson, (and so many more) era. That's when I knew, finally, they'd gotten serious. Even bringing in Chris Webber, problem child, didn't bother me that much? Becau8se after awhile, he began to understand that he had an actual TEAM.
And they began to flow together. But... where did it all begin? DEFENSE. And it took some time to convince some of those guys, especially Webber, Williams to some degree, but the Euro guys? They knew.
Seeing that lightbulb finally come on, when they understood DEFENSE, leads to OFFENSE? Was awesome. Unfortunately, Shaq & Kobe stood in their way, (not to mention some of that wonderful ref bullshit we see in the WNBA today... I wonder if they came from our games?), but we got SO CLOSE.
Now, I gave up on the NBA, long ago now. And I watched a little WNBA back in the Sue Bird day's, but gave that boredom up as well... Until I saw this Caitlin Clark gal. An Insane breath of fresh air, in college. I began to pay attention.. and saw Lexi Hull, Boston, and Mitchell. I saw a TEAM, that didn't yet know it was a TEAM. A REAL TEAM.
I also saw/see, some cancer. That's why I say Smith is gone, she just doesn't know it yet. White's, and the other hires? Far too intelligent, to keep something like that around the insane gift, they've inherited.
They get the right pieces? And the Indiana Fever is going to OUT-DRAW the NBA. Consistantly.
You heard it hear first. Or not. Who cares, lol. I just want to SEE THIS. Something I've not watched to do with either Basketball league, in a VERY long time.
What is the purpose of defence in basketball? Prevent the other team from scoring and taking the ball away from the other side.
Other than my family, I'm not in the mood for uplifting discourse. I'll just wait for next Fever season and hope we survive what's surely to come down on us😢
Stephanie White wants the smoke-and she likes the attention she is getting from the sports media -she came out ready for this-and she like it
Bird's Celtics played decent, although not great, defense. What they did amazingly well, though, was play at a high tempo, share the ball, and run off makes.
Caitlin plays a lot like Bird did. He wasn't a great 1-on-1 defender, but he got rebounds, blocks, and steals by picking his spots and anticipating where the ball was going.
As much as I love Caitlin and fan girl over her and was brought here because of her, she has been a defensive liability for the Fever. Some of the worst in the league. So excited that she has a coach with a backbone now who WILL get on her players for the things they do wrong. CC is always saying there’s so much to improve on and she is smart enough to know defense is one of them. I see a slight reduction in her minutes if she’s throwing down on both ends of the floor and White having a valuable backup for her.
White has to prove on the court that she knows how to coach a CC led team, a media interview isn't going to do it.
I am not a BB player having only played in gym class many many moons ago before the hills got dusty. This sounds all well and good I'll admit. However my question is this, What difference will it make with dirty officiating and CC having a target on her back with deliberately being attacked every time she is on the court and the refs needing sunglasses and a white cane, or maybe a seeing eye dog? The WNBA needs to become a BB league and stop being a woke joke. That is my opinion and I will stand by it. I enjoy your channel sis. Be blessed my friend.
I'll be shocked if the Fever aren't the total package next season.
She already said that she wants them to play uptempo the way they've been playing so she has no plan to play slow like sides did. People need to listen to her interviews. She just wants to make them better defensively bcuz they were terrible defending the 3 pt line. And you're not going to run every single play! Ab needs to get her hands right bcuz so many times she couldn't grip the ball on rebounds and she would let small guards out rebound her which was crazy
The best defense is a good offense
Even better to let your defense create offense. Otherwise, you're just trading buckets.
Need some height on the forwards.
Skilled defense is just as critical as offense, just ask the Yankees about the 5th inning in 2024 World Series game 5!
She being like Deion Sanders-and Colorado Buff -spotlights are all on 😅her -for the next 3 months -she will take the pressures off of Caitlin
I ain’t trying to watch a 60-66 final score for 40 minutes from a professional game, that’s middle school scoring. I’m here for the high octane scoring courtesy of CC22 splash in with KM because this is still entertainment. They can’t dunk so I expect to see 80’s & 90’s on the score board. IJS 🤷🏾♂️
You can do both. The Fever don't have one player who is even close to an All WNBA defender. They need at least one elite defender similar to what Draymond is with the Warriors.
@@kelsawlink60 Umm no disrespect but referencing WNBA players to NBA players just seems a bit unfair IJS
@@keithshocklee510S Style and role, not ability.
Fever definitely needs defense training
Boxing is key but remember you are not get every rebound you should get all that are in front of you. Sometimes they bounce deep gotta play d hard and offense will. Her success comes from her players running hard in that transition they get a rebound and they’re off hard and fast.
No excuse not to box out. The ball will go where it goes, obviously, but you still box out. Good rebounders have a nose for where the ball is going, but everyone can put a body on somebody, as we say.
@ I didn’t say you don’t box just said the exact same thing you did. Ball doesn’t always cooperate and you can’t box out successfully every time you are assuming other talent just gonna cooperate with you. Let’s be realistic do what you can play hard on both ends. As a coach you don’t get on your players to crash offensive boards. Come on be honest play hard on both sides do you get pissed every time someone gets beat shit happens.
@@scottmorin357 No disagreement about how the ball bounces, for sure. I will say, though, that as a coach, I did get on my players for not crashing offensive boards--except the one player assigned to hang back. But I get your point overall and agree.
@ agreed my point of view was as a 6’4” center in high school to then playing guard in the Air Force. Most games got most rebounds some games sometimes balls just don’t bounce your way. Reminds me of CC’s comment on her triple double. Don’t get used to her getting all those rebounds sometimes the ball just seeks you out. But on the same aspect I expect a double double every time from her. Her deep 3’s and assists are phenomenal I expect greatness from her and her team. I think she’s got a great core team one exception and she is not an on court problem but an off court problem.
@@scottmorin357 I appreciate your perspective, particularly as someone who played. Thank you.
so psyched.
now, how to deal with "physical" teams? aggressive play? fouling?
very curious to see how Stephanie White addresses that issue. because it's not going away. not with CC on the team.
terrible refs -- not a lot any coach can do, besides strategize around appeals. and manage players' complaints. (yes, CC's for sure.) oh, and maybe some social media pressure around firing all the refs and building an actual professional league.
Anyone who thinks they shouldn't be focusing on defense, doesn't understand basketball. Offense sells tickets, defense wins championships.
Please tell me White that Smith will be gone asap.
The off-season work put in now will be the payoff during the season. CC is now a veteran and team leader she will expect and demand the same commitment from her teammates as she does herself. A prerequisite to be a Fever team member.
That is the missing piece here. The mentality should be that consistent stops that result in steals and layups are actually net 4-point plays.
Bring it! ❤
Hey
Thanks to Miss Traitor (Nylssa Smith) their defensive transition game totally sucked. It was bad!
I hope you’re right Ms Ross but I’m wit pope on this one I don’t trust her -
Defense and boxing out are basket ball FUNDAMENTALS.
Defense wins games.
Sometimes, and def the case with Indiana, you have to GET BACK TO FUNDAMENTALS.
Ken Swift still talking about Caitlin Clark? I bet you if you invited Caitlin Clark to do an interview on your show, she wouldn't do it. Why don't you and Ken Swift ask Caitlin to come on both your platforms and do an interview, and see if she'll do it. I doubt it. Have you seen CFWB GOD's latest video about Caitlin Clark?
Not sure if it's just me, but I got a negative connotation when you say the defense will "blow up" the offense. 🤔
Worried from her history. Don't want her to indocratat Caitlin to her ways. And she is a good couch but the woke has a different mindset and goals. I don't want to judge her yet but it's the woke and don't want this for Catlin. I could be wrong but this is her fan bade.
What history of being woke have you seen from her?
@@theadriennerossshow the rant about phobs when Allysa Thomas went off on indiana fans where all racist.
@@davidclos6193 Oh, the nonsense of her team. Yeah, she said isms are wrong and also said reality is that most of those are trolls. I didn't like how she answered it, but I think she was trying to acknowledge her players' comments while drawing attention back to reality. Let's go, Fever! And, yes, no woke stuff.
Yes they have to play better team defense
But their half court offense was terrible
Especially when Mercury put zone defense in place!
CC needs to work on her absolute horrendous clutch playing...and yes...I'm going to say it here...CC is not a legitimate 3-point threat when she need Mitchell and Hull constantly bailing her out. This is why I don't understand people comparing her to the likes of Bird and Jordan. One thing we saw about CC this past year was she is basically a squishy. Yep, that's right. I said it. CC is not tough in those most critical moments where toughness is needed most. Does anyone really think Bird or Jordan would have allowed their team to fall so quickly in the playoffs? It's all but guaranteed if they got poked in the eye, the other team would have paid...and by that I mean P-A-I-D. When Koby Bryant had such a glaring discrepancy in his game, you know what he did in the off-season? He worked on his game in the off-season like his life depended on it. CC goes on vacation and works on her golf game. I'm not saying CC should be a workaholic. I'm saying don't call her driven in the same sense that Bird, Jordan, and Kobe are driven. I hope the new coach puts fire under the Fever's butt because their sense of urgency, hunger and competitive drive is a falling short to the point they are a threat easily discombobulated in key moments when they are being truly tested.
From aformer football player. If you play perfect defense, the worst you can do is win 1-0.
Did White coach three major Clark assaulters?
YEAH ARC 😊
The Fever need at least one ENFORCER - with 6” steel nails, an appetite for blatant fouls, being very aggressive toward match officials - so that they NEVER make a single call against you.
🤬
That was a corny as hell 🌽
She also basically said, I don't wanna have to teach these girls how to play offense or something to that effect.
Unrelated question, it seems like the number 22 is the most popular in women's basketball, like every team has a starting player wearing 22, what is that about? Is it because of Sheryl Swoopes, is it because of Stephanie White, or something completely different?
I miss Sides already. This team is going to stink
How can you even say that? Have you been paying attention to the games??
That's interesting.
She's ruined Clark already, slowest pace of play coach mixed with the fastest pace of play player WON'T WORK....
Boston needs to get in better shape. Boston favored the inside/outside 'Sides' slow-ball instead of the outside/inside 'CC' fast ball. We need better screens and picks... Fever - 2025 Champs!! 🤍