NFL
By: Stephen Garner
The Connecticut Sun have become synonymous with defense at an elite level in the W over the past two seasons.
Entering this season, they were the only team to finish top-3 in opponents points per game over the last three seasons.
They had placings of second in 2020 (79.9 allowed), first in 2021 (69.9), and they’re presently first in 2022 allowing just 73.4 points per game.
Typically, they have gotten the job done with ever-steady point of attack defense from Jasmine Thomas. However, easier this week we learned that she sustained a season-ending injury, going down with a torn ACL
Connecticut Sun star Jasmine Thomas, will miss the rest of the 2022 season with a torn ACL in her right knee, the team announced.
— Khristina Williams (@Khristina) May 24, 2022
Now, in-place of their captain, they’ll be relying on the combination of peskiness and activity of Heideman, Williams, Carrington, and Anderson.
Behind that collective is the two-time champion and ever-present DeWanna Bonner, possessing a unique dynamic of a condor-like wingspan, foot speed, lateral quickness, and defensive intangibles in a 6’4 frame that allow for her to be an imposing presence on the wings.
Then, in the frontcourt, they’ve compiled one of the most versatile bunches of two-way talent to anchor their vaunted defense in MVP Jonquel Jones, Alyssa Thomas, and Brionna Jones. In these three, their collective ability to move their feet and play in space in manners individually unique is what unlocks their defense.
They present defensive-minded coach and residing coach of the year Curt Miller with ample scheme versatility and the ability to dictate when, and or where, and just who is taking shots from the opposition.
This season, Miller’s group is presently the league’s best in steals per game at 10.4 due to ample activity and extra efforts, league tops in transition defense at 6.1 allowed there, and second in allowed points in the paint at 27.1 allowed.
They get it done with abundantly obvious and expressive communication from both their coaches on the sideline, and the players themselves in real-time. They can be seen huddling during dead ball scenarios to convene about rotations and other intricacies of their defense quite often over the course of games.
The predicted starting lineup of Heideman-Williams-Bonner-Thomas-Jones has just 46 points scored against it through two games spent together there. Opponents have an effective field goal percentage of just 39.29% and a true shooting percentage of 46.9%. both of which are frigid.
Small sample size, yes. However, these early returns are indeed in the realm of replication for a team whose foundation has an emphasis there, and whose successes will continue to hinge upon their efforts on that end first and foremost.
Their halfcourt offense can become clunky and stuck in the mud for minutes at a time due to indecision, lacking discernment in shot selection when their flow is disrupted, and a lack of spacing (and or, proper spacing) at times. However, with the multitude of stops they garner and sustained successes they earn, they afford themselves the inevitable misses or possessions where positive shot quality goes awry.
That in mind, let’s dive into their dominance of Dallas through deliberate dictating on the defensive end.
Sun Dominate Defensively vs Wings
Defense from Hiedeman at thr point of attack is then matched with multiple efforts in denial from Williams on the dribble handoff attempt. Rhythms stagnated and that leads to an errand pass, and turnover.
The very next possession, we see them off a live ball turnover scenario, changing ends.
Jonquel Jones “JJ” is up at level to show then recover, but look at the weak help from Thomas tagging the roller and peaking at her init assignment on the touch, and Williams zoned up weakside. Look at the Sun bodies in the paint for the boards though at the end. They’re consistently consistent there.
Next defensive possession defensively saw a lot of the same.
Notice the help defense, everyone’s up the line with a hand in the passing lanes. Hiedeman makes this play here, active DHO defense and not trailing but, instead, splitting the difference, getting skinny, and shooting the gap to slither between to poke this one free for two.
Next possession, they tap even more into their flow of two-way versatility.
Alyssa Thomas and Jonquel Jones have great chemistry and it was on full display here as Thomas contains the ball in the post and allows a final move to be made, sending her assignment into the allure of this post peel switch and Jones cleans it up. Then, you guessed it, defense to offense. Plenty defensive talk in this piece but here’s some of their offensive versatility on display as there’s no outlet (like years past would’ve seen), as two of their three featured frontcourt pieces can “grab and go.”
Last season the Connecticut Sun were 11th in FBPS with 5.8 per
In 2020, they were 6th at 6.8 per
Presently, they're (by far) 1st, at 21.3.
The up'd pace & tempo is doing them well early
— Stephen PridGeon ☯️🏁 (@StayTrueSDot3) May 21, 2022
That numbers presently at 17.1 now, but them remaining league-tops based on the stops they compile is more than sustainable. Their guards instinctively fill the lanes with a head start from the perimeter, and Thomas initiates as pace and tempo are a point of emphasis in this new pace of play for the Sun.
Here’s where the fun starts, however. Sound on for this one.
You can see the hesitancy and stagnation settling in for the Wings offensive flow on a possession-by-possession basis.
Last defensive possession ended in a transition turnover for them offensively, but this is the very next defensive possession. These are the frontcourt pieces of the Sun here out in space. Alyssa Thomas wards off the attack after the dribble handoff with great lateral quickness, then Bri Jones says my turn here, in great contain-to-contest with verticality. Play ends with a foul on Williams on the rebound as Jones missed a box out in ball watching, but you see how much pressure they’re consistently applying to the Wings. This is just in the first quarter.
They were playing defense, defense. Setting a tone and sending a thorough message with physicality, playing within their flow.
Here’s some secondary break defense. Courtney Williams navigating through an initial screen, great “show” containment from Brionna Jones. Jonquel peels off her matchup as a dive cut occurs while Brionna is still in show, meanwhile there’s perfect weakside rotations from Heideman and Bonner, but especially Bonner as she realizes there a 45 cut happening mid-rotation, however there’s TRUST that it’ll be picked up in communication, and veers off to stay true to her assignment. Back to the trust in communication dynamic, Bri Jones again is directed in traffic by the anchor, Jonquel Jones, as Bri is scramming to where her assignment is. She picks up on the cut thanks to Jonquels communication and stops that. Then, again in trust from Hiedeman, she contains before peeling off knowing there’s help from Jones, then poles it away from behind for cookies leading to a nasty hesi-hang from Bonner and freethrow attempts (also, listen to Courtney Williams’ encouragement for her to finish this lay. Gotta love her lol.)
Now, the Wings being to experiment with more counters offensively, to which the tried and true Sun defense is ready for.
Another active show to trap then scram out to the weakside from Jones, but look at Bonner play two alone with length on the weakside. That condor-like wingspan in full effect here.
You can feel the pace of the exuberant Wings completely halted. Again forced of schedule by the dictating agenda of the Sun. Williams denial up the line, stops the swing to the second-side and makes Mabrey pick up her dribble. Brionna Jones is beyond solid containing the ball in isolation, stomping her foot on the baseline (fundamental!) To cut that off. Ball finally swings second-side (after zero activity or action) with Bonner narrowly missing this steal. She’s covered up by a top-side peel switch from Heideman in help but also a stunt from the strong corner by Jonquel. The Brionna picks on on wherethe next pass is going and gets a head start on it for a great contest, followed by a crucial Heideman boxout enabling this rebound for Williams.
More Bri Jones extended show at the level as they test Ogunbowale’s playmakin ability out of two-on pressure. After some dummy movement Dallas flows into “Miami” (a dribble-handoff followed by a ball screen). Williams screen navigation on display again as she flys off untouched and on the hip of Ogunbowale while Bonners again zoned up weakside. Ogunbowale is forced to retreat dribble then concedero the easy pass out. Dallas wants to get it to the weak corner quick but the swing to “one-pass away” is just what the Sun want as Bonner can again play two with length to buy time for Jones’ scram. Jones with a great long-distance closeout and recovery (again, GREATLY impressive considering she’s a tree. This is TOUGH to do but again she’s versatile). Again, enjoy Courtney Williams’ encouragement of her teammates lol.
That’s how you compile a lightening quick 13-0 run.
Dallas grew experimental against this heavy help defense asthe game went on. Here, they flow into some empty corner pick-and-roll to try and play in space, but the Sun say nope. The “straight jacket defense” adjusts. Strong help just swallows this up on the roll. Bri Jones plays mind games initially here with Mabrey as she comes off, showing drop first then blitzing, all in trust of her help. Speaking of help, watch Thomas’ low rotation almost completely wall off a paint touch on the catch, then Bri Jones stays in the play as Thomas’ help gets the attention, allowing Jones to tie up the rock and Thomas finishes for a jump ball.
Lastly, Dallas goes high horns into what’s essentially “Chicago” (a screen into a dribble-handoff), only the Wings try to alleviate some pressure getting their ballhandler (Mabrey) an early start with the ball on the move with an early throw springboarding into the screen instead of the handoff. Carrington does a solid job navigating around the screens, Jones great again in active show and this time gets a deflection in the middle of the floor. Leading to more offenseto defense and a Heideman 3, effectively putting this one completely out of reach.
This was an utterly dominant performance from the Sun, collectively. These multiple efforts physically and in communication compiled into scoreboard separation.
Anytime you amass a line score like this, that means someone was in for a long day.
In all, it’s the overall scheme and lineup versatility the Sun have, unlocked by their frontcourts ever-present activity, that puts them in the top tier yet again defensively. As they trek forward, keep an eye on just how well they’re able to adjust and execute against high-end teams that can present different skillsets and versatility of their own offensively, showing an ability to press back into the pressure points of their defense and make them make rotations they don’t want to make.
Plenty tests lie ahead for them, including two bouts with the Las Vegas Aces next week, followed by a date with the Mercury, then the Storm, all on the road no-less.
As it stands, it seems like the Sun will, yet again, be there when it’s all said and done, banking on the strength of their defense.
