NFL
By: Stephen Garner
Coming into last weekend, the Chicago Sky had been 2-2 since resuming play after the Olympic break.
They’d suffered a bad loss to the Dallas Wings at home the weekend before, and Candace Parker was day-to-day nursing an ankle injury, the same ankle that sidelined her back in May (where she missed eight games, and the Sky went 1-7).
This was far from an ideal position for them to be in as they tried to establish rhythm and climb up the ranks ahead of the playoffs.
They’d have Parker back in rotation, however, and their team would be whole. What ensued and surfaced was the Chicago Sky team that was in kind once their roster was assembled.
Both teams were healthy and whole this weekend, the Sky gave the Storm everything they could handle and then some. Implications that could weigh heavy in what could very well be a first-round matchup.
Friday
The initial bout of the weekend between these squads was a sloppy affair.
For the Sky, there were many struggles but they all stemmed from the lack of rhythm and flow they could sustain due to their many (many…) turnovers.
If the Sky double up with 12 more turnovers this half, they have no chance of winning this game. The Storm are far too disciplined even on a night where they're vulnerable https://t.co/KIo7mw4wnv
— Stephen PridGeon ☯️🏁 (@StayTrueSDot3) August 28, 2021
They had 12 turnovers through the first 20 minutes of play on Friday, yet found themselves only down four at the break.
As one of the best teams in the W in terms of taking care of the ball, this was one of those anomaly-type experiences the regular season presents
A 10-point third quarter from Kahleah Copper would spark the Sky however, she was also joined by Azura Stevens who scored six and grabbed four rebounds in that period.
It’d be Copper, however, who would one-up herself in the fourth as she’d explode for 11 more points. She did so slashing, off the dribble using her first step, and simply making decisive moves toward the cup.
Kahleah Copper with a big-time 24 points 🔥🔥🔥
— Stephen PridGeon ☯️🏁 (@StayTrueSDot3) August 28, 2021
She was the absolute best player on the floor Friday night, a floor shared with plenty of accolade-garnering talents mind you.
This game saw Parker (8 points on 4-11, 5 rebounds, 6 assists), Vandersloot (7 points on 3-7, 8 assists, 3 turnovers), Quigley (6 points on 2-9 and 2-6 from 3), and DeShields (who went scoreless) all struggle to sustain winning production until the fourth quarter.
So seeing them win, against the defending champions no less, in a scrap-it-out road game was impressive. Stefanie Dolson also contributed with 7 big-time fourth-quarter points.
Time on task! It was ugly for 3/4s but they stayed the course, got their first lead in the 4th & never let up. Impressive steal on the road to leap above .500 https://t.co/KIo7mw4wnv
— Stephen PridGeon ☯️🏁 (@StayTrueSDot3) August 28, 2021
Sunday
In contrast to Friday where the Sky couldn’t hit a three-pointer or take care of the ball, the Sky came in and played on-brand basketball early.
They’d hit eight threes in the first, en route to a 34-point opening period. This was only the second 31+ point quarter that the Storm had let up all season, the other coming from the Aces at the beginning of the season.
The Sky would go on to out-do themselves again, with a 32-point second quarter.
In said period, Candace would post 10 points with two rebounds, two assists, and a steal. She was doing it all in her vintage fashion.
She’d follow up with a nine-point second period, pacing the Sky while also adding a block to her stat line.
The Sky would also see 12 points from their bench in extreme supplementary fashion led by Dana Evans (who scored a career-high 14 points).
A Sky 66-53 halftime lead would prove to be too much for the Storm to overcome.
A season-high 25 points from Candace Parker who was downright dominant in this one led the way.
Her dynamic was in full effect, and that stamp ensures the Sky a chance against anybody.
They would also see 16 off the bench from Diamond DeShields along with four assists and 3 steals, six from Dolson, and three from Lexie Brown. Add the aforementioned career-high from Dana Evans, and you see that the Sky compiled 39 bench points.
Even more, they had six players score in double figures and the entire team was positive in time spent on the floor.
The latter end of my last post on the greatness that is Candace Parker highlighted how her impact on this team transcends past her counting stats. The boxscore alone can never do her justice, as her many intangibles in communication and wealth of knowledge and feel for the game culminates in an ever-present comfortability on the floor.
Combine that in tandem with the floor generalship presented by Courtney Vandersloot (who’s led the league in assists the past four seasons, well on her way to making it five in a row), and you have not only a well-led team, but also an experienced bunch that is playoff ready.
They have a plethora of ancillary players that can be relied upon to produce at a sustainable rate when the games take on more meaning, and they have a well-balanced attack in general.
James Wade has done a great job with this group of women and they have been running sharp sets, and played well on both ends of the floor.
I love the Sky's transition & secondary break sets. DHO's to screen & roll in the middle of the floor, drags & double drags. Having multiple reliable ball handlers & screeners allows James Wade to completely open his playbook
— Stephen PridGeon ☯️🏁 (@StayTrueSDot3) August 22, 2021
Their pick-and-roll play in tandem with Parker’s play from the post, then Quigley’s perpetual motion and sets with her off-ball movement as the focal point make them nearly impossible to guard.
They test opposing defenses to the furthest extent.
Chicago is two games above .500 with six games remaining.
The Sky do however have one of the toughest remaining schedules:
- @ Phoenix
- @ Las Vegas
- vs Las Vegas
- vs Washington
- vs Las Vegas
- vs Indiana Fever
That three-pack with the Aces is going to be fun and will serve as a safe great measuring stick for Chicago. They’ll be able to get a great idea of exactly who they are ahead of the start of the playoffs with this stretch of games before the finish line.
At the moment, FiveThirtyEight has them projected to finish 18-14 in fifth place.
*All stats and information used come directly from basketball-reference.com unless stated otherwise and are accurate as of 9.30.21*
