NFL
By: Stephen PridGeon-Garner
The Chicago SKY saw themselves down 28 in the first half of a road game against the Las Vegas Aces.
They weren’t playing bad by any means, but the Aces were on one of their signature avalanche runs that snowballs possession by possession.
Unlike most teams, however, the veteraned SKY remained unwavered amidst what ballooned to a 51-23 deficit in the second quarter, stayed the course, and chipped away incrementally before parlaying a historic run of their own, via a 28-point comeback that proved to be the largest comeback in WNBA history.
Tried, tested, and true, this group simply added yet another reminder that they have a collective “been there before” mentality, also reminding everyone caught in the ebbs and flows of the regular season that they are indeed still the reigning champions, in case anyone forgot.
They’d win this one behind 33 and 30-point middle frame efforts. The offense, however, was the supporting act to this dramatic comeback effort as their defense was the catalyst in Tuesday nights 104-95 win.
They held the Aces to 21 points in the second quarter, and they’d hold the Aces (in their vaunted third quarter where they’ve averaged a league-best 23.2 points) to just 11.
In this run from the SKY, specifically in the third, they held the Aces without a field goal made from the 8:20 mark to the 1:11 mark and did so with their best collective efforts in creating controlled chaos on that end.
Volume six of my Sky Scope has their defense efforts of the second half under my spotlight.
Sky Dictating, anticipating, and reacting, defensively
One of the main reasons the SKY were and have been so successful defensively is due to the versatility of their roster, especially in the frontcourt, allowing them to dictate with a variety of aggressive schemes.
In that subsegment of the roster also lies three of the rangiest, active, and smart defensive pieces across the W, leaving no scheme undeployable for James Wade, and I spoke to him after the game about their late, scram, peel switch-ability:
He spoke at the end specifically about the aforementioned flow that they hit when they’re executing defensively and transitioning into their offense with rhythm and pace, whether it’s to attack an unbalanced defense in transition or simply playing off of stops in succession.
They disrupted the entire rhythm of the Aces in the middle portion of the game, and stole their pace. Let’s dive into the defensive film that stood out to me in that second half stretch.
Notice how they contain the ball with Meesseman doubling on the block. Quigley and Meesseman then essentially x-out as Emma kicks back out to the perimeter. She then takes away Jackie Youngs angle (look at the lateral mobility on display from her) forcing a kick to Hamby, whose indecision leads to a travel. Pace stolen via controlled chaos from the SKY.
Look at how seemlessly they flow into this kick-out switch between Parker and Quigley. Also notice that Quigleys path to her switch isn’t direct, as she makes sure to go under and stagnate Wilson’s role on the way, as well as Meesseman not hard-hedging or or blitzing at the level but simply there with activity as a presence.
Great containment from Vandersloot, sharp rotations from Quigley from a peel switch with Candace to a kick-out switch off the roller from Copper. Copper readjusts. Then great nail help on the stunt from Parker to force the pull up. Leads to flow offensively.
Side note, quick nod to Rebekah Gardner who just gets it done and consistently. Her multiple efforts are a staple for this rendition of the SKY. Great pick six sprinkled into this string of team stops
Ensuing defensive possession sees ball containment galore as the Aces (barely) get inside the 3-point line twice with no true threat posed. It’s the late switch at the end though. Parker gets Gray as Hamby takes Vandersloot’s under and seals her off into the post. Parker thwarts the first Gray drive. Forces a kick out. Jobs not done though as she remains in help positioning then provides great elbow help, stunts, and recovers back to Gray. Then watch her crowd that right hand and close the airspace for cookies then a finish. Whew!
This play and a few others in mind prompted me to ask Azurá Stevens about how much of an asset their versatility in the frontcourt is:
It’s truly the key that unlocks their unique style of play, on both ends.
Speaking of Z, here she is up at the level but not hedging or trapping. Quigley navigates under Wilson to stagnate her roll. Peel switches on Jackie’s subsequent attack. Great contest and even better job not fouling from Allie. A tough two with 14 seconds on the shot clock, another rushed possession.
Great screen navigation from Gardner on this throw-and-get, even better recognition and early help from Allemand as “lowman” in help, the peel switch and Gardner, after starting at the point of attack, finishes the stop with great closeout and recover defense in running Sheppard’s initial catch off the line, then getting a solid contest on the second move.
Notice where Parker is here, it’s a (very) short drop and Copper elects to go over the screen here, which in-turn opens this small window for a pocket pass. Gray fits it in but look at Azurá Stevens rim protection and verticality as lowman. Then, notice her route taken in rim running to cap off this sequence.
I tweeted during the game that the Aces would come back to their 77 action to manipulate a switch on the Skys frontcourt pieces to then attack.
That's the 2nd or 3rd time the Aces have went to 77 to get that second switch with Emma on either Plum or Gray
Expecting to see an uptick in that the rest of the way
— Stephen PridGeon ☯️🏁 (@StayTrueSDot3) June 22, 2022
Here we have it, but look at Stevens get down in a stance and slide then get a great contest with length on Gray’s rack attack. Also, good on Candace not over-helping.
Spread pick-and-roll from the Aces see’s a short drop to a peel switch. Quigley forces a kick out from Hamby. Vegas then goes to empty corner pick-and-roll with Plum and Wilson. That see’s them put two on Plum as she comes off . She lofts it over the top but their pace and rhythm are taken completely away by the Sky’s chaos inducing activity.
The energy, attention to detail for a sustained portion of the game, and overall resolve shown from the SKY, compiled time and time again in the second half was a testament to their leadership and collective connectivity. They never let go of the proverbial “rope,” and this was an ultimate example of what collective buy in can result in for a team.
Efforts now etched in history.
