NFL
By: Stephen PridGeon-Garner
Kahleah Copper is the absolute best dribble pressure player in the WNBA, and this should come as absolutely no secret to even the most novice-level followers of the W.
Also in alignment with information that isn’t news, the Connecticut Sun (who Copper and the Chicago Sky faced on Sunday) is one of the better defensive units in the league.
For the Sun, they’d registered the fifth best defensive rating (98.4) since the All-Star break headed into play on Sunday, a stretch of play where they were 6-1.
Their defense is predicated on ball pressure and activity both with hands in passing lanes, as well as ball containment, and help subsequent help if or when needed. This is something Curt Miller-led teams are synonymous with in discipline and effectiveness on that end of the floor.
For the Sky, they’re persistent and versatile in the attack with how they maneuver varying defenses to generate looks in the paint. Headed into play Sunday and post All-Star break, they led the W in field goals in the restricted area per game (18.3), attempts from there (25.1), and field goal percentage there (72.7%).
This made for a perfect stylistic clash, and the Sky were up to the task.
At the rim in this one, the Sky got up a season-high 42 (!) attempts. You may say “well this one did go into overtime” which you wouldn’t be wrong to think. However, excluding their three attempts from there in overtime, they still would sit at a season-high of attempts from there at 39.
Of those 42 in the game from the Sky came a dominant 14 from Kahleah Copper, which registers as a career-high (regular season or playoffs), per PBP stats. In tandem with that also was a career-high in field goals made at the rim, with 11.
Excluding the paint-dwelling frontcourt pieces, the likes of Brionna Jones, Kahleah Copper is the premier rim pressure player in the W, and it’s been on full display coming out of the All-Star break.
In this window post-All-Star, she’s at 9.5 points in the paint (up from 6.5 before the break), which ties for ninth.
Even more, in this window and for players attempting north of four a game from the restricted area, she’s fifth in field goal attempts (6.9) and makes (4.5)
For players with 6.5+ attempts from there a night, she has the third highest field goal percentage (65.5%). The only other non-frontcourt piece in this realm on volume is Skylar Diggins-Smith.
After their July 16th win over the Wings I asked coach Wade about her seemingly concerted efforts and an uptick in frequency at the rim:
I then also asked Copper herself about the space she’s operating in:
As she hinted at in her answer, the attempts are being generated in a multitude of ways that puts defenses in precarious situations to attempt to stop her.
As the offense hums with more continuity and at a higher frequency, the better quality looks and touches she’ll be presented with, which is why three of her highest volume attempts at the rim this season have come post-All-Star, including Sunday’s 27-point performance, which serves as a great example of the successes she’s enjoyed at the rim.
Copper is uniquely and strategically positioned within the halfcourt to generate advantages as a cutter or with the ball, and can get out and run in transition (2nd in the W in fastbreak points at 3.4 per).
Take this play for example:
Off the Iverson cut, notice the patience then the hesitation dribble here to let the roll develop off the brush screen (and also gain separation from Williams who’s trailing). It forces Brionna Jones to react/commit one way or another in her drop before Kah changes pace & attacking the cup. Also, look at Kah’s explosion off of 1-foot… I’m convinced she can dunk.
Fast forward to the very next possession for the Sky it’s essentially the same action off the Iverson cut. Bonner is on her now though, instead of Williams:
Notice Bonner’s positioning (more exaggerated than Williams was) at the point of the screen and how she’s influencing Kah, trying to keep her from going baseline and funneling her in.
The Sky go with a short cross screen this time within the action, almost like a ram (a screen for the eventual screener – to create some distance between the screener and screeners defender flowing into pick-and-roll), but the Sun (Thomas and Jones) just switch it, so, it’ll be AT as the screener’s defender instead of Brionna Jones this time.
Notice also the positioning of AT, in catch or short drop but also up the line in terms of angles on the other side of the screen.
Kah, processing it all, is patient again in assessing both the screen defender as well as the low help (who is Courtney Williams 2.9’ing on the opposite block. Before Kah goes, she knows who the eventual help is she’ll need to beat, and beats the “low man” to the spot for an explosive and uber-athletic finish off two.
You can see the game slowing down for her, as well as her skill in timing and feel continue to evolve.
Here’s another example of just that:
As she walks Carrington in to free herself for the catch, notice her peak to see who’s the “low man” (it’s Courtney Williams) and she’s had success whenever it’s been Wiliams there. Then catch, rip, and have great dexterity to split two and play the glass on the finish.
Her drives have a different ferocity to them.
Here’s one of a secondary break variety:
She manipulates this scenario to create the advantage of energy and is rewarded with the mismatch. After the contest, she races to the corner knowing Brionna Jones is their first player back and would take responsibility for her.
Vandersloot implores Stevens to cut through to then get the ball to Copper. It’s then a catch-and-go, but she sells the reverse angle, then, because she’s mastered the skill of deceleration, she’s able to separate herself to freedom as Jones tried to steal the angle. That’s intentionally not Kah’s fastest speed, as she chose the perfect gear to generate the advantage, countering the angle Jones took away.
Then, of course, we got the audacious “I’m just faster and more athletic than anyone on the floor” rep in transition, one that she’s good for no less than once a game.
Then, lastly, there’s the cut catalog and compilation she’s put together this season. She has an array of timely backdoors, 45’s, Maggette, and dive cuts that keep the Sky in flow.
Defenders are most vulnerable after an entry pass or reversal/skip, Kah very well understands that and exploits it here. I enjoy how wherever she cuts with bad intentions looking to shake the defense up.
The Sky had already led the W in paint points before the break (40.1), but as Coppers applied herself with more frequency, their paint point numbers have jumped to 46.3 per, and it’s the maturation/evolution, understanding of positioning, and attention to detail from Kah that has her operating better than ever.
She’s averaging a career-best 15.3 points per game, and since the break, she’s up to 18.5 on 51%. Add to that the subsequent uptick in free throw attempts off of the appropriately applied pressure she’s generating (4.3 attempts on the season, 6.0 since the break) and you see the full picture of the reigning Finals MVP dynamic in pressure paying huge dividends to the Chicago Sky.
