If it was Tamika Catchings' final game at the Staples Center, then boy it was a fitting swan song for the WNBA legend.
The Indiana Fever rallied back from a 14-point halftime deficit and shocked the Nneka Ogwumike-less Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday, 79-68.
The Sparks punished the Fever in transition in the first half, running several times to score easy baskets. Candace Parker had 5 steals by the end of the first 20 minutes. Ana Dabovic had 12 first half points. The Sparks made it look they were not missing Ogwumike (DNP - concussion-like symptoms) at all, but the tempo changed in the second half.
The Fever organized, played their pace, and did not let the Sparks attack in transition as Indiana slowed it down and played efficient half court offense.
The Fever shot 10-for-19 from three-point area, using effective in and out basketball to generate open baskets. Catchings and Natalie Achonwa received the leather inside the paint, and when the Sparks defense collapsed, that was when they sent the ball back outside.
It kept moving. As a result, all but one of those long range bombs were assisted. The absence of Ogwumike aggravated the scene as Catchings and Indiana's other creators were able to penetrate.
On offense, the Sparks looked stagnant, and without an opportunity to run, it is in their halfcourt sets where they felt the absence of Ogwumike. No one was cutting or diving to the basket.
Worse is I did not see Los Angeles run pick and roll plays save for two instances when Marianna Tolo was on the floor. Both of those instances led to Tolo receiving the ball around the rim and getting a decent attempt.
Other than that, their offense relied heavily on Parker setting up. Kristi Toliver was on the floor the entire time but did not have enough touches nor was she given the chance to facilitate.
It was all Parker trying to set up from the high post or beat her defender one on one, but it never materialized. Without much movement, it was so easy for Indiana to pack the paint and prevent the Sparks from getting high-percentage baskets.
Brian Agler has to understand their bigs need some setting up. The likes of Jantel Lavender and Tolo will not create their own shots but they will need the help of creators. Lavender gets a catch and shoot jumper off a lick out pass or in the low block after an entry pass. Ditto with Tolo.
Parker tried to do so much, and did not get the rest of the team involved.
The result: the Sparks only scored 28 points in the second half. Parker did finish with 25 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 8 steals, and 3 blocks, but also committed 7 turnovers and was a minus-13.
Catchings paced Indiana with 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 steals. Briann January added 16 points while Marissa Coleman chipped in 14 points.
The Indiana Fever rallied back from a 14-point halftime deficit and shocked the Nneka Ogwumike-less Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday, 79-68.
#FeverWin! Final: #Fever 79, Sparks 68
Catchings: 20pts/7rebs/2asts/3stls
January: 16pts/3asts
Coleman: 14pts/4rebs pic.twitter.com/Ivhc7bqhB8
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) August 19, 2015
The Sparks punished the Fever in transition in the first half, running several times to score easy baskets. Candace Parker had 5 steals by the end of the first 20 minutes. Ana Dabovic had 12 first half points. The Sparks made it look they were not missing Ogwumike (DNP - concussion-like symptoms) at all, but the tempo changed in the second half.
The Fever organized, played their pace, and did not let the Sparks attack in transition as Indiana slowed it down and played efficient half court offense.
The Fever shot 10-for-19 from three-point area, using effective in and out basketball to generate open baskets. Catchings and Natalie Achonwa received the leather inside the paint, and when the Sparks defense collapsed, that was when they sent the ball back outside.
It kept moving. As a result, all but one of those long range bombs were assisted. The absence of Ogwumike aggravated the scene as Catchings and Indiana's other creators were able to penetrate.
On offense, the Sparks looked stagnant, and without an opportunity to run, it is in their halfcourt sets where they felt the absence of Ogwumike. No one was cutting or diving to the basket.
Worse is I did not see Los Angeles run pick and roll plays save for two instances when Marianna Tolo was on the floor. Both of those instances led to Tolo receiving the ball around the rim and getting a decent attempt.
Other than that, their offense relied heavily on Parker setting up. Kristi Toliver was on the floor the entire time but did not have enough touches nor was she given the chance to facilitate.
It was all Parker trying to set up from the high post or beat her defender one on one, but it never materialized. Without much movement, it was so easy for Indiana to pack the paint and prevent the Sparks from getting high-percentage baskets.
Brian Agler has to understand their bigs need some setting up. The likes of Jantel Lavender and Tolo will not create their own shots but they will need the help of creators. Lavender gets a catch and shoot jumper off a lick out pass or in the low block after an entry pass. Ditto with Tolo.
Parker tried to do so much, and did not get the rest of the team involved.
The result: the Sparks only scored 28 points in the second half. Parker did finish with 25 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 8 steals, and 3 blocks, but also committed 7 turnovers and was a minus-13.
Catchings paced Indiana with 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 steals. Briann January added 16 points while Marissa Coleman chipped in 14 points.
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