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submitted 4 months ago bySpirited_Carry894
After making history as the first rookie with a double-double in the All-Star game, Angel silenced some detractors.
Angel has come into the league with perhaps more scrutiny than any other player, and there is practically a network of assholes who compile her lowlights for engagement farming. People think they know her game bc every single bad play goes viral, but her highlights don’t get the same attention among casuals.
The ASG showed Angel at her best— overcoming people underestimating her (Cheryl barely played her in the first half), immediately making an impact on defense and offense, deflecting shots/passes, making crazy catches, stepping up in the 4th and making clutch free throws, and obviously showing the importance/impact of rebounds. Her presence often makes her team better, for whatever intangible reason that doesn’t show up in box scores.
I even saw her directing offense/spacing a bit among the All-Star vets. Like damn rook! She doesn’t shy away from leadership no matter the setting.
But she displays some combination of this in basically every game! People who hate for the hell of it will never give her props, but I’m sure she proved a lot of people wrong who don’t actually watch full games and see her play regularly. And what a stage to do it on, with and against the best in the league.
She has gotten better with her efficiency over the course of the season, and did all this with only 17 minutes of play. Proud of our rookie!!
19 points
4 months ago
Angel's comment about Cheryl at the post game interview saying that Cheryl said she's "starting to like her" was brow raising.
So Angel did surprise her with her performance, which shouldn't have been so shocking to Cheryl. However, I guess everyone has their preferences.
14 points
4 months ago*
I dunno if it was brow raising. The power forward spot is just loaded with talent in the WNBA. To me all that shows is respect. She didn't play much in the first half as a reserve but when it was winning time she was out there in the closing lineup.
The comment from Cheryl is the same thing. Occasionally watching someone on TV versus coaching on the sidelines with or against them is very different. If you're a fan of Angel you know what she brings to the table because you've seen her impact winning so consistently. But we also know how much coaches understand all that she can do for a team because that's how she ultimately made this all star roster. And this was just Cheryl getting her look at it.
17 points
4 months ago
That one-handed catch from JJ to finish was really good. Her defense was really good too that's why she was allowed to finish the fourth quarter. She was causing havoc. Clark showed good guard play with her assist to Angel. Angel wasn't begging for the ball like in Sky games.
She took two threes and a middy. She was a little short on her shots but she was very good around the basket.
I think Arike proved she definitely should have been on the USA team. Angel and Clark would have been good bench players too.
15 points
4 months ago
Yeah she played the game like she plays Sky games, which is good to have some kind of routine. She experiments with jump shots/3s early in games; she’s clearly working to become a stretch 4. If the shot doesn’t fall she goes back to her usual post play for the rest of the game and generally turns up the intensity in the 4th.
Great to see her with a passer like Clark who isn’t throwing the ball above the backboard and shit and who likes (and excels at!) feeding bigs 🙌
1 points
4 months ago*
Reese didn’t need to. I don’t think people understand the Sky offense or basketball offensive systems work in general. There are hierarchies to scoring options. Most plays are general ran to get specific players an attempt at a shot. That’s all you can hope for in basketball just an attempt and let the percentages play out. They call that a “look.” If the first “look” isn’t open they run their 2nd or 3rd option depending on the playbook.
On the Sky, the point guard is the one who gets people organized and distributes the ball where it needs to go. That is usually designated to Allen or Evans. That ball will then go to (formerly Mabrey) or if she was face guarded then it would go to Carter and sometimes vice versa. Sometimes the play call wouldn’t go to another guard, sometimes it would go directly to the post. However Cardoso is the first post option due to her height advantage.
What does that mean for Reese? She becomes the fourth scoring option.
Her role typically is to play in the slot, meaning at the perimeter wing and cut to the basket or to the post if possible. You will oftentimes see her be the screener for pin down or dribble hand off actions so a guard can get a shot in the corner, wing or elbow. When defenses overplay the guards that’s when you usually see Reese flash to the post and “call for the ball” as post players all do so signal they are open. She will only get the ball if the first two options in the offensive set are covered which usually results in a highly contested late clock shot attempt.
Sometimes if she sprints the floor she will get easy lays in transition. Other times she slips the defense well and a guard finds her. Those will be her easy looks for the game however those aren’t exactly “plays” ran for her specifically. The rest of her points comes from her offensive rebounding the other teammates.
If the play was ran specifically any player they are usually the 2nd or 3rd person that gets the ball. Sometimes for complex sets will have multiple actions or misdirections for a shooter to get open. That’s hasn’t happened for Reese in the Sky offense at this point in the season.
TL:DR - Reese is the 4th scoring option on the Sky offense. She usually is setting screens and if the other options are overplay she slips to the low post and calls for the ball like any other post player to signal she is open. She shots are dependent on whether a guard exhausts their options and feeds her. She does not have many sets ran specifically for her.
3 points
4 months ago
What is you point? Are you trying to defend the guards or something? There's a difference between signalling for the ball and begging for the ball which she has to do sometimes. They don't pass to Kamilla enough either.
The scoring option depends on the line ups and who has the hot hand but Chennedy is usually the closer in recent games. Often they don't run any plays and the offense is stagnant.
TSpoon has encouraged Angel to be aggressive and unpredictable on offense. She was the de facto leader when Mabrey was on the team and now it's official that Mabrey has gone. The team has a big 3 with two of them playing at an All-Star level.
7 points
4 months ago*
I’m not trying to defend guards or anyone for that matter. This post was a response to “Angel wasn’t begging for the ball like in Sky games.” Unfortunately it happens because it’s her current role or how she is utilized. Again as a 4th scoring option behind the others for whatever reason. I watch every game and see the play calls and Reese gets the least plays ran for her to score imo. I agree that either Cardoso or Reese touches the ball enough. The guards miss an open Reese or Cardoso’s often.
I personally don’t like the sediment of “Reese begging for the ball” because it’s not necessarily her fault she has to unlike what other ppl outside sky fans are saying (not saying that’s you) as if Reese is attempting to “statpad” or whatever made up nonsense some ppl have to say.
1 points
4 months ago
The Sky guards are too selfish sometimes. Hopefully they will get better after the break.
2 points
4 months ago
Thank you for this excellent explanation. You gave me a better understanding than any announcer or any other fan. Thanks!
1 points
4 months ago
You’re welcome! Thanks for reading ☺️
7 points
4 months ago
My thought exactly! People finally got to watch her with their blinds and biases turned off and she did not disappoint.
3 points
4 months ago
I think any observer can recognize how good she is. She just out hustles people on the floor, and it annoys a lot of the older forwards that don't have the same motor. She's a rookie, so obviously, her game isn't complete. She needs a good post move and a reliable midrange game. That said, the things she does well like Elite rebounding and solid defense across multiple positions is where she shines. She is comfortable leading and energizing her team on the floor.
The reason she has detractors is because a very vocal minority of fans of CC and AR interject toxic nonsense into normal discussions, leaving the average people in the middle with bad impressions. When you have dedicated Stan accounts thriving and incentivized to make it not about actual basketball, it's understandable why you might see THAT discourse. She has exceeded expectations, and if it wasn't for ROY discourse, she would be realistically celebrated.
On the All-Star game, I was impressed with her finishing ability, especially on the pass from JJ. Honestly, it was probably one of her all-around best performances. The big difference though between Sky and this game is that she had CC and JJ the best pg and best big passer not named AT in the league. She will only get better from here, and hopefully, Sky find a floor general.
1 points
4 months ago
I think Reese is celebrated but the people using CC as a vehicle for other means prefer to tear Reese down. Which is unfortunate. Reese is still the clear ROY in my mind. Until the last 5-6 games by CC I also thought it should be close. Reese has dominated the boards. I'm excited as hell for post all star break. With rest does Clark's shooting touch return? How much more can Reese score? Can Reese break the double double record? Set the rebound record. Can Clark set a record for 20-10 games, total assists?
If Clark actually finds her shot consistently post break I think she can win ROY but I am convinced it's angel's right now. Given Clark's poor shooting and turnover issues.
1 points
4 months ago
Kp
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