WNBA All-Star Starter Picks: Two bigs you’ll always gameplan for
I’ve bored you already with my mini-rant on frontcout talent in the W. I’ve got two more players from that position group on the docket now. One entered the season plenty accomplished already — an Olympian, a DPOY, a Finals champ among other things. The other is still fresh on the scene — played 14 minutes per game and started just 6 of them last season as a rookie.
Let’s start with the young George Washington alum. Not only is she off to a blistering start: Her team has raised many eyebrows, too, and could end up being one of the largest threats to the Lynx and Sparks.
Starting F, Eastern Conference — Jonquel Jones, Connecticut Sun
Jonquel Jones appears to have just run away with the Most Improved Player award. Is it just a formality at this point? Jones isn’t the only Connecticut player causing serious waves around the league this year.
But the skill set she brings is incredibly tough to come by. She is a credible spot up threat all the way out to three, which is important for a roster loaded with so many players that have the flexibility to go down into the post:
Curt Miller has really done a tremendous job in shaping this roster, and his players are very deserving of the praise they’ve drawn thus far. There is no easy cover with the Sun — the players at the top of their rotation can all face the basket and shoot it or keep the machine moving.
That spacing and versatility allows them to sneakily clear out the back side in a pick and roll like this one, allowing Jones to run unimpeded toward the rim:
Most teams in the league will run a high horns pick and roll with some frequency — the initial action in this sequence:
Alyssa Thomas is one of the most dangerous rollers in the league because she can catch it and attack off the bounce to score or pass. Jones pops to the top and zooms right into a second pick and roll.
Again, many teams do this, too. But running it with Jones with that immediacy is so tough to guard. Multiple crisp pick and rolls are a pretty solid bet to force a defense to miscommunicate or miss a rotation by a beat.
And how many bigs at any level can come off a pin down from their point guard to make a catch and shoot three look so easy?
Not many.
Same goes for this, too:
That exact kind of shot — a straight up pick and pop three with the ball handler attacking the baseline — is what excites me most about the 2017 playoffs. Jones, Elena Delle Donne, Emma Meesseman, Candace Parker, Nneka Ogwumike, Rebekkah Brunson, Plenette Pierson, Morgan Tuck, Tina Charles, Breanna Stewart, Glory Johnson and Theresa Plaisance can all pick and pop. Will one of those players rattle off three of those in 90 seconds to swing a game? Stay tuned.
Starting F, Western Conference — Sylvia Fowles, Minnesota Lynx
Sylvia Fowles dominates more on the fringes than any player I’ve watched in the last few years. She runs the floor and seals you off, putting you in transition purgatory. You won’t be able to get inside position back. A teammate is going to lob her a pass, and you’re going to have a front row seat in watching it fall right into her lap.
She does leave you one choice: Are you going to foul me to make this a three point play, or will you just run back down the other way with me to fight another day?
Those seals also have clear, direct and positive impact on her teammates when they attack:
Praising players for the intangibles is corny, but only when you don’t actually dive into anything of substance. There are very specific things that Fowles is doing better than anyone. Those small victories add up — two extra rebounds and three rim runs could be the difference between a 15-and-6 line and a 22-and-8.
Fowles can also take her time and get to her hook or a counter on anybody. That same engine that gets her easy lobs also puts her in great position to go to work in the halfcourt, even against the best bigs in the league:
The Lynx set lots of cross screens and initial actions that will distract you enough to set up what’s coming next — Fowles coming across the lane for a deep post touch.
A good cross screen essentially forces defenders to switch. The Lynx have too many talented passers to miss that window to Fowles as that’s happening:
This play doesn’t do enough justice, but Fowles has been one of the most impactful rim protectors to date. My favorite play from her of the year was this mean chase down:
2 more All-Star starters coming tomorrow.
Previous WNBA All-Star picks:
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