Time for a Real Discussion About Caitlin Clark

[Tailg8er]

Funny watching the hawk fans and writers (same thing, I know) try to spin it as anything but a bad first outing for their golden girl. "This coach is terrible, they should hire Bluder!"... "If she had any help it'd be great, Boston (last year's rookie of the year iirc) is not good!"... "They only had 2 weeks to gel, just need more time!"... "She still put up 20 points, greatest shooter of all time!"...

What I haven't seen mentioned:
- Twice as many TO's as FG's made
- 2nd worst +/- in the game at -13
- 33% shooting from the floor
- 14 points on 15 shots
- Only 3 assists with 0 (zero!) rebounds

No way can you spin that performance to say she was efficient, effective, or a benefit to her team. This Fever buzz in central Iowa should die down to zilch after a few more games like that.

 

[ISUCyclones2015]

I know it was only her first WNBA game... but it'll be hilarious if she ends up being the biggest bust in WNBA history.

I think ESPN is gonna try to push her as being good as long as humanly possible. It’s even bad that WNBA legends crap on her (they seem to hate their own game).

I’ve never thought the hype would translate to long term WNBA growth and I’m even a season ticket holder with some friends (several of us split it and live within walking distance).

I might need to find a picture but the 50/50 prize at a Chicago Sky game, one of the largest WNBA markets, is like $100.

 

[dafarmer]

You come off very defensive at anything even slightly negative posted about her. It’s like she is your family or close fri

Funny watching the hawk fans and writers (same thing, I know) try to spin it as anything but a bad first outing for their golden girl. "This coach is terrible, they should hire Bluder!"... "If she had any help it'd be great, Boston (last year's rookie of the year iirc) is not good!"... "They only had 2 weeks to gel, just need more time!"... "She still put up 20 points, greatest shooter of all time!"...

What I haven't seen mentioned:
- Twice as many TO's as FG's made
- 2nd worst +/- in the game at -13
- 33% shooting from the floor
- 14 points on 15 shots
- Only 3 assists with 0 (zero!) rebounds

No way can you spin that performance to say she was efficient, effective, or a benefit to her team. This Fever buzz in central Iowa should die down to zilch after a few more games like that.

Hard to rebound when you stand around and wait for an inbound pass so you can try to shoot.

 

[Gary_ISU]

I watched part of the game. The thing that stood out to me was how bad she was defensively. She got burned by a back door cut because she was watching the ball, didn’t box out, didn’t hustle back to pick up an open shooter. Her offensive game was bad but defensively she was equally bad.

 

[Clonefan32]

I watched part of the game. The thing that stood out to me was how bad she was defensively. She got burned by a back door cut because she was watching the ball, didn’t box out, didn’t hustle back to pick up an open shooter. Her offensive game was bad but defensively she was equally bad.

It’s clear she’s received no coaching. Even the stars at UConn or SC get coached hard. CC has been allowed to do whatever she wants and never was coached on defense or protecting the ball.

 

[clonedude]

Sure sounds like the best women’s basketball player ever to me.

 

[iahawks]

Not shocking this thread was revived the night of her first wnba game. What was shocking was her box score. 33% shooting, 0 rebounds, 3 assists, 10 turnovers (which is a record for any player’s first wnba game). Yikes. But I’m sure you’ll just continue to attack people here and/or spin her performance last night as something positive. Either way, my popcorn is ready

Not going to spin anything. She didn’t play well which wasn’t shocking to me considering it was her first WNBA game going against one of the better teams.

 

[Letterkenny]

I watched part of the game. The thing that stood out to me was how bad she was defensively. She got burned by a back door cut because she was watching the ball, didn’t box out, didn’t hustle back to pick up an open shooter. Her offensive game was bad but defensively she was equally bad.

She didn't play a lick of defense at Iowa. Saved all her energy for the other end of the court.

If she isn't the best player on the court night in and night out, her antics will get old real quick.

 

[mj4cy]

She didn't play a lick of defense at Iowa. Saved all her energy for the other end of the court.

If she isn't the best player on the court night in and night out, her antics will get old real quick.

She's quick enough that half-assed defense was enough to usually get the win. She'll have to learn how to actually play defense now that everyone is the same level of quickness as her.

I watched for about 60 seconds and saw her shoot a contested logo three pointer and wave her arms to the ref after a call. She'll be fine just needs to settle in....but the fans saying she's already the best WNBA player? give me a break.

Also, from watching the local news this morning you'd think Des Moines has a WNBA team.

 

[bozclone]

The WNBA is hoping to draw more eyes to their games, but that game last night was not the way to do it. I watched some of it, but man it was ugly. I had a daughter play high school basketball and I love watching the Cyclone women play, but the style of play in the WNBA is really rough to watch.

 

[mj4cy]

The WNBA is hoping to draw more eyes to their games, but that game last night was not the way to do it. I watched some of it, but man it was ugly. I had a daughter play high school basketball and I love watching the Cyclone women play, but the style of play in the WNBA is really rough to watch.

Agreed....it just seemed very congested...poor spacing.

 

[madguy30]

She didn't play a lick of defense at Iowa. Saved all her energy for the other end of the court.

If she isn't the best player on the court night in and night out, her antics will get old real quick.

They hid her on defense to keep her out of foul trouble. It was a smart move.

 

[Gonzo]

Not shocking this thread was revived the night of her first wnba game. What was shocking was her box score. 33% shooting, 0 rebounds, 3 assists, 10 turnovers (which is a record for any player’s first wnba game). Yikes. But I’m sure you’ll just continue to attack people here and/or spin her performance last night as something positive. Either way, my popcorn is ready

Also had 20 pt. Led all players along with Bonner. You left that one out.

 

[mj4cy]

Also had 20 pt. Led all players along with Bonner. You left that one out.

75% of it was during garbage time.

 

[cycloner29]

Also had 20 pt. Led all players along with Bonner. You left that one out.

You left out that she set yet another record. Wonder if they will put a sticker on the floor where she committed her record 10th turnover in a debut WBNA game?

 

[Cupped]

Also had 20 pt. Led all players along with Bonner. You left that one out.

75% of it was during garbage time.

Not to mention the majority of her points were scored when former Baylor guard DiJonai Carrington was out of the game with leg cramps.

 

[3TrueFans]

I imagine there's a reason the Fever got to pick first, probably because they sucked. She'll probably adapt in time, they didn't pick her first to rebound, they picked her to score, just needs to protect the ball better. It would probably help too if her teammates did something, Boston with a whopping 4 points.

 

[carvers4math]

Can you really be a consummate d*ick,.....or just try to fake being one? <[B^P

A lot of both

 

[Clonefan32]

Also had 20 pt. Led all players along with Bonner. You left that one out.

Good point. Managing 20 points on 33% shooting is some pretty serious shot hunting.

The majority of her points came late after the game was decided. I watched the entire game, and she played very poorly. Spin it how you want, but she did not play well.

 

[fsanford]

Rarely do you see a rookie in any sport receive so much defensive attention.

You could see Connecticut chase her all over the court. Tells you how good they think she is.