Exercises in Futility

I watched most of the game today on NBA TV, and it was awful. The team didn't score it's first field goal until there was 2:35 left in the first quarter. In the first half, they shot 21 percent. They ramped it up the second half, finishing at 31.5 percent. I'm not sure this can be said any other way: Coach Zierden is incompetent.

Why are the Lynx shooting such a poor percentage? Once again, they have to work very hard to create shots; there's no sense of sharing the ball whatsoever. Whether or not that indicates youth or poor chemistry, this team doesn't pass the rock. In the first half, they had only two assists. Two. They did better in the second half, with a total of nine, but it's clear they have no strategy other than to isolate or attempt to free up Augustus via screens and let her go to work. All the Sky did was trap and double team her to get the ball out of her hands, and they were sunk. Their other strategy is trying to use Harding's speed in the transition game, before the defense sets. The issue with that is of course, is that while the Lynx actually out rebounded Chicago, the Sky dominated the offensive rebounding stats, especially in the first half. You can't start a break if you don't have the ball. There are no easy baskets whatsoever in this offense.

Right now, Harding seems way over matched in trying to run what semblance of offense there actually is. I'll give her credit; she's taking her lumps like a true professional, but I don't understand the force feeding. It's not like she's the female second coming of Stephon Marbury, or Chris Paul. How exactly is she being setup for success?

At the risk of being extremely repetitive, the primary problem is in the front court. Ms. Ohlde's stats are deceiving; she is absolutely the worst low post presence--male or female--I've ever seen. The Sky let her off the hook by continually fouling her, and in the second half she was able to finally convert from the field, but as I've mentioned before, she needs to play the high post. She simply has no feel, touch or strength around the basket. It's embarrassing to watch her flail at the basket from 3 feet away in traffic. At least she hits her free throws. We've seen this now for three years running. McCarville is taking up space on the Liberty bench. We can't make some sort of trade for her or another who can play effectively with their back to the basket?

The Taylor group is missing a great marketing opportunity with this poor start. They should create a pool for fans to try and pick the first win for this club. At this point, have a sense of humor about
it, for Jim Pete's sake. You have to give the fans some fun in the middle of all this mess.