One second-quarter possession during the Indiana Fever's season-opening loss to Washington highlights the Fever's new approach while simultaneously shining a light on just how far they have to go to perfect it.
Natalie Achonwa grabs a rebound and passes ahead to Tiffany Mitchell, who races down court, weaving through defenders before Mystics forward Aerial Powers cuts off her path to the basket.
Mitchell retreats pulls the ball out and passes to point guard Julie Allemand at the top of the key. A screen-and-roll action between Achonwa and Allemand allows Candice Dupree to pop open for 3 on the left wing.
In years past this action would've resulted in a long 2-pointer from Dupree. Under new coach Marianne Stanley, those long 2s are turning into 3s. Dupree, the WNBA's all-time leader in made 2s, misses the 3, but Victoria Vivians tips the loose ball to Mitchell, providing a second possession for the Fever.
Mitchell then passes to Achonwa in the paint, while Vivians spots up for 3 at the top of the key. Vivians calls for the ball, but Achonwa passes to Allemand on the right wing. After the pass to Allemand, Vivians begins to cut toward the basket, while she's making her cut, Allemand passes to Vivians, throwing the ball away.
Allemand stares into space for a second before going down the court to play defense, clearly replaying the breakdown in communication over in her head.
The new-look Fever show the willingness to push the ball, space the floor and shoot 3s at a higher rate, but without the benefit of time together on the court at practice it will be hard for the Fever to put together extended stretches of cohesion.
"(Saturday's game) was after 10 practices together —10 practices — and then we're playing," Fever assistant April Schilling said. "So I think this group in general would have really benefited from a full training camp with a new staff, new players, new system.
"But you learn from each game and I believe some things were exploited, specifically on the defensive end. Coach Stanley, I thought, did a great job of addressing them on film today in practice."
Lauren Cox and Erica Wheeler's positive COVID-19 tests delayed Indiana's arrival to the wubble (WNBA's bubble) at Florida's IMG Academy, and cost the Fever about four practices. Four practices is a lot to miss when learning a new system, and the Fever hadn't even had a team scrimmage before Saturday's game.
In a condensed 21-game system, the Fever will play a game almost every other day. In order to make up for lost time the Fever must maximize the three days before Wednesday's game against Phoenix.
Schilling said Stanley liked some of what the players did offensively, so they've used the extended downtime to sharpen up their defensive schemes.
"As a new team and as new players with the new system, it takes time to form those habits on everything from pick-and-roll coverage to defense in the post, and not leaving them on an island and understanding it's a team concept defensively," Schilling said. "They score on us not just on one player, just building that into our system is good."
The Fever looked like a team still trying to learn its pieces, and that is only exasperated by the absences of Wheeler and Cox.
Wheeler, a six-year veteran and 2019 All-Star, provides a calming presence on the floor while adding strong 3-point shooting, defensive presence and leadership.
"She puts a lot of pressure on the offense and she's really good defensively," guard Kelsey Mitchell said of Wheeler. "She's one of our true leaders as well, so it's tough not having her control the atmosphere and what we have going on, especially when we get down and out.
"She's really important in that role because she can put everybody together and balance us all out."
Wheeler has yet to join the team in Florida. Cox, the No. 3 overall pick in this year's WNBA draft, is in the bubble, but does not have a date set for her debut. Rookie guard Kathleen Doyle (ankle) said she feels better and hopes to play against the Mercury.
Having Cox in the lineup will provide valuable post defense, an area the Fever struggled against the Mystics. Stanley started with Achonwa and Dupree against Washington's more mobiles bigs, but the longtime coach said Teaira McCowan (13 minutes) will play more against Phoenix star Brittney Griner.
The Fever know how important each game of the season is, and despite the ugly loss, feel the mistakes they made are correctable with a few strong days of practice.
"We did come a few days late and we feel like we can work those kinks out," Doyle said. "We're all committed to getting better and they're all errors that we can fix, so we're looking forward to working those out."
Follow IndyStar sports producer Akeem Glaspie on Twitter at @THEAkeemGlaspie.
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Indiana Fever fighting to make up for lost time while learning new system - IndyStar
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