Shock overpower the Sky from the inside
August 22, 2009 by Max Rottenstein
In a repeat of Tuesday's late quarter defensive breakdown, the Chicago Sky were defeated by the league champion Detroit Shock in a 76-67 loss Saturday night at the UIC Pavilion.
With Sylvia Fowles' sprained ankle, the Sky were at a disadvantage for playing a more physical team, "Our objective was to take their big players away from the basket and beat them off the dribble and we didn't do that tonight", said Sky Coach Steven Key.
Despite an impressive offensive show from Candace Dupree who scored 20 points, and recently acquired forward Tamera Young who scored 14 points and shot 5-of-5 from the free throw line, the Shock were able to break through the Sky defense in the second half. With 8:06 left in the third quarter, guard Alexis Hornbuckle hit a three pointer; for the next seven minutes the Shock went on a rampage, scoring 18 unanswered points.
At the core of this breakdown was a lack of focus and concentration on defense during the third and fourth quarter. "We are not focused enough to remember what we are doing defensively," Coach Key said. He went on to say, "You can't have Katie Smith inbound the ball, throw it away, and then give it back to her, and then she shoots a wide-open shot," in the third quarter Shock guard Katie Smith scored 13 points, going 7-for-10 from the three point line.
When asked if varying defensive strategies would help, Coach Key replied, "Whether you play zone or you play man-to-man if you don't execute offensively and defensively it makes it very tough to win." Putting the responsibility to close this defensive gap on his players, Key stated, "it has to come from inside, it has to come from them. It has to be a sense of urgency that says you know what, that person isn't going to shoot it."
The need for this urgency was echoed by Sky center Candace Dupree. "If everyone doesn't want it then as a team we are not going to make it," Dupree said of the team's motivation with seven games left to play this season and the Sky's playoff hopes on the line, "at some point we have to know where to stop the bleeding and pick it up on the defensive end. You can't blame it on being tired."
OTHER UPDATES: The Sky waived Chen Nan and Sylvia Fowles' was noted a possible starter for Friday's home game against New York as the condition of her injured ankle develops.
With Sylvia Fowles' sprained ankle, the Sky were at a disadvantage for playing a more physical team, "Our objective was to take their big players away from the basket and beat them off the dribble and we didn't do that tonight", said Sky Coach Steven Key.
Despite an impressive offensive show from Candace Dupree who scored 20 points, and recently acquired forward Tamera Young who scored 14 points and shot 5-of-5 from the free throw line, the Shock were able to break through the Sky defense in the second half. With 8:06 left in the third quarter, guard Alexis Hornbuckle hit a three pointer; for the next seven minutes the Shock went on a rampage, scoring 18 unanswered points.
At the core of this breakdown was a lack of focus and concentration on defense during the third and fourth quarter. "We are not focused enough to remember what we are doing defensively," Coach Key said. He went on to say, "You can't have Katie Smith inbound the ball, throw it away, and then give it back to her, and then she shoots a wide-open shot," in the third quarter Shock guard Katie Smith scored 13 points, going 7-for-10 from the three point line.
When asked if varying defensive strategies would help, Coach Key replied, "Whether you play zone or you play man-to-man if you don't execute offensively and defensively it makes it very tough to win." Putting the responsibility to close this defensive gap on his players, Key stated, "it has to come from inside, it has to come from them. It has to be a sense of urgency that says you know what, that person isn't going to shoot it."
The need for this urgency was echoed by Sky center Candace Dupree. "If everyone doesn't want it then as a team we are not going to make it," Dupree said of the team's motivation with seven games left to play this season and the Sky's playoff hopes on the line, "at some point we have to know where to stop the bleeding and pick it up on the defensive end. You can't blame it on being tired."
OTHER UPDATES: The Sky waived Chen Nan and Sylvia Fowles' was noted a possible starter for Friday's home game against New York as the condition of her injured ankle develops.
Erin Thorn avoids a block from Shock guard Deanna Nolan to make a layup in the 2nd quarter
Sky guard Jia Perkins played for 25 minutes and scored 4 points
With 3:18 left in the 2nd quarter Dominique Canty hits an 18 foot jump shot
Tamera Young is blocked by Shock forward Taj McWilliams in the 1st quarter
Early in the 1st quarter Shyra Ely drives for a layup
Sky center Candace Dupree is fouled by Shock forward Katie Smith with 6:04 left in the 3rd quarter
