2022 NY Liberty Notebook, Volume 5: “Every game is a new result”
The Liberty get back in the win column
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Again I ask, whose idea was Camp Day??
Let’s just look at the facts. In the month of July, the Liberty are 2-3 in non-Camp Day games. Camp Day games? 0-3, against three of the league’s top teams, two of which were on the road! Maybe the lovely Adam Vachon can make a chart or something comparing teams’ Camp Day performances to games that don’t start before noon, but for now, I’m gonna choose to blame the schedule makers for New York’s struggles this month.
On a joyous note, the seafoam squad was able to shake their morning woes and pick up a big victory last Saturday against the Sky, snapping a losing skid and defending home court. With just two games separating the sixth seed and 10th seed in the standings, every game counts and the margin for error is thinner than a sheet of paper. Let’s get to some storylines.
A much-needed win
Before I get into my thoughts on this game, what a heck of a performance from the Chicago Sky. After playing a game against the Dallas Wings on July 22, they had to board a flight at 6 a.m. and fly to New York for a bout against the Liberty later that day at 6 p.m. (their third game in four days, no less). One problem: the flight got delayed, then stuck on the runway, and didn’t take off until almost 10 a.m. So, for any other team, it would’ve been understandable for them to come out sluggish or throw in the towel. Not the reigning champs, though, as they battled for four quarters on the road, never backing down.
One standout for Chicago? 32-year-old rookie Rebekah Gardner, who has taken the league by storm with her tenacity and effort. The homie Mark Schindler broke down her performance in the loss, explaining why she’s earned a spot on an All-Defensive Team. There’s no question she deserves that and an All-Rookie Team nod; her value cannot be overstated.
But what an amazing win for the Liberty! The last time these teams faced off, New York fell victim to a game-winning three from Courtney Vandersloot. They couldn’t get a rebound, they couldn’t get a stop, and they fell apart down the stretch against a battle-tested team. This time around, the Liberty did just enough to get back in the win column, capped off with this and-1 from Sabrina Ionescu over Gardner.
Sab flirted with another triple-double, Natasha Howard secured her sixth double-double of the season and the post duo of Han Xu and Stefanie Dolson combined for 25 points in the victory. Every matchup is crucial, and the Liberty finally showcased they have enough in the tank to finish these games.
Big Mama Stef making plays
Six months ago, New York made a big acquisition in the offseason as they poached Stefanie Dolson away from the reigning champion Sky. Jackie Powell of The Next detailed here how the Liberty went into the offseason looking for a post player with versatility. They rolled out the red carpet for Big Mama Stef, showing her how much she’d be appreciated by the team. Two weeks later, the New York native put pen to paper, adding some necessary depth to the frontcourt.
Since then, Dolson has been tremendous. Sure, when looking at raw numbers, her averages of 8.4 points per game and 4.2 rebounds per game might not jump off the page. However, what does catch my eye is her efficiency on the court. Big Mama Stef is currently shooting 53% from the field and a scorching 39% from behind the arc; when looking at the rest of the league, only Los Angeles’ Nneka Ogwumike (who is having an MVP-caliber season) and Atlanta’s Tiffany Hayes (certified hooper) match or exceed those percentages. So, Dolson is in pretty good company. She even ranks in the top 10 in effective field-goal percentage and points per scoring attempt throughout the league.
In last Saturday’s win over Chicago, we saw just how impactful Stef is to this squad as she scored nine of her 13 points in the third quarter, giving the Liberty a huge boost offensively. She’s scored in double figures four times in eight games this month. Dolson has been a fantastic play finisher in the screen and roll, and her high low offense mastery with Howard and Han is a joy to watch. This signing has been well worth it, to say the least.
Bec on deck
I mentioned in Volume 4 how Coach Brondello was looking to make a change in the starting lineup after a particularly rough Camp Day defeat to the Aces and some slow starts. I campaigned for Sami Whitcomb, who was coming off of two strong games against Phoenix and Las Vegas. Brondello instead opted for Rebecca Allen, leaning towards more defensive versatility in the lineup.
Now, while I thought Sami should’ve gotten the nod, being that she’s the team captain and started almost every game she played last year, that doesn’t necessarily mean I disagree with the move to start Allen. Bec was phenomenal last season, racking up stocks (steals + blocks, third in the league per game behind Sylvia Fowles and Breanna Stewart) and knocking down triples. She was just one of seven players to average a block and a steal per game in 2021, and the only other two that space the floor on that list were MVP candidates Jonquel Jones and Stewie. When you find yourself with players of that stature, you’re doing pretty good. Justice for her All-Defense team snub!
Now, this season has been a bit of a roller coaster for Spida. She’s missed time in concussion protocol, with overseas commitments, and illness. She hasn’t been as effective behind the arc as she was last season, but she’s performing much better than her 2021 form inside the three-point line. Where she has excelled, in spite of the various setbacks this year, is on the opposite end of the floor yet again.
Since moving into the starting lineup, Bec got three blocks against the Sun, two steals and a block against the Mystics and another swat against the Sky. It’s this event creation on defense that sets her apart from Whitcomb, and she’s a valuable piece to the puzzle in New York. Look for Allen to find her form offensively to add to her value on the defensive side.
The Liberty square off against the Sky tomorrow on the road before returning to Barclays Center for a three-game homestand as the season nears the homestretch. After the Chicago matchup, every game remaining is against teams No. 6-9 in the standings. The Liberty essentially control their own destiny. Let’s see what they have in store.
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