The home ground was a-buzz with the chants of Paige Bueckers echoing from the stands. And as she stepped on the Texas-Arlington court in her first pro season opener against Minnesota Lynx, the fans only grew crazier in anticipation to watch her debut. And despite a high pressure situation, Bueckers scored her first point within 45 minutes into the game. The point provided the rookie with a much-needed confidence as she progressed to make three more points and two rebounds in the opening quarter itself. While Bueckers averaged a total of ten points in the game, seems that head coach Chris Koclanes is not too pleased.
With Bueckers, Arike Ogunbowale, DiJonai Carrington, and Tyasha Harris pulling a tough front against the opponents in the first quarter with a combined score of 21-19, the Wings’ fell short of two points in the second quarter. And guess who turned the tables in their favour! The trick worked for Napheesa Collier and teammates and the Lynx overpowered Wings by the third quarter with a massive 35-20 gap! Despite handling the pressure from a former second best WNBA team, Bueckers debut fell face-flat as the team staggered with an 84-99 defeat.
Traversing to the heart of this question during the post-match press conference, HC Koclanes revealed what actually went down with the Dallas Wings. Analysing the whole situation on why they could not make a comeback in the third quarter, he said, “I thought we we showed some resolve and had a couple good responses there in the first half and then in the third I don’t know. I did think maybe it was a little fatigue. We looked a little tired in a stretch.“
While praising their initial fiery responses on the hardwood, Chris openly pointed at the physical struggles faced by the Wings’ locker room towards the end of the second quarter. As the first season under Wings for the coach as well, Chris comes across as a calm HC who has the ability to shake the locker room dynamics. And this statement is no different. He outrightly said that his team suffered from fatigue after just two quarters into the game. But he did not stop there.
“I thought once they got a little bit of distance, you saw a seated doubt and we couldn’t really recover from it. And so the slippage just continued and we didn’t have enough to really get it back under control. So, again it’s a growth opportunity. It’s a learning moment and for all of us, for the combinations, for who’s out there. It’s one game at a time. It’ll improve.” And just when we thought he was done bashing the team, Chris drops another threat-bomb on the Wings.
His calm focus on growth reflects his time as an assistant at USC, where he helped develop young talent. Now at the helm of the Dallas Wings, he’s focused on building chemistry in a franchise that last won a title in 2008—back when it was still known as the Detroit Shock.
He recalls witnessing a gap that the team could have filled but instead failed to capitalise. Referring to the second quarter, where the lopsided game was almost saved thanks to Ogunbowale, the game continued to slip from their fingers like quick sand in no time.
While the team managed a grand save in the first quarter and another decent save towards the end of the second quarter, the Wings failed to convert shots by the time they stepped onto the third quarter. And though All-star Ogunbowale made 16 points, Carrington 15 points, and Maddy Seigrist with 11 points, to revive the team, Bueckers missed both 3-point attempts and ultimately landed with 3 of 10 shooting, seven rebounds, and two assists overall.
But a hopeful Koclanes seems to take the season with one game at a time. While Bueckers still seems to struggle with size and pacing on the court, probably using the HC’s strategy will help the locker room achieve success. Slowly but surely.
HC Chris Koclanes all-praise for Maddy Seigrist
“I thought Maddy was Maddy,” HC Koclane answers when asked about his thoughts on Maddy’s performance. “She was ready when her number was called. Listened to some early foul trouble. She gets in there and she does what she does. She just plays relentless all the time. You can expect full out effort from her regardless of the score. And so she’s just that energy we can all feed off of.” Maddy comes across as a powerhouse of competitiveness, resilience and passion for the game, and even coach Chris could not deny the fact.
Averaging 9.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per 27 games last season and missing out on 13, owing to a left index finger surgery, Maddy Siegrist returned to the hardwood with a bang! With her first season opener with the new roster and head coach, Maddy is one of the most impressive veterans in the Dallas Wings roster. Coming off the bench, Maddy scored an average of 11 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist in her recent appearance.
Despite the defeat against the Lynx, HC Chris was all praise for Maddy’s impressive run so far. Praising her instinctive abilities to listen to early troubles during the match, Coach Chris emphasised on the fact that the team heavily relied on Maddy’s relentless gameplay and the dominant and powerful energy that she carried to the court.
No wonder the Dallas Wings’ staff has been positively contemplating on extending Seigrist’s contract for the upcoming year. That too before the regular season began. This only cements the 2023 third overall pick’s abilities and how much the talent means to the team. And as GM Curt Miller said, “She is a big piece of the Wings future, has worked hard at her game and is poised to have an impressive year. Her versatility to play multiple positions gives our team valuable flexibility within our roster.” It will be interesting to watch whether Maddy will overpower the rookies or build around them in the upcoming games.
The post Dallas Wings HC Flags Major Locker Room Threat After Paige Bueckers’ WNBA Debut Falls Flat appeared first on EssentiallySports.
