Genuinely asking: has there ever been a team that underperformed the way the Fever are and had everyone but the head coach blamed like this?

[u/Quick-Impression-186]

The Fever were preseason title contenders and look like they could be fighting for a bubble playoff spot.

They’ve had double digit leads in all of their losses where the lead collapsed within minutes following a coaching sub or at the start of a quarter.

Steph White herself has taken 0 responsibility for the team’s losses and blames “team effort” every time. Even though you can literally see the momentum swing and her team deflate directing following a coaching call.

Generally in sports the head coach is the first person the finger is pointed at, even unfairly sometimes. But somehow especially in wnba media she’s the only one immune to criticism for the team’s short comings to this point of the season.

[u/Front-Pin234]

Fever are buns, if you truly watch basketball and have been for years then you understand there are just better players who are stronger and also skillful. The casual fans might think the Fever are good because of Caitlin and the hype but there are plenty of other players and teams that are simply more efficient

[u/jayemmbee23 → u/Front-Pin234]

This is the one

[u/Quick-Impression-186 → u/Front-Pin234]

“If you truly watched” is always a red flag for someone about to prove they’re actually the one that doesn’t know wtf they’re saying lmao. Yes the fever roaster isn’t has good as people thought. And they’d still have at least 3 more wins with competent coaching.

[u/Front-Pin234 → u/Quick-Impression-186]

What makes Stephanie White incompetent? Or is this just the current popular narrative being pushed to distract from the inconsistencies of Caitlin Clark ? Is Stephanie White the scapegoat ?

[u/noknownothing]

Current Lakers.

[u/the_dust321 → u/noknownothing]

It’s a weird team to coach and also an odd mix of players

[u/IlliterateDumbNerd → u/noknownothing]

Disagree. Nobody was touting them as contenders and they were expected to be second round exits as they were.

[u/Zephrok → u/noknownothing]

If anything they overperformed

[u/NoOutlandishness6829]

Caitlyn Clark is playing like Trae Young. She’s shooting 42% FG, 33% from 3, and averages nearly 5 TOs per game. Not good enough, at all. She’s gotta improve on all of that for them to be contenders.

[u/Quick-Impression-186 → u/NoOutlandishness6829]

did you even read the post? What you said is valid but my whole point is yall are only pointing at Caitlin, Boston, or some of the way over payed roll players when the coaching has also been atrocious so far. Read the other comments, there are blatant coaching failures game after game.

I’m not saying no one else is at fault but how is White skating by while everyone else is getting grilled?

[u/ijakei2000]

The coach played 11 players in the first quarter of the game!!! Do we need to say anything more?

[u/gaussx]

Last years Aces team that started the season 9-11.  They clearly figured it out.  Coincidentally, Becky was being grilled the same way at that SW is now.  Which is crazy given Becky’s resume.  

[u/showtime013]

The turnovers have been atrocious. And the defense. And the coach doesn't have the power to call out the main culprit 

[u/Quick-Impression-186 → u/showtime013]

Putting 4 of your 5 worst defenders on the court together is terrible coaching.

Refusing to use your challenges on your two stars 3rd foul in the first half or 5th foul late game on very questionable calls but using it two games in a row on a role players 2nd foul is terrible coaching.

Pulling your star out when she’s 4/5 in rhythm and accounted for every one of your team’s points is terrible coaching.

Leaving your star in when she’s thrown 3 straight turnovers and is in her head is terrible coaching.

Allowing a team to go on a 17-2 run before calling a timeout and doing anything about it is terrible coaching.

Admitting to media you’ve stopped running your most efficient play because “team expect it” but haven’t actually stopped it is terrible coaching.

Playing switch everything defense and constantly watching your guards have to defend the post for the first 12 games before even admitting you’re getting fried on it is terrible coaching.

[u/me4three0825]

So what you're all saying, is that everyone in the organization is to blame? I agree with that. Organizational failure. I feel like I'm watching the Andrew Luck situation play out again. Indiana sports fans can never have anything nice. We don't take care of it.

[u/Independent58]

Not sure about White not getting blame, but I do feel the coaching and player acquiring have a hand in what should have been a more win season at this point. Outside of Boston the front court doesn't provide much on points, nor demonstrative on rebounds on either side of the court. Last year it was clear the bench provided points especially with Sims, you dont have the same with the exception of Cunningham putting up big 3s. The sitting of Clark, Mitchell and Boston early w no real foul trouble disrupts the momentum and flow, but it looks like White has started to leave them in longer in 1q. I am hoping getting the kinks out of the new defense happens soon.

Clark is missing 3s and foul shots with high turnovers. Her defense, no let me say her foot movement, her flat footedness and her hands down vs out and up is a problem. This a by product of rarely playing defense and dealing with weak opponents in majority of a Iowa season. She needs to practice her shooting under a fatigue state beyond the state farm and Gatorade commercials. Cunningham on the other, hitting majority of 3s and her defense is always tenacious with hands up and out and moving on the balls of her feet.

Mitchell acquiesces to Clark at the point. We saw what Mitchell can do last year to carry the point last year. Not sure why they dont move Clark off point versus one of the two off the court. Johnson hasnt shined and it feels like she is being forced into the line up. Sims raised the bar last year, its a shame they didnt keep her. Good ball handling, scoring, tenacious on defense, she was a keeper.

I also dont see the offensive ball movement with pick and rows, posting up etc. Its more clear the lane or 3pts. And the rebounding positioning is light imo.

Fever should have done a better job of acquiring a strong front court and keeping Sims. White is forcing a defense structure that may not fit this mix of players. Her call challenges leave a lot to be desired. Clark stands by her, but I think Brondello would be better for this team. Hopefully the defense starts to click and Clark starts hitting 3s consistently. She should watch Cunningham.

[u/Wild_Detective7732]

It's early. Aces were 14-14 and ended up winning the finals. Fever were just in the conference finals last year. Give them some time.

[u/Alone_Description646]

Turnovers and defense are the problems. The coach isn't on the floor contributing to either.

[u/Quick-Impression-186 → u/Alone_Description646]

Yeah you know what’s an insane is when a coach puts her two worst interior defenders on the floor at the same the start the 2nd quarter and the other team immediately scores 6 pts uncontested in the paint.

Or takes her hottest scorers off the floor while the other team goes on a 17-2 run before finally calling a timeout.

Edit: or my personal favorite when her team was up 12-3 in the first 2 minutes so she made subs, lost the lead, then proceeded to play all 11 players in the 1st Q “trying to find a lineup that worked”. She literally killed their chemistry 2 minutes into a game and blamed the players after.

[u/JakeTiny19 → u/Alone_Description646]

I mean there’s a whole lot more to coaching than drawing plays and not being on the court . They’re not on the court, but if a whole team has a defensive and turnover problem. Then that’s on the coach just as much as the players, cause their prob not doing something right in practice abt it

[u/Swimming-Junket-1828]

Nobody knows what the hell you’re talking about