The Sparks big win now experiment did not start well to say the least. As long as Reagan Peebly is willing to finance Kelsey Plum's vanity project, this is going to be a disaster. They let Plum cosplay as a lead guard and this is what she does:
Plum got her required number of shots up and scored a lot of points. And the Sparks lost their home opener by 27 to the Aces who had been humiliated the day before and were coming in for a back to back. Nekka cannot be thrilled and I cannot imagine this does not become last year's Seattle locker room by the end of June.
Not a lick of D was played by the Sparks and I genuinely thank Lynn Roberts doesn't care. Just wants to outscore everyone via Analytics.
She is another coach who has let her coaching personality be completely consumed by an analytical approach. Like so many of those coaches, she was moderately successful at a lower level but really struggling at the top.
Lackluster day for Rae, didn't get many shots, of course unable to pry the ball loose from Plum. Had five points and a couple of rebounds but not much of an impact. Also uncharacteristically got just roasted on D, first by Jackie Young and then by Chennedy Carter, also known as God's gift to my fantasy team.
Biggest controversy of the day was Cam Brink only getting eight extremely unsuccessful minutes and never re entering the game. In the presser afterwards Roberts called her out saying Brink has simply got to begin producing. Cam was awful at the beginning of Unrivaled but given a little floor time and the extreme positive encouragement of Noell Quinn she was playing great by the end. however the foul trouble is just going to be her Achilles heel forever. She played 8 minutes yesterday and had three fouls and 3 turnovers. Mostly stood around in corners on offense and watched Plum ball hog.
Definitely not the win now start the home crowd was promised.