That was clear for Olaf Lange in the WNBA Finals.
The Liberty needed multiple players on offense to generate baskets against the Las Vegas Aces. Every layup was contested.
The Aces constantly forced extra passes – under the basket, on the weak side, basically anywhere on the court.
“I can’t say we forced it on other teams defensively to the same degree,” Liberty assistant Lange said Monday ahead of a game against the Storm at Barclays Center.
So it became emphasized after the superteam fell short of winning the franchise’s first title.
Statistically, the Liberty defense was one of the best units in the WNBA in 2023 with the third-best defensive rating (99.4).
Statistically, their defense has remained at the highest level through the first week of the season, tied with the Connecticut Sun for the second-best defensive rating (90.8).
But the need for fundamental improvements, especially with regard to rotation and off-ball movement, remains a less obvious focus.
Lange’s lack of development at the moment is offset by the lack of practice time given the “intent” of all players due to the tight schedule of games. But at some point, he expects everything to fall into place.
“It just puts us on the back burner a little bit and slows down our development just because we can’t practice,” Lange said.
For forward Jonquel Jones, it’s about being “on a leash.” Liberty has shifted to where he should be sitting in the first defense when everything is planned and can be adjusted.
Jones said their issues become apparent when the rotations begin – third, fourth and “sometimes fifth.”
From then on, the competition begins. And when that happens, everything can cluster together.
Midway through the third quarter against the Mystics on May 14, Washington’s Aaliyah Edwards ended up with an open jumper after the ball was circulated, culminating in Edwards sneaking behind the Liberty defense and waiting for a pass. It ended with me standing in the open.
There were 4 passes. There was a screen and a roll, but not even a pass, but I added some extra movement to the monitor.
No Liberty defenders were within two steps of Edwards when he prepared to shoot, much less close enough to counter.
“We’re just making sure that we’re actually being proactive and not reactive,” Jones said Saturday. “And when one person moves, everyone moves together.”
However, the metrics and statistics paint a picture of the Liberty being a strong defensive group.
They are allowing an average of 4.0 fast break points per game. On Saturday, they conceded just two goals against a Fever team that deliberately tried to push the pace.
And Liberty was able to overcome these areas for growth and win their first three games.
It helped that two of them were playing against a rebuilding Fever team that had rookie Caitlin Clark and many other young players adjusting on the fly. A lead of 20 points or more could have been deceptive.
“We have the discipline to do what we want and we trust our team to back us up,” Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello said. “So I think it really starts without the ball.”
The obvious advantages for Liberty, who are in their second season with the same starting lineup, revolve around offensive chemistry.
The defensive progress may not be significant until the playoffs arrive, when the Liberty inches closer to their next showdown with the Aces in a best-of-three or best-of-five series.
Las Vegas will also continue to outmatch the Liberty with multiple scoring options, continue to force extra passes, and continue to eliminate as many scoring lanes as possible even on the weak side, with nearly the entire lineup still in place.
This time, the Liberty may be able to do that as well.
“There shouldn’t be any weak links,” Brondello said. “Because when that happens, the foundation is not very strong.”
