Host Howard Megdal is joined by Pokey Chatman, now in her second year of a massive rebuilding project with the Indiana Fever, to discuss her young, talented roster.
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Chatman gets into the weeds on exactly how she plans to utilize and develop Kelsey Mitchell, the second overall pick in the 2018 draft, and navigate her between the playmaker role and her ability to score while playing off the ball.
Then there’s how Victoria Vivians, the eighth overall pick in 2018, fits into Chatman’s up-tempo offense, and where. Yes, the term “positionless basketball” comes up, no surprise given Chatman’s innovations on that front.
Other topics include how Candice Dupree will continue to grow into the role of top scorer, whether Stephanie Mavunga can be expected to grab all the rebounds as she did at Ohio State, timetables for Tiffany Mitchell and Shenise Johnson, and both short and long-term goals for the Fever in Chatman’s eyes.
For the Fever, last season represented a far cry from what the organization typically expects. As Chatman points out, the teams Kelly Krauskopf built routinely made the playoffs. A Tamika Catchings-centered approach wasn’t possible anymore, however, and Chatman has gone in fully on a rebuilt roster, jettisoning Briann January and Marissa Coleman in favor of a younger team.
Precisely how this all differs from what she did in Chicago remains to be seen, but she sounds enthusiastic about the challenge, as always. And one thing that is certain: watching a Pokey Chatman team is always interesting.
Listen to Chatman discuss it all, and if you enjoy this podcast, be sure to subscribe, rate and review us! You can listen to it right here: