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PODCAST: Nick Niendorf’s latest takes on the Chicago Sky

By Nicholas Niendorf

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 11: The Chicago Sky huddle up before the game against the Los Angeles Sparks on August 11, 2019 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 11: The Chicago Sky huddle up before the game against the Los Angeles Sparks on August 11, 2019 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Looking towards the future in the wake of Jantel Lavender’s injury

Nick Niendorf is back with another episode of the Skycast to discuss the loss of Chicago Sky post Jantel Lavender.

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Niendorf talked about the luxury the Sky have all season with three impactful bigs playing the lion’s share of minutes at the four and five spots, a luxury head coach James Wade no longer has.

“Between [Lavender, Parker and Dolson], they have been able to churn out good performances,” Niendorf said. “Even if one player is having an off night, Wade has had the ability to simply give more minutes to that third player—who has often been Parker, or sometimes she’s having an off night and suddenly Dolson and Lavender are getting more minutes. Or if Dolson gets in foul trouble then maybe Lavender gets more of a bump than she usually gets. There’s always been that option. Moving forward, I think the option still exists, but it’s not going to be as effective because you don’t have Lavender there as that stabilizing force.”

Lavender’s consistency will be the biggest hole to fill for Wade moving forward. And while the Sky have players like Astou Ndour and Gabby Williams who may be able to plug the gaps, their roster is now vulnerable.

“It’s difficult because you can’t plan for injury, but you also want to construct a roster that can withstand injury, which is a herculean task,” Niendorf said. “It’s an impossible task, but it’s something that GMs in the W are tasked with and it’s something that Wade has had to deal with and will have to deal with for the rest of the regular season.

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