High Post Hoops
Fansided

What do the Liberty need to consider in their head coach search?

By Jackie Powell

MINNEAPOLIS, MN- MAY 10: Sylvia Fowles #34 and Assistant Coach Walt Hopkins look on before the game against the Washington Mystics on May 10, 2019 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN- MAY 10: Sylvia Fowles #34 and Assistant Coach Walt Hopkins look on before the game against the Washington Mystics on May 10, 2019 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next
UNCASVILLE, CT – SEPTEMBER 4: Assistant Coach Brandi Poole of the Connecticut Suns smiles during the game against the Dallas Wings on September 4, 2019 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.  Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Chris Marion/NBAE via Getty Images)
UNCASVILLE, CT – SEPTEMBER 4: Assistant Coach Brandi Poole of the Connecticut Suns smiles during the game against the Dallas Wings on September 4, 2019 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.  Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Chris Marion/NBAE via Getty Images) /

A focus on defense, point guard development, and floor spacing

In 2019, the Liberty had the worst defense in the league. As I’ve noted before, part of this stemmed from a lethargic transition defense that was slammed by ball-handling turnovers. Brandi Poole, who to some is known as Curt Miller’s Chris Dailey, could be the person for the job.

She would come from a Connecticut Sun team that had the fifth-ranked defense and had the second-best average for opponents’ second-chance points. This year’s Sun stole the ball almost nine times a game, which came in second to only the Seattle Storm.

Here’s the bottom line: Poole knows how to coach defense to a team with explosive weapons on offense. Does that sound familiar? What kept New York in most of their games in 2019 was their ability to score. Poole would provide a balance. Focusing on Connecticut’s post players with Miller, she helped transform Jonquel Jones into the Queen of the offensive glass. She would also be a great match for Amanda Zahui B., who many compare in ability and skill to Jones.

Miller also has called Poole: “best multi-tasker I have been around in my coaching career.”

Gary Kloppenberg, who coached the Seattle Storm in Dan Hughes’ place to begin the 2019 season, is worth an interview. Known as “defensive-minded” coach, Kloppenberg helped shape and implement the WNBA’s best-stealing team. The 2019 Storm averaged nine and a half per game.

Earlier I mentioned how candidates Hopkins and Thibault have specialized in point guard development. Kelly Graves, who currently serves as Oregon head coach for potential New York 2020 draft pick Ionescu, has been a force behind the development of not only Ionescu, but he coached Courtney Vandersloot at Gonzaga,  a 4X WNBA leader in assists.

If Kolb were able to lure Graves out of his last four years with Oregon, I’d imagine Nicole Powell would end up on his bench as an assistant. Powell who along with Ionescu put up multiple triple-doubles in the NCAA tournament, has experience working with the Oregon point guard. Powell was a combo guard at Stanford who specialized in spreading the floor. Her presence could also provide support to Allen, Johannès, Nurse and Durr who are all players with versatility who can all play the wing positions.

Home/New York Liberty