Jessica Shepard and the Dallas Wings are enjoying a much-improved campaign this year. Offensively and on the boards, Shepard has been a force to be reckoned with. While this is one of the major factors that has triggered a more slick-looking Dallas lineup, she hasn't improved the team's defensive fragilities.
If the WNBA season ended today, it would be hard to argue with Jessica Shepard being crowned as Most Improved Player. After five seasons with the Minnesota Lynx, the impressive forward opted to join Paige Bueckers in Dallas and chase a championship ring with the former UConn superstar.
Shepard's move is already paying dividends, and while it is growing increasingly difficult to believe the Wings will be in contention for major honours come the end of the year, it has been an individual campaign to remember. The 29-year-old has averaged 14.3 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game, while shooting 54.7% from the floor.
Undoubtedly, this offensive leap in Shepard's game has added another dimension to Dallas' attacking presence, but it is defense that wins championships -- an area in which she has struggled to make a major contribution.
The Wings still need to discover a paint presence
The Dallas Wings are still in the midst of a developmental arc that holds limitless potential for the future; however, for that potential to be reached, the front office must find a way to address the lack of defensive presence the team has in the paint.
On the surface, Dallas appears to have a sound defense -- in fact, they rank sixth overall in the defensive rating standings (105.7). Reducing the points a team gives up each possession is always going to be possible when a team boasts elite perimeter defenders like Azzi Fudd. Unfortunately, it is on the interior that opponents devastate the Wings.
The Wings share 11th place in the standings with the Chicago Sky for opponent points in the paint (41.2). To be totally honest, this will always be the case when a player is being shoehorned into a position that does not come naturally to them. As a physical forward, rebounding and inside scoring were always going to be areas that Shepard thrived in, but defense was always going to be an issue.
This season, Shepard has failed to record a single block. Her offensive performances are helping Dallas shoot their way to victory; nevertheless, statistics like that will encourage opposing bigs to attack the paint at every opportunity. Come playoff time, teams will exploit this weakness, and the Wings will stand little chance of a deep run.
Jessica Shepard was never going to be the defensive anchor that the Wings required, so she can't be expected to shoulder the blame. In fact, her improved offensive performances deserve a high level of praise. However, without a player who can limit opponents' production in the paint, Dallas will never be a championship contender.
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