In the Toronto Tempo's lopsided 85-68 win over the Chicago Sky Sunday evening, fans saw the debut of Isabelle Harrison in Tempo colors, and she didn't disappoint. Harrison knocked down her first shot of the game in the form of a catch-and-shoot three off a Maria Conde dish—from there, she hit the ground running. Harrison finished the night with 14 points, six rebounds, two assists, and 1 steal on 6-of-9 shooting from the floor and a perfect 2-of-2 from three.
Harrison's impact has been felt on this team all season, as she's been an active member on the Tempo sideline since it was announced she would miss the start of the season with a thumb injury. That same influence carried over to the court in her first game of the season, as it looks like Toronto may have a new x-factor going forward.
If Harrison can continue to be an offensive burst at the forward spot, like she was Sunday against Chicago, we are looking at a weapon this team has been missing all season.
Harrison could be a game wrecker
When looking at Toronto's depth and the rotations deployed by head coach Sandy Brondello through the first 11 games of the season, the attack has been very balanced. Obviously, the team is led by the guard tandem of Brittney Sykes and Marina Mabrey, with everyone else following suit. Between the forward group of Laura Juskaite, Teonni Key, and Maria Conde, the Tempo have three really strong connective forwards who can do a little bit of everything. What they don't have is a forward who can explode for an offensive explosion the way they now do with Harrison.
Harrison has a strong inside game, an in-between game, strong awareness of when to attack the rim, and what looks like a much-improved outside jumper. That's the key: if she can become a consistent threat from the perimeter, Toronto could finally unlock its max ceiling offensively.
With Mabrey and Kiki Rice, the Tempo already have two really strong perimeter shot creators, and then you factor in Nyara Sabally, who's been a pick-and-pop threat, and you start to see the vision. Brondello wants this team to play fast and space things out; living proof of that is Toronto being fourth in overall three-point makes and second in attempts per game. Add Harrison to that mix, and you have a potential second pick-and-pop threat to put alongside Sabally in the frontcourt.
Brondello is well aware of what Harrison is capable of, as the two spent time together in New York last season with the Liberty. She brought her to Toronto for a reason, and after one game, that reason is clear: she can straight up put the ball in the hoop.
In a system like the one Brondello is trying to build, you can never have enough scorers and floor spacers, and after one game in Tempo burgundy, Isabelle Harrison has shown she can do both. We'll see if she keeps up the hot outside shooting or if it cools off, but either way, Toronto just got back a serious contributor who is only going to raise the ceiling of their inaugural season.
Add us as a preferred source on Google