Cailtin Clark alleviated all concerns about her health during her stint with Team USA at the World Cup Qualifying tournament in Puerto Rico last month. She made big shots and delivered great passes, just like we‘re used to seeing from her.
Moreover, you should never read too much into a preseason game—Clark may not even play a ton, as the game‘s main purpose is to evaluate the new additions and players fighting for roster spots—but there are still some things to look out for in the Fever‘s preseason opener against the Liberty on Saturday.
How much time will Clark spend off the ball and how do those possessions go?
The idea of playing Clark off the ball has been a sensitive topic for many Fever fans. But Clark revealed during training camp that she would actually enjoy getting some off-ball reps and not always having to bring the ball up against pressure.
Stephanie White will undoubtedly use the team‘s first preseason game to give Clark a taste of playing off the ball next to Raven Johnson or Ty Harris. Of course, new sets and systems might not run super smoothly in the first preseason game yet, but those possessions should give us an idea of what to expect during the regular season.
How well does she play with Monique Billings?
Clark and Billings connected on some pick-and-rolls in Puerto Rico, and Billings is the type of big who should always be able to benefit from playing with a point guard like Clark. Still, it will be interesting to see how well the two mesh in the Fever‘s system. With Natasha Howard gone, Billings will be a big part of the Fever‘s frontcourt rotation.
Her defense
If there is one thing Clark can improve, it‘s her defense. Stephanie White wants the Fever to be a top-three defense this season. A Cailtin Clark-Kelsey Mitchell backcourt doesn‘t necessarily scream top defense, so there‘s plenty of work to be done on that side of the floor. Preseason will be a first chance to see if Clark has taken any steps forward in that area after playing for a defensive-minded coach like Kara Lawson.
Her 3-pointers
Leg injuries mess with players‘ shots. So, it wasn‘t super surprising to see Clark‘s 3-point percentage drop to 27.9% over the 13 games that she played last season. Her shot was not a problem with Team USA, as she connected on 10 of her 25 attempts (40%). Those numbers suggest that her 3-point shot will be fine this season, and this point isn‘t as much about looking out for any issues as it is about just enjoying an opportunity to see Clark hit some crazy threes from way behind the arc.
Add us as a preferred source on Google