After a quite underwhelming begin to her WNBA profession final week, No. 1 total choose Paige Bueckers stated she had “room to grow.” In her second profession recreation on Monday, she proved that she’s a fast learner.
Whereas the Dallas Wings misplaced once more, this time to the Seattle Storm, 79-71, Bueckers provided a glimpse of the longer term with a formidable all-around efficiency. She completed with 19 factors, eight assists, 5 rebounds and two steals on 7 of 14 from the sphere. And whereas single-game plus-minus isn’t the be-all, end-all, Bueckers performed 37 minutes and was a plus-2 in an eight-point loss.
Bueckers is the primary Wings rookie to report a recreation with a minimum of 15 factors, 5 rebounds and 5 assists since Arike Ogunbowale in 2019.
The Storm had been intent to stress Bueckers and get the ball out of her palms, particularly in pick-and-roll conditions. Whereas there have been a couple of early possessions the place she struggled with the aggressive method, each she and the staff made the mandatory changes.
Wings coach Chris Koclanes ran a couple of units to get Bueckers the ball both on the block or on the transfer the place the Storm couldn’t ship a number of gamers her manner. And because the recreation went alongside, Bueckers was fast to learn the state of affairs and arrange open pictures for her teammates.
“It’s probably smart to blitz and get the ball out of my hands,” Bueckers stated. “Just trying to adjust offensively to how to counteract the trap and maybe less ball screens, me screening, me getting other people open, attacking in transition. It’s just a different look defenses are throwing at me, which is an adjustment. Just continuing to learn and work through that.”
Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki sees vivid future for Wings’ Paige Bueckers: ‘She’s going to be wonderful’
Isabel Gonzalez
Bueckers was considered the most effective prospects to enter the league in quite a few years due largely to her offensive versatility. She will be able to rating in any respect three ranges, however can also be a superb passer who’s greater than keen to make the correct play. Her imaginative and prescient and playmaking skills had been on full show on Monday.
Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki was in attendance for this recreation and had excessive reward for Bueckers throughout an in-game interview.
“It’s going to take a while to get used to the physicality in the WNBA, but I think she’s got the talent,” Nowitzki stated on the printed. “She’s going to be amazing for us. And she is just going to get better from game to game, from season to season. You already can see now she’s gotten more comfortable out there from Game 1, so she’s going to be tremendous for this organization for a long time.”
If Bueckers placing up 19/5/8 on 50% taking pictures is what she seems to be like when she’s nonetheless getting snug, good luck stopping her when she really settles in and figures every part out. This could be a protracted summer season in Dallas, however Bueckers provided a glimpse of the longer term on Monday, and it’s extraordinarily vivid.
