The guard signing spree continues for Indiana. They spent much of their offseason filling up on perimeter players like Tyasha Harris and Shatori Walker-Kimbrough and drafting a point guard in Raven Johnson, despite having Caitlin Clark. Now, they have signed another guard, 2025 draftee Bree Hall. However, that signing has just revived the old problems highlighted in the opening day loss against the Wings.
The development players can participate fully in practice and team activities, but they can only be individually activated for up to 12 games per season and their salaries do not count towards the salary cap. They can join the squad in case of an injury. So Bree Hall is another guard backup for an already stacked squad that could cause the balance to shift according to Rachel DeMita, causing problems in the front court.
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“It seems like the Indiana Fever are very guard-heavy. They’re a very small team, and they might struggle during the season if they don’t get any significant post-player pickups,” DeMita said on the‘Courtside Club.’ “Obviously, Monique Billings is still out with injury, and it’s pretty much just been the Aliyah Boston show. Makayla Timpson has been getting heavy minutes.”
The size issue has been a prevalent discussion for the Indiana Fever. The Fever’s squad averages around 6’1 overall and their starting lineup did the same. However, apart from Boston, they did not have any impactful player above 6’2″. On the other hand, the Wings had Alanna Smith, Jessica Sheperd, Awak Kuier and Li Yueru above 6’4″.
They were outsized in multiple areas of the court. Especially after seeing that first game, the Fever could have added size in their final spot. However, the Fever still won the battle on the boards, 28-27. But the point remains that their front court is stretched thin and this could flip any other day.
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“I’m not sure if Myisha Hines-Allen is at a starter level for this Fever team, but that’s pretty much all you have. You have Damiris Dantas, but it feels like there were other players available that the Fever could have picked up,” DeMita said.
Who were the best options available? There was Anneli Maley in the market for a while who could have been the“perfect fit” but the Mercury picked her off the waivers before the Fever. Then the Mystics have waived Madison Scott, a young center listed at 6’2 and played 9 games for Washington last year.
Then the Fever could have added international center Nikolina Milic at 6’3, who averaged 5.9 points and 2.7 rebounds in two years at Minnesota but was waived by the Tempo. However, she is 32, so a regular spot on a minimum contract would have been a better option. Caitlin Clark could work with another target in the paint.
Regardless, White has decided to go another way. But that issue becomes even more important when Clark operates away from the ball, forcing Indiana’s secondary handlers to initiate offense consistently.
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The Indiana Fever’s Passing Needs To Evolve Beyond Caitlin Clark
The Indiana Fever were expected to start the season with some chemistry. Largely because they are running it back with the same core as 2025. Yet, the WIngs game was completely different. The Fever missed defensive switches and had 14 turnovers and 23 assists as compared to the Wings’ 26. Like always, Clark dominated the assist chart with 7. After such a display, Stephanie White has expressed the need for improved passing across the board.
“We still have to be better in terms of our ball movement and player movement. We have to be willing passers, reverse the ball, get multiple touches on the floor, and get some paint touches,” she said.
The Fever made 42.9% of their field goals unassisted. They ran a lot of iso basketball and considering their lack of size, it made their offense worse. And this could be a side effect of Clark moving off-ball. The primary ball handlers change throught he game and other guards are not as good as Clark is.
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She can break defenses on her own. So, the entire team should evolve for better ball movement across the floor. That’s one of the strategies they can use to bypass their size problem. The team is expected to be one of the best outside shooting teams with Clark, Kelsey Mitchell and Sophei Cunningham. If they manage to add quick ball movement, it will make their weapons even more lethal.
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