Nneka Ogwumike offers encouragement despite Sparks’ early season struggles appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
LOS ANGELES – Losing two of your best players is going to be an uphill climb for any team, but it’s especially difficult for a team like the Los Angeles Sparks who are still trying to figure things out as they inch towards the halfway point of the season. The Sparks may be without Kelsey Plum and Cameron Brink, and will be for the foreseeable future, but Nneka Ogwumike believes there is still time for the team to turn things around.
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As someone who has experienced nearly every emotion possible in the WNBA, from the highest of highs to lowest of lows, Nneka Ogwumike still has faith that the Sparks can address the team’s struggles, namely their puttering offense, to get the season back on track even in the absence of both Plum and Brink.
“In my perspective, I think that it can. With KP being out for some weeks, we’re understanding that we need to have multiple people that can push the ball. I feel comfortable doing it. Obviously Erica Wheeler is someone who can do it, but she shouldn’t have to do it the whole game,” Ogwumike said following the Sparks’ 82-64 loss to the Seattle Storm on Monday.
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“And us just playing more instinctively in that way is something that we’re going to have to learn how to do on the fly. We don’t have time, but it’s doable, from my perspective. I really do think it’s doable.”
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The main problem that Ogwumike was talking about in terms of the Sparks needing to figure out was being more disciplined offensively. For a team that started out on pace to have one of the worst-ranked defense in league history, they’ve cleaned up a bit on that end.
Against the Storm, with the exception of the second quarter, the Sparks were solid in that regard, holding Seattle to under 85 points. What doomed them was their shaky offense. The Sparks shot 34 percent from the field and 17 percent from the 3-point line. And when their offense sputters, it leads to defensive issues in that they can’t get set.
In Ogwumike’s opinion, it comes down to feeling rushed offensively and not doing a better job of protecting the ball.
“I don’t think there is a strong line of playing in transition … if you’re taking an early contested shot in transition, it’s probably not the most ideal shot,” Ogwumike said. “Coach said it before the game, it’s going to be hard playing in transition if you’re constantly taking the ball out of the net and also making decisions in that way. I know I had a few turnovers where I should have just kept the ball in transition. So it’s not even just those quick shots, but I do think that maybe feeling a bit rushed in those moments are some things we’re going to look at tomorrow for us to be able to be efficient.”
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The Sparks are currently fifth in points per game at 88.8, and ninth in offensive rating at 109.1. As a team, they’re shooting 45.5 percent from the field and 31.6 percent from the 3-point line. But in general, they’ve struggled to put the ball in the basket at a consistent rate.
For Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts, while the turnovers still are a problem, sometimes nights like these happen during the course of the season.
“We just didn’t have it on offense. I don’t know what else to say other than 18 turnovers that led to fast break points. They had 38 points off our turnovers,” Roberts said after the game. “But it might just have been one of those nights.”
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