Stephanie White, Aliyah Boston & Caitlin Clark — Postgame Media Availability at Fire

[0:00] I guess you guys started on the A-2 run and then after Portland took time out, [0:04] kind of just flipped the script. [0:05] What changed either on their end or on your end? [0:09] I just thought they were the hungrier team. [0:11] I thought that they played with a relentless effort, [0:15] a relentless pursuit to get to what they wanted, [0:18] to be disruptive on defense, to get to their spots on offense. [0:21] I thought their competitive spirit was better than ours. [0:25] Kaitlin had three assists in the first three minutes of the game. [0:27] Was there a reasoning for checking them out or did either of them request them? [0:38] Well, A-B is still in a minute's restriction, so she's coming out. [0:42] Typically, that's around the same time that we've been taking Kaitlin out before. [0:46] We didn't in Golden State just because, quite honestly, [0:49] we didn't Raven in that environment without another ball handler on the floor. [0:53] That's been our typical substitution pattern. [0:56] Kind of on that as well, Kaitlin picked up. [1:07] Yeah, it's tough. [1:07] It's tough when you have your primary ball handlers that are in foul trouble. [1:13] It affects your ability, number one, for them to be on the floor, [1:17] and number two, I thought Portland did a really good job of attacking the matchups [1:19] that they wanted, and that created foul trouble. [1:22] That created rotations. [1:25] It created opportunities for them to run free for offensive rebounds as well [1:29] because we were in rotations. [1:31] And then, obviously, when you've got players in foul trouble, [1:33] you've got to weigh the risk of leaving them out there. [1:36] I don't know if foul trouble has a lot to do with rotations. [1:51] I think it's just anticipation. [1:52] I think it's activity, anticipation, and awareness. [1:56] You know, we talk about our three A's all the time, active, aware, and anticipate. [1:59] You know, when we started going to some of our doubles, [2:01] we were slow in our rotations, and we've got to anticipate when. [2:06] We've got to be active and get there quickly. [2:08] But, you know, there has to be a sense of urgency, [2:10] and I thought that they played with more urgency than we did. [2:13] The second straight game, you guys have started. [2:15] I mean, I don't think we've shot the three ball particularly well all season. [2:34] You know, I think it's just reps. [2:37] You know, our players are in the gym. [2:38] They're getting reps. [2:40] It's finding your teammate, your open teammate, on time. [2:44] It's giving them the ball on target. [2:46] I feel like oftentimes when we're hitting them, [2:49] it's maybe one or two dribbles too late. [2:52] Sometimes we're having to reach all over the place for the ball. [2:55] And then other times we're getting good looks, [2:56] and we're just not knocking them down. [2:57] You know, I think that that's something that's going to come. [2:59] But I'd like to see us early in the game, [3:01] try to get to the rim a little bit more, [3:04] get some opportunities in the paint at the free throw line. [3:07] And then when the defense collapses, [3:09] then we can get those uncontested looks. [3:12] Glenn, you want to start? [3:13] Yeah, obviously you guys started on and took over. [3:27] I mean, I think basketball is a game of runs, [3:28] and so obviously we went on ours, they went on theirs. [3:30] And I think we just needed to buck up a little bit more defensively. [3:34] They got a few open threes, [3:35] which obviously gave them a little bit more of that lead. [3:37] But I think for us, [3:38] it was just making sure that we locked in a little bit more. [3:40] And then A, B, a little limp. [3:43] No, I'm good. [3:46] I'm good. [3:47] I'm good at just a cramp. [3:49] I think Portland had about fits in the paint. [3:52] I was wondering if you guys just sort of had anything. [3:56] Yeah, I mean, I think obviously we don't want them getting that close to the basket, [3:59] but I think looking at their offense, [4:02] they were able to get help side [4:04] and then have dump offs to the bigs down low. [4:06] And I think for us, [4:08] just making sure that we're there a little bit quicker in our rotations, [4:10] which I think we'll have to be better at the next game. [4:12] Do you guys feel like any of the officiating rule changes [4:16] are impacting how you're able to... [4:19] Officiating wasn't our problem tonight. [4:26] Yeah, I mean, it's hard when you foul, [4:30] and I just need to do a better job of being straight up, [4:33] keep the defender in front of me. [4:35] And also, like, if they're going to hunt ISOs, [4:37] just move my feet a little bit better. [4:39] And, yeah, definitely some tough ones, [4:41] but it's just basketball. [4:43] It's just a game. [4:44] You know, learn from it, watch the film, [4:46] and come back next game and be ready to go. [4:54] Nothing. [4:55] I think they did a great job just hunting the sprays. [4:57] They got a few open threes. [5:00] Yeah, I think that's pretty much it. [5:02] It was just some of those rotations. [5:03] Yeah, our rotations were a little bit slow. [5:05] And everything that... [5:06] And every coverage that we really tried, [5:08] and when we switched, they did a great job exploiting it. [5:10] They played with great energy. [5:11] So you've got to give Portland credit. [5:13] I thought they were really good. [5:15] They were aggressive. [5:16] Obviously, they shot the ball well, [5:17] almost 40% from three, 50% from the field. [5:19] Like, you know, it's a recipe for success. [5:22] And, you know, we just got to be a little bit more disruptive [5:23] on everything that we're doing.