BENCH PLAY + OPTIMIZATION
Psych & Such | 29 AUG 2022
The WNBA playoffs are in full swing...thus, my bliss is in full swing. What I have come to appreciate most when it comes to basketball (both in the women's and men's game) is the strategy of developing your bench. Sure, it's assumed in sports that your starters are as close to flawless as any human can be when it comes to executing the game they play. What isn't assumed is the level of play of those coming off the bench. Your second and third stringers.
An interesting note of this year's playoff teams: they all have deep benches.
1. Las Vegas Aces - 6th player, 1st off the bench has shifted between Dearica Hamby (former 6th Woman of the Year Award - 2021) and Kia Stokes (former Rookie of the Year -2015).
2. Chicago Sky - 6th player, 1st off the bench depends on if they want to go big, then Azura Stevens (former member of the All-Rookie Team - 2018), or if they want to prioritize defense, then Rebekah Gardner (oldest rookie to ever start in the WNBA at 31 years old).
4. Seattle Storm - 6th player, 1st off the bench also depends on if they want to go big, then Tina Charles (former Rookie of the Year - 2018), or they can prioritize ball security and stretching the floor with Briann January (former 7-time All-Defensive Player) or Gabby Williams (former Defensive Player of the Year in European league).
5. Washington Mystics - 6th player, 1st off the bench typically is Myisha Hines-Allen (former All-WNBA Second Team).
6. Dallas Wings - 6th player, 1st off the bench typically is Marina Mabrey (former All-Time leader at Notre Dame in made 3-pointers)
7. New York Liberty - 6th player, 1st off the bench can alter the front or back court. Han Xu (tallest player in the WNBA at 6' 9"), Rebecca Allen (former Defensive Player of the Year in Australian league), or Sami Whitcomb (former Top-Shooter Award in Australian league) have all been known to sub in.
Above are a bunch of stats that simply say, it's important to develop, cultivate, and rely on your bench. Even with a deep bench, it's difficult to become champions. Without a deep bench, it's nearly impossible to accomplish what others do who have a bench that supports their game plan, adjustments, and growth.
So, do you know who is on your bench? And, do you know how to develop them properly?
- Have you raised up all of your "players," or just your "starters?"
- Who can fill-in when others need rest, recovery, or are underperforming?
- Based on your rotations, can your team adjust to any circumstance, situation, or challenge your find yourself in?
- Who gets most of your time, energy, and effort?
- What expertise do you have in your "starting line-up" and on your bench?
- How well-rounded are your "players?"
- Are you fitting "players" into your "system," or are you designing the "system" based on your "players?"
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