Indiana Fever Coach Christie Sides spoke out to beg Caitlin Clark to shoot more after the team lost again on Thursday. Sides said this in response to Clark tallying just nine shots in an 89-77 loss against the Seattle Storm.
It’s a strange comment to come from the coach, who has been under fire for her misuse of Clark’s talents.
Sides Issues Plea To Clark
“Caitlin Clark needs to shoot a minimum of 15 shots a game for us,” Sides said, according to ESPN. “She’s got to get shots, and we’ve got to do a better job of setting her up, setting some really good screens for her to get her open.”
This part seems important: “We’ve got to do a better job of setting her up.” Indeed, that’s how shots are taken!
It should be noted that despite Sides’ comments, Clark has had a strong rookie season. She has averaged 16.2 points and 6.6 assists per game while breaking rookie records. Many would argue that it’s actually on Sides as Clark’s coach to make the right plays for her to succeed. Sides, however, is having trouble actually doing this.
“The way people guard her, it’s tough,” Sides said. “Once the ball is out of her hands, she is setting up the rest of our team for some really great looks. She’s getting some pretty good looks [for herself] off the ball. But we like her on the ball, so we have to figure out how to manage the two.”
Sides had made similar comments earlier this week.
“I think sometimes she’s being a little too unselfish… I think she turns down some shots,” Sides said. “I’d like her to take some shots that, when she comes off, she knows she has the green light.”
Related: Fans Demolish Indiana Fever Coach for Not Going To Caitlin Clark, Blowing 15-Point Lead
Commentators And Fans Defend Clark
After Thursday’s loss, Clark admitted that she wants to score more often.
“I could definitely be a little more aggressive to the basket,” Clark said. “But I think I’m just going to try to take what the defense gives me and try to set my teammates up for success, too.”
Fans and commentators alike, however, have defended Clark from Sides’ criticisms.
“The coach is in over her head,” commentator Jason Whitlock said of Sides on his ‘Fearless’ podcast.
Fans have gotten in on the action as well.
“Oh Christie Sides count your days,” one social media user commented. Another added, “Christie Sides might want to put up her ‘Looking for Work’ status on LinkedIn.”
“@fever Remind me again…Why is @ChristieSides the Head Coach again?” a third user wrote.
Clark’s Rookie Season
Clark currently has 12.2 field goal attempts per game, according to The New York Post. This ranks 22nd in the WNBA this year and the most among rookies.
That being said, Clark has attempted 15 shots just once in 10 games after doing so four times in May. During her final season with the Iowa Hawkeyes, Clark averaged 22.7 shots per game.
Clark is bringing more eyes to the WNBA than ever before. With all the attention that is currently on her, it’s unfortunate that Sides feels the need to coach her publicly instead of giving her these notes in private. It will certainly be interesting to see how this works out for Sides and the Fever as the season continues.
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