Angel Reese aims to expand her shot profile in Year 2 with Sky — while continuing to dominate the boards

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2 days ago

Angel Reese aims to expand her shot profile in Year 2 with Sky — while continuing to dominate the boards
CHICAGO — Two days into the Chicago Sky's training camp, Angel Reese still hadn't posted up.
It was a distinct shift from Reese's prior function in Chicago, but the second-year forward knew it was coming. In the first week of camp, new coach Tyler Marsh is tackling one of the most important challenges of his system — how to create enough offensive balance for both of his frontcourt stars to succeed.
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For Reese, that means adapting to a modified role that will tap into her full potential as a stretch-four.
'It's obviously a transition for me,' Reese told the Chicago Tribune. 'But I don't mind if it frees up Kamilla (Cardoso). I know eventually in the game, if I'm the first post down, I'm ducking in. I know it's going to come.'
This doesn't mean Reese never will post up again. But Marsh understands if the Sky want to build an effective offense, they need to start by building out space in the half court.
Last season they struggled to keep the offense from getting clogged in the paint. The Sky took the fewest 3-pointers in the league by far — 14.9 per game, more than three per game fewer than the next-closest team — allowing defenses to sag into the paint and throw numbers at the rookie frontcourt duo. And that led to one of the league's most stagnant offenses, with the lowest assist rate (63.9%) and second-worst offensive rating (97).
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In the new-look offense, Reese still won't spend much time behind the 3-point arc. The guards will be the ones tasked with pulling defenses out toward the perimeter. But to meet the new spacing demands, Reese must change the way she navigates the area inside the arc by increasing her off-ball cuts and relocating relentlessly to keep the floor balanced.
'A huge point of emphasis for us has been how to maintain and create space, whether that's for the perimeter players or for the post players,' Marsh said. 'Once we've established that, we'll get to how we work them inside.'
Marsh isn't asking for everything to change. Reese is the league's best rebounder and led the WNBA in second-chance points per game (4.1) as a rookie. If a shot is going up, the Sky always will want Reese to crash the boards.
And her proficiency at creating shots at the rim — both rolling downhill off screens and with her back to the basket — remains a key weapon that Marsh will work to highlight in the new offense.
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But both Marsh and Reese believe she is more than just a low-post scorer. This change isn't all about Cardoso, who certainly will benefit from a more spread-out offense. But so will Reese, who often was bludgeoned by double teams and help-side defense due to opponents' ability to compact the paint.
And if Reese wants to build out her offensive profile, she knows she must add more versatility to her range.
'I'm still doing my post work, but I've got to come with more this year,' she said. 'I've got to be able to shoot the midrange shot, 10 to 15 feet, be able to shoot the 3, the 2 consistently. I work every day on it, so I've got to take the shots.'
Reese may pull the trigger on a few more 3-pointers this season, but the change to her shot profile is mostly focused on getting her more midrange jump shots, both off the dribble and in catch-and-shoot situations. That's a shot she drilled relentlessly throughout the offseason, in both the Unrivaled league and her private training sessions.
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Expanding Reese's shot profile will be a long-term project. She shot 39.1% from the field in her rookie season, a sizable deficit compared with forwards such as Alyssa Thomas (50.9%), Aaliyah Edwards (49%), NaLyssa Smith (48%) and Rickea Jackson (45.6%).
And Reese's shooting suffered when she ventured away from the basket. In 34 games as a rookie, she took 233 of her 419 shots at the rim. She attempted only 80 jump shots while generating 272 of her 462 points (58.9%) off layups. Reese shot 28.7% on jump shots and 28.3% (17 of 60) outside the paint, including 18.8% (3 of 16) behind the arc.
This raises a tough question: How does a young player improve her efficiency while simultaneously taking more shots outside her comfort zone?
There's no clear answer. But Reese is ready to embrace the challenge.
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'What's the point of me working on it if I'm not going to take the shot?' she said. 'The best thing is just to have great teammates and coaches around you that put confidence in you. And I'm a pretty confident person, so I think it's going to be pretty easy.'
Outside of shooting, the Sky's new system under Marsh will tap into a part of Reese's game she always has loved.
Reese likes having the ball in her hands. She played point guard in AAU ball and defined herself as a wing when she entered college. Scouting reports from her years at St. Frances Academy in Baltimore described her as a stretch-four who offered a perimeter threat as a passer.
Things changed at Maryland, where Reese molded herself into a more traditional forward role that continued after she transferred to LSU. But she still considers facilitation to be one of the strongest — and least utilized — aspects of her game.
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That was clear in the debut season of Unrivaled, as Reese dished the ball eagerly and slung full-court passes to teammates in transition. For Reese, those moments highlighted an older version of her game that she hopes to bring back: 'I was just being the player I used to be.'
Both Cardoso and Reese will be asked to facilitate more in the offense this season, aided by the presence of veteran point guard Courtney Vandersloot.
For Reese, that means passing through the post and out of the elbow to initiate high-low sequences with Cardoso and feed the guards on the perimeter. And as the team's leading rebounder, her ability to initiate the offense in transition will be vital in creating a fast-paced style.
'I think that's going to be one of the keys for this team — the versatility,' Reese said. 'Being able to get the rebound and just push and create and make people have to guard us on every end of the court.'
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This season may come with some growing pains for Reese. Improving her shot while taking different looks could make for a challenging first month, especially while she's also expected to lead the defense and dominate the boards.
But if the Sky can maximize Reese's offensive potential?
Well, that's the next step toward building this team into a playoff contender.
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