Caitlin Clark's Ex-Coach Discloses What the Fever Star Struggles With Most

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The Indiana Fever got their revenge Against the Atlanta Dream on Thursday evening, it wasn't a particularly stellar performance from standout guard Caitlin Clark.

Clark finished with 11 points , grabbed four rebounds, and dished out six assists, despite committing five fouls and turning the ball over four times. Her shooting was off-target, making only 4 out of 11 field goals and missing all five three-point tries.

This marked a sharp contrast to her prior two games where she achieved a triple-double and a double-double, respectively. During the team’s opening match of the season against the Chicago Sky, she completed with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists In the subsequent game, also against the Dream, she scored 27 points and provided 11 assists.

On Thursday’s game, when Clark faced offensive difficulties, her ex-Iowa Hawkeyes mentor Lisa Bluder was questioned during the broadcast regarding the defensive strategy against the Fever guard and areas where she could enhance her performance.

Bludder didn't shy away from highlighting an aspect where Clark has consistently struggled: executing backdoor cuts.

Given that Clark has faced rigorous defense from opposing teams, as noted by Bluder during the Dream game, Bluder feels that the Fever player should focus on improving this aspect of her play. This would enable her to be more dangerous even when she isn’t holding the ball herself.

"Bluder confessed that Caitlin has never excelled at the backdoor cut," referring to her time coaching Clark from 2020 through her graduation in 2024.

I believe that's an area where she could significantly enhance her performance moving forward. ... If opponents choose to focus their defense on her, that’s how you should respond.

At the heart of the Fever's offensive strategy lies Clark, who is undoubtedly a key figure due to her exceptional skills as both a playmaker and a passer. Notably, during her debut season, she topped the league charts in average assists per game with an impressive tally of 8.4.

That said, Bluder raises a valid point regarding Clark’s necessity to excel without the ball. Should she manage to incorporate this into her gameplay, there’s no doubt that she would become an even greater menace and a considerably more influential player for the Fever.

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