If there were ever a moment that crystallized the transition from former head coach Bill Laimbeer to new head coach Becky Hammon, it happened after the only Las Vegas Aces preseason game of 2022.
The Aces had just taken 23 3-pointers against the Minnesota Lynx, tying a single-game record for the Las Vegas iteration of this franchise, and Hammon was asked how long she expected that mark to stand.
“Into Phoenix on Friday,” the first-year head coach said, chuckling. “It’s an emphasis for us. We shoot a lot of threes every day, and everybody has the green light.”
For a team that already comfortably led the league in offensive rating a year ago — the gap between the Aces and the second-place Mercury was bigger than the gap between second and sixth place — adding more 3-pointers to their shot diet is a terrifying prospect. Las Vegas attempted 625 2-pointers outside of the paint last season compared to 427 threes. If that ratio flips, and that seems conservative given what the team is preaching during training camp, the Aces would add about two more points per game.
Of course, if Las Vegas selectively distributes those extra long-range shots to its snipers, Riquna Williams and Kelsey Plum, as well as rookie Aisha Sheppard, the ACC’s all-time leader in 3-pointers, then those point totals get even more favorable. Perhaps we’re looking at the first team since 2010 to average 90 points per game.
The introduction of a modern offensive system is one of many reasons to keep an eye on the Aces in the 2022 season. Let’s run through some of the others.
A’ja Wilson is one of the best players in the world
At 25 years old, Wilson already has a resume to rival some of the very best in the WNBA. The fifth-year big is an MVP, three-time All-Star, two-time all-WNBA selection, and one-time all-defense honoree in 2020. Wilson was also one of the top two players on the Olympic team that brought home a gold medal in 2021.
Good luck trying to stop her when…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Swish Appeal – All Posts…