Paige Bueckers, the first overall pick in her rookie season, dominated the court for 39 minutes and 59 seconds on Wednesday night against the Sparks. With 44 points, she broke Cynthia Cooper’s WNBA rookie scoring record. However, despite her impressive performance, Bueckers’ inability to elevate her team was evident.
Bueckers’ flat learning curve has been a concern, with her game often seeming too predictable. While she showcased her skills, including midrange pull-ups and spinning defenders around, the box score only tells part of the story. Her defense also impressed, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the weaknesses of her team.
In a surprising twist, Kelsey Plum scored a game-winning floater at the buzzer, highlighting Bueckers’ limitations. The Wings’ lack of variety and mystery is largely due to their depleted roster, which has lost several key players to injury and trades this season. Bueckers’ impressive all-around skills can’t compensate for her team’s shortcomings.
A rookie who spent years in a model system may have become too trusting, as seen in the final seconds of the game. Koclanes criticized Aziaha James’ ill-advised three-pointer, but Bueckers was hesitant to shoot, opting to pass instead. This play showcased Bueckers’ loyalty to her team’s system over her own instincts, highlighting areas where she still needs improvement.
Source: https://defector.com/now-imagine-what-paige-bueckers-could-do-with-better-teammates