Natalie Nakase questions questions “Energy” after the fourth loss

Each team needs an identity if he wants to win the game, especially a completely new franchise of the spread that wants to establish in VNBA. For Natalie Nakase and the Golden State of WalkiriesThat identity was a defense. While shooting was streakers, and reversal are a problem, their hard nose, fed defensive identity is something that they have always managed to rely on the early part of this season.

But it was not the case in Walkeria ‘ 86-77 Loss on New-look Phoenix Mercury. How good as it is as the crime has opened the game, it was clear that it was clear that something was because of their defense. In his press conference after the game, Nakase admitted that Walkeriri did not have the same shot on the defense they are usually played with.

“I asked them,” where our energy is “, from the jump. It was the first time (I asked it), to be super transparent. I’ve never seen it.” Nakase said he asked about their aggression on defense. “We didn’t care, we reacted. We were waiting. The first time I saw him. So I have to understand what I can to make sure that their keys are ready to go out of the jump.” It’s up to me to figure it out. “

Nakase was not alone in her obstacle on the defense efforts of Walkery. Veronica Burton, which led a golden state with 16 points at 9-11 from the free throw line, also expressed disappointment in defense.

“We need to be an aggressors of defense. Sometimes we are passive, and we are not so aggressive, and communication is a factor,” in question, Burton asked what was in asking Valkiri. “It’s none of the point of view. It’s really just me, and you know, when someone guesses two of three of three, we need to know where they are on the floor.”

Mercury Satou Saballi and Lexi held 1-2 combination

The article continues below

Although Valkiries admitted that their defense was undergoing, they still forced Mercury to commit 19 reversions. But like many of their games this season, she fell on the execution in the clutch. In the rise of eight gold states with 5:27 remained in the fourth quarter, Valkiri could not stop the living unique combination of Satou Satou Saballa and Leks was held.

From that moment, Phoenix’s Dynamic Duo scored 14 of the last 20 points of his team. It was held especially by running circles around the defense of the perimeter of the Valkirier. She buried from a 3-pointer from 27 feet on her lap with 1:11 left in the game. It is connected from 20-3 that runs the sun. From there, it was sabally muscled by the way to I-1 to put the valves on the last leg. Burton had the opportunity to cut the 3-point brood, but he messed up his leg on the open range.

In the same press conference, after Games, Nakasa cited the calm of the team in those modern moments.

“Yes, just put together, we somehow lost the composition,” Nakasi said. She stated that Burton opened the look came out of the set of the game, the team decided together in the crowds. “I just failed. But it’s okay, we’ll still take that part in the sense that he wants to smoke those shots. But yes, we need to be able to shut up and we have to close.”

The center of Fagbenle resonated the evaluation of the freak when the question is how many losses they can help the team in the long run.

“It’s all in line with us on our journey,” Fagbenle said. “Only people can build on the good things we did in this game and finished the game.”