The New York Liberty are gearing up for their upcoming season, and with it, a new vision under head coach Chris DeMarco. The team's preseason finale against the Connecticut Sun serves as a crucial checkpoint, offering a glimpse into the Liberty's progress and the effectiveness of DeMarco's strategic approach. While the Liberty boast a star-studded roster, DeMarco is taking a deliberate and layered approach to implementing a new offensive system and defensive principles. This methodical strategy, prioritizing structure over freestyle, aims to establish good habits and a solid foundation for the team's success.
One of the key areas of focus is the team's chemistry and rhythm. The Liberty's first preseason game revealed flaws in timing and positioning, with Sabrina Ionescu noting that the team executed the correct actions less than 30% of the time. This is to be expected given the drastic changes from last season, and the coaches aren't viewing it as a cause for concern. Instead, they're using it as a learning opportunity, emphasizing the importance of building from the last game and gradually improving.
The Liberty are not yet at full strength, with key players like Leonie Fiebich and Raquel Carrera still with their Spanish club Valencia. Additionally, players like Rebecca Allen, Satou Sabally, and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton have been limited in practice as they ramp up for the season. Despite these challenges, the team is making progress, and the upcoming game against the Sun is an opportunity to showcase that development.
The Liberty need to demonstrate improvements in various areas, including making the correct reads, achieving consistent spacing, and instinctive defensive switches. The goal is to string together good possessions and execute the simple things to perfection. DeMarco plans to add complexity to the offense as the season progresses, but for now, he's focused on making the basics second nature.
The coaching staff's approach to breaking down the game to the granular level is particularly noteworthy. By explaining the reasoning behind every action and movement, they're helping players understand the importance of their roles and the impact of their actions on the team. This level of detail is fostering a deeper understanding and commitment to the team's goals.
In my opinion, the Liberty's deliberate and layered approach to implementing their new system is a smart strategy. While it may be slower than a sprint, it's setting the team up for long-term success. The focus on structure and good habits will pay dividends as the season progresses, and the team's chemistry and rhythm will improve with each game. The upcoming preseason finale is an opportunity for the Liberty to showcase their progress and build momentum for the season ahead.
