WASHINGTON — Liberty coach Sandy Brondello had a easy clarification Friday evening for why her travel-weary workforce managed to seize a season-high 47 rebounds towards the Mystics.
“JJ was playing,” Brondello mentioned after the Liberty’s 85-63 win, “so that’s a good start for us.”
JJ, that means Jonquel Jones, the 2024 Finals MVP who’s been churning out double-doubles this season as usually as Zara releases new merchandise.
Brondello mentioned she was “joking.”
Fact be instructed, although, she wasn’t.
Jones’ absence was felt Thursday, when the Liberty squeaked out a win towards the Valkyries.
Jones needed to make what she referred to as a “smart” resolution to relaxation after discomfort flared up in her proper hamstring, realizing the workforce would wish her extra Friday towards the Mystics.
Jones could not have been 100% Friday, and that win could not have been her most effective begin.
However an overextended hamstring couldn’t maintain Jones off the glass within the nation’s capital.
Together with her shot not falling early, Jones targeted on an experience that typically will be as a lot about effort as talent.
Understanding that Brondello has harped on the workforce about rebounding all season, Jones made a aware effort to crash the boards.
“It’s a point of emphasis for me right now,” Jones mentioned. “Our team right now, we’re kind of losing a rebounding war, and so it’s just something that I can bring every night — whether my shots have fallen or not. It’s something that I can use to kind of affect the game and kind of get me going. And I think that’s what happened tonight.”
Jones notched 18 rebounds, essentially the most she’s had in a regular-season recreation since 2019. She additionally completed with 14 factors — 10 within the second half.
the Mystics. NBAE through Getty Photos
The Liberty improved to 26-0 when Jones has a double-double. Friday was her fourth this season.
Usually, the Liberty have been a gradual rebounding workforce. They common 37.3 per recreation, which is the league’s third-best mark.
The problem, although, is that they provide up too many second-chance alternatives.
The Libs are permitting a league-high 11.5 offensive boards per recreation. The defending champions have surrendered 15 offensive boards twice this season, together with in Thursday’s win towards the Valkyries.
General, the Liberty’s rebound price via the primary six video games is down 4 p.c in comparison with final season’s begin, per WNBA superior stats.
There are just a few components for why that is perhaps.
For one, the Liberty’s defensive scheme will be switch-heavy at instances, which typically brings publish gamers out to the perimeter or guards beneath the basket. Opposing groups can feast on undisciplined behaviors with regards to tagging up or boxing out, too.
“Rebounding is kind of an effort thing,” Breanna Stewart mentioned. “So I think we just need to be more conscious and more aware of it.”
One participant, reminiscent of Jones, could make an enormous distinction. However one of the best rebounding groups strategy it by committee.
“We know JJ is going to get in there, but we need everybody because that allows us to get out and run,” Brondello mentioned. “It was nice to finally win on that stat [Friday.]”
