The Toronto Tempo came close but ultimately lost to the Dallas Wings, 94-88, and have now lost ten straight games. It was an entertaining game that saw the Tempo showcase a competitive fire that has been lacking of late.
We break down the good, bad, and outlook.
The Good
The Tempo came into this game losing their last nine games – all with similar arcs. The Tempo get off to a good start; they play poor defense; the wheels start to fall off in the second half; they rally a bit but either not enough to come back or their opponent pulls ahead in the 4th quarter and we lose by double digits. It’s been a deflating journey.
In this game, despite already being down two starters in Julie Allemand and Maria Conde then losing Nyara Sabally after the first half, the team showed a level of competitiveness and passion that have been lacking as of late.
Two players that led this charge were Kiki Rice and Aneesah Morrow. Kiki Rice scored 13 points and added three boards, five assists, and two steals. Furthermore, she guarded Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogubowale admirably throughout the game. Did she win her matchup defensively every single time? No, but her effort to stay in front of her player, recovery, and switching are all ingredients that this team needs to improve defensively.
Meanwhile, Aneesah Morrow was once again a beast on the boards. Her hunger to fight for possessions is infectious and exactly what this team has been sorely needing. We would argue that the effort from both of these younger players ignited runs that kept the Tempo in this game.
We also have to give a shout out to Kia Nurse. Captain Kia made some huge shots and was aggressive in finding her shot on the second unit. She did a great job in getting herself open for the 3-ball shot, while also bringing fight and energy on the defensive end. She even took a charge from Arike!
Another player that deserves a shout out is Laura Juškaitė who contributed 18 points. When Juškaitė plays with confidence, her versatility and intelligence on the court help give the Tempo options. Whether it’s a timely drive to the basket or a pass to the next open player, Juškaitė has a talent for making the right play. And, when she makes a mistake, she will find a way to make up for her mistake on the very next play.
Last but not least, we have to praise the play of Marina Mabrey who scored 23 points. In the 4th quarter, Mabrey put her patented microwave scoring on display. Tamika Nurse called it on the broadcast. The Tempo needed to get Mabrey the ball. On the next possession, they did and Mabrey ended up scoring 14 points in the final quarter and the Tempo almost pulled off a comeback victory.
As a team, the Tempo outrebounded the Wings and scored more points in the paint. This was refreshing to see. And, while our defense still needs so much improvement, there were flashes in this game where the Tempo showed better rotations, recovery, help, and extra effort.
The Bad
While the Tempo finished competitively, they unfortunately didn’t start out that way. We saw the same poor habits that have plagued the Tempo during this losing streak, including an overreliance on the 3-ball and poor transition defense.
Defensively, we also saw the Tempo put a concerted effort to double Paige Bueckers during the pick-and-roll. While this strategy did limit Bueckers to zero points in the first half, it also created completely open looks for her teammates. As a result, they shot the 3-ball very well in the first half.
The Tempo need to communicate better on defense. Throughout the game, the Wings kept cutting to the basket for open layups.
And yet, this game was still gettable in the 4th quarter. Yes, the Tempo made multiple mistakes at the end of the game, including giving up an offensive rebound with 57 seconds left, a missed Mabrey free throw that could have made it a three-point game with fifty seconds to go, and an offensive foul and travel committed by Izzy Harrison at the end of the game. However, Arike Ogunbowale received a very friendly whistle tonight. She shot 14 free throws, just four shy of the total number of free throws that the entire Tempo team shot. While some calls were correctly called, we could also argue that Laura Juškaitė drove to the basket and received similar contact as Arike and curiously did not receive the same free throw opportunities.
The Outlook
The Tempo finally get to travel back home and have nearly a week to rest and regroup. The bad news is that their next opponent is yet another above .500 team in the Indiana Fever who will be a handful.
Their big three in Kelsey Mitchell, Caitlin Clark, and Aliyah Boston have been playing incredible basketball and stopping any one of them will be a challenge for the worst defensive team in the WNBA. Look for Kelsey Mitchell to do what Arike did tonight with even more speed and efficiency. Boston now has a reliable three-point shot to go along with her pick-and-roll and low-post game. Caitlin Clark can both facilitate at an elite level and shoot from anywhere on the floor.
This will not be easy for the Tempo. We hope that the chance to play back at home, a significant amount of rest, and the unveiling of the new mascot can swing this team to finally get back into the win column.
