Bench Production Key to Wings' Playoff Aspirations

With five games left of the season, the Dallas Wings have plenty of areas to focus on. Bench production might be one of them.

The Dallas Wings closed out August with a 3-2 record. Back-to-back wins against the third-seeded Connecticut Sun showcased how good Dallas can be at full strength.

However, the final five games also displayed the vulnerability of the team. Against the Minnesota Lynx on August 22, Arike Ogunbowale and Satou Sabally combined for 42 points, 14 assists, and 11 rebounds.

In their next matchup against Minnesota, Dallas struggled to find help. Center Teaira McCowan was the sole player to score 15 points or more.

Nothing changed against the Phoenix Mercury when the Wings scrapped by with a three-point victory. In the matchup, Ogunbowale poured in 29 points, while the rest of the starters combined for 32 points.

So what is the problem? Is it the lack of help around Obunbowale or something much deeper?

The Dallas starters seem to be okay. Forward Natasha Howard has poured in three double-doubles over her last five games. McCowan joined the club as she has averaged a double-double in four out of her five matches.

Yet, aside from those three, the Wings have struggled to find outside help. Last week, Sabally went out with an ankle injury that has her listed as probable to return Friday against the Indiana Fever. Howard is scheduled to miss the game in Indiana due to health and safety protocol. The team struggles when a starter is missing, the team must find support from else where.

Possibly the Bench?

In the team’s two losses against the Lynx, the Wings struggled to get help from their bench. The Dallas bench combined for six points, six rebounds, and one assist in the group’s first matchup against Minnesota. Fast forward to game two, and the group somewhat improved. The Dallas bench added 20 points and nine assists in their second matchup.

Against the Mercury, Kalani Brown scored 12 points, while the rest of the group tallied four.

This is one issue Dallas has yet to address.

Getting consistent help from their bench is crucial if the team hopes to make a late-season run.

Maddy Siegrist is the one bench player to play less than 10 minutes a game.

Last year’s playoffs is a good example of how important bench production is. In the second game against the Sun, the Wings’ bench accounted for 27 of the team’s 89 points. In the elimination game, Wings’ bench struggled to find the same contribution. The group scored 14 points, while knocking down 20% of their shots.

In Dallas recent win against the Sun, the team’s bench contributed with 19 points. Brown lead the way with 14 points, as Siegrist had 5.

Last month, Coach Tatricia Trammell spoke the importance of the bench.

Here is what she had to say after a team lost to the Chicago Sky.

With five games left in the season, the team must figure out how to get consistent production from their bench.

Can someone besides Brown be that next player up?