Diamond DeShields, Lindsay Allen Chicago Sky Postgame Presser After Mystics Loss (8/28/24)

three turnovers today 21 points off those turnovers I know obviously film will probably show um what went wrong there but just your first ass assessment on what you think went wrong on not being able to connect um I think for us uh we just got a bit rattled um they came out and pressured the ball they were aggressive they were assertive they were the aggressors and the game usually favors the aggressors um and we were just slopping with the ball which is unacceptable um so we just have to be better I think it starts with me as a point guard I to take care of the ball better to start the game um and then it kind of spiral from there but um yeah we were just too loose with it today and then what did you when Z or di what did you guys see on that last offensive possession with 30 seconds left um we were trying to get the ball into the post uh with Nick because she had a smaller guard on her um but the communication just wasn't there I think um I'm under the weather so I'm losing my voice I'm trying to talk is trying to talk from the sideline um so we just couldn't get that communication and then we're just trying to make something happen from there like ball SC try to get downhill um just not enough time we'll go to Stephen questions for players only two quick questions for Lindsay so it really feels like you've been kind of feeling your way out in terms of scoring with the start of group on the foot we just kind of speak to what you're seeing how you're find your spots with that group um I think our bigs do a good job of setting screens and rolling hard um and so from there I'm just able to read the ball screens well whether I have the pocket pass to the post or whether it's a jump shot for me um but just kind of trying to read the defense you know get the defense playing rotation get them playing in Closeouts that's when we're at our best that's when everything's at their best honestly so if we can keep doing that um get the ball into the post they get doubled they kick it out we swing it Swing Swing whatever um just keep that in our offense kind of that's how we've been successful that's how I've been successful can you speak to what you been froma with the starting group I think she a lot of opportunities as far as cuts and firsts and quick touch passes like you just got to speak to the addition she brought to that grp yeah for sure um Mick just provides a lot of just everything for us um she's physical she's quick she's strong um she can guard one through four basically uh she can shoot the three she's strong enough to take the contact and finish the contact get into the basket um so she's really able to force the issue for us you know we need to get downhill and get our feet uh dirty in the paint um so she staying aggressive in that and obviously you know we get to um our kickouts and our swing swings you know she's ready to shoot and she's ready to just read the game she's a smart basketball player as well but she's also just a great teammate like she wants for best for everyone on this team um she wasn't care of scoring she wasn't care of going on she's going to play hard no matter what go to Julia on your right uh for ad you guys uh four of y'all's last five games have ended in the clutch what do you feel this team needs to do to be able to to execute and kind of grow in those moments grow up you know it's uh it's a it's a challenge that you will always face especially as a young team um being faced with multiple opportunities to to come down to the clutch moments of the game and you either find ways to win those games and grow and mature as a team or you don't and you just continue to learn and get ready for the next opportunity Growing Pains suck uh but it's part of the process we have a really young group um and so all we can do is continue to go back to the drawing board with Coach um learn from it watch film continue to develop continue to mature um you know and and prepare ourselves for the next opportunity they'll continue to come and present themselves and then tonight the team and assists and it seems like that high low game with her kind of passing out the elbow is really developing uh just kind of what do either of yall see in terms of her vision and how utilizing her at that spot can kind of open up the rest of the offense yeah um cam has great vision um you know it helps that she 67 and can see over almost everyone but at the same time she's unselfish and she's willing to pass it back out and she's willing to look for the Cutters and look for the high low with angel or Izzy whoever it might be in the game at the time so um she's constantly looking for it and she just trying to figure out get a feeli for the game kind of read when she can take it one1 or when she can finish through or when like you know there's a guard cutting or there's a back side uh weak side that's open so um she's done a great job of that we go to any um Diamond when you talk about the youthfulness of this team going back to 2018 your rookie year that was a year you guys failed to make the playoffs when you think about um that hurdle going from from that team and then the next season you guys do what's the Poise required in this moment late in the season um you have a handle on on the final playoff spot but but not by much what Poise is required right now yeah I mean to your point like I've been there you know um it sucks you know getting to the last few games of the season and knowing that you don't have a chance at all making playoffs playing those games is really hard you know so for us um I think it's all about perspective um and a lot of that you don't get without experience um so we're learning a lot of hard lessons right now um I try to do my best as a leader to come in and try and instill that on the locker room and on the team um but again some of that has to be learned through experience My Hope Is that we can get a grasp on it now um and continue to make a playoff push because we really do have a special group and I really do believe in what we're capable of if we do get to match up with some teams in the playoffs and it could be really exciting uh but we have to we have to figure it out now we go third row on your left Andy hey Diamond uh despite the loss you guys as a team looked really good offensively during stretches overall as a team you shot above average of what you have in the season three-pointers were significantly above average and you yourself shot your highest season efficiency with how did the offense has looked at stretches can you attribute to just being on the same page there and how do you kind of put that into the offense when it's maybe looking a little more lackluster yeah I mean um I just you know found myself in a position throughout the year of just trying to take advantage of the opportunities that are given um you know sometimes just on the defensive end where I have to be more assertive um and tonight it was on the offensive end a bit more with keny out um you know so just trying to what the team needs from me honestly um you know I've been working on my game I've been in the gym um you know and uh I'm still very confident in who I am as a player um so any opportunity I get to go out there and show that you know I'm just trying to make use of it any more for players one more Mike this question is for Diamond um obviously during the championship season just a few years ago you know the team wasn't in the greatest position either during the regular season so how have you been able to to vocalize the importance of like every game matters and just not giving up till the end yeah I mean again perspective I've been there um but sometimes you got to go through it to understand um and again we're feeling that right now um we have a young group that really wants to win um but winning in this league is something you have to learn how to do and something that you have to care about and sacrifice for each every day um and yeah so just trying to get us to Rally around those themes um so that we can continue to make progress um it doesn't happen in one season it takes time um we're we're right at the beginning of of something that could be really special um and again some really hard lessons are being learned early on which is preferred um but I still believe in this group and in our ability to to get into the playoffs and that's what we're striving for right now you players question