Caitlin Clark-Angel Reese rivalry gets downplayed with bold claims by Stephen A. Smith: “Sabrina Ionescu games are similar”
The Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark and Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese were again the focus of ESPN’s “First Take” on Monday as Stephen A. Smith said he doesn’t view the two as rivals since they do not play the same positions. He pointed out the stark difference in their games, comparing them to some of the biggest basketball rivalries in history, whose play styles almost mirror each other.
“Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ain’t competing with Larry Bird as much as Magic Johnson was going up against Larry Bird. … If (Sabrina) Ionescu and Caitlin Clark were going at one another, now that’s a rivalry that I’m willing to entertain because their games are similar. … Their games (Clark and Reese) are on two different ends of the spectrum,” Smith said.
Clark plays point guard for the Fever, becoming the focal point for their offense as she dictates most of their games’ tempo, while Reese is slotted at the small or power forward positions, using her size and footwork to go around defenders and score.
There is also a significant height difference between them, with Clark being 6-foot flat and Reese being 6-3.
Additionally, the 3-point shot is a big part of Clark’s game, shooting 8.1 attempts per outing to make up most of her 16.1 points per game.
To Stephen A. Smith’s point, New York Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu plays similarly to Clark, as the New York Liberty guard weaponized the 3-pointer long before Clark came into the WNBA, shooting 7.0 3s per game and averaging 17.6 ppg for one of the league’s top teams this season.
Reese, meanwhile, plays back-to-the-basket as she often posts up a defender or sets screens and rolls to the basket. Reese dominates that area of the game through her timing while remaining a valuable contributor on defense.
Despite their contrasting styles of play, the rivalry continues to attract viewers as Sunday’s game versus each other had a sellout, with 17,274 fans in attendance.
Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese get compared to Larry Bird and Magic Johnson
Like Stephen A. Smith, former NBA player and former WNBA coach Derek Fisher voiced his opinions about the rivalry between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, as he likened them to the 1980s’ premier rivalry of Larry Bird and Magic Johnson.
“The timing of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird coming into the league after playing in the (1979) NCAA title game, and some of the underlying social things around a white player and a Black player, like, you’re seeing a little bit of that with Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark,” Fisher said on Draymond Green’s podcast.
Clark, from Iowa, and Reese, from LSU, duked it out in the NCAA Tournament in the past two years before being drafted first and seventh in the WNBA draft. This time, they are both gunning for the Rookie of the Year honors.
Clark’s Fever holds two victories versus Reese’s Sky in their two meetings this season.
Was this article helpful?
News
Rihanna llora entre la multitud mientras las lágrimas de Chris Brown fluyen en el escenario con una triste canción de amor
La emotiva Rihaппa fue vista entre los famosos derramando lágrimas después de que su exnovio Chris Brown se derrumbara en el escenario mientras interpretaba Sad Love Soпg Rihapa, la emblemática cantante y magnate de la moda, fue vista recientemente en…
El sexy baile de Cazzu sobre el cuerpo de Christian Nodal volvió a provocar fiebre, provocando que la reputación de Ángela Aguilar y Pepe Aguilar colapsara
La pareja de cantantes se dejó ver en estrecha cercanía mientras descansaban sobre una cama, ambos esperan a su primer bebé Los futuros padre y madre mostraron un momento cercano entre ellos Cazzu publicó un video que sorprendió a sus…
¡Inesperado! Paquita la del Barrio lanza dura advertencia a Cazzu y desata polémica con sus palabras sobre Ángela Aguilar
Paquita la del Barrio, reconocida por sus letras llenas de empoderamiento y crítica social, ha dirigido poderosos consejos hacia la joven artista Cazzu. Destacando su admiración por la valentía y autenticidad que la caracterizan en la industria musical. En sus…
¡Mensaje impactante! Cazzu reveló el nombre del padre de su segundo bebé, no podrás adivinar quién es
¡Cazzu revela quién es el padre de su bebé y no imaginas quién es! En un giro inesperado que ha dejado a todos sus seguidores boquiabiertos, la cantante y rapera argentina Cazzu ha revelado finalmente la identidad del padre…
El público quedó atónito al ver la fuerte reacción de Cazzu al enterarse de la opulenta boda de su exmarido Christian Nodal con Ángela Aguilar
La reciente boda entre Christian Nodal y Ángela Aguilar ha causado un gran revuelo en las redes sociales y entre los fanáticos del cantante. La ceremonia, celebrada en la más estricta privacidad, tuvo lugar en un hotel de lujo, y…
2 millones 400 mil pesos en asignación mensual es el monto que Cazzu le pidió a Christian Nodal que le destine a su hija Inti. Y aquí la reacción de Christian Nodal
La expareja tiene en común una hija que cumplirá en septiembre un año de vida Christian Nodal en Milán y Cazzu en Argentina. Así la expareja sigue su respectiva vida. Cazzu solicitó una millonaria pensión alimenticia a Christian Nodal para Inti, la hija que tienen…
End of content
No more pages to load