The Challenge of Closing Out Games
Dallas Wings guard and two-time All-Star Paige Bueckers recently shared her perspective on her team's tendency to stage late-game rallies. During a conversation on the Hoops 360 podcast, Bueckers addressed why her team frequently finds itself trailing as they enter the final minutes of a contest.
Bueckers acknowledged that the team's reliance on fourth-quarter comebacks is a double-edged sword. While it demonstrates resilience, she views the trend as a recurring issue. «It is a bad habit for me and the team. If you watch our games, we are often trailing at the end of the third and starting the second half slowly. We have to find the will to win in the fourth, and I honestly hate that about us,» she admitted.
The Mentality of Crunch Time
When asked what triggers her performance shift in the final 10 minutes, Bueckers described the experience as a shift in focus where the pressure of the moment takes over. She emphasized that while the final minutes appear the most critical, she views every moment on the floor as equally vital.
«I have always looked at basketball as every possession being a game within itself. There is always a read that you need to make. Just like one possession in the fourth can dictate the outcome, the very first possession of the game carries the same weight,» said Bueckers.
Looking Toward Consistency
Despite the success the team has had in executing during high-pressure situations, Bueckers expressed a strong desire for the squad to stop waiting until the final quarter to increase their defensive and offensive intensity. Her goal is for the Wings to maintain a high level of competition for the full 40 minutes rather than relying on late-game heroics.
«We want to embrace that intensity for the entire game. But there is just something about this team in the fourth quarter where we tend to ultra-lock in,» she noted, underscoring the team's ongoing development in learning how to execute effectively throughout the entirety of a matchup.