Notes on Kamilla Cardoso from the Chicago Sky – Five Reasons Sports Network

The Chicago Sky are in dire need of shot creation after trading their second-best offensive option, Marina Mabrey, to the Connecticut Sun for Rachel Banham, Moriah Jefferson and two first-round picks. The former team’s first game back after the trade was a disaster the staff was unprepared for, ending with the Phoenix Mercury carving up the Sky 85-65. Notably, Chennedy Carter was absent for the hosts due to a non-COVID illness.

Brittney Griner physically dominated and drilled her matchup on both ends. Kahleah Copper ate on the break and half-court. And the Sky starters converted 15 of 44 baskets in front of fans, while allowing 56% of the attempts to their opponents.

Looking ahead, the Sky need more production from Kamilla Cardoso. Reese is already shot-hungry (second on the team after the trade) and is No. 2 in minutes. But she needs more help from Cardoso, who can lighten the load by becoming a close-range hub.

In her 19 outings, Cardoso has averaged 26.1 minutes per game, which should increase rapidly as her screening provides an alternative to giving her teammates space And herself, turning into a huge wideout on rim rolls. The Sky should give her additional opportunities to execute dribble-handoff actions to build her confidence as a playmaker.

Currently, one of Cardoso’s weaknesses is ball security, as she has seven times more turnovers than assists. Of her 29 fouls, three were traveling fouls, six were offensive fouls, 10 were ripped out of her grasp, nine were bad passes and one was a defensive three-second violation.

The two-time NCAA champion (Cardoso) has a size advantage over most other players in the league and a useful post game. This combination allows her to create double teams. Because the Sky are a poor deep-shooting unit, her teammates will have to attack the space created with cuts until long-range accuracy is restored.

Still, most of her attempts come at the rim and she doesn’t convert enough (52%) because she lacks a bit of strength. Though at 6-foot-7, she can turn the game into a grindhouse affair — she’s a top-five offensive rebounder and capable of scoring on the second attempt.

Defensively, Cardoso thrives on the back line and can work in a zone as a baseline and corner protector. Her length is difficult for opponents to gauge, as it makes for rushed jumpers and low-percentage layups. Her best moment against the Mercury was denying Copper at the rim while covering pick and roll in drop coverage.

But she’s got to stop biting down on fake weapons in her attempt to dodge shots, because A- she’s bigger than almost everyone, and B- no one recovers from their feet fast enough.

One of Cardoso’s problems against the Mercury on Thursday was staying on the floor against Griner and Copper, both of whom got past the smoke for baskets.

With 15 games left in the 2024 season, the Sky are still in position to hold on to eighth place, as the ninth-place Atlanta Dream are two-and-a-half games behind, but more importantly, have folded and are in an eight-game freefall. Seventh place, held by the Indiana Fever, is also half a game ahead.

Playing for something meaningful is a bonus for a rookie’s progression. Cardoso has the chance to make the latter part of the year an accelerated course for her development.

—

For more information about the Miami Heat, subscribe to Off The Floor.