The Dallas Wings have already secured their place in the WNBA playoffs, thanks in large part to the impressive performance Paige Bueckers has delivered throughout the season. If they are going to make any meaningful run once the postseason begins, however, they will certainly need even more of what their star guard has shown so far. And to make sure she is in the best possible condition for that challenge, the team has now reached an important decision.
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According to WNBA reporter Melissa Triebwasser, the Dallas Wings have decided to limit Paige Bueckers’ minutes for the remaining three games of the regular season. Alongside Bueckers, veteran guard Arike Ogunbowale and center Jessica Shepard will also have their minutes restricted across those three games.
These three players have certainly been very important to everything the Wings have accomplished so far this season, with the team already tying its franchise record for wins in a season. Paige Bueckers is currently averaging 20.4 points, 4.1 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game. Ogunbowale, on the other hand, is averaging 15.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game, while Shepard is putting up 14.4 points, 11.1 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game.
Just returning from the three-week World Cup break, the three players further demonstrated their importance to this team, with all three contributing double-figure points in the Wings’ 97-77 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks. Paige Bueckers registered 19 points, and Shepard even recorded a triple-double in the commanding win, further highlighting just how much the Wings can get from their key players when they are on the court.
While all three played at least 25 minutes each in that game, the decision is now to limit their minutes, perhaps even further as the playoffs draw near. And, of course, it is quite understandable that coach Jose Fernandez is making this decision.
It is a real advantage to have these key players fresh and well-rested ahead of the playoffs, so they don’t easily succumb to fatigue. There is also the possibility that the Wings will be facing the Minnesota Lynx in the first game of the playoffs, making it even more important for their key players to be ready for the postseason challenge.
However, while preserving Paige Bueckers, Arike Ogunbowale, and Jessica Shepard definitely might serve as an advantage for the Wings, the remaining three games of the regular season are still quite important. The Wings are currently eighth in the standings, and more wins could see them climb further up the standings, which will determine which team they will start their playoff journey against. This means there’s a possibility to avoid the Minnesota Lynx, who are currently league leaders.
What fans will definitely be hoping for is that, even as players like Paige Bueckers get rested, the Wings will still be able to pull off wins in their remaining regular-season games. They play the Phoenix Mercury in their next two games and the Seattle Storm in their final game. Objectively, these look like relatively weaker sides, which might also explain coach Fernandez’s decision.