Perth Lynx coach Ryan Petrik wants to know why his team is starting poorly after WNBL win over Sydney Flames
Perth Lynx coach Ryan Petrik is keen to get to the bottom of why his squad looks like a different team in each half after they again came from behind to win on Saturday.
The Lynx overcame an 11-point half-time deficit to beat Sydney Flames 84-78 at the Bendat Basketball Centre. That came after Perth had conceded 54 points across the first two quarters.
The Lynx also conceded more than 50 points in the first half against Townsville and Canberra.
Teams are averaging 49.4 points against Perth in the first half but only 32.4 points after the main break. Sydney scored just 24 points in the second half on Saturday.
Perth are second on the ladder a 4-1 record but Petrik said it was important to get to the bottom of why they’re not starting well.
“We’ve got to figure it out. Our first halves have been sloppy for sure,” Petrik said.
Camera IconPerth Lynx coach Ryan Petrik. Credit: James Worsfold/Getty Images
“We rotate pretty hard. We’re kind of hoping we can catch some teams in the second half. Even tonight, LA (Laeticia Amihere) has played 34 (minutes) and Maley has played 33. Everyone else is under that.
“I don’t know if we’d have anybody in the top 10 in the league for minutes played. That’s by design. And that’s without Atwell as well.
“We try to rotate pretty hard. I don’t know if that’s why we’re leaking in the first half. Maybe it’s why we’re coming home with a wet sail in the second half – maybe.”
Amihere was outstanding in the win over Sydney with 28 points and four steals, Anneli Maley had 11 points and 10 rebounds, Ally Wilson scored 19 points and Steph Gorman had a big impact with 12 points and nine rebounds.
Townsville are the only team to beat the Lynx this season and they will again clash at the Bendat Basketball Centre on Wednesday night.
The Fire had a massive night of rebounding in the previous clash, winning that battle 48-29.
Petrik said his team knew they had plenty of room for improvement from that night.
Camera IconAlex Ciabattoni and Steph Gorman celebrate another win. Credit: James Worsfold/Getty Images
“It was how badly we played,” he said.
“Townsville were really good and they deserved to win but I don’t think we’ve played a worse game of basketball in a long time and somehow only lost by four. That’s the glass half-full. If you go back and watch it, we should have lost by 80 and we lost by four. We’ll take that but we’ve got a long way to go yet.”
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