'We’re not converting' - Washington Mystics' coach Eric Thibault points out key reasons for their slow start

Washington Mystics coach Eric Thibault described his team's offence in the first five games of the season, all of which the new-look squad lost. Even with a retooled squad that lost a two-time WNBA MVP and the organization's career assist leader, it proved to be more difficult than imagined.

Those phases of slow offence have buried the Mystics, leaving them as the league's only winless club. Before Saturday night's 101-69 defeat to the Seattle Storm reduced them to 0-6, in their first five games. The troubles were unsurprising given that the squad was scoring the fewest points in the WNBA at 75.4 per game heading into Saturday. The Mystics' field goal percentage of 41.4 placed them 10th out of 12 teams.

According to The Washington Post, “We’re trying to do a couple of things just to simplify so we know what we’re in,” Thibault said. “I feel like, in games right now, it’s sometimes when we have a couple-possession lead and a chance to stretch it off of some stops and we’re not converting. That’s killing us. We’ve got to get in transition.”

Thibault seeking new opportunities throughout the changeover

Added Ariel Atkins: “We have times where we’re doing really well, and there’s other times where we look like we have no idea what’s going on on the court.”

Thibault indicated that the Mystics will call fewer set plays as a result of this streamlining. He wants the players to know one or two things to do after a make or a miss so that everyone can move quickly. There will be more called sets coming off breaks in action.

Thibault is seeking new opportunities throughout the changeover. He also wants the Mystics to be more intentional in their offence, rather than simply tossing the ball about and hoping for anything to open up.