archiveDallas Hoops Journal

DHJ Quick Take: The Week 1 Finale The Smith Catalyst: Alanna Smith's return immediately validated Jose Fernandez's offensive vision. Her ability to secure a rebound and initiate the break herself ("grab-and-go") creates a pace that keeps opposing defenses from setting their half-court shells. This versatility is the engine for the...

DHJ Quick Take: Alanna Smith is Back The Transition Catalyst: The most significant takeaway from Alanna Smith's first practice is the "grab-and-go" capability she adds to the transition game. By starting the break herself off the glass, Smith forces opposing bigs to defend in space and allows Paige Bueckers and...

DHJ Quick Take: The Defensive Focus The Unrivaled Carryover: The most practical takeaway from the first week of camp is Paige Bueckers' conditioning. She noted that the constant isolation reps and lack of "off possessions" in Unrivaled prepared her for the defensive workload that Jose Fernandez requires. Backcourt Balance with...

DHJ Quick Take: Friday Observations The Bueckers-Fudd Synergy: The most significant takeaway from the Day 6 clips is seeing Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd share the floor in the same 5-on-5 unit. Their "read-and-react" chemistry was on full display during a pick-and-roll sequence where Bueckers found Fudd for a mid-range...

DHJ Quick Take: The Day 6 Notebook The Bueckers-Fudd Synergy: A takeaway from Friday was seeing Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd share the floor in the same 5-on-5 unit. Their "read-and-react" chemistry was on full display during a pick-and-roll sequence where Bueckers found Fudd for a mid-range pull-up after a...

DHJ Quick Take: The System Shift The European Influence: Head coach Jose Fernandez is moving the Wings away from isolation-heavy sets toward a "European-style" approach centered on ball movement and misdirection. As Curt Miller noted, the goal is to keep the defense in constant rotation. Unlocking Bueckers Off-Ball: By utilizing...

DHJ Quick Take: Targets to Consider The Flagg Foundation: Despite a 12th-place finish (26-56), the "Information Gain" from the 2025-26 season is the historic arrival of Cooper Flagg. After dropping 51 points on the Magic in April and setting the teenage scoring record, Flagg (21.1 PPG) has validated Nico Harrison's...

DHJ Quick Take: Friday Takeaways Off-Ball Versatility: Head coach Jose Fernandez provided a key schematic insight by outlining a specific Paige Bueckers off-ball package. By utilizing Odyssey Sims, JJ Quinerly, and Lindsay Allen to handle primary playmaking duties, Fernandez aims to leverage Bueckers' gravity as a scorer—a tactical shift that...

DHJ Quick Take: The Shooting Standard The Spacing Mandate: The Dallas Wings coaching staff is emphasizing the "good shots to great shots" philosophy. The goal is clear: maximize the gravity of their primary creators to generate high-percentage looks for the entire rotation. Veteran Synergy: Seeing Odyssey Sims and Alysha Clark...

DHJ Quick Take: The Schematic Evolution The "Stack" Action: Seeing Paige Bueckers as the back-screener in Stack (or Spain) pick-and-roll is a significant tactical shift. By using Paige to screen for a rolling big like Li Yueru, Fernandez creates an immediate "lose-lose" for the defense: either give up a rim...