Indiana Fever coach Christie Sides refused to talk details of her lineup changes to reporters on Friday. [photo: Imagn]

Christie Sides used her sixth different starting lineup of the season for the Indiana Fever’s game against the Washington Mystics on Wednesday. Instead of having NaLyssa Smith, the team’s top-rebounder start, Sides moved her to the bench for Lexie Hull. The move backfired, as the Fever trailed 51-37 at halftime before eventually losing at home 89-84.

On Friday, Sides talked to the media before the game against the Phoenix Mercury to announce Smith’s return to the starting lineup. Hull will be on the bench during tip-off, giving Indiana its usual first unit to open games.

Christie Sides had this to say about the change:

“[NaLyssa Smith] is back in the starting lineup. The reason for the change—the other night against Washington—was a team matter. And I’m sorry you guys, but I’m just not gonna discuss team business.”

Lexie Hull’s superb fourth-quarter performance against the New York Liberty on July 6 might have been the reason Christie Sides made the change. In the Fever’s 83-78 win, Hull made several key plays and scored all her six points in the final frame. Indiana’s coach likely wanted to see how her team would perform with her instead of NaLyssa Smith opening the game against Washington.

Hull couldn’t get herself going as the starter. She played 7:54 in the first half and had zeroes in the box score. Smith ended with seven points, two rebounds and one assist during that stretch. More importantly, the forward helped shore up the Fever’s defense. Sides stopped the experiment and put Smith back to start the second half.

Indiana rallied in the fourth quarter with Lexie Hull again contributing big time. She had five points, two rebounds and three steals, but the Fever ultimately lost the game. Christie Sides surely noticed Hull’s impressive final-frame outputs and adjusted as needed.

Christie Sides’ adjustment for the Mercury game has worked well

With NaLyssa Smith in the starting lineup and Lexie Hull doing damage off the bench, Christie Sides’ adjustment was spot on. Indiana raced to a 28-16 first-quarter lead before going into the halftime break with a 55-35 advantage against Phoenix.

Smith played 17 minutes and contributed seven points and six rebounds. Hull finished with two points, four rebounds and one steal during the same stretch.

The Fever can’t afford to trail big to start games like it did against the Washington Mystics. Smith gives Indiana length, size and rebounding to control the paint along with Aliyah Boston. Hull can come in to boost the unit on the floor. Sides’ team looks to have more balance with this setup.

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Edited by Michael Macasero