Holdsclaw moving to small forward

To create more favorable matchups on offense, new Washington Mystics coach Michael Adams plans to move star Chamique Holdsclaw back to small forward.

For the past two seasons, Holdsclaw has been forced to play power forward because the Mystics lacked a true center. After the Mystics acquired 6-foot-3 center Chasity Melvin in January’s dispersal draft and selected 6-3 center Kaayla Chones out of N.C. State in the WNBA Draft, Adams has enough big bodies to shift Holdsclaw to small forward.

“[Holdsclaw] is quick enough to beat any power forward in this league, and then she’s strong enough to overpower any small forward in this league that tries to guard her,” Adams said. “I think If we put her at small forward, we’re running plays where she posts up more and not necessarily out on the perimeter.”

The 6-2 Holdsclaw, a three-time WNBA All-Star who was the No.1 pick in the 1999 draft, played small forward at Tennessee, where she led the Lady Vols to three consecutive NCAA championships.

One of Holdsclaw’s best assets is her ability to run the floor. Adams wants an up-tempo style of play, so getting the athletic Holdsclaw involved in fastbreak opportunities will be a good first step.

“If the big girls aren’t handling their business, then put me inside,” Holdclaw said. “If the guards aren’t getting production, then put me outside because I’m blessed with the ability to mix it up, either or.”

Having Holdsclaw at small forward gives the Mystics several options. Holdsclaw can attack the basket in a bigger lineup with Melvin, Chones or 6-2 forward Murriel Page, or she can take on more of a rebounding role as sort of a hybrid power forward in a smaller lineup when Adams decides to run.

“First of all, wherever Chamique plays, it’s going to help us,” forward Stacey Dales-Schuman said. “If it’s a three, if it’s a four, it’s fine with the rest of us. We need her on the court. We need to use her versatility. She’s versatile enough to play that quick game even if we do go big.”

The key to being able to run is grabbing defensive rebounds. Holdsclaw led the league last season at 10.9 rebounds a game, and Adams thinks the move will allow her to rebound and trigger fast breaks. She also can handle the ball well enough to lead the break.

“You don’t teach rebounding. You teach positioning and how to box out. She’s just a natural player that can rebound the basketball,” Adams said. “I don’t have any problems with that. When you have Chamique on the floor, her numbers are just going to show. So whether you put her at the three or the four, it doesn’t really matter in my mind if we put her out on the perimeter a little more.”

That could mean less pounding for the 26-year-old Holdsclaw, who has missed 19 games the past two seasons because of various injuries. She described the injuries as “kind of flukes, freak accidents.” Two years ago in a game at the defunct Portland Fire, Holdsclaw got tangled up with Fire forward DeMya Walker in the lane while going for a loose ball and suffered a high ankle sprain that caused her to miss nine games.

Holdsclaw added five pounds this offseason and increased her flexibility by undergoing two-a-day workouts. As a result, changing positions is no big deal.

“The way I play power forward is like I play out on a wing, so it doesn’t matter to me,” Holdsclaw said. “My rebounding skills are good enough — and this team needs that — to be able to get the ball off the rim and push it fullcourt.”