2024 WNBA Season: Playoffs

[cancontent]

Yea...sure it was, but she played less minutes than any Lynx starter. Heidelman was good, but the offensive chemistry just isn't the same as when Williams is in. It's not as fluid. Both teams wore the heck out of their starters. NY finally adjusted in game 5 and played Thornton and Sabally who clearly had fresher legs. Thornton just wore down everyone with her physicality. She almost fouled out in 20 minutes of play. lol Lynx need a bench that they feel comfortable stepping in.

So when you said physical, you were referring to endurance? Not sure how playing more minutes equates to physicality. I see it more as a conditioning situation, but both could go hand in hand depending on how one looks at it.

 

[LwrcasefaN]

So when you said physical, you were referring to endurance? Not sure how playing more minutes equates to physicality. I see it more as a conditioning situation, but both could go hand in hand depending on how one looks at it.

She looked tired. You could see it in her face. Her shots were front rimming and I feel the physicality of the game greatly contributed to that. Last game she was chasing Sloot all over the court. All that adds up. She isn't going anywhere. She's a good fit, but some of these quarters were rugbyISH.

 

[Zarathustra]

Phee has the most heart breaking losses in women's basketball history

Phee also missed out on being named the MVP of the Championship Series ... Double the pain!!

 

[JellyBean]

Love how Cathy wore a Liberty dress to the game. They ain’t even trying to hide it.

That last call is one of the worst things I’ve ever seen. Love Stewart but she took a whole journey on that last shot attempt.

And what hurt even more, was watching the refs review the phantom foul knowing they saw and blew the travel call! That hurt.

 

[Dillon77]

McBride is one of my favorite ND players. Did I just admit that? No, but really, she is tough as nails and she needed to be in this series. NY beat her up on her cuts pretty good in this game.

And K-Mac still managed to shoot 7-13 despite being hit like an NFL running back going down the lane. In fact, she only shot 1-6 from three, so she was almost perfect going to the hoop. She and 'Phee came up just short of winning the Euro and WNBA championships this year (Of course, 'Phee was on the Olympic Team that won gold....).

 

[Dillon77]

Could it also be a factor of playing two rounds series that went to Game 5 back to back? Personally I thought both teams seemed to be running ragged after competing as hard as they have the entire series.

Yup. And the very short turnaround from Friday to Sunday.

• Guards didn't seem to have their legs: witness the very low 3 pt. %, by and large.
• Coaches were tightening up their rotations. Outside of Heidemann, did any Lynx sub come in most of the second half, save for a Juhasz minute? Brondello, at least, had Thornton and Sabally in...to positive effect.

 

[Dillon77]

Mid-morning thoughts after. Primarily looking ahead.

• These tight playoff schedules might be due to the upcoming NBA/current NHL schedules in arenas that are shared, but the quick turnarounds have to wear on players, particularly with teams in which coaches were riding their stars long and hard. WNBA is going to a best of 7 next year and there has to be some recovery time in there to ensure a good product, particularly if teams are travelling quite a distance/time zones.
• OK, time for the third party-approach on reviews. The late-game review that upheld the calls against the Lynx was the final straw. As noted, Stewie used her Airline Miles before even going up for the shot.
• Can't make an accurate judgement on the quality of each and every referee in the WNBA, but if the league wants to be the new big thing, your refs have to be in lockstep. And that goes from who the refs are from overall philosophy on how/what to call. And you've gotta get that third-party decision in place (rent it from the NBA for the playoffs, at least).

and
So much has been spent on the quality level of the play/officiating, but a shout out on a few fronts:

• Brondello, who has been ripped and/or given credit, made some moves in the latter part of the season and the playoffs that helped the Liberty, for sure. Most notably, there's the insertion of Fiebich into the starting line-up. She makes them a different team: taller, more athletic on all fronts.
• Her decisions to play Thornton and Sabally in this last game were key. Fresh legs helped. A lot.
• Likewise, Reeve started playing Juhasz rather than Hines-Allen to combat that tallness and athletic ability of NY. Going forward, I'd expect Reeve to keep Juhasz in the rotation. I'll also be very interested if Jess Shepard decides to play in the W this year and, if so, with Minnesota. She and Reeve are tight.

 

[Zarathustra]

I am happy for Coach Brondello. Folks were saying she "Can't coach" or "Doesn't know how to win games" blah, blah, blah. She guided the Liberty to the title. She has been in the W for a decade if not longer. She is a winner and a solild coach. Well done, Coach B.

And to think that the Phoenix Mercury let Sandy B go last year! Great Coach!

 

[bballnut90]

Mid-morning thoughts after. Primarily looking ahead.

• These tight playoff schedules might be due to the upcoming NBA/current NHL schedules in arenas that are shared, but the quick turnarounds have to wear on players, particularly with teams in which coaches were riding their stars long and hard. WNBA is going to a best of 7 next year and there has to be some recovery time in there to ensure a good product, particularly if teams are travelling quite a distance/time zones.
• OK, time for the third party-approach on reviews. The late-game review that upheld the calls against the Lynx was the final straw. As noted, Stewie used her Airline Miles before even going up for the shot.
• Can't make an accurate judgement on the quality of each and every referee in the WNBA, but if the league wants to be the new big thing, your refs have to be in lockstep. And that goes from who the refs are from overall philosophy on how/what to call. And you've gotta get that third-party decision in place (rent it from the NBA for the playoffs, at least).

I didn't realize until now this was their 3rd game in 5 days. Plus they had to fly from Minnesota to NY the day prior. Anytime a flight is involved in the playoffs (at least for the semis and finals) I feel like you have to give players 3 days between games to keep the quality of play high. Makes sense why players looked so worn down yesterday.

Agree on the reviews. Watching the Smith foul on Stewart several times over, I have NO idea how the refs could honestly stand by that call. The worst part is they had a chance to correct the call on the review and didn't. Reeve rightfully blasted the refs in her postgame interview and came off extremely salty, but I would be too after how the game ended. 3 phantom foul calls against Minnesota in the final minute of play after the refs had been letting them play all night.

 

[Henry]

The Liberty saved the day for NY sports. Had they lost, it would've been a quadruple loss day.

 

[Bigboote]

And K-Mac still managed to shoot 7-13 despite being hit like an NFL running back going down the lane. In fact, she only shot 1-6 from three, so she was almost perfect going to the hoop.

KMac’s toughness never ceases to amaze me.

A bit of a digression: As a UConn fan I was never crazy about KMac. Never disliked her, just kind of meh. Till I was watching a game, I think between the Lynx and the Aces. Kayla set a pick, Liz Cambage crashed into her, and Cambage went flying and gave one of those YAAAHHHs that only she could make. Liz was called for a foul, and KMac still hadn’t moved, then she smiled and started flexing. It was a riot, and I’ve been on team KMac ever since. She just has a positivity about her that fits with Napheesa and Bridget. Great interview, I love her accent and delivery.

 

[cancontent]

Mid-morning thoughts after. Primarily looking ahead.

• These tight playoff schedules might be due to the upcoming NBA/current NHL schedules in arenas that are shared, but the quick turnarounds have to wear on players, particularly with teams in which coaches were riding their stars long and hard. WNBA is going to a best of 7 next year and there has to be some recovery time in there to ensure a good product, particularly if teams are travelling quite a distance/time zones.
• OK, time for the third party-approach on reviews. The late-game review that upheld the calls against the Lynx was the final straw. As noted, Stewie used her Airline Miles before even going up for the shot.
• Can't make an accurate judgement on the quality of each and every referee in the WNBA, but if the league wants to be the new big thing, your refs have to be in lockstep. And that goes from who the refs are from overall philosophy on how/what to call. And you've gotta get that third-party decision in place (rent it from the NBA for the playoffs, at least).

and
So much has been spent on the quality level of the play/officiating, but a shout out on a few fronts:

• Brondello, who has been ripped and/or given credit, made some moves in the latter part of the season and the playoffs that helped the Liberty, for sure. Most notably, there's the insertion of Fiebich into the starting line-up. She makes them a different team: taller, more athletic on all fronts.
• Her decisions to play Thornton and Sabally in this last game were key. Fresh legs helped. A lot.
• Likewise, Reeve started playing Juhasz rather than Hines-Allen to combat that tallness and athletic ability of NY. Going forward, I'd expect Reeve to keep Juhasz in the rotation. I'll also be very interested if Jess Shepard decides to play in the W this year and, if so, with Minnesota. She and Reeve are tight.

I think a shout out should also go to Allen for grinding it out with her ankle and back issues. From thinking her time in the W was over to playing in a championship two years later as a starter. And to battle through and play the minutes she did while nowhere close to 100%.

I seriously didn't think she was coming back after Jones fouled her and they fell to the floor. While I understood why Liberty fans were chirping at the refs, that was the right call because Jones hooked her while trying to establish herself.

 

[yhun89]

I think a shout out should also go to Allen for grinding it out with her ankle and back issues. From thinking her time in the W was over to playing in a championship two years later as a starter. And to battle through and play the minutes she did while nowhere close to 100%.

I seriously didn't think she was coming back after Jones fouled her and they fell to the floor. While I understood why Liberty fans were chirping at the refs, that was the right call because Jones hooked her while trying to establish herself.

Alanna?

 

[boontonbomber]

I didn't realize until now this was their 3rd game in 5 days. Plus they had to fly from Minnesota to NY the day prior. Anytime a flight is involved in the playoffs (at least for the semis and finals) I feel like you have to give players 3 days between games to keep the quality of play high. Makes sense why players looked so worn down yesterday.

Agree on the reviews. Watching the Smith foul on Stewart several times over, I have NO idea how the refs could honestly stand by that call. The worst part is they had a chance to correct the call on the review and didn't. Reeve rightfully blasted the refs in her postgame interview and came off extremely salty, but I would be too after how the game ended. 3 phantom foul calls against Minnesota in the final minute of play after the refs had been letting them play all night.

Replay clearly showed Smith's hand making contact with Breanna's arm.

 

[cancontent]

Alanna?

Thanks. Didn't catch that typo. I'm also a Buffalo Bills fan so my autocorrect went in that direction

 

[boontonbomber]

Mid-morning thoughts after. Primarily looking ahead.

• These tight playoff schedules might be due to the upcoming NBA/current NHL schedules in arenas that are shared, but the quick turnarounds have to wear on players, particularly with teams in which coaches were riding their stars long and hard. WNBA is going to a best of 7 next year and there has to be some recovery time in there to ensure a good product, particularly if teams are travelling quite a distance/time zones.
• OK, time for the third party-approach on reviews. The late-game review that upheld the calls against the Lynx was the final straw. As noted, Stewie used her Airline Miles before even going up for the shot.
• Can't make an accurate judgement on the quality of each and every referee in the WNBA, but if the league wants to be the new big thing, your refs have to be in lockstep. And that goes from who the refs are from overall philosophy on how/what to call. And you've gotta get that third-party decision in place (rent it from the NBA for the playoffs, at least).

and
So much has been spent on the quality level of the play/officiating, but a shout out on a few fronts:

• Brondello, who has been ripped and/or given credit, made some moves in the latter part of the season and the playoffs that helped the Liberty, for sure. Most notably, there's the insertion of Fiebich into the starting line-up. She makes them a different team: taller, more athletic on all fronts.
• Her decisions to play Thornton and Sabally in this last game were key. Fresh legs helped. A lot.
• Likewise, Reeve started playing Juhasz rather than Hines-Allen to combat that tallness and athletic ability of NY. Going forward, I'd expect Reeve to keep Juhasz in the rotation. I'll also be very interested if Jess Shepard decides to play in the W this year and, if so, with Minnesota. She and Reeve are tight.

Hines-Allen doesn't care how tall opponents are; she is tough and knows how to play. She was a great pickup for the Lynx, and Reeve may have lost that game by not playing her.

 

[bballnut90]

Replay clearly showed Smith's hand making contact with Breanna's arm.

It clearly showed she wasn't touched

 

[Geew1992]

It clearly showed she wasn't touched

And clearly shows she traveled

 

[willtalk]

Replay clearly showed Smith's hand making contact with Breanna's arm.

Perhaps in an alternate reality. You seem to be the only one who saw that on the replay. I had no horse in this race and thats not what I saw and I trust myself.

 

[boontonbomber]

It clearly showed she wasn't touched

You're looking at it from the wrong angle. Smith's right arm brushed across Breanna's left arm; this view blocks that out. That's what the refs saw on replay.

 

[topogigio]

The missed travel cost the Lynx the game, plus the official had no business calling the foul on Stewart. Jones continually bulls her way to the basket, and rarely gets called. Even if Stewart got "brushed" (which I doubt), you don't call foul for breathing on someone in that situation. The Lynx got robbed, their coach is 100% right, and the Liberty should "do the right thing", as Spike says, and give the hardware to the rightful owners, the Lynx!

 

[topogigio]

And clearly shows she traveled

The officials were a travesty in the closing seconds. The cost the W all the cred Clark brought to the league!

 

[GamecockFam]

Replay clearly showed Smith's hand making contact with Breanna's arm.

I have a really good OLED TV and it was really hard to tell if contact was made....it was anything but clear. Either way, I don't believe that is what the ref said at the end of the challenge. I think he said Smith wasn't in legal guarding position. That caught me off guard because I thought it was pretty clear she was in legal guarding position and I would have rather they said that the play stands (i.e. inconclusive evidence).

 

[GamecockFam]

You're looking at it from the wrong angle. Smith's right arm brushed across Breanna's left arm; this view blocks that out. That's what the refs saw on replay.

Does it? The other angle is untrustworthy as it doesn't indicate the distance between Smith and Breanna's arms. When looking at all angles simultaneously it seems to me that they never touch.

 

[cancontent]

I have a really good OLED TV and it was really hard to tell if contact was made....it was anything but clear. Either way, I don't believe that is what the ref said at the end of the challenge. I think he said Smith wasn't in legal guarding position. That caught me off guard because I thought it was pretty clear she was in legal guarding position and I would have rather they said that the play stands (i.e. inconclusive evidence).

Yes, he did say this. Nothing was said about contact to the arm. My interpretation is that they thought they saw something with Smith's body, but it's just my guess.