2024 WNBA Season: Playoffs

[Rb335]

It’s interesting how big of an impact the acquisition of Fiebich was. Last year NY (if my memory is correct) struggled with the speed of the Vegas guards on defense, and Sabrina struggled to get open offensively. Plug Fiebich in for Vandersloot and suddenly NY is bigger, stronger, and quicker. Their defense improves greatly as well.

It basically feels like 9/10 players on the court are the same, but the way the game is played and the on court advantages are so different. Obviously a lot of factors are impacting that, but it’s crazy to think that a trade of draft rights that a causal fan would be oblivious to is having such a huge impact.

 

[Geew1992]

It’s interesting how big of an impact the acquisition of Fiebich was. Last year NY (if my memory is correct) struggled with the speed of the Vegas guards on defense, and Sabrina struggled to get open offensively. Plug Fiebich in for Vandersloot and suddenly NY is bigger, stronger, and quicker. Their defense improves greatly as well.

It basically feels like 9/10 players on the court are the same, but the way the game is played and the on court advantages are so different. Obviously a lot of factors are impacting that, but it’s crazy to think that a trade of draft rights that a causal fan would be oblivious to is having such a huge impact.

I def agree with you, but you do have to remember Sloot was going through personal stuff, re her mom. Which had rolled over to this year

 

[JellyBean]

Is Juhasz still not healthy? I think she could be effective when the Sun have Nelson-Ododa in. Plus I‘d like to see that.

Oh, Dorka is healthy and probably could play 5-10 minutes, but I think Coach Reeve is going with her 7-player rotation.

 

[nwhoopfan]

It’s interesting how big of an impact the acquisition of Fiebich was. Last year NY (if my memory is correct) struggled with the speed of the Vegas guards on defense, and Sabrina struggled to get open offensively. Plug Fiebich in for Vandersloot and suddenly NY is bigger, stronger, and quicker. Their defense improves greatly as well.

It basically feels like 9/10 players on the court are the same, but the way the game is played and the on court advantages are so different. Obviously a lot of factors are impacting that, but it’s crazy to think that a trade of draft rights that a causal fan would be oblivious to is having such a huge impact.

Fiebich has definitely been a big addition. I keep hearing the players reference one more year of playing together being a big factor. Remember they added 3 new starters last season.

While Fiebich has recently entered the starting lineup, in reality she is replacing Johannes in the rotation, not Vandersloot. I always enjoyed watching Johannes play, but I think Fiebich is more a steady contributor.

 

[bballnut90]

Wright was fired by Atlanta. This decision made sense. Team was mediocre at best and Wright trashed players in post game interviews in what wasn’t a good look earlier in the year. I wouldn’t be shocked if TSpoon is picked up here.

 

[Dillon77]

Wright was fired by Atlanta. This decision made sense. Team was mediocre at best and Wright trashed players in post game interviews in what wasn’t a good look earlier in the year. I wouldn’t be shocked if TSpoon is picked up here.

There's a lot of vets on that team at this point, so maybe a T'Spoon could work there. She wasn't exactly great on offensive sets but one might not need it if Tina Charles comes back and Rhyne Howard/Alisha Grey are bombing away.

(FWIW, there's also a WNBA offseason thread that also has discussion on this (and other matters 'tween seasons.)

 

[JellyBean]

Maya is 5th and played only 8 seasons!

It is scary to think what could have happened had Maya played a few more years beyond those wonderful 8 years.

 

[jonson]

Fiebich has definitely been a big addition. I keep hearing the players reference one more year of playing together being a big factor. Remember they added 3 new starters last season.

While Fiebich has recently entered the starting lineup, in reality she is replacing Johannes in the rotation, not Vandersloot. I always enjoyed watching Johannes play, but I think Fiebich is more a steady contributor.

I think the gains from inserting Fiebich were already clear given how the Liberty performed during the period CV was absent prior to the Olympic break. So the change in the starting lineup at the beginning of the playoffs was really a "return" of sorts. And, in addition to all the reasons outlined above, the move also had a significant impact on Ionescu's game--really good prior to the break, really not very good since, and then really good again (so far, anyway) during the playoffs. In saying this, I don't mean to question CV's talent--a hall-of-fame player surely--but the backcourt pairing with Ionescu has always been problematic and/or less than the sum of its parts. The most obvious issue is defense, but I also believe it has a negative impact on Sabrina's overall game despite--maybe even because of--her willingness to make any changes necessary after CV's arrival. Starting Fiebich turned out to be a really effective answer to these problems.

 

[nwhoopfan]

I think the gains from inserting Fiebich were already clear given how the Liberty performed during the period CV was absent prior to the Olympic break. So the change in the starting lineup at the beginning of the playoffs was really a "return" of sorts. And, in addition to all the reasons outlined above, the move also had a significant impact on Ionescu's game--really good prior to the break, really not very good since, and then really good again (so far, anyway) during the playoffs. In saying this, I don't mean to question CV's talent--a hall-of-fame player surely--but the backcourt pairing with Ionescu has always been problematic and/or less than the sum of its parts. The most obvious issue is defense, but I also believe it has a negative impact on Sabrina's overall game despite--maybe even because of--her willingness to make any changes necessary after CV's arrival. Starting Fiebich turned out to be a really effective answer to these problems.

I agree with this, it's not a good pairing. They are both better when they are the primary ball handler/play maker, and you can't have two players doing that simultaneously.

 

[Dillon77]

I agree with this, it's not a good pairing. They are both better when they are the primary ball handler/play maker, and you can't have two players doing that simultaneously.

Well, in particular, you can't have these two players -- Ionescu and CVS -- doing it simultaneously.

That probably holds true for most pairings of lead guards, but as a longtime Knick fan, one can never discount how Walk "Clyde" Frazier and Earl "The Pearl" Monroe worked together in the early '70's. Heck, even the first guard off the bench -- Dean "The Dream" Meminger -- was used to being the main ballhandler when he was at Marquette before joining that Knick team.

Switching back to Women's Basketball, it will be really interesting to see how Notre Dame's Olivia Miles and Hannah Hidalgo, two very ball-centric guards, adapt to playing with one another this season.

 

[Rb335]

Fiebich has definitely been a big addition. I keep hearing the players reference one more year of playing together being a big factor. Remember they added 3 new starters last season.

While Fiebich has recently entered the starting lineup, in reality she is replacing Johannes in the rotation, not Vandersloot. I always enjoyed watching Johannes play, but I think Fiebich is more a steady contributor.

Absolutely, regarding the replacement of Johannes. It’s a major upgrade in my opinion because Fiebich has great shot selection, great defense, and is a low turnover player. Essentially the opposite of things Johannes struggles with, while still providing the same if not better perimeter shooting.

 

[azfan]

SB coaching?

"Sandy Brondello said, "I liked the second quarter." She should have. That's when New York won the game. The Aces were the better team for the other 30 minutes, but in the second quarter, New York exhibited why it was the best team in the regular season. The Liberty outscored Las Vegas 24-13. Stewart scored or assisted on 13 of those points, with the strategy of making the two-time MVP a facilitator paying off. "

How the Liberty went up 2-0 vs. Aces, and how the Lynx evened their series with the Sun

New York is a win away from sweeping two-time defending champ Las Vegas out of the semifinals. Minnesota and Connecticut are all even.

www.espn.com

I know some view Liberty performance through a dark lens in which they win in spite of their coach. For those Brondello has only a negative impact and if the Liberty do in fact win it will be in spite of her.

As a Mercury fan I fondly remember Brondello particularly in light of her successors. I would also guess franchises in Chicago and Atlanta would consider her to be an upgrade.As an all-time top 10 winning coach in the league she has bona fides and to repeat Phoenix would welcome her back with open arms and perhaps send the million dollar coach on his way to seek his fortunes in Chicago for Atlanta? Or more likely never again to hold a head coaching assignment.

In any event the playoff stretch has been a delight particularly the semi final games.

 

[Bigboote]

Well, in particular, you can't have these two players -- Ionescu and CVS -- doing it simultaneously.

That probably holds true for most pairings of lead guards, but as a longtime Knick fan, one can never discount how Walk "Clyde" Frazier and Earl "The Pearl" Monroe worked together in the early '70's. Heck, even the first guard off the bench -- Dean "The Dream" -- was used to being the main ballhandler when he was at Marquette before joining that Knick team.

Switching back to Women's Basketball, it will be really interesting to see how Notre Dame's Olivia Miles and Hannah Hidalgo, two very ball-centric guards, adapt to playing with one another this season.

Ionescu did well sharing point-guard duties with Cazorla in college.

I'm right there with you wondering about Miles and Hidalgo.

 

[cancontent]

Update on Stokes for tomorrow night.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Update on Stokes for tomorrow night.

Gonna have to play Gustafson some this game. I can't see going small ball for 40 minutes. She hasn't appeared yet in this series.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Why do you always have to chime in with a UConn reference when someone posts to credit a non-Uconn player? Everyone knows how awesome Maya was. It goes without having to be said.

A lot of people have forgotten about Maya. She hasn't played in 6 years.

And congrats to DWB. She has been really good for a long time and is probably under-appreciated. Plus, she was pleasant enough to chat with some of us at the World Cup in Istanbul in 2014.

 

[Bigboote]

Update on Stokes for tomorrow night.

Oh, dung, but I’m glad the Aces are treating Kiah’s condition cautiously. I’ve been on both sides of that, and both sides suck, but cautious is better.

 

[GamecockFam]

Update on Stokes for tomorrow night.

Why do I get the feeling that A'ja is about to go wild on the Liberty? She always seems to step up her game when her back is against a wall...

 

[cancontent]

Why do I get the feeling that A'ja is about to go wild on the Liberty? She always seems to step up her game when her back is against a wall...

There's that and Coach Hammond's comments after game 2 that could be another motivating factor. The last thing I think A'ja wants to hear is that she isn't focused on the end goal.

 

[GoUconn7961]

Finally basketball tonight. I hope the Liberty close it out, but I'm sure the Aces are going to be fired up against the home crowd.
I think Phee will have a lot of fans at Mohegan Sun.

 

[cancontent]

Finally basketball tonight. I hope the Liberty close it out, but I'm sure the Aces are going to be fired up against the home crowd.
I think Phee will have a lot of fans at Mohegan Sun.

No doubt. It's going to be a great environment for a play-off game tonight. Sucks that I have another event to attend and I won't get to see this game in real time.

 

[nwhoopfan]

After dropping Game 1, Lynx are about to go up 2-1. I watched a few minutes, but I had to change the channel. It is LUDICROUS what Thomas gets away with on the court. Makes an absolute mockery of the game. She has 1 foul called against her. I saw her absolutely demolish an opponent twice in about 2 minutes, neither resulting in a foul called against her. She should foul out of every game she plays in about 20 minutes if the refs were actually competent.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Minny shot the ball well and won by 90-81. Phee had 26/11/3/2/1 on 11-19 shooting.

 

[Bigboote]

Collier is such a joy to watch. And it was nice to see Juhasz again.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Aces/Liberty Game 3 was strange. Really entertaining back and forth first half. Lib were awful after halftime and Vegas ran away with it. Young and Plum combined for 44, 19/14 for Wilson, another good game for Hayes off the bench. Gray was dishing some sweet dimes.

Ionescu no showed. Vegas really made a point of defending her tightly. Stewie started hot and then cooled off.