2024 WNBA Season: Playoffs

[azfan]

@JellyBean



Dorka, like Gustafson, can give results if given time (and that could be somewheresville next year). But right now, the play for two coaches who are only going to go with whom they think will get 'em there.

Defending an equally slow post and/or operating against a weak defensive team a la.the Phoenix Mercury.

 

[cancontent]

I have to give a shout-out to Courtney Williams! She has to be the most underrated PG in the league. The mid-range queen!

Underrated LG (lead guard) you mean I chuckle when commentators talk about how she's adjusting to the PG label. Either way, she's had a great season and I'm happy for her.

 

[baggerbob]

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.

Sabrina had more turnovers then points.
Another case of a coach over her head.
The Liberty should behave shut the door last night.

A nice 2 minute clip of Ionescu breaking down what she experienced last night. The chess match tomorrow in how the Liberty responds will be fun to watch.

You can't be a star and get 4 pts and 5 turnovers in a playoff game.
She needs to play a lot better then that, if she expects to ever win a Championship in the WNBA.

 

[JellyBean]

@JellyBean

In my straightforward and cut-to-the-chase mode today, Coach Reeve is going for it and the way she thinks this is going to get done is with her starters (she'll play Collier 45 minutes in a 40-minute game if she could) and her key subs. And, as noted, those subs are mostly vets (Hines-Allen) or ones that add some contrast (Zandalasini, for the most part).

As noted in an earlier post, I liked Dorka's play last year, but think Reeve thinks the Lynx can win it all and is playing accordingly. Plus, she traded for HInes-Allen, has liked what she's seen and knows Mish is basically a rented player for this season, who may or may not be back. Use her.

Dorka, like Gustafson, can give results if given time (and that could be somewheresville next year). But right now, the play for two coaches who are only going to go with whom they think will get 'em there.

Solid points. Coaches doing what they think is best for their teams in these big moments.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Sabrina had more turnovers then points.
Another case of a coach over her head.
The Liberty should behave shut the door last night.

You can't be a star and get 4 pts and 5 turnovers in a playoff game.
She needs to play a lot better then that, if she expects to ever win a Championship in the WNBA.

Come on. Ionescu had been fantastic in the playoffs up until last night, and I haven't seen anything complimenting her from you. One bad game and you're back to this again? How about some balance?

 

[nwhoopfan]

If anyone from the Liberty should be getting questioned about their playoff performance, it's Laney-Hamilton. Her scoring is barely over half of what she scored in the regular season, and her shooting percentages are awful.

 

[cancontent]

If anyone from the Liberty should be getting questioned about their playoff performance, it's Laney-Hamilton. Her scoring is barely over half of what she scored in the regular season, and her shooting percentages are awful.

She has been playing in 5 minute spurts though since coming back from the knee surgery. Maybe something isn't right there that we aren't aware of.

 

[cancontent]

Sabrina had more turnovers then points.
Another case of a coach over her head.
The Liberty should behave shut the door last night.

You can't be a star and get 4 pts and 5 turnovers in a playoff game.
She needs to play a lot better then that, if she expects to ever win a Championship in the WNBA.

Are we watching the same play offs? One game where Vegas played a heck of a loy better defence was the reason behind this. Ionescu's performance throughout the play offs has been much better than what she was last season.

 

[nwhoopfan]

She has been playing in 5 minute spurts though since coming back from the knee surgery. Maybe something isn't right there that we aren't aware of.

Oops, wasn't taking that into account. She's played some tough defense on Gray most of the series. They are getting good minutes from Thornton and Fiebich has increased her scoring, so they aren't really missing Laney-Hamilton's offense that much.

 

[Hayven]

If anyone from the Liberty should be getting questioned about their playoff performance, it's Laney-Hamilton. Her scoring is barely over half of what she scored in the regular season, and her shooting percentages are awful.

She’s been playing great on defense so I don’t think it’s her knee. Everyone but Stewie played awful in game 3. They need everyone to contribute if they want to avoid a game 5.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Everyone but Stewie played awful in game 3. They need everyone to contribute if they want to avoid a game 5.

Stewie was hot for the first 10 minutes of the game, then went ice cold. Started 4-4, then went 3-13 the rest of the way. I don't think you can really elevate her above the rest of the team. Also I wouldn't describe JJ or Fieibich as awful.

 

[baggerbob]

Are we watching the same play offs? One game where Vegas played a heck of a loy better defence was the reason behind this. Ionescu's performance throughout the play offs has been much better than what she was last season.

Sabrina has been great in the playoffs up to this point, but they need her playing at her best to win a championship.
Sabrina, Stewie, and Jones, at least 2 of those 3 need to play well, and the bench needs to perform if the Liberty want to win the Championship.

 

[cancontent]

Sabrina has been great in the playoffs up to this point, but they need her playing at her best to win a championship.
Sabrina, Stewie, and Jones, at least 2 of those 3 need to play well, and the bench needs to perform if the Liberty want to win the Championship.

Yes but players have bad games. It happens even with the stars. At the same time, kudos has to go to Vegas for doing a good job in limiting her effectiveness Friday night.

 

[nwhoopfan]

When did Ruocco and Lobo get so blatantly biased? They are complaining about pretty much every call that goes against New York. It's really bad and obvious.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Wow Vegas is just awful today. Nobody can hit a shot. Stewie and Ionescu pretty much beat them just between the two of them. Pretty pitiful way for the defending champs to bow out.

 

[azfan]

Liberty advance .... greater depth than the Aces. Colson exemplifies the challenges in the LV roster. Congrats to SB and her squad.

 

[Blueballer]

Vegas goes down. Happy for Stewie and her team.

 

[yhun89]

JJ running into Sandy was the funniest shi I ever seen.

 

[cancontent]

Liberty advance .... greater depth than the Aces. Colson exemplifies the challenges in the LV roster. Congrats to SB and her squad.

And to think that Fiebich might not have been playing for the Liberty had Sabally not convinced her to come to the WNBA. She's been key to the Liberty's success this season.

 

[Viet Vet]

Enjoy the “Connecticut” Sun while you can. I fear it will soon be the Boston or New England (based in Boston) Sun. WNBA growth will necessitate major city franchises.

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

Dorka had been hurt for 3 or 4 games and is just back healthy again!
And Diamond Miller is still hurt and has missed at least 6 games!
I'm hoping CT can pull this 4th game out and go to a 5th winner-take-all game!

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

If anyone from the Liberty should be getting questioned about their playoff performance, it's Laney-Hamilton. Her scoring is barely over half of what she scored in the regular season, and her shooting percentages are awful.

nwhoopfan- - -Laney-Hamilton was hurt and missed at least 5 to 6 games!
She's under Doctor's orders to only play in 5 minute clips to guard against a repeat on her knee!
She's at 1/2 strength!

 

[cancontent]

nwhoopfan- - -Laney-Hamilton was hurt and missed at least 5 to 6 games!
She's under Doctor's orders to only play in 5 minute clips to guard against a repeat on her knee!
She's at 1/2 strength!

They were made aware earlier and acknowledged the oversight.

 

[azfan]

Semi round really went according to plan showing greater distance between the one and four seeds than between the two and three seeds.

SB demonstrated her coaching acumen and Hands-On style in the previously mentioned kerflunckle with JJ.

That said the semis did have the four best coaches demonstrating their skill and acumen. We'll have the two premier coaches in the league facing off in the finals

 

[jonson]

Sabrina has been great in the playoffs up to this point, but they need her playing at her best to win a championship.
Sabrina, Stewie, and Jones, at least 2 of those 3 need to play well, and the bench needs to perform if the Liberty want to win the Championship.

And in game 4?