2024 WNBA Season: Playoffs

[Bigboote]

WOW! Three out of four games decided in the final seconds ot OT. With the Lynx last inbounds play, I told my wife that Carleton would be the key. She didn’t hit the basket but did score the points.

Juhasz gave them key minutes. Not much in the box score, but she was disruptive on defense and played smart on offense. With Smith obviously not 100%, the Lynx really needed Dorka.

 

[bballnut90]

Man what a game 4. Incredible balance by Minnesota, Courtney Williams was electric tonight. No idea how NY stayed in it so close with a clunker from Stewie and a mediocre game from Ionescu. The best NY players have been Fiebich and Jones for much of the series, they carried NY tonight. Game 5 should be a fun one. I think NY pulls it off but Minnesota will get a huge benefit of Alanna Smith getting an extra recovery day.

 

[Dillon77]

Brondello making that challenge was an interesting decision. Technically she was right but I don't think she was in a position to see when Stewart got Collier on the arm. They lucked out though because the WNBA rules differ from the NBA, where Stewart would have gotten tagged with the foul.

Per the reffing:

After Wednesday, Minnesota Coach Reeve called out the refs saying there was a difference in the way Stewie and Phee are called and called against.

On Friday, the Liberty were called for 14 fouls, the Lynx 9. Was that accurate/indicative of the actual play? As you can read below, NY Coach Brondello didn't think so.

Both coaches doing jockeying right into the decisive Game 5. (see link just below)

BTW, I agree with earlier comments that at crunch time, Liberty could've/should've been looking for Fiebich and/or Jones, both of whom were on this game and the Lynx had no answer for...at least last night.

Minnesota got solid performances from all their starters, with Collier playing all 40 minutes and K-Mac 35. Coach Reeve heard someone here and went with Dorka Juhasz, rather than Hines-Allen, to help counter NYC Liberty's height and quickness up front.

Can't wait for Game 5.
'

Sandy Brondello blasts refs after Liberty loss: 'Just be fair'

Liberty coach Sandy Brondello blasted the officiating and foul call disparity following her team's 82-80 Game 4 loss to the Lynx.

www.espn.com

 

[cancontent]

WOW! Three out of four games decided in the final seconds ot OT. With the Lynx last inbounds play, I told my wife that Carleton would be the key. She didn’t hit the basket but did score the points.

Juhasz gave them key minutes. Not much in the box score, but she was disruptive on defense and played smart on offense. With Smith obviously not 100%, the Lynx really needed Dorka.

Man, I know I've said it before but it's been so awesome to see her have such an impact this season. Her hometown of Chatham ON must have been on the edge of their seats.

It gave me chills last night when I saw that happen and the free throws go in. Minnesota wasn't great at the line last night, with the exception of Carleton.

 

[JellyBean]

For those asking about Dorka, here you go.

We went bonkers last night when Coach Reeve gave Dorka the nod! All the dirty looks. All of the "We want Dorka" chants paid off

Let's go, Lynx!!

 

[cancontent]

Per the reffing:

After Wednesday, Minnesota Coach Reeve called out the refs saying there was a difference in the way Stewie and Phee are called and called against.

On Friday, the Liberty were called for 14 fouls, the Lynx 9. Was that accurate/indicative of the actual play? As you can read below, NY Coach Brondello didn't think so.

Both coaches doing jockeying right into the decisive Game 5. (see link just below)

BTW, I agree with earlier comments that at crunch time, Liberty could've/should've been looking for Fiebich and/or Jones, both of whom were on this game and the Lynx had no answer for...at least last night.

Minnesota got solid performances from all their starters, with Collier playing all 40 minutes and K-Mac 35. Coach Reeve heard someone here and went with Dorka Juhasz, rather than Hines-Allen, to help counter NYC Liberty's height and quickness up front.

Can't wait for Game 5.
'

Sandy Brondello blasts refs after Liberty loss: 'Just be fair'

Liberty coach Sandy Brondello blasted the officiating and foul call disparity following her team's 82-80 Game 4 loss to the Lynx.

www.espn.com

Brondello was HOT over the calls last night. Think that's the most ticked off I've ever seen her.

 

[JellyBean]

WOW! Three out of four games decided in the final seconds ot OT. With the Lynx last inbounds play, I told my wife that Carleton would be the key. She didn’t hit the basket but did score the points.

Juhasz gave them key minutes. Not much in the box score, but she was disruptive on defense and played smart on offense. With Smith obviously not 100%, the Lynx really needed Dorka.

This has been a great series! The games have been exciting. This has been a great testament, to me, about players stepping up and making plays. Last night, BC making her free throws. The other night, Sabrina knocking down an awesome shot to get the win. But for Bridget Carleton and those two free throws. Just an awesome feeling and epic moment for her.

For Dorka. Well said. She did a lot in such a short amount of time out there. As fans, we have been brutal with our chants about getting Dorka in the game. A few possessions here and there. Her size, passing, rebounding, is worth a few trips up and down the court. Plus, if she shoots the ball and makes those shots. That is an added bonus. But I was glad to see Dorka getting minutes out there.

I would be throwing so much at New York in this next game it would be a mess. Yelling out... "Triangle & 2", "Box-1", a "1-3 with a chaser" or flip it "3-1 with a chaser!" But this has been a great series

 

[GamecockFam]

I have a feeling that the missed foul on Stewart will benefit the Lynx in game 5. If I were a ref, I would have that missed call in the back of my mind, mixed with the comment from Coach Reeves after game 3, and that would make me more sensitive to how Stewie plays in game 5 -- possibly resulting in some unintentional phantom calls on her because of that growing unconscious bias over two games. Even with Brondello's comments, the visual confirmation of a missed foul during the game will have a greater effect on me, personally, if I were a ref.

 

[cancontent]

I have a feeling that the missed foul on Stewart will benefit the Lynx in game 5. If I were a ref, I would have that missed call in the back of my mind, mixed with the comment from Coach Reeves after game 3, and that would make me more sensitive to how Stewie plays in game 5 -- possibly resulting in some unintentional phantom calls on her because of that growing unconscious bias over two games. Even with Brondello's comments, the visual confirmation of a missed foul during the game will have a greater effect on me, personally, if I were a ref.

I can see that. What I fear is that this possible reaction to the missed call will take away from what should be an amazing game.

It's like the saying about the best refs are the ones you barely notice on the court. If Game 5 ends with a lot a chatter about fouls, that will suck in my opinion. It would throw a pall on the series for me.

 

[JellyBean]

Brondello was HOT over the calls last night. Think that's the most ticked off I've ever seen her.

Yeah, I caught her presser last night. Yeah, she even threw in "I am pissed right now!". That made me laugh.

 

[JellyBean]

I can see that. What I fear is that this possible reaction to the missed call will take away from what should be an amazing game.

It's like the saying about the best refs are the ones you barely notice on the court. If Game 5 ends with a lot a chatter about fouls, that will suck in my opinion. It would throw a pall on the series for me.

Yep. This whole series has been pretty decent and we all know that fouls happen on every play. For me, the refs have done a decent job all series and all playoffs, for me! Now that both coaches have taken a trip to "blame the refs" island, Game 5 is going to be called like an investigation.

 

[GoUconn7961]

When refs insert themselves into a game no one wins. Did all of them effect the outcome of the game, hard to say. The Liberty missed a lot of easy buckets and the Lynx defense was up a notch.

Game 5 should be a barn burner.

 

[WBBTakeover]

Per the reffing:

After Wednesday, Minnesota Coach Reeve called out the refs saying there was a difference in the way Stewie and Phee are called and called against.

On Friday, the Liberty were called for 14 fouls, the Lynx 9. Was that accurate/indicative of the actual play? As you can read below, NY Coach Brondello didn't think so.

Both coaches doing jockeying right into the decisive Game 5. (see link just below)

BTW, I agree with earlier comments that at crunch time, Liberty could've/should've been looking for Fiebich and/or Jones, both of whom were on this game and the Lynx had no answer for...at least last night.

Minnesota got solid performances from all their starters, with Collier playing all 40 minutes and K-Mac 35. Coach Reeve heard someone here and went with Dorka Juhasz, rather than Hines-Allen, to help counter NYC Liberty's height and quickness up front.

Can't wait for Game 5.
'

Sandy Brondello blasts refs after Liberty loss: 'Just be fair'

Liberty coach Sandy Brondello blasted the officiating and foul call disparity following her team's 82-80 Game 4 loss to the Lynx.

www.espn.com

She's got some nerve complaining about the refs when her team (in particular, Stewie and Jonquel) got the benefit of a very friendly whistle during the season. In fact, Jonquel is STILL getting a rather friendly whistle in the Finals.

Having said that, I think Phee was the recipient of a friendly whistle during the regular season/much of the playoffs as well. It just hasn't continued into the Finals.

Good to see Dorka get minutes so that Jonquel isn't just leaning on Phee for long stretches.

 

[WBBTakeover]

And the Liberty waste yet another great Jonquel Jones performance. I'm not sure there's going to be another one, so hopefully their big guns are ready in Game 5.

 

[ISUnorth]

Anyone here that can tell me the meaning of the cake and why it has a "seven" on it?

Fun seeing my all-time favorite Cyclone getting some love. And her having some fun playing.

 

[Dillon77]

Man, I know I've said it before but it's been so awesome to see her have such an impact this season. Her hometown of Chatham ON must have been on the edge of their seats.

It gave me chills last night when I saw that happen and the free throws go in. Minnesota wasn't great at the line last night, with the exception of Carleton.

Since the Olympics, Carleton has been -- to me -- playing at the level that Reeve has been hoping for/talking about but wasn't seen on a consistent basis (at least in the W) by many folks (Coach Reeve and @cancontent aside ). She's playing with confidence on both sides of the ball and it makes the Lynx more dangerous.

 

[cancontent]

Since the Olympics, Carleton has been -- to me -- playing at the level that Reeve has been hoping for/talking about but wasn't seen on a consistent basis (at least in the W) by many folks (Coach Reeve and @cancontent aside ). She's playing with confidence on both sides of the ball and it makes the Lynx more dangerous.

Bumping this and including this clip I just saw on Twitter.

Totally missed this part with Whalen when Carleton made this 3 pointer.

 

[cancontent]

So glad this is tips off at 8 pm. The arena is going to be electric with there being standing room only tickets left. Great way to spend a Sunday evening.

 

[MilfordHusky]

The finals were outstanding, with record crowds and viewership--and all that without Caitlin and Angel.

 

[JellyBean]

Anyone here that can tell me the meaning of the cake and why it has a "seven" on it?

Fun seeing my all-time favorite Cyclone getting some love. And her having some fun playing.

I was hoping that somebody would have answered. Pretty much it is a celebration (player of the with the cake) and the 7 represents games won to reach 8 total for the WNBA crown. 2 in the first round. 3 for the semi and 3 for the finals. Hopefully we can get the win tonight. Good luck, Minnesota!!

 

[LwrcasefaN]

Pace of these games is crazy. Lynx advantage.

 

[UConn990411]

Someone should remind Stewart that she’s 6’4 and doesn’t have to make every shot as difficult as possible.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Sabally has been huge for New York in their come back. I know a certain poster bashes her constantly, but she looks really good tonight.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Alanna Smith is getting so beat up in this series. Major props to her even being on the floor and playing.

 

[LwrcasefaN]

WNBA has become way too handsy. Thorton had an armbar just below Pheesa's neck and no call?

 

[YSRFrisbee]

Poor Alanna Smith. She has taken such a beating and that last back injury looked extremely painful.

 

[nwhoopfan]

WNBA has become way too handsy. Thorton had an armbar just below Pheesa's neck and no call?

Yep. You can say both teams are playing really good defense, but there is absolutely no freedom of movement for offensive players. This is really hard to watch.

 

[nwhoopfan]

They are reviewing a foul called w/ 3.8 seconds left, but how about the blatant traveling by Stewie on the inbounds? Shuffled her feet. Ruocco and Lobo are saying zippo about it.

 

[LwrcasefaN]

That call was TRBLLLLLLL!

 

[nwhoopfan]

Carleton got clobbered by Sabally on the rebound, no call. They were in the bonus. Should've been shooting FTs to win the game in regulation.