I like Melbourne, too, but agree that she most certainly rushed that shot (want to take that with just enough time for an O-rebound, but nothing more). As noted somewhere, her drive was good but if she had raised her head had Citron (for sure) and Sutton (pretty sure) wide open for jumpers. She'll learn.
Winning cultures win and losing cultures lose.
Has it been? One game against the reigning champs (Lynx), one game against what I'm guessing will be one of the best teams in the league (Phoenix), and two against an unknown whom everyone assumed would be terrible (Valks), but who have already notched two wins in three games.
This one is slipping under the radar, and I have no idea why (especially when it's the Sparks, not the Valkyries, who are 1-3 and sitting at the bottom of the West yet again). Maybe it's because people want certain narratives to be true about Kelsey Plum and Vegas, and maybe--just maybe--there's no THERE there. She and the Sparks are struggling, but this is what they want, so...
It's not strange. If you care, you'll want to do whatever it takes to win (even if it means going through a brief period of emotional discomfort). Once you win, you'll be happy. 2023-24 season taught them that (they had to bounce back from being embarrassed on national TV in March 2023 by a team that shouldn't have beaten them).
First two games: Courtney amassed 19 assists to zero (!!!) turnovers. Minnesota won both by double digits
For some reason I was thinking they played Phoenix twice, who is probably better than most thought they were going to be.
I saw ESPN's season prediction: 15.7 wins. But that was still for 13th-place.
Hahaha you're right. My brain was in the alternate timeline where the refs didn't hand it to the Libs and the commissioner wasn't literally draped into Liberty swag for that final game.For some reason I was thinking they played Phoenix twice, who is probably better than most thought they were going to be.
Uh...pretty sure the Liberty are the reigning champs though.
Yeah...I deleted my comments, but kinda felt like the zebras just gift wrapped this game for the Lib against the Fever. One team shoots, doesn't matter how many defenders are around or how much contact, no foul. Other team shoots, almost automatic whistle regardless of what actually occurred. If there was a way to get rid of refs, the sport of basketball would be so much better.
She got a 2 hand shove to the back from Cloud. It's utterly ludicrous that wasn't called.
The Fever need to work on under 1 min execution. Both losses to Atlanta and New York were lost from bad execution on the last few possessions.
Yeah that no call was
. Cloud clearly mauled Bonner. Too bad you can't challenge a no call. I wonder if they could figure out a rule to allow teams to use their available challenge to challenge a no call in the last minute of play. That feels kind of like opening Pandora's box, so I doubt it would ever happen but wishful thinking...
Cloud has always seemed to be a master of the push or hold in which she does not quite extend her elbows; hence, refs often let the push, in particular, go by. As an older, slower than I used to be hoopster who is now a lumbering not-very-powerful power forward, I have learned the intricacies of lane play. And these two actions are very much in play every week.
The new found Clark fans are really in for a rude awakening when Clark starts playing on the National team. Fiba refs and the Olympic games let a lot more go then the WNBA does. The physicality in the WNBA is mild compared to the World Cup and Olympics.
I would agree that the Fever got screwed on a couple of calls late, so that was unfortunate. Of course, I also have to point out that Stephanie White just cannot beat the New York Liberty. She's only won what--TWO games against the NYL TOTAL since returning to WNBA coaching in 2023?
Interestingly, Diggins tied the Storm single game assist record with 14. I’m a little surprised Bird never had more than 14 in a game, so I did some digging. She had 16 in a playoff game against the Aces in 2020.
In the past, I've read that Clark's issues (and frustration) comes from her expectations of a teammate knowing what to do, what she wants them to do, so perhaps her anticipation on plays is not shared?
Interesting and could make sense in some cases. On the other hand, it could be that NY anticipated and/or forced these turnovers based on their scout of Clark. Can see it being a combination of the two.
I can see that being the case for her college teammates (who were, as a collective, more physically limited than she was), but her pro teammates are taller, quicker, and more athletic. Yet--we still see a turnover rate of 25%. It's possible that her TOV% could still be high if she was throwing the ball to A'ja, Phee, and Jonquel/Stewie. This is likely a part of her game that's going to persist until she addresses it.
Thanks for this insight. I didn't watch the game, just glanced at the box score. Hopefully she'll make some corrections.
Clark is not simply a point guard. A point guard looks first to set up her team for a good shot.
At the beginning of last season I thought Clark would have been best used as an off guard. As the season went on I thought she could have been used as either, but she faces a problem of the tail wagging the dog. She is in demand by fans to do everything and the coach went along with that.
I recall an announcer stated one of Coach White's goals is to help Clark understand how to utilize her team more this year. If I have it correct, Coach White stated this is the most talented roster Clark's had to play with and not having to do it all would be an adjustment.