August WNBA thread | Page 10 | The Boneyard

August WNBA thread

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eebmg said:
I am not sure what Caldwell's training camp experience was? Was she invited to a camp? Her GA offensive numbers were not spectacular (30% 3, 40% overall efficiency) so it is hard to guess what turns a good but not great college player into a bona fide WNBA player. I suppose her run in the SEC tournament was her best of her college career. More power to the underdogs who supersede expectations.
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Drafted 33 by the Fever (the same year they selected Gondrezick 4th) and not surprisingly cut. Atlanta's final cut this training camp when they decided to go with an extra front court player.

Caldwell never averaged double digits ppg, poor shooting and 3 pt %, and unspectacular rebounds, assists, steals totals. Spot on regarding the tourney and I love a good underdog story too.

There is precedent in both the NBA & WNBA. Gardner is one that I mentioned shooting 35, 41, 43% and averaging no more than 7.9 ppg her 1st 3 years, before having a slight breakout Sr. year (still shot 26% from 3 that year). I know they aren't completely analgous because Gardner has a much longer book on her post-college, but there are other examples.
 
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GCKSFN4L said:
I couldn't agree more about Caldwell, she should have been on somebody's roster and it's me angry yet again on Vegas not making any roster changes this season. I would have easily cut
Sheppard ,Colson or even Plaisance for a bench player like her .
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Absolutely
 
I'm not an expert at all on WNBA roster/salary cap by any means, but I think biggest issue is that as with any league, the WNBA is not an open tryout for the best 144 players. You need to be the right player, at the right time, on the right team. There are at least a dozen or more players who could be on WNBA teams who are not for whatever reason, and maybe 10 players on active rosters who you wonder why they are still hanging around. Plus, there's no G-league/farm system in the WNBA for teams to keep tab on players and continue to develop them. You're in or youre out.

That being said, Atlanta seems to be the home of a A LOT of players who may have been lost in the shuffle on other teams. Like Caldwell and Gardner, Wheeler had an average at best college career, went undrafted, before becoming a WNBA all star. Kristy Wallace was injured when drafted in the second round, not anywhere close to a household name. People wondered if Hilmon could make it in the league, now she's starting and doing a pretty solid job. Three years ago Atlanta was the team that discovered Laney could shoot.

On that note...Tanisha Wright for COY.
 
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bbsamjj said:
I'm not an expert at all on WNBA roster/salary cap by any means, but I think biggest issue is that as with any league, the WNBA is not an open tryout for the best 144 players. You need to be the right player, at the right time, on the right team. There are at least a dozen or more players who could be on WNBA teams who are not for whatever reason, and maybe 10 players on active rosters who you wonder why they are still hanging around. Plus, there's no G-league/farm system in the WNBA for teams to keep tab on players and continue to develop them. You're in your out.

That being said, Atlanta seems to be the home of a A LOT of players who may have been lost in the shuffle on other teams. Like Caldwell and Gardner, Wheeler had an average at best college career, went undrafted, before becoming a WNBA all star. Kristy Wallace was injured when drafted in the second round, not anywhere close to a household name. People wondered if Hilmon could make it in the league, now she's starting and doing a pretty solid job. Three years ago Atlanta was the team that discovered Laney could shoot.

On that note...Tanisha Wright for COY.
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Been vouching for Wright for weeks (T Hayes played 11 games this year) -- probably needs to make the playoffs, which will take a win vs. the Liberty. Really like her subbing a player out, having a 50 second individualized teaching moment, and immediately reinserting that player back in.

TR-P (undrafted like Wheeler) averaged 9.3 ppg on 34.5 FG% & 16.9 3% in college and started 155 of 250 games averaging 20.5 minutes/game in the W.
 
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Speaking of the Dream, Howard will undoubtedly win ROY in unanimous or unanimous•ish fashion. I do not think she deserves it -- based on advanced metrics (especially shooting, defense, & production per minute) and my eye test. I think we will see this player pass her SEC conference mate, Howard, in the future (not to the same extent that Aari has surpassed her PAC 12 conference mate, Onyenwere, already) and become an all-star caliber force. I'm interested in @TerpWomenFan opinion for obvious reasons (college & pro perspective).

Disclosure: I thought that Nalyssa would win ROY, but I failed to take into account (amongst other things) her highly physical, nonstop high energy exertion for both a shorthanded Baylor squad and then with the Fever after a quick turnaround, seemed to wear her down a bit.
 
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Tangential said:
Speaking of the Dream, Howard will undoubtedly win ROY in unanimous or unanimous•ish fashion. I do not think she deserves it -- based on advanced metrics (especially shooting, defense, & production per minute) and my eye test. I think we will see this player pass her SEC conference mate, Howard, in the future (not to the same extent that Aari has surpassed her PAC 12 conference mate, Onyenwere, already) and become an all-star caliber force. I'm interested in @TerpWomenFan opinion for obvious reasons (college & pro perspective).

Disclosure: I thought that Nalyssa would win ROY, but I failed to take into account (amongst other things) her highly physical, nonstop high energy exertion for both a shorthanded Baylor squad and then with the Fever after a quick turnaround, seemed to wear her down a bit.
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I happen to think Howard, Smith, and Austin all have all-star potential. They are just in very different situations.
 
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I would have voted for Smith a month ago, but now I'd vote for Austin. I've never been a fan of players who score a lot by taking a lot of shots, plus Austin seems to have kept her edge late in the season, where Howard is tailing off and Smith has absolutely dropped off a cliff.

But then I would have voted for Kiah Stokes over Jewell Loyd (and based on their rookie seasons, I still would).
 
NY bench trying to carry them to a victory. They have scored 41 of their 58 points. Whitcomb w/ 15 and Johannes w/ 11. Up by 7 late in Q3 over Dallas.
 
nwhoopfan said:
NY bench trying to carry them to a victory. They have scored 41 of their 58 points. Whitcomb w/ 15 and Johannes w/ 11. Up by 7 late in Q3 over Dallas.
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Sabrina completely taking over 3rd Q with 11 pts (8 reb. 6 assists) after 0 pt first half. Triple double watch? Did Crystal get pulled or injured? Only 5 minutes playing time.
 
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eebmg said:
What does this mean? She is sitting out for no reason?
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Diggins-Smith (personal) won't play Wednesday against the Lynx, Mitchell Hansen of ZoneCoverage.com reports.
 
azfan said:
Diggins-Smith (personal) won't play Wednesday against the Lynx, Mitchell Hansen of ZoneCoverage.com reports.
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To play or not to play looks like we have our answer
 
Naphessa does not have it so far in the 1st half. Since I am a Liberty fan, have to root against the Lynx.
 
My beloved Minnesota Lynx holds on to get the win against Phoenix. We also sweep the season series. Napheesa is doing okay out there. I was worried at first (game pace and getting into the flow of things), but she seems to be holding her own out there and playing decently. Great win, Minnesota.
 
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4 teams tied at 14-20 w/ 2 games to play. Who wants to get in the post season? LA isn't mathematically eliminated probably at 13-21, but really hard to see them getting ahead of 4 teams.
 
nwhoopfan said:
4 teams tied at 14-20 w/ 2 games to play. Who wants to get in the post season? LA isn't mathematically eliminated probably at 13-21, but really hard to see them getting ahead of 4 teams.
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MN with Seattle (home) and CT (Road) as their last 2 games seem to have the hardest 2 games left.
Liberty and Atlanta play a 1-1 against each other. Pheonix has Dallas and Chi at home

Phoenix looks pretty dysfunctional.

Maybe Atlanta and NY enter a pact and split the series and make the playoffs. ;)
 
eebmg said:
MN with Seattle (home) and CT (Road) as their last 2 games seem to have the hardest 2 games left.
Liberty and Atlanta play a 1-1 against each other. Pheonix has Dallas and Chi at home

Phoenix looks pretty dysfunctional.

Maybe Atlanta and NY enter a pact and split the series and make the playoffs. ;)
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whoever wins Friday's game Sunday the team will rest starters most likely.
 
Surprised no mention of Moriah's career Assist night (12 assists vs 2TO)

Highlight clip. Syl enjoying some heavy dining from Chef Jefferson

Pay special attention to an absolute dime lob pass to Syl to put the first nail in coffin and than a sweet mid range jumper for the last nail in deep.

 
eebmg said:
MN with Seattle (home) and CT (Road) as their last 2 games seem to have the hardest 2 games left.
Liberty and Atlanta play a 1-1 against each other. Pheonix has Dallas and Chi at home

Phoenix looks pretty dysfunctional.

Maybe Atlanta and NY enter a pact and split the series and make the playoffs. ;)
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i thought SEA (and WASH) were locked into 4th and 5th respectively. led me to believe SEA would not be going 100% on friday.
and then hopefully CT would be locked into their seed on sunday... clearly me rooting for MIN
 
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snlMINAJ said:
i thought SEA (and WASH) were locked into 4th and 5th respectively. led me to believe SEA would not be going 100% on friday.
and then hopefully CT would be locked into their seed on sunday... clearly me rooting for MIN
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I did not take opponents resting players so that is a factor. Got to admit this is a very exciting race,
 
eebmg said:
Naphessa does not have it so far in the 1st half. Since I am a Liberty fan, have to root against the Lynx.
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Maybe not during the first, but she had a good performance for her second game back. Played about 20 minutes as well. So far so good considering the situation.
 
snlMINAJ said:
i thought SEA (and WASH) were locked into 4th and 5th respectively. led me to believe SEA would not be going 100% on friday.
and then hopefully CT would be locked into their seed on sunday... clearly me rooting for MIN
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Seattle still needs one win (assuming that the Mystics take care of Indy) to have the 1st 2 games home vs Washington.
 
eebmg said:
MN with Seattle (home) and CT (Road) as their last 2 games seem to have the hardest 2 games left.
Liberty and Atlanta play a 1-1 against each other. Pheonix has Dallas and Chi at home

Phoenix looks pretty dysfunctional.

Maybe Atlanta and NY enter a pact and split the series and make the playoffs. ;)
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NY has the tiebreaker over Atlanta based on wins vs teams with a winning record. Minnesota has tiebreaker over everybody. Atlanta has tiebreaker over Phoenix. Phoenix has tiebreaker over NY.

LA needs to beat CT & Dallas, Minnesota to lose both, Atlanta or NY to sweep the other, & Phoenix to lose both (possibly once depending on what Dallas does to impact the 2nd tiebreaker between LA & Phoenix) -- not happening.
 
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socal613ws said:
whoever wins Friday's game Sunday the team will rest starters most likely.
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1 victory probably won't clinch. Will be enough after Sunday's results if both Phoenix & Minnesota lose their final 2 games
 
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UConnCat said:
Hmmm.

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I am not usually a fan of the drama, but am intrigued here. Last night was one of the most crucial and winnable games. Ordinarily I would give the player the benefit of the doubt, but based on @azfan 's astute posts, I cannot here.

Also, I was asked about possible MIP candidates a few days ago and I mentioned Young, Plum, & Ionescu. I read this elsewhere, but Cunningham has to be in the mix as well.
 
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