Big news for Paige! Kolcanes is out! (Merged) | Page 2 | The Boneyard
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Big news for Paige! Kolcanes is out! (Merged)

msf22b said:
Arike was a much better teammate than advertised
She and Paige could meld into something special
I certainly did not love her style of play in prior seasons
But I can find little fault in her play this year
Expand ...
Nah. Her defense is/was atrocious. To be starting on WNBA play-off team (which should be the goal for the Wings next year) one must be at least average in playing defense. I do not recall a single game where her defense was at least average.

Being small in stature, and not quick or fast like a handful of guards in the league who are her height, and not wanting to work through screens makes her a defensive liability.

And then you have to consider her "sore knee" that kept her out for much of the latter half of the season. Can she even put in the work prior to next season?
 
msf22b said:
Arike was a much better teammate than advertised
She and Paige could meld into something special
I certainly did not love her style of play in prior seasons
But I can find little fault in her play this year
Expand ...
You must not have watched any of her games. She plays zero defense. None. Plus she shoots 36% on FG including 30% on 3s. She has no impact on winning games.
 
Just to chime in about Arike: I thought that she was a good teammate to Paige and really tried to find a way to compliment what Paige brought to the table offensively, but it rarely clicked. There were a few rare passes back to an open Paige, but usually, after Paige gave up the ball, she would never get it back from Arike, and when Paige would pass the ball to a well positioned Arike, Arike would not take the open shots but would create a drive or a much more difficult shot with very little chance of scoring.
I think that Arike’s intentions were good, but it's got to be be really difficult to break a lifetime of habits (especially when you've been lauded for them during the course of your career).
As for her defense, I think you all have accurately commented on it here in previous posts.
 
oldude said:
For what it’s worth, the Wings new HC will be their 14th in the 27 year history of the franchise, which also includes stops in Detroit & Tulsa. During that period the Wings have also burned through 10 GM’s.
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As mentioned before, after living outside of Dallas for 10 years, I do not remember mention of the Wings in any media, particularly TV. While my memory may be flawed, there is a lot of competition for the Dallas area sports dollar. I would rate women's basketball as outside of the top 10 for coverage or interest behind the top colleges and some of the high schools (i.e. many of the N. Texas high schools seat over 30,000 and are sold out). While Paige will help, doubtful that top coaches or GM's would want to invest their careers there. Unless Paige and K. Clark team up, not sure if there are any short-term answers.
As a footnote, the Wings play in College Park Center at the U of Arlington with about 6,000 seats. Even at full capacity, this is a 15-year-old multi-use facility that is unlikely to generate the revenues needed to pay WNBA players what they aspire to.
 
HopJim said:
As mentioned before, after living outside of Dallas for 10 years, I do not remember mention of the Wings in any media, particularly TV. While my memory may be flawed, there is a lot of competition for the Dallas area sports dollar. I would rate women's basketball as outside of the top 10 for coverage or interest behind the top colleges and some of the high schools (i.e. many of the N. Texas high schools seat over 30,000 and are sold out). While Paige will help, doubtful that top coaches or GM's would want to invest their careers there. Unless Paige and K. Clark team up, not sure if there are any short-term answers.
As a footnote, the Wings play in College Park Center at the U of Arlington with about 6,000 seats. Even at full capacity, this is a 15-year-old multi-use facility that is unlikely to generate the revenues needed to pay WNBA players what they aspire to.
Expand ...
The new Dallas Memorial Arena in downtown Dallas, with a 10,000 seat capacity, is scheduled to open for the 2027 season.
 
EricLA said:
Brondello has done less with more than any coach in league history. 7 If Seattle wants years of mediocrity, go for it - hire Brondello. Actually, I'd love to see how badly shey fails on a team with slightly above average, but not elite, talent.
Expand ...
Mediocrity - defined by Cambridge-not very good at something or not very good at anything in particular, or something that is not very good:

Hummmm...... Lots of contemporary talk today about how our educational system is failing students. This post characterization exemplary of that failure. You can call Sandy Brondello a lot of things she's been characterized as a warm, wonderful caring human being, a respectful human being, a supportive coach, and of course one of the greatest coaches the WNBA has been fortunate enough to have in their history.

Clearly one of the top 10 coaches of all time in the WNBA history.

One of only two coaches to win championships with two separate franchises

6th in all-time wins

Second all-time playoff victories

Internationally successful coach wedding championships in her native Australia


New York Liberty (2022-2025)

  • Achievements:
    • 107-53 regular season record.
    • First WNBA championship in franchise history (2024).
    • Back-to-back WNBA Finals appearances (2023, 2024).
    • Commissioner's Cup title (2023).
    • Became the winningest coach in Liberty history.
    • Led the team to a franchise-record 32 wins in both 2023 and 2024.
    • Missed the playoffs just once in her four-season tenure.
  • Context:
Phoenix Mercury (2014-2021)

  • Achievements:
    • WNBA Championship in 2014.
    • Became the all-time winningest coach for the Mercury.
Other Coaching Achievements


  • Australia National Team: Coached the Australian Opals at two Olympics and won a bronze medal.
  • Career Wins: Holds over 300 career wins across her WNBA coaching stops.
Sandy Brondello can be characterized in a number of ways. Mediocre is not one.

I guess it's reflective of our day and age that labeling, particularly inaccurate labeling has become a constant in public discourse. Inappropriate or inaccurate labeling is a sign of sloppy thinking or in this case perhaps the absence of thinking.

Suggesting that a two-time championship coach in the w, a successful Olympic coach, an all-time franchise winning coach is mediocre would be laughable if it were not pathetic.

Examples of mediocre in the coaching profession: the video master, Derek Fisher, Nikki Blue, Dee Brown, Shell Dailey, Teresa Edwards, Walt Hopkins, Vanessa Nyguard.......

This post was so reminiscent of Mark Twain's criticism of James Fenimore Cooper
 
Last edited:
azfan said:
Mediocrity - defined by Cambridge-not very good at something or not very good at anything in particular, or something that is not very good:

Hummmm...... Lots of contemporary talk today about how our educational system is failing students. This post characterization exemplary of that failure. You can call Sandy Brondello a lot of things she's been characterized as a warm, wonderful caring human being, a respectful human being, a supportive coach, and of course one of the greatest coaches the WNBA has been fortunate enough to have in their history.

Clearly one of the top 10 coaches of all time in the WNBA history.

One of only two coaches to win championships with two separate franchises

6th in all-time wins

Second all-time playoff victories

Internationally successful coach wedding championships in her native Australia


New York Liberty (2022-2025)

  • Achievements:
    • 107-53 regular season record.
    • First WNBA championship in franchise history (2024).
    • Back-to-back WNBA Finals appearances (2023, 2024).
    • Commissioner's Cup title (2023).
    • Became the winningest coach in Liberty history.
    • Led the team to a franchise-record 32 wins in both 2023 and 2024.
    • Missed the playoffs just once in her four-season tenure.
  • Context:
Phoenix Mercury (2014-2021)

  • Achievements:
    • WNBA Championship in 2014.
    • Became the all-time winningest coach for the Mercury.
Other Coaching Achievements


  • Australia National Team: Coached the Australian Opals at two Olympics and won a bronze medal.
  • Career Wins: Holds over 300 career wins across her WNBA coaching stops.
Sandy Brondello can be characterized in a number of ways. Mediocre is not one.

I guess it's reflective of our day and age that labeling, particularly inaccurate labeling has become a constant in public discourse. Inappropriate or inaccurate labeling is a sign of sloppy thinking or in this case perhaps the absence of thinking.

Suggesting that a two-time championship coach in the w, a successful Olympic coach, an all-time franchise winning coach is mediocre would be laughable if it were not pathetic.

Examples of mediocre in the coaching profession: the video master, Derek Fisher, Nikki Blue, Dee Brown, Shell Dailey, Teresa Edwards, Walt Hopkins, Vanessa Nyguard.......

This post was so reminiscent of Mark Twain's criticism of James Fenimore Cooper
Expand ...
Like it or not, professional sports is characterized by a “What have you done for me lately?” mentality. While Brondello’s resume is stellar, this year’s Liberty team clearly underperformed. The owners, the media and the fans are all asking why.

The Liberty had their share of injuries, to be sure. But they were basically healthy for the playoffs. In addition, they brought in Emma Meesman in July as basically “the missing piece.” She never lived up to the hype.

With a disappointing season over and a bunch of veterans set to become free agents, we have to assume that ownership in NY believes they need to go in another direction. Time will tell whether they chose wisely…..
 
azfan said:
Mediocrity - defined by Cambridge-not very good at something or not very good at anything in particular, or something that is not very good:

Hummmm...... Lots of contemporary talk today about how our educational system is failing students. This post characterization exemplary of that failure. You can call Sandy Brondello a lot of things she's been characterized as a warm, wonderful caring human being, a respectful human being, a supportive coach, and of course one of the greatest coaches the WNBA has been fortunate enough to have in their history.

Clearly one of the top 10 coaches of all time in the WNBA history.

One of only two coaches to win championships with two separate franchises

6th in all-time wins

Second all-time playoff victories

Internationally successful coach wedding championships in her native Australia


New York Liberty (2022-2025)

  • Achievements:
    • 107-53 regular season record.
    • First WNBA championship in franchise history (2024).
    • Back-to-back WNBA Finals appearances (2023, 2024).
    • Commissioner's Cup title (2023).
    • Became the winningest coach in Liberty history.
    • Led the team to a franchise-record 32 wins in both 2023 and 2024.
    • Missed the playoffs just once in her four-season tenure.
  • Context:
Phoenix Mercury (2014-2021)

  • Achievements:
    • WNBA Championship in 2014.
    • Became the all-time winningest coach for the Mercury.
Other Coaching Achievements


  • Australia National Team: Coached the Australian Opals at two Olympics and won a bronze medal.
  • Career Wins: Holds over 300 career wins across her WNBA coaching stops.
Sandy Brondello can be characterized in a number of ways. Mediocre is not one.

I guess it's reflective of our day and age that labeling, particularly inaccurate labeling has become a constant in public discourse. Inappropriate or inaccurate labeling is a sign of sloppy thinking or in this case perhaps the absence of thinking.

Suggesting that a two-time championship coach in the w, a successful Olympic coach, an all-time franchise winning coach is mediocre would be laughable if it were not pathetic.

Examples of mediocre in the coaching profession: the video master, Derek Fisher, Nikki Blue, Dee Brown, Shell Dailey, Teresa Edwards, Walt Hopkins, Vanessa Nyguard.......

This post was so reminiscent of Mark Twain's criticism of James Fenimore Cooper
Expand ...
I loved your response! Except I kinda think Twain was right about Cooper.
 
oldude said:
Like it or not, professional sports is characterized by a “What have you done for me lately?” mentality. While Brondello’s resume is stellar, this year’s Liberty team clearly underperformed. The owners, the media and the fans are all asking why.
Expand ...
Absolutely!

For example

Andy Reid fired by Eagles

Other examples

Tom Thibodeau

Gregg Berhaulter

No one in their right mind would consider any of these coaches mediocre. As you say they all are stellar coaches just changing conditions.

Twain wrote about the literary offenses of James Fenimore Cooper. Twain might also find the use of the label mediocre for a stellar coach to be an offense. As do I.
 
azfan said:
Absolutely!

For example

Andy Reid fired by Eagles

Other examples

Tom Thibodeau

Gregg Berhaulter

No one in their right mind would consider any of these coaches mediocre. As you say they all are stellar coaches just changing conditions.

Twain wrote about the literary offenses of James Fenimore Cooper. Twain might also find the use of the label mediocre for a stellar coach to be an offense. As do I.
Expand ...
In addition to being one of the greatest American writers, Twain was also a remarkable essayist and humorist. As such, he produced numerous, biting “tongue in cheek” criticisms and satire related to writers, politicians and others during his illustrious career. The writing of Austen, Goldsmith, Stevenson and Elliott all served as fodder for Twain’s critiques. More than any other writer, when it comes to Twain, I find myself saying, “I wish I had said that.”
 
azfan said:
Mediocrity - defined by Cambridge-not very good at something or not very good at anything in particular, or something that is not very good:

Hummmm...... Lots of contemporary talk today about how our educational system is failing students. This post characterization exemplary of that failure. You can call Sandy Brondello a lot of things she's been characterized as a warm, wonderful caring human being, a respectful human being, a supportive coach, and of course one of the greatest coaches the WNBA has been fortunate enough to have in their history.

Clearly one of the top 10 coaches of all time in the WNBA history.

One of only two coaches to win championships with two separate franchises

6th in all-time wins

Second all-time playoff victories

Internationally successful coach wedding championships in her native Australia


New York Liberty (2022-2025)

  • Achievements:
    • 107-53 regular season record.
    • First WNBA championship in franchise history (2024).
    • Back-to-back WNBA Finals appearances (2023, 2024).
    • Commissioner's Cup title (2023).
    • Became the winningest coach in Liberty history.
    • Led the team to a franchise-record 32 wins in both 2023 and 2024.
    • Missed the playoffs just once in her four-season tenure.
  • Context:
Phoenix Mercury (2014-2021)

  • Achievements:
    • WNBA Championship in 2014.
    • Became the all-time winningest coach for the Mercury.
Other Coaching Achievements


  • Australia National Team: Coached the Australian Opals at two Olympics and won a bronze medal.
  • Career Wins: Holds over 300 career wins across her WNBA coaching stops.
Sandy Brondello can be characterized in a number of ways. Mediocre is not one.

I guess it's reflective of our day and age that labeling, particularly inaccurate labeling has become a constant in public discourse. Inappropriate or inaccurate labeling is a sign of sloppy thinking or in this case perhaps the absence of thinking.

Suggesting that a two-time championship coach in the w, a successful Olympic coach, an all-time franchise winning coach is mediocre would be laughable if it were not pathetic.

Examples of mediocre in the coaching profession: the video master, Derek Fisher, Nikki Blue, Dee Brown, Shell Dailey, Teresa Edwards, Walt Hopkins, Vanessa Nyguard.......

This post was so reminiscent of Mark Twain's criticism of James Fenimore Cooper
Expand ...
The point I was trying to make was that she won 1 championship in her first year with Phoneix with Dee, Brit, Bonner, Dupree, Taylor and others all in their prime, then went 6 years not winning. Phoenix basically fired her. Then she went to NYL and won with a boatload of talent, underperforming this year. NYL basically fired her. With all that talent, IMHO she underperformed, and obviously Phx and NY felt the same way.

My point was that she was moderately successful with incredible talent. 11 seasons coaching 2 different teams who at the time had close to, if not the best, talent in the league. Put her on a team with lesser quality talent and you would have mediocrity. So yeah she's had tons of success in the W, but she's ALWAYS been on teams with tons of talent. You think she would have had a better record in Dallas this season if she'd been the coach instead of Koclanes? Maybe, maybe not, but i'd have loved to have seen that.

I think the illusion of Brondello is that she's such a great coach, but in her 11 years in the W she coached uber elite Phoenix and uber elite New York. But obviously just my opinion, and I would enjoy seeing her take over Dallas or one of the new teams and see how she does on teams with far less talent. Let her start in Toronto or Portland from scratch, or take over Dallas and build that - do the kind of coaching job that Nakase did at Golden State, then I'll jump on "Brondello is an amazing coach" bus...

By the way how about the million dollar coach? Pretty impressive in only 2 years. What an awesome hire!
 
Basingstoke said:
Just to chime in about Arike: I thought that she was a good teammate to Paige and really tried to find a way to compliment what Paige brought to the table offensively, but it rarely clicked. There were a few rare passes back to an open Paige, but usually, after Paige gave up the ball, she would never get it back from Arike, and when Paige would pass the ball to a well positioned Arike, Arike would not take the open shots but would create a drive or a much more difficult shot with very little chance of scoring.
I think that Arike’s intentions were good, but it's got to be be really difficult to break a lifetime of habits (especially when you've been lauded for them during the course of your career).
As for her defense, I think you all have accurately commented on it here in previous posts.
Expand ...
I think this is pretty accurate. Arike made an honest attempt to blend in and play more off the ball, but that is not her strength. The volume of scoring went down without a big increase in efficiency, and her other stats and skills are mediocre at best.

In short if you are not going to let her be a high volume medium efficiency ball dominant one on one scorer, there is not much reason to use her at all. Her best value is with a weak offensive team as a starter, or more likely as a Vinny Johnson like creative offensive spark off the bench IMO.
 
azfan said:
Mediocrity - defined by Cambridge-not very good at something or not very good at anything in particular, or something that is not very good:

Hummmm...... Lots of contemporary talk today about how our educational system is failing students. This post characterization exemplary of that failure. You can call Sandy Brondello a lot of things she's been characterized as a warm, wonderful caring human being, a respectful human being, a supportive coach, and of course one of the greatest coaches the WNBA has been fortunate enough to have in their history.

Clearly one of the top 10 coaches of all time in the WNBA history.

One of only two coaches to win championships with two separate franchises

6th in all-time wins

Second all-time playoff victories

Internationally successful coach wedding championships in her native Australia


New York Liberty (2022-2025)

  • Achievements:
    • 107-53 regular season record.
    • First WNBA championship in franchise history (2024).
    • Back-to-back WNBA Finals appearances (2023, 2024).
    • Commissioner's Cup title (2023).
    • Became the winningest coach in Liberty history.
    • Led the team to a franchise-record 32 wins in both 2023 and 2024.
    • Missed the playoffs just once in her four-season tenure.
  • Context:
Phoenix Mercury (2014-2021)

  • Achievements:
    • WNBA Championship in 2014.
    • Became the all-time winningest coach for the Mercury.
Other Coaching Achievements


  • Australia National Team: Coached the Australian Opals at two Olympics and won a bronze medal.
  • Career Wins: Holds over 300 career wins across her WNBA coaching stops.
Sandy Brondello can be characterized in a number of ways. Mediocre is not one.

I guess it's reflective of our day and age that labeling, particularly inaccurate labeling has become a constant in public discourse. Inappropriate or inaccurate labeling is a sign of sloppy thinking or in this case perhaps the absence of thinking.

Suggesting that a two-time championship coach in the w, a successful Olympic coach, an all-time franchise winning coach is mediocre would be laughable if it were not pathetic.

Examples of mediocre in the coaching profession: the video master, Derek Fisher, Nikki Blue, Dee Brown, Shell Dailey, Teresa Edwards, Walt Hopkins, Vanessa Nyguard.......

This post was so reminiscent of Mark Twain's criticism of James Fenimore Cooper
Expand ...
Your jab at the quality of EricLA's education was over the top. I respect his posts. Then you go on to complain about labeling. Does this strike you as being hypercritical?
 
Paige isn't getting any smaller on the Net. Is it saying something about Koclanes? I think not, but....

 

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