Dallas Wings, part 2

[Cuango]

Let’s see what the pick is first. Then the GM can shop it or keep it. Of the players you mention, the only one worth trading a lottery pick imo would be Malonga. None of the rest are difference makers, and that’s what you would expect from a lottery pick or someone you would trade a lottery pick for.

Agreed! Malonga is the only one of those I would rather have than Betts. You can’t find 6’7” with skills under any old bush! Sure, she doesn’t run like a deer but she's got lots of other strengths. Get a coach that can actually build an effective game plan around Paige & Betts!

 

[Dugway]

I heard that A’ja Wilson was going to be available.

 

[cancontent]

I heard that A’ja Wilson was going to be available.

If true........maybe there is a method to Miller's madness after all. 😉

 

[Basingstoke]

Well, we're almost at the end of this Wings season, and I'm not pleased to observe that they can only occasionally play something resembling functional basketball.
Even with the Sparks, admittedly, devoting every player to primarily stopping Paige, how could she only get 8 shots in 31 minutes tonight?
How could her teammates consistently brick easy shots generated from perfect passes from Paige?
How could her teammates constantly ignore the fact that multiple Sparks players would jump entry passes to Paige and pick them off because they were too soft or too late?
This all being said, Hines-Allen had an efficient stat line with 13 rebounds and 7 nice assists to go with 15 points (unfortunately, her shooting from the field was not so good). Aside from her judgement on when and from where to shoot the ball, she really has the capacity to be a contributor on a functional roster.
And then there's Paige, who, once again, proved that you can be brilliant without shooting the ball 20 times or scoring 40 points. Her dedication to playing team ball in the face of a defense whose primary objective was to stop her was a template of how transformative she could be on a good team. While her 6 for 8 from the field consisted of primarily scoring on drives with breathtaking finishes, she had 7 assists (she should have had double that if her teammates didn't blow easy shots or pass up attempting very makeable shots) against one turnover (a pass that sailed past Maddie who was trotting by and never turned her head, and was intercepted while Berger never attempted to make a move to receive it).
Rant over...
One more game, and then it's in the hands of Kurt Miller. May he display good judgement and have good luck - for Paige's sake.

 

[oldude]

Well, we're almost at the end of this Wings season, and I'm not pleased to observe that they can only occasionally play something resembling functional basketball.
Even with the Sparks, admittedly, devoting every player to primarily stopping Paige, how could she only get 8 shots in 31 minutes tonight?
How could her teammates consistently brick easy shots generated from perfect passes from Paige?
How could her teammates constantly ignore the fact that multiple Sparks players would jump entry passes to Paige and pick them off because they were too soft or too late?
This all being said, Hines-Allen had an efficient stat line with 13 rebounds and 7 nice assists to go with 15 points (unfortunately, her shooting from the field was not so good). Aside from her judgement on when and from where to shoot the ball, she really has the capacity to be a contributor on a functional roster.
And then there's Paige, who, once again, proved that you can be brilliant without shooting the ball 20 times or scoring 40 points. Her dedication to playing team ball in the face of a defense whose primary objective was to stop her was a template of how transformative she could be on a good team. While her 6 for 8 from the field consisted of primarily scoring on drives with breathtaking finishes, she had 7 assists (she should have had double that if her teammates didn't blow easy shots or pass up attempting very makeable shots) against one turnover (a pass that sailed past Maddie who was trotting by and never turned her head, and was intercepted while Berger never attempted to make a move to receive it).
Rant over...
One more game, and then it's in the hands of Kurt Miller. May he display good judgement and have good luck - for Paige's sake.

My feelings exactly. I would also point out that if you played the defense the Sparks played against any team in the W not named the Wings, you would get killed as the Sparks essentially gave wide open shots to anyone not named Paige.

Even worse, after Paige burned the Sparks in the paint a couple times off backdoor cuts with brilliant finishes, the Sparks started doubling Paige in the paint when she didn’t even have the ball. I was incredulous that her teammates continued to force the ball into her leading to one turnover after another.

Like you, I hope there is a method to Kurt Miller’s madness. Hopefully, he can get Paige some help next season.

 

[WiseWillie]

Well, we're almost at the end of this Wings season, and I'm not pleased to observe that they can only occasionally play something resembling functional basketball.
Even with the Sparks, admittedly, devoting every player to primarily stopping Paige, how could she only get 8 shots in 31 minutes tonight?
How could her teammates consistently brick easy shots generated from perfect passes from Paige?
How could her teammates constantly ignore the fact that multiple Sparks players would jump entry passes to Paige and pick them off because they were too soft or too late?
This all being said, Hines-Allen had an efficient stat line with 13 rebounds and 7 nice assists to go with 15 points (unfortunately, her shooting from the field was not so good). Aside from her judgement on when and from where to shoot the ball, she really has the capacity to be a contributor on a functional roster.
And then there's Paige, who, once again, proved that you can be brilliant without shooting the ball 20 times or scoring 40 points. Her dedication to playing team ball in the face of a defense whose primary objective was to stop her was a template of how transformative she could be on a good team. While her 6 for 8 from the field consisted of primarily scoring on drives with breathtaking finishes, she had 7 assists (she should have had double that if her teammates didn't blow easy shots or pass up attempting very makeable shots) against one turnover (a pass that sailed past Maddie who was trotting by and never turned her head, and was intercepted while Berger never attempted to make a move to receive it).
Rant over...
One more game, and then it's in the hands of Kurt Miller. May he display good judgement and have good luck - for Paige's sake.

As far as good judgement, unfortunately I am not as quick as you or others might be in wanting to give Miller a pass since he did not exactly show critical judgment of what IMO surely must have been many more experienced candidates when he selected Koclanes to be the coach of this team. If he stays, I wish him good luck in figuring out what will make this team a competitor instead of a cellar dweller. Wings fans deserve better or they will stay away despite wanting to see the unique and special talents of Paige.

 

[RoadMaster]

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

As far as good judgement, unfortunately I am not as quick as you or others might be in wanting to give Miller a pass since he did not exactly show critical judgment of what IMO surely must have been many more experienced candidates when he selected Koclanes to be the coach of this team. If he stays, I wish him good luck in figuring out what will make this team a competitor instead of a cellar dweller. Wings fans deserve better or they will stay away despite wanting to see the unique and special talents of Paige.

WiseWillie- - - I have said previously Koclanes is the wrong coach for this Dallas team! You can't have an inexperienced coach, coach a young team! You need a coach that's been coaching a while to know how to bring them up to speed!They all can't learn on the job!

 

[EricLA]

I'm not sure about Koclanes being the wrong coach - maybe he is - want to give him the benefit of the doubt since his team is dreadful, but...

Paige freaking Bueckers. Takes 8 shots going 6-8 with 18 points. Both Hines and Sigriest took a combined 30 shots (going 11-30) and neither scored more than 15. How on earth is Paige not getting a minimum of 15 shots per game? Maybe you are right - dreadful coaching to go along with a dreadful team?

Grace Berger as a starter? Hines as a starter (a forward shooting 31% for the season and 25% on 3)? Haley Jones as a starter? Even if that trio played for the 2nd worst team in the league (Chicago), they'd probably barely be getting bench time. (would any of them get minutes over Cardoso, Reese, Atkins, Banham, or Nurse?).

So yeah I think it's mildly criminal Bueckers took only 8 shots this game compared to 30 for the above mentioned duo, but the talent on this team is just so bad. Let's see what happens next season with the restricted and unrestricted free agent free-for-all before calling Koclanes DOA. And injuries have decimated this team.

BTW I'm not convinced Yeru is going to be any good consistently. But Guiselsoder seems to have potential, Ogunbowale can be really good, while Harris could be better than solid. James and Quinnerly had their moments early, but for their future in the league, I'm not sure that anything more than spot minutes off the bench is their destiny.

Picture starters of Harris, Bueckers, Ogunbowale, Siegrist, and Guiselsoder... Christyn Williams, Diamond Miller, Amy Okonwu, and Li Yeru off the bench? If all of them were healthy, what would their season have looked like this year? I do think they need to search free agency for some better talent but it's just so hard to judge Koclanes, based on all the injuries, and the really bad teams Dallas put on the floor for most of the season.

And I'm not sure Ty Harris is really useful to this team. They need another elite guard. Azzi Fudd anyone? Even Olivia Miles could help a lot. I'm not sure Flaujae or Latson are right for this team as they are ball dominant shooters, and you do NOT want to take the ball out of Paige's hands. Or they could go for Betts and look at free agency for an elite guard.