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.

 

[Bald Husky]

It appeared that Kelsey Plum was the primary defender against Paige, and actually she did a really good job. Whenever she got the ball, that's when the double or triple teaming occurred, and for the most part, Paige was able to get the ball out to someone in the open for a shot. Thats when they did what they always seemed to do, and that was drive into the abyss and pass up an open three. Still, I couldn't understand why Paige did not take a shot in the opening period. It was almost like she was told not to force anything, just let the game move along with the other players trying to make plays. Actually, it was sometimes comical watching how bad that team was, especially at the end of the first period. I have already mentioned earlier who the Wings should protect in the expansion draft, but the way I feel now, Paige and Maddy are the only sure things. Regarding Koclanes hired to coach a young team, let's not forget that the starting line-up and first few off the bench were not rookies when the season began, excluding Paige of course. The injuries made this team young, so you really can't put all the blame on him. Do I want a more experience no- nonsense coach for next year, of course, but I don't think that will change and I am okay with giving him another chance with a hopefully new and better roster.

 

[oldude]

Honestly, it was amazing that Paige managed to get off 8 shots against a junk defense that doubled and tripled her every time she had the ball, and then started doubling her when she didn’t have the ball when she was trying to get open in the paint.

The defense the Sparks played last night was a defense you would never see against any other team in the W with at least one more capable shooter besides Paige. LA dared anyone not named Paige Bueckers to beat them.

The Sparks literally chose not to defend the 3-pt line other than when Paige had the ball. Paige did not attempt a 3-pt shot against LA’s smothering defense. But she frequently passed to wide open teammates who took uncontested 3’s.

As a team, the Wings were an abysmal 5/23 from the arc. Maddy hit one then went cold. Hines-Allen is not a 3-pt shooter. But she seems to frequently end up with the ball in her hands at the arc with nobody guarding her. She may have hit one and then clanked a bunch. Haley Jones is not a 3-pt shooter either. She missed a bunch and also turned it over a bunch.

This Wings team is just not very good. As for Miller and Koclanes, the jury is still out imo. The Wings have had 20 different players on their roster this season. Of the 9 players who played last night, 6 were not on the roster at the start of the season.

Miller needs to core the right 6 players in the expansion draft. I don’t know if that includes Arike or not. Then he needs to draft an “impact player” with his lottery pick. I don’t know if that is Betts. Finally, he needs to bring in a group of solid, talented veterans in free agency with the significant cap space the Wings will have.

 

[BobbyJ]

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.

Defense and rebounding would be a mess. They need a big experienced animal inside and an experienced defensive guard, preferably with some size. And do a little addition by subtraction with Ogunbowale.

 

[NycUcWbbFan]

There’s yet another downside risk lemonade &1 for another year of Koclanes (unlike Chicago).

So while this year was dreadful, it hopefully netted them Azzi. Retaining Koclanes might not be so bad except when either it is the only hindrance to pursuing, with great cap space, the many prime UFA targets that are unprecedented available this offseason or Miller is able to construct a truly contending dream team around Paige (without CT’s headaches).

&1 Two first round picks — including, interestingly, the Aces — and two second round picks in the 2027 draft.

 

[WiseWillie]

Honestly, it was amazing that Paige managed to get off 8 shots against a junk defense that doubled and tripled her every time she had the ball, and then started doubling her when she didn’t have the ball when she was trying to get open in the paint.

The defense the Sparks played last night was a defense you would never see against any other team in the W with at least one more capable shooter besides Paige. LA dared anyone not named Paige Bueckers to beat them.

The Sparks literally chose not to defend the 3-pt line other than when Paige had the ball. Paige did not attempt a 3-pt shot against LA’s smothering defense. But she frequently passed to wide open teammates who took uncontested 3’s.

As a team, the Wings were an abysmal 5/23 from the arc. Maddy hit one then went cold. Hines-Allen is not a 3-pt shooter. But she seems to frequently end up with the ball in her hands at the arc with nobody guarding her. She may have hit one and then clanked a bunch. Haley Jones is not a 3-pt shooter either. She missed a bunch and also turned it over a bunch.

This Wings team is just not very good. As for Miller and Koclanes, the jury is still out imo. The Wings have had 20 different players on their roster this season. Of the 9 players who played last night, 6 were not on the roster at the start of the season.

Miller needs to core the right 6 players in the expansion draft. I don’t know if that includes Arike or not. Then he needs to draft an “impact player” with his lottery pick. I don’t know if that is Betts. Finally, he needs to bring in a group of solid, talented veterans in free agency with the significant cap space the Wings will have.

Right on, OD, all good but we all keep saying the team is abysmal and many players would never see the floor on other teams. But compare the players selected by the Wings to the expansion team Valkyries. Whose job was it to choose those players? Was it done by committee? In any event, the Valkyries did a surprising job in their selections and demonstrated a much better knowledge of the player as well as coaching skills and personalities needed to make a competitive team. The Wings?

 

[donalddoowop]

Defense and rebounding would be a mess. They need a big experienced animal inside and an experienced defensive guard, preferably with some size. And do a little addition by subtraction with Ogunbowale.

I would add Hines-Allen to that subtraction list, especially if they want better offense.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Right on, OD, all good but we all keep saying the team is abysmal and many players would never see the floor on other teams. But compare the players selected by the Wings to the expansion team Valkyries. Whose job was it to choose those players? Was it done by committee? In any event, the Valkyries did a surprising job in their selections and demonstrated a much better knowledge of the player as well as coaching skills and personalities needed to make a competitive team. The Wings?

For years and years being sent to Dallas has been regared by knowledgeable fans and players alike as akin to being sent to a Russian gulag. Player decisions look like they are made with a Weje board. The "coach", 6 yeras a film guy, assistan 2 places, 4 years and apparently so clueless that big sis had to come in to prop him up. That's what Dallas ownership does. Got a team for cocktail chat, but that is it.

 

[oldude]

Right on, OD, all good but we all keep saying the team is abysmal and many players would never see the floor on other teams. But compare the players selected by the Wings to the expansion team Valkyries. Whose job was it to choose those players? Was it done by committee? In any event, the Valkyries did a surprising job in their selections and demonstrated a much better knowledge of the player as well as coaching skills and personalities needed to make a competitive team. The Wings?

The difference is that the Valkyries had the opportunity to select unprotected players from all 12 WNBA franchises. That’s well over 60 players. The Wings could only trade for or sign players from among a handful of available options. The “big addition” during the offseason was WNBA All-Defensive and Most Improved Dijonai Carrington, who ultimately didn’t live up to expectations, was moved to a reserve role and ultimately traded for Diamond Miller and a future draft pick.

For the Wings, Christmas comes this offseason. They will have a lottery pick, perhaps #1 overall, and lots of cap space to sign from a myriad of veteran free agents. If Miller and Koclanes screw this opportunity up, then I will jump on the bandwagon calling for both to be fired.

 

[jdote33]

I love how Paige and KP go at it. It's almost must watch tv at this point. I know she only shot 8 times but she must be exhausted. Almost every play goes through her. I do think Maddy got a ton of shots she missed that she would like back. And Haley Jones just had a bad game, so the 8 shots didn't bother me as much as all the turnovers trying to force feed her the ball. Of course Arike would help but it almost emphasized the need for the team to have another player they can run stuff through. Im actually surprised they don't run more stuff through Maddy

 

[oldude]

I love how Paige and KP go at it. It's almost must watch tv at this point. I know she only shot 8 times but she must be exhausted. Almost every play goes through her. I do think Maddy got a ton of shots she missed that she would like back. And Haley Jones just had a bad game, so the 8 shots didn't bother me as much as all the turnovers trying to force feed her the ball. Of course Arike would help but it almost emphasized the need for the team to have another player they can run stuff through. Im actually surprised they don't run more stuff through Maddy

Maddy is option #2 after Paige. Last night she started off well enough, but then had an unusually bad night shooting the ball. She ended up 6/14 and 1/5 from 3. If Maddy had made a reasonable percentage of her wide open shots, Paige would have easily chalked up a double-double (points & assists).

 

[RockyMTblue2]

For years and years being sent to Dallas has been regared by knowledgeable fans and players alike as akin to being sent to a Russian gulag. Player decisions look like they are made with a Weje board. The "coach", 6 yeras a film guy, assistan 2 places, 4 years and apparently so clueless that big sis had to come in to prop him up. That's what Dallas ownership does. Got a team for cocktail chat, but that is it.

Sorry Gang, this laptop's keyboard is dying of old age and sometimes I forget to proof! Got the new powerful monster sitting right here, but allergies have me so wiped I don't have the gumption to transfer, up load, yadda, yadda right now. Fine particulates from a whole bunch of small fires have me full of antihistamines. Over the counter meds spike my blood pressure.

I'll try to do better.

 

[Cuango]

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

That will be great! We can all listen to her lecture Paige about her “privilege”. She is a truly great player, though I’m continually perplexed that she never seems to be doubled or even tripled by opposing teams. If I were facing a team that “star centered” I would absolutely sell out to force the rest of the team to beat me!

Unfortunately, she imo is extremely unlikeable and is not a unifying type of player that promotes a “team” environment in the locker room. Witness the mass defections last season. Give me a lesser player that will augment team unity. How about (not that she’s “lesser”) Phee? I’d much rather see her paired with Paige! Of course neither is likely to happen, so we’re back to Betts, Fudd, Latson, or (depending on what she does with UConn this season) Serah Williams, or perhaps some as yet unknown superstar that breaks out this season. Personally, I’d go with Betts or Williams. (Along with a new coach, of course!)

 

[BobbyJ]

That will be great! We can all listen to her lecture Paige about her “privilege”. She is a truly great player, though I’m continually perplexed that she never seems to be doubled or even tripled by opposing teams. If I were facing a team that “star centered” I would absolutely sell out to force the rest of the team to beat me!

Unfortunately, she imo is extremely unlikeable and is not a unifying type of player that promotes a “team” environment in the locker room. Witness the mass defections last season. Give me a lesser player that will augment team unity. How about (not that she’s “lesser”) Phee? I’d much rather see her paired with Paige! Of course neither is likely to happen, so we’re back to Betts, Fudd, Latson, or (depending on what she does with UConn this season) Serah Williams, or perhaps some as yet unknown superstar that breaks out this season. Personally, I’d go with Betts or Williams. (Along with a new coach, of course!)

What mass defections? All of the Ace's transactions were either signings or cuts. Plus they traded Plum and acquired Loyd and Smith through trades. The others that left were free agents.

 

[RoadMaster]