Finalist for the 2021 Wade Trophy | The Boneyard

Finalist for the 2021 Wade Trophy

Of that list I will go with the underdog and vote Naz Hillmon.

I expect Evans or Howard although I am really not sure why. They had better seasons last year.
 
HuskyFan1125 said:
Of that list I will go with the underdog and vote Naz Hillmon.

I expect Evans or Howard although I am really not sure why. They had better seasons last year.
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This Kentuckian has seen all of Evans's games and most of Howard's. I agree with you 100%. Of the candidates, I'd take Hillmon. Although I think Boston deserves it.
 
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Plebe said:
Within this list it should be Hillmon, hands down.

Smith a distant second.
Evans slightly behind Smith in third.

Rhyne Howard in an extremely distant 4th.
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Hypothetical, if smith beats hillmon on Saturday does she jump her for the award?
 
Baylor1994 said:
Hypothetical, if smith beats hillmon on Saturday does she jump her for the award?
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If Smith beats Hillmon? Are they playing 1-on-1, H-O-R-S-E, or checkers?

Basketball isn't an individual sport. And I said distant.

But the is just my opinion if I had a vote. Probably Smith or Evans is gonna get it, I suspect.
Also, how is Kiana Williams not on this list? SMDH
 
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Plebe said:
If Smith beats Hillmon? Are they playing 1-on-1, H-O-R-S-E, or checkers?

Basketball isn't an individual sport. And I said distant.

But the is just my opinion if I had a vote. Probably Smith or Evans is gonna get it, I suspect.
Also, how is Kiana Williams not on this list? SMDH
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I mean you know the media is going to hype up hillmon vs smith! They’re both players of the year in their conference
 
Plebe said:
Within this list it should be Hillmon, hands down.

Smith a distant second.
Evans slightly behind Smith in third.

Rhyne Howard in an extremely distant 4th.
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Support all of this this thinking and presentation, Plebe!
Just have to wonder who's watching or zooming who, with no Boston or Williams on this list, as others have brought up.
Hillmon is superb now and is going to have a stellar career at the next level.
 
Hillmon has had a far better year than the other three. She should win, but will she? Probably only a 1 in 4 chance.
 
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Baylor1994 said:
I mean you know the media is going to hype up hillmon vs smith! They’re both players of the year in their conference
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All four of them are players of the year in the conference.
 
Hillmon and Smith appear to me the only deserving 2 on this list, based on performance this year.
 
Season 3 Whatever GIF by NETFLIX
Meh, no Paige, no interest...
 
VidNick said:
Hillmon has had a far better year than the other three. She should win, but will she? Probably only a 1 in 4 chance.
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sivad40 said:
All four of them are players of the year in the conference.
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If Hillmon and Smith switched places would Smith have those elevated stats playing for a Michigan against that competition? Likely.

Would Hillmon have Smith level stats playing at Baylor. Probably not.

More importantly, would each team‘s success levels be impacted? Yes. Michigan probably wins 1-2 more games and Baylor probably isn’t blowing teams out at current levels.

Stats are important but not the whole picture. If both players were in this year’s WNBA draft, 100 times out of 100 Smith is drafted #1 overall while Hillmon is a 2nd rounder. Draft stock isn’t the Be All End All for awards, but it is a useful tool.
 
Adriacus said:
If Hillmon and Smith switched places would Smith have those elevated stats playing for a Michigan against that competition? Likely.

Would Hillmon have Smith level stats playing at Baylor. Probably not.

More importantly, would each team‘s success levels be impacted? Yes. Michigan probably wins 1-2 more games and Baylor probably isn’t blowing teams out at current levels.

Stats are important but not the whole picture. If both players were in this year’s WNBA draft, 100 times out of 100 Smith is drafted #1 overall while Hillmon is a 2nd rounder. Draft stock isn’t the Be All End All for awards, but it is a useful tool.
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Playing for a Michigan against that competition? The Big 10 IMO outside of Baylor is tougher than the Big 12, so I’m not sure exactly what the implication you’re trying to make is. Perhaps Smith wouldn’t do as well against that competition, or the middle would be more open for her because Michigan has more outside shooting. It’s hard to make a hypothetical scenario work.
 
Lorcan said:
Playing for a Michigan against that competition? The Big 10 IMO outside of Baylor is tougher than the Big 12, so I’m not sure exactly what the implication you’re trying to make is. Perhaps Smith wouldn’t do as well against that competition, or the middle would be more open for her because Michigan has more outside shooting. It’s hard to make a hypothetical scenario work.
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Without regard to “which league is better”, my eyeball test says that the B12 is more athletic than the BTen. Also, purely opinion, the B12 is a more defensively oriented conference and often plays at a slower pace of play. Possessions per game stat clearly supports that opinion.
 
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sivad40 said:
All four of them are players of the year in the conference.
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I know that but I’m just saying that smith and hillmon are playing way better than evans and Howard so far. Evans has struggled all postseason and Howard has been disappointing as well.
 
How I’d rate them as draft picks

2021
Evans - #6 thru #8, although #4 may have been scouting her.

2022
Howard - #1
Smith - #2
Hillmon - #3
 
Shades said:
How I’d rate them as draft picks

2021
Evans - #6 thru #8, although #4 may have been scouting her.

2022
Howard - #1
Smith - #2
Hillmon - #3
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I love Dana Evans and the way she plays, but I just don't see her as a WNBA star. She may not even be a full-time starter long term. I hope I'm wrong.
 
Shades said:
She probably won’t be a starter for years. Who’s job is she going to take?
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Nobody that I can think of.

The casual sports fan doesn't realize that the WNBA is one of the toughest rosters to make in all of professional sports.
 
KY Card Fan said:
WNBA is one of the toughest rosters to make in all of professional sports
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Very true! 12 teams, 3 rounds, 36 players who will be trying to oust current players on a 12 person roster. Very difficult.
 
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Adriacus said:
If Hillmon and Smith switched places would Smith have those elevated stats playing for a Michigan against that competition? Likely.

Would Hillmon have Smith level stats playing at Baylor. Probably not.

More importantly, would each team‘s success levels be impacted? Yes. Michigan probably wins 1-2 more games and Baylor probably isn’t blowing teams out at current levels.

Stats are important but not the whole picture. If both players were in this year’s WNBA draft, 100 times out of 100 Smith is drafted #1 overall while Hillmon is a 2nd rounder. Draft stock isn’t the Be All End All for awards, but it is a useful tool.
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This trophy is not about who projects to be a better pro. Otherwise there wouldn’t have been a debate between Phee and Gustafson, etc.
 
darkstar1 said:
This trophy is not about who projects to be a better pro. Otherwise there wouldn’t have been a debate between Phee and Gustafson, etc.
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Respectfully, not exactly correct. Too often voters simply look at stats [which often are misleading]. Draft status should be [but is not always] a look at the totality of the value of a player. Efficiency [both ends], impact on team efficiency, production against quality opponents. Granted, drafting is too often about potential rather than actuality.

Gustafson is a great example of voters simply looking at stats. Volume shooter created big scoring stats. Team did well until they reached a quality opponent. But in no reality was Gustafson the best player that year.
 
Here is an article by Her Hoops Stats on NPOY candidates. Are we surprised they included Paige and Caitlin in title?.
herhoopstats.substack.com

Were Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark the most valuable players statistically this season?

Breaking down this season's national player of the year candidates by Win Shares and Player Efficiency Rating
herhoopstats.substack.com herhoopstats.substack.com

Interesting that some favor Hillmon in this award even though the consensus thus far for the Top 5 players has been Bueckers, Boston, Evans, Howard and Smith (listed alphbetically). Is it the underdog factor?

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Exceptions were:
ESPN: Cunane over Howard
Wade: Hillmon over Boston

Interestingly no player in the Wade Trophy Finalists list is from the four No. 1 Seed teams, which defies the best player from the best team logic.
 
Shades said:
How I’d rate them as draft picks

2021
Evans - #6 thru #8, although #4 may have been scouting her.

2022
Howard - #1
Smith - #2
Hillmon - #3
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It will probably depend on the draft order next year, but I think Cunane will be taken 2nd overall.
 
Adriacus said:
Respectfully, not exactly correct. Too often voters simply look at stats [which often are misleading]. Draft status should be [but is not always] a look at the totality of the value of a player. Efficiency [both ends], impact on team efficiency, production against quality opponents. Granted, drafting is too often about potential rather than actuality.

Gustafson is a great example of voters simply looking at stats. Volume shooter created big scoring stats. Team did well until they reached a quality opponent. But in no reality was Gustafson the best player that year.
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You make my point. My mantra is that stats are overrated.
 
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