May 2024 WNBA Thread, part II

[Kaizen]

Good game to watch..

 

[bballnut90]

Didn't catch it til the end but Fever with another nice win tonight over Washington. After starting 1-8, they've won 5 of the last 7 going against a favorable schedule. Wheeler was big down the stretch making a couple of important shots for Indiana. Boston and Mitchell led the way with 22 each, Clark with 18 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals and 6 TOs on 6-12 shooting. Her FG% is creeping up toward 40% on the year. Isn't Fagbenle supposed to be back soon? Once she returns I think she'll provide a big lift for Indy.

 

[cancontent]

Didn't catch it til the end but Fever with another nice win tonight over Washington. After starting 1-8, they've won 5 of the last 7 going against a favorable schedule. Wheeler was big down the stretch making a couple of important shots for Indiana. Boston and Mitchell led the way with 22 each, Clark with 18 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals and 6 TOs on 6-12 shooting. Her FG% is creeping up toward 40% on the year. Isn't Fagbenle supposed to be back soon? Once she returns I think she'll provide a big lift for Indy.

Pretty much how it was going to play out if you ask me. The team is finally finding an identity and it's showing with a balanced scoring sheet. Their schedule to start the season didn't do them any favours either. Now let's see how they do on their 5 game stretch away from home.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Indy is playing better and with more balance, plus the schedule is easier with Washington and Chicago than it was with New York and Connecticut. They are currently a playoff team in 8th place.

 

[nwhoopfan]

If Jackie Young outscores Jewell Loyd 32-1, it's a pretty good chance the Aces are gonna beat the Storm. Chelsea Gray returned w/ 7 assists in fairly limited minutes (16). Was this Hayes' first start w/ LV? Ho hum, another 27 point outing for A'ja, just missed a double-double. Plum had 8 assists/2 TOs, not bad. And shot 50% from the floor, with a limited number of attempts. That's almost like a PG.

Nneka and Ezi combined for 40, 18 for Horston off the bench (new career high?).

 

[MilfordHusky]

If Jackie Young outscores Jewell Loyd 32-1, it's a pretty good chance the Aces are gonna beat the Storm. Chelsea Gray returned w/ 7 assists in fairly limited minutes (16). Was this Hayes' first start w/ LV? Ho hum, another 27 point outing for A'ja, just missed a double-double. Plum had 8 assists/2 TOs, not bad. And shot 50% from the floor, with a limited number of attempts. That's almost like a PG.

Nneka and Ezi combined for 40, 18 for Horston off the bench (new career high?).

That 32-1 differential is incredible!

 

[cancontent]

That 32-1 differential is incredible!

Hoping Lloyd's okay. Going 0-9 and making one free throw isn't typical for her.

 

[Dillon77]

Hoping Lloyd's okay. Going 0-9 and making one free throw isn't typical for her.

It is unusual. Really unusual. According to the game recap on ESPN:

"Seattle's Jewell Loyd, who led the league in scoring last season at more than 24 points a game and came in averaging just less than 20, missed nine shots and was held to a single point, ending a streak of 55 games in double figures. Loyd scored one point in a loss to Las Vegas on Aug. 7, 2022."

Fifty-five straight games of double-digit scoring, bookended by one-pointers in games against...you guessed it...Las Vegas.

BTW, Allisha Gray, who is usually pretty consistent, went 1-16 in last night's loss to the Lynx. Clunker night for two Olympic Gold Medal winners.

 

[Dillon77]

I watched the last half of the Fever-Mystics game and watching the Mystics was somewhat similar to seeing the Wings play the Lynx the other night: folks who normally don't control the ball did and benchwarmers were suddenly on the court. A few takes::

• Take away the 2-8 three-pt. shooting, Ariel Atkins went 8-9 from two-pt. range and 5-7 from three. Whoa! A lof of her three-pt. attempts came in desperation madness at the end of the game.
• Ditto for Julie Vanloo, who shot nothing but three's (2-10). However, she did have 8 assists and has lots of pep. Still, I'd like to see more of Jade Melbourne on the court. She's got a certain presence that looks grounded but adventurous.
• And most of all, Emily Engstler made her presence felt with her combination of rebounding, pesky defense, being around the ball on 50-50's and a few nice drives (will finish off the ones she missed with more reps). Just get that player in the line-up and let her scrap and make an impact (sans drama).

Trades are not made that often, but she's a perfect person off the bench for a leading team who needs 10-15 minutes of "dirty work."
On the other hand, she could get PT In D.C.

 

[Rb335]

Indy is playing better and with more balance, plus the schedule is easier with Washington and Chicago than it was with New York and Connecticut. They are currently a playoff team in 8th place.

The fever are 0-9 against teams in the top half of the league, and 6-1 against teams in the bottom half of the standings. Pretty much signals they are likely the 7th or 8th best team in the league. From 6/27 to 7/14 they play Seattle, Phoenix, Vegas, NY, Washington, Phoenix, Minnesota. An important stretch to figure out how to beat the top half of the standings. Otherwise they could lose 6 of 7 games.

 

[Bigboote]

I watched the last half of the Fever-Mystics game and watching the Mystics was somewhat similar to seeing the Wings play the Lynx the other night: folks who normally don't control the ball did and benchwarmers were suddenly on the court. A few takes::

• Take away the 2-8 three-pt. shooting, Ariel Atkins went 8-9 from two-pt. range and 5-7 from three. Whoa! A lof of her three-pt. attempts came in desperation madness at the end of the game.
• Ditto for Julie Vanloo, who shot nothing but three's (2-10). However, she did have 8 assists and has lots of pep. Still, I'd like to see more of Jade Melbourne on the court. She's got a certain presence that looks grounded but adventurous.
• And most of all, Emily Engstler made her presence felt with her combination of rebounding, pesky defense, being around the ball on 50-50's and a few nice drives (will finish off the ones she missed with more reps). Just get that player in the line-up and let her scrap and make an impact (sans drama).

Trades are not made that often, but she's a perfect person off the bench for a leading team who needs 10-15 minutes of "dirty work."
On the other hand, she could get PT In D.C.

I was surprised how little time Engstler was getting early in the season. As you said, she does dirty work, and she’s a disrupter and a good passer in the 3-4 slot.

 

[visitingcock]

The fever are 0-9 against teams in the top half of the league, and 6-1 against teams in the bottom half of the standings. Pretty much signals they are likely the 7th or 8th best team in the league. From 6/27 to 7/14 they play Seattle, Phoenix, Vegas, NY, Washington, Phoenix, Minnesota. An important stretch to figure out how to beat the top half of the standings. Otherwise they could lose 6 of 7 games.

If they could steal 1 or 2 from the top teams, that could set them up for confident and effective practices during the Olympic break. Lack of practice time hurt them early and their recent cohesive team play needs another jolt. They are starting to develop into the semblance of a team playing with a purpose and understanding of their teammates styles and tendencies.

 

[Dillon77]

Sky up 20-11 over Dallas in the annual school-kid matinee (which is sold out). Arike and Natasha Howard back for Wings, but Chennedy Carter (9) and Marina Mabrey (7) are outscoring the Wings so far. Angel Reese hasn't scored but has 7 rebounds in first quarter, alone.

 

[Dillon77]

42-25 Sky at half. Carter with 15 on perfect 7-7 from the field and 1-1 from the FT line. Mabrey with 10 in support. Reese has 6 pts. and 11 rebounds at half, with Cardoso with 5 pts. and 7 rebounds.

Reese is a bona fide force of energy on rebounds and 50-50s. However, she needs an intense tutorial on any shot outside of 5 feet. Cardoso's game, but would like to see some footwork development, both technically and speed-wise.

 

[Dillon77]

59-39 Sky at end of third. Reese with doubl- double of 14 pts and rebounds so far.
+
Despite being outscored 33-24 in the fourth quarter, the Sky break their four-game losing streak with an 83-72 win, led by
Chennedy Carter and Marina Mabrey, finishing with 19 points each on superb shooting from the field (Mabrey-58% and Carter at 80%).
Angel Reese now has a league record for rookies of 7 (seven) doube-doubles, finishing with 16 points and 18 rebounds.

I applaud Coach Witherspoon moving Carter and Lindsay Allen into the starting lineup, but I have no idea why she thinks Evans is a closing point guard, At a time when the Wings were closing because Arike suddently got blazingly hot, she was drving into the lane early in the shot clock and forcing shots or passes. Rather than set up Carter -- who could beat Uvun at any given point -- she couldn't find her. All one had to do was watch....

Arike shot 7-16 from three (44%), but still shot 24 times. That will start to come down now that Natasha Howard is back, who can play inside and outside. BTW, Jacy Sheldon had her first start. Even though she "just" scored 9 points, she was all over the court playing disruptor.

 

[bballnut90]

Angel with 16/18 on 7-13 shooting, plus 3 assists, and 2 steals. Massive game for her.

Dallas with no help for Arike. She gets criticized for taking so many shots, but you can't blame her when the rest of the squad shoots 13-41 (Arike went 10-24).

I still think Wings could easily make the playoffs if they can win a few games before the Olympic break. If they get Sabally back and Howard/Siegrist both return and play well, they're a top 5-6 team.

 

[Dillon77]

Angel with 16/18 on 7-13 shooting, plus 3 assists, and 2 steals. Massive game for her.

Dallas with no help for Arike. She gets criticized for taking so many shots, but you can't blame her when the rest of the squad shoots 13-41 (Arike went 10-24).

I still think Wings could easily make the playoffs if they can win a few games before the Olympic break. If they get Sabally back and Howard/Siegrist both return and play well, they're a top 5-6 team.

The announcers were pretty straightforward about Arike and the Wings: while noting she's been a volume shooter all her career, they've noted that her usage rate this year is the highest ever. That's not all by choice and could explain why she goes in such hot and cold streaks.

As noted, getting Howard back will help, but the biggest + for that team would Sabally gettting back on the floor, as well as a Siegrist who has picked up invaluable experience and confidence while Howard and Sabally were out.

if and when Reese learns a more accurate jump/set shot, she'll be pretty close to unstoppable (follow A. Thomas' lead...find your most comfortable form and go with it.)

 

[UConnCat]

Jewell, SDS in the Arike Tier. KMac has her own tier.

 

[cancontent]

Damn I hate cancer. Condolences to Sloot and her family.

 

[nwhoopfan]

What's the record for 3 point field goal attempts in a game? Arike had 16 today.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Aari McDonald has really upped her production recently for LA. Not helping much, but still a positive.

 

[bbsamjj]

Jewell, SDS in the Arike Tier. KMac has her own tier.

Seeing Nneka in her 13th WNBA Season still as efficient as ever (beyond her truly absurd MVP season where she shot 66%!!! from the field) is truly amazing.

 

[TheFarmFan]

For those debating whether Stewie is in a slump or a decline, HerHoopsStats has done a really thorough deep dive, focusing on her 3pt shooting:

Breanna Stewart's Shooting Slump

Analyzing Breanna Stewart's cold stretch from 3-point range and trying to identify possible causes

herhoopstats.substack.com

 

[Rb335]

Question about how draft pick swap rights work? Dallas has rights to swap first round draft picks with Chicago. If both Dallas and Chicago land in the lottery, does Dallas have the rights to swap their “lottery odds” with Chicago if Chicago has a worse two season cumulative record? Or does Dallas get to swap picks depending on how the lottery drawing goes? Maybe the league will factor that into the lottery drawing, so if Chicago gets a better pick, it automatically swaps with Dallas prior to revealing the drawing to the public? Curious if anybody knows, thanks.

 

[visitingcock]

For those debating whether Stewie is in a slump or a decline, HerHoopsStats has done a really thorough deep dive, focusing on her 3pt shooting:

Breanna Stewart's Shooting Slump

Analyzing Breanna Stewart's cold stretch from 3-point range and trying to identify possible causes

herhoopstats.substack.com

Nobody really knows what causes pitchers to develop the "Yips." I would think it's the same way for 3 point shooting slumps/declines.