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Maya vs. Diana

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chrissaran said:
How about what Maya is doing for a team with serious injuries to key players while also having three rookies on the roster.
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I have acknowledge that she is carrying a team depleted by injuries. She is doing it by shooting a lot and scoring a lot and keeping her team in contention.
 
chrissaran said:
Minnesota is only two games back of Phoenix with injuries to key players. Phoenix underachieved last year, which is why their record is much improved. If D was on Minnesota and Maya was on Phoenix, do you think Minnesota would be only two games back, and would Phoenix be where they are with Maya? I suspect Phoenix would have done as well with Maya, but Minnesota would not be doing as well with D.
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I prefer not to make an MVP choice based on "if they switched teams." But, no, Phoenix would not be doing as well because DT is playing PG for Phoenix, a position that I do not believe Maya is capable of playing at a championship level. And, yes, I belive that DT would have Minnesota in the same position.

What I think sets DT apart, as Carolyn Peck said, so it must be true, is what's "between the ears." I think she has the highest basketball IQ in the world and she is using that to make her teammates better.
 
intlzncster said:
Hmmm. I'd still rather have DT take the shot at the end of a game (ball in hand or no). 100 times out of 100.
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At the end of a game, DT would be the one that I want bringing the ball down court and running the offense, whether she takes the last shot or not. I cannot say that about Maya because her ball handling skills and passing skills are not on the same level as DT's. Both have almost identical FG%, but if you need a 3-pointer, DT is the choice since she is shooting considerably better from behind the arc.
 
Good thing is that we get to see Phoenix and Minnesota play tonight with Maya and DT on the court together. What a treat this game should be. Brunson returned playing like she has never been, and I suspect that Augustus will do the same.
 
easttexastrash said:
Good thing is that we get to see Phoenix and Minnesota play tonight with Maya and DT on the court together. What a treat this game should be. Brunson returned playing like she has never been, and I suspect that Augustus will do the same.
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I never watch the WNBA, but I might actually tune in for this. UCONN power.
 
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Is it D's responsibility to rebound? Is it D's responsibility to bang in the post on defense? Is it D's responsibility to carry the burden for scoring? Maya has had to do more of that than D. With Griner on the back end, a lot of mistakes can be erased, and she makes life a lot easier for D. Maya doesn't have the luxury of having 6'8" in the post to pass to, around the basket to block shots and rebound. And easttexastrash, if you think that's all to Maya's game then you have missed some absolutely incredible, athletic drives. Open your eyes the next time the Lynx play.
 
chrissaran said:
Is it D's responsibility to rebound? Is it D's responsibility to bang in the post on defense? Is it D's responsibility to carry the burden for scoring? Maya has had to do more of that than D. With Griner on the back end, a lot of mistakes can be erased, and she makes life a lot easier for D. Maya doesn't have the luxury of having 6'8" in the post to pass to, around the basket to block shots and rebound. And easttexastrash, if you think that's all to Maya's game then you have missed some absolutely incredible, athletic drives. Open your eyes the next time the Lynx play.
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It seems that we may both need to open our eyes as you don't seem to be giving DT much credit for what she does. IMO, DT does more than Maya due to the fact that DT is the general on the floor. Maya has someone to do that so she can just play ball. DT is responsible for most of the things that Phoenix does on offense.

Like I said before, both do incredible things for their respective teams. They are not asked to do the same things, but for every thing you list that Maya is asked to do, there is an equally important task for DT.

Like I said, JMO.
 
chrissaran said:
Minnesota is only two games back of Phoenix with injuries to key players. Phoenix underachieved last year, which is why their record is much improved. If D was on Minnesota and Maya was on Phoenix, do you think Minnesota would be only two games back, and would Phoenix be where they are with Maya? I suspect Phoenix would have done as well with Maya, but Minnesota would not be doing as well with D.
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This is not germane to the MVP discussion, but your ending assertion is ludicrous. You really think with two of the best point guards in BB -- one of them also among the best 2-guards -- Minny's team would be worse? With the 2 of them feeding Wright (and everyone else) in Maya's absence? Oy.

I agree with whoever said the MVP should be the player -- on a high-achieving (not necessarily the champion) team -- without who they wouldn't have been able to achieve what they did. That doesn't mean I can decide between the 2 of them at this point, though. Might have to agree to split the award in the end...

There's a lot of talk about Diana's adamantine will to win in this thread. She's always had it, but I think it's edge was stropped against Sue Bird when they played together. Sue is a widely-noted do-anything-to-win personality on -- and off -- the court. Their practices & pick-up games must have been epic.
 
easttexastrash said:
I prefer not to make an MVP choice based on "if they switched teams." But, no, Phoenix would not be doing as well because DT is playing PG for Phoenix, a position that I do not believe Maya is capable of playing at a championship level. And, yes, I belive that DT would have Minnesota in the same position.

What I think sets DT apart, as Carolyn Peck said, so it must be true, is what's "between the ears." I think she has the highest basketball IQ in the world and she is using that to make her teammates better.
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I said switch teams not positions. Do you really think that Maya wouldn't start for Phoenix at her position? Without Griner on her team, and without Griner in the low post to throw the ball to, and without Griner to block shots, and without Griner to alter shots and without Griner to rebound you have to be kidding if you think the Lynx would be in the same position as they are now. Also, D would not be the point guard; Lindsay Whalen would be the point guard.
 
chrissaran said:
I said switch teams not positions. Do you really think that Maya wouldn't start for Phoenix at her position? Without Griner on her team, and without Griner in the low post to throw the ball to, and without Griner to block shots, and without Griner to alter shots and without Griner to rebound you have to be kidding if you think the Lynx would be in the same position as they are now. Also, D would not be the point guard; Lindsay Whalen would be the point guard.
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You have convinced me! BG for MVP!!!
 
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UConnCat said:
Rebecca Lobo ‏@RebeccaLobo 2h
WNBA MVP is a two-person race : Taurasi and Maya Moore. After their head-to-head last week, I'm now leaning Moore.

Geno Auriemma ‏@genoauriemma 1h
@RebeccaLobo there's going to be three winners: co MVPs and UCONN basketball.
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he has every reason to be proud! he has established such a tradition of greatness and consistency, and a great example of it is seen right here in this MVP race.

Is this the first time in the WNBA that there is an MVP race just between two players who happened to be former students of the same college basketball program?
 
RadyLady said:
he has every reason to be proud! he has established such a tradition of greatness and consistency, and a great example of it is seen right here in this MVP race.

Is this the first time in the WNBA that there is an MVP race just between two players who happened to be former students of the same college basketball program?
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Cynthia Cooper and Lisa Leslie had a few overlapping years.
Candace Parker and Tamika Catchings are still playing high level ball.
Tina Charles won it two seasons ago which gives UConn a viable third entry.
 
RadyLady said:
he has every reason to be proud! he has established such a tradition of greatness and consistency, and a great example of it is seen right here in this MVP race.

Is this the first time in the WNBA that there is an MVP race just between two players who happened to be former students of the same college basketball program?
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VAUConnFan said:
Cynthia Cooper and Lisa Leslie had a few overlapping years.
Candace Parker and Tamika Catchings are still playing high level ball.
Tina Charles won it two seasons ago which gives UConn a viable third entry.
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Let me clarify that I meant (though wasn't specific) that have there been a two "man" race in any given year to MVP in the WNBA where both in the running were from the same college? Or is this the first time the stars have so aligned?

just curious...
 
If Diana Taurasi wins the WNBA MVP this season, it will be the first time a point guard has ever been so honored. Based solely on that criteria, it is a somewhat useless argument to point out that a PG, having more responsibility, should be given more consideration.

The inside out combination of an emerging Brittney Griner and the great Diana Taurasi makes Phoenix an outstanding team as witnessed by their record. but, until they beat a healthy Minnesota team at full strength, I will not be sold on Phoenix being the best team, which in turn, defeats the argument of the best player on the best team.

Diana Taurasi is having an MVP season because she is outstanding, her teammates are playing well, Brittney Griner is an emerging superstar, her team is winning, and her stats are beyond good. I wish her well in this year's MVP race.

My opinion: I do not believe Ms Taurasi's outstanding play this year is the defining difference for Phoenix's success. She has been outstanding every year and is no better this year than last or the year before. Phoenix's success this year has more to do with Brittney Griner's emergence and the fact that Los Angles just is not the team most of us and the pundits thought they would be.
 
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RadyLady said:
Let me clarify that I meant (though wasn't specific) that have there been a two "man" race in any given year to MVP in the WNBA where both in the running were from the same college? Or is this the first time the stars have so aligned?

just curious...
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working on it:).
 


RadyLady said:
Let me clarify that I meant (though wasn't specific) that have there been a two "man" race in any given year to MVP in the WNBA where both in the running were from the same college? Or is this the first time the stars have so aligned?

just curious...
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More work to do, but here are the WNBA MVP votes from 2007-2013. So far, no two players from the same college program have gone 1-2 in the voting, but there have been a number of instances where two from the same program have been among the top five. I also would not place too much stock on the current favorites based upon punditry and the WNBA blog:

2007 Jackson Hammon Taurasi Catchings Nolan
2008 Parker Whalen Bird Young Taurasi
2009 Taurasi Catchings Douglas Pondexter Hammon
2010 Jackson Catchings Pondexter Taurasi Langhorne
2011 Catchings Charles Fowles Bird Whalen
2012 Charles Parker Catchings Moore Augustus
2013 Parker Moore Delle Donne Fowles McCoughtry
 
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Saturday will be the first time that both teams have been at full strength when they face each other, now that Minny has all their players back and Phoenix will have Erin Phillips. Saturday's game will likely tell us more about each team than the game in Minny.

I don't think either team played their best in the last game so hopefully both teams will show up ready to play.
 
RadyLady said:
Let me clarify that I meant (though wasn't specific) that have there been a two "man" race in any given year to MVP in the WNBA where both in the running were from the same college? Or is this the first time the stars have so aligned?

just curious...
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DT and Maya are now men?
 
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It is going to take much more effort to get the results from the first two years, but the information already gathered does answer the question:
1999- Griffith Swoopes Cooper Leslie Williams
2000- Swoopes Leslie Griffith Williams Cooper
2001- Leslie Thompson Griffith Smith Phillips
2002- Swoopes Leslie Catchings Holdsclaw Bird
2003- Jackson Catchings Leslie Smith Cash
2004- Leslie Jackson Taurasi, Thompson(tied for 3rd) Catchings
2005- Swoopes Jackson Catchings Griffith McWilliams-Franklin
2006- Leslie Taurasi Douglas Jackson Catchings

Lisa Leslie and Tina Thompson from the University of Southern California ran 1-2 in 2001.
 
VAUConnFan said:
It is going to take much more effort to get the results from the first two years, but the information already gathered does answer the question:
1999- Griffith Swoopes Cooper Leslie Williams
2000- Swoopes Leslie Griffith Williams Cooper
2001- Leslie Thompson Griffith Smith Phillips
2002- Swoopes Leslie Catchings Holdsclaw Bird
2003- Jackson Catchings Leslie Smith Cash
2004- Leslie Jackson Taurasi, Thompson(tied for 3rd) Catchings
2005- Swoopes Jackson Catchings Griffith McWilliams-Franklin
2006- Leslie Taurasi Douglas Jackson Catchings

Lisa Leslie and Tina Thompson from the University of Southern California ran 1-2 in 2001.
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So it did happen before. Thanks for taking a look back and gathering this information!
 
RadyLady said:
So it did happen before. Thanks for taking a look back and gathering this information!
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You are more than welcome. It could have have happened in 1998(still working on it), it did not happen in 1997(have the first three, still looking for the top five vote getters).
 
Are we sure this conversation should not be Maya vs Griner? Maya is number one in Efficiency at 26.5 and BG is second at 22.6. Per 40 minutes, Maya has an efficience rating of 30.09 and BG is at 29.48. The two have the most overall impact, it wold appear.
 
easttexastrash said:
Are we sure this conversation should not be Maya vs Griner? Maya is number one in Efficiency at 26.5 and BG is second at 22.6. Per 40 minutes, Maya has an efficience rating of 30.09 and BG is at 29.48. The two have the most overall impact, it wold appear.
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Check with Lobo - she's on Twitter
 
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