Moriah!!!

[HardHatGuy#2]

IMHO Moriah has finally figured out they she doesn't have the team around her that she used to have; here SHE is the star. Gears grind as the paradigm shifts without a clutch, and now she's playing like we all know she can.

Next step: Build a team around a star PG.

 

[DaddyChoc]

I wonder if they are having issues getting sneakers that fit? Recall a couple of years back and the entire UConn team had new kicks except MoJet; they didn't make them in her size.

I sort of thought about that with her... but wonder if its her "Adidas" contract that allow her to wear her "own sneaker"

 

[msf22b]

For all my bellyaching on Candace's behalf, that sure was a pretty lame defensive effort.

 

[OldAlum]

It seems all the players wear different sneakers. I like the different colors - makes it easy to keep track of players! I am surprised Mo has as many assists as she does when so few of her teammates can put the ball in the basket. Kayla is a scorer, but she usually creates her own shots. There were several times when Mo penetrated and then you could practically see her think "Oh, s***, nobody moved to get open for a pass!" OTOH, you can see that some of the passes she completed successfully in college are sniffed out and intercepted more often in the pros.

 

[HuskyNan]

Was it at Senior's Day when Dee thanked her team for playing defense for her?

If I remember correctly, she specifically thanked Ashley Battle for playing D for her.

 

[bags27]

If I remember correctly, she specifically thanked Ashley Battle for playing D for her.

so maybe her nickname "Dee" is ironic?

 

[iri10]

For all my bellyaching on Candace's behalf, that sure was a pretty lame defensive effort.

Candace often looks like a gazelle on offense...and a bit of a shambling old man on defense.

(yeah, bit of an exaggeration on the defense, but you know what I mean. Still, I bet Stewie would have done enough to get that block or at least bother Moriah's shot a bit)

 

[CocoHusky]

Have you seen Taurasi's defense this season?

No I haven't. Have you?

 

[CocoHusky]

I wonder if they are having issues getting sneakers that fit? Recall a couple of years back and the entire UConn team had new kicks except MoJet; they didn't make them in her size.

I doubt it. At UCONN that was Nike and MoJeff's sophomore year which was surprising. She is with Adidas now each team has a company rep responsible for making sure she has 2 pairs of sneakers for each game.

 

[CocoHusky]

For all my bellyaching on Candace's behalf, that sure was a pretty lame defensive effort.

But are we going to judge CP on one defensive play. Rookie Allen Iverson once double crossed up MJ so bad it became legendary. I think CP's team won the game but I'm not sure.

 

[bags27]

great move, but actually Jordan made a credible attempt to block the shot, even after Iverson's unworldly moves.

Very cool that this tape followed that one on YouTube. This is definitely worth 9 minutes:

 

[Orangutan]

Candace often looks like a gazelle on offense...and a bit of a shambling old man on defense.

(yeah, bit of an exaggeration on the defense, but you know what I mean. Still, I bet Stewie would have done enough to get that block or at least bother Moriah's shot a bit)

I feel compelled to point out that Parker's defensive rating (points per 100 possessions allowed while she is on the floor) is a microscopic 83. Last year LaToya Sanders led the league at 87.5.

 

[OldAlum]

Mo added to her family!

Rats! It wont let me copy & paste. Cute picture of Mo and adopted pup, Ginger...

 

[OldAlum]

 

[iri10]

I feel compelled to point out that Parker's defensive rating (points per 100 possessions allowed while she is on the floor) is a microscopic 83. Last year LaToya Sanders led the league at 87.5.

Which makes her about 6th best on her own team, currently (and less than a point better than two others on her team). More importantly, it's a bit early to make comparisons between this year's rating and last year's no? Def rating's a bit like +/- in that it becomes more meaningful over the course of an entire season.

 

[Orangutan]

Which makes her about 6th best on her own team, currently (and less than a point better than two others on her team). More importantly, it's a bit early to make comparisons between this year's rating and last year's no? Def rating's a bit like +/- in that it becomes more meaningful over the course of an entire season.

According to Basketball Reference she is #1 on her team in that category. Beard and Ogwumike are next at 86.

I know it's early to cite that but that's a pretty good number so far for a "shambling old man". Teams aren't scoring much when she is on the court.

 

[iri10]

According to Basketball Reference she is #1 on her team in that category. Beard and Ogwumike are next at 86.

I know it's early to cite that but that's a pretty good number so far for a "shambling old man". Teams aren't scoring much when she is on the court.

Ah. I was using the WNBA stats, which agree on Parker's rating but have different numbers for most others in the league. I wonder what the differences in methodology are? (though again, the amount of data is too small to put a great deal of stock in either)

At the moment (according to Basketball Reference), there are three teams with defensive ratings well below any team's full season rating in the last 5-6 years, and two teams with defensive ratings worse than the worst of any full season's stats in that period. I suspect that will level out over time.