Napheesa and possible MVP

[Blakeon18]

Napheesa sprained her ankle in a recent game. She apparently has dodged a severe injury but
will be missing 2 weeks [or more] of games. Getting her 100% for Minnesota's playoffs takes
priority but I would think her absence for that long a period would harm her chances for the MVP...which has been touted pretty
much since before the season began,,,and her play so far has been at that level.

 

[faninwisc]

What does this have to do with recruiting?

 

[Blakeon18]

Nothing to do with recruiting. That's why I posted it on the regular board. It was moved to 'recruiting'...
have no idea why.

 

[MilfordHusky]

I think Phee's injury will hurt her MVP chances. It depends on how long she is out and how much the other elite stars shine: A'ja, AT, Sabrina, Stewie, et al.

 

[oldude]

I think that Phee’s injury now makes Paige the clear favorite for MVP……..

 

[oldhusky]

I think Phee's injury will hurt her MVP chances. It depends on how long she is out and how much the other elite stars shine: A'ja, AT, Sabrina, Stewie, et al.

I think you are probably right, but I could see how it could enhance her MVP chances, if the team looks terrible in her absence. That would only emphasize how critical she is to that team, particularly if they immediately looked like top contenders again on her return.

 

[Blakeon18]

Mod: thanks for moving this thread back to this page.

 

[JellyBean]

I think Napheesa is safe in the MVP conversation.

 

[WiseWillie]

I think that Phee’s injury now makes Paige the clear favorite for MVP……..

No matter the topic, Boneyarders always will provide clever insight and many times a most surprising or illuminating perspective. Who needs Netflix when you have the Boneyard.

 

[Blakeon18]

I think Napheesa...and...Paige...are 'safe' in the MVP conversation. Too many factors still to be determined to
declare a winner...including missed games...how they play....and the play of several other excellent players.

 

[maccca3232]

The worst case scenario, if she misses the rest of the regular season, I think she probably still wins. She is the best player on the best team.

Attached graphs show WS (Win Shares) and PER (Player Efficiency Rating) from this and last season.

Wilson is the only one anywhere near Collier in PER and potentially may not catch Collier in Win Shares, not to mention the Aces are only a .500 team.

 

[EricLA]

Honestly I don't know. IF it's "only" 2 weeks, if she comes back about the same and finishes the year off, not sure it has much of an impact. But if she misses 3 weeks or more... yeah it would impact.

 

[bballnut90]

I think the only other players in contention right now are Sabrina Ionescu, Alyssa Thomas and Allisha Gray. MVP almost always comes from a team that's top 3-4 in the standings. I don't see A'ja Wilson having any shot at it if Vegas continues to underachieve and be a .500 team. Stewart has been injured and Ionescu appears to be likely candidate out of New York at this point.

Collier is far ahead of the pack though. Best player on the clear best team with the best stats is a complete home run for MVP. I think as long as she doesn't miss 10+ games the award is hers.

 

[NYCHUSKIES]

I think that Phee’s injury now makes Paige the clear favorite for MVP……..

Correct me if I'm wrong, but all the wnba teams, regardless of record, make the playoffs right? If not, Paige can win MVP if the Wings make it to the playoffs. I honestly don't see Paige winning MVP over Aja and company, while not making it to the playoffs. The flipside of the wings not making it to the playoffs is that they have the opportunity to get Azzi.

Phee was my clear cut favorite for MVP this year. Her impact on the Lynx speaks for itself with their league record alone. The Lynx can loose their next 5 games and still be tied or have the lead in the wnba team rankings. Even being out two weeks, she should still be considered as an MVP candidate.

 

[oldude]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but all the wnba teams, regardless of record, make the playoffs right? If not, Paige can win MVP if the Wings make it to the playoffs. I honestly don't see Paige winning MVP over Aja and company, while not making it to the playoffs. The flipside of the wings not making it to the playoffs is that they have the opportunity to get Azzi.

Phee was my clear cut favorite for MVP this year. Her impact on the Lynx speaks for itself with their league record alone. The Lynx can loose their next 5 games and still be tied or have the lead in the wnba team rankings. Even being out two weeks, she should still be considered as an MVP candidate.

I must say that I am a bit surprised that someone took my comment seriously, particularly given my inclusion of the sarcastic emoji “”.

 

[MilfordHusky]

I think you are probably right, but I could see how it could enhance her MVP chances, if the team looks terrible in her absence. That would only emphasize how critical she is to that team, particularly if they immediately looked like top contenders again on her return.

I think you raise a valid point, but is Phee (or any player) worthy of the MVP award for playing, say, only 2/3 of a season?

 

[BBallF]

I must say that I am a bit surprised that someone took my comment seriously, particularly given my inclusion of the sarcastic emoji “”.

When it comes to mentioning Paige and an award, we are always very serious and are obviously humorless. An MVP in the W is a foregone conclusion for her. Just a matter of when and how many. No jokes about our Paige are apparently ever allowed here. Tsk tsk.

 

[bballnut90]

I think you raise a valid point, but is Phee (or any player) worthy of the MVP award for playing, say, only 2/3 of a season?

NBA requires 65/82 games played to be eligible for post season awards (about 79% of games played). I don't think the WNBA has a set rule, but if they used a similar one then Pheesa would have to play in at least 35 WNBA games, meaning she can miss up to 5 more games before she'd fall into territory of being ineligible.

2 weeks from her injury date would have her back on 8/19 and she'd miss 3 more games. The prognosis said at least 2 weeks though, so it could be longer. Awards are great and all but if I'm Reeve the last thing I'd want is to rush her back too soon and risk reinjury with playoffs just around the corner

 

[Skeets]

I must say that I am a bit surprised that someone took my comment seriously, particularly given my inclusion of the sarcastic emoji “”.

I'll admit I was scratching my head, what is OD talking (actually typing) about? I missed the emoji. I decided you meant rookie of the year, but MVP entered the post instead.

 

[EricLA]

I think Wilson is climbing up the MVP ladder - if she continues with 25-30 PPG performances and Phee remains out, I could see Wilson and a few others passing Phee by.

I agree that if Vegas languishes close to a .500 record, it won't happen, but they are slowly but surely climbing up the standings and will likely be #4-5 before the season is done.

 

[GoChips20]

I think Wilson is climbing up the MVP ladder - if she continues with 25-30 PPG performances and Phee remains out, I could see Wilson and a few others passing Phee by.

I agree that if Vegas languishes close to a .500 record, it won't happen, but they are slowly but surely climbing up the standings and will likely be #4-5 before the season is done.

Love Wilson but just can’t see it happening this year. I think her winning last year with Vegas as the #4 team was kind of an anomaly. She was just so far above the rest of the league.

If we’re measuring in-season rather than by a couple years, Collier is the best player in the world right now, and I can’t see anyone else winning MVP unless she misses 5+ more games. In that case either Ionescu or Thomas would be deserving winners, but it would still feel like somewhat of a technicality to me.

 

[visitingcock]

With Begas now fighting Atlanta and NY for second down the stretch, A’ja is back in the race. Her performance has been dominant during that time but I think the Ace’s need to win that second spot.

Phee might still win it due to voter fatigue with A’ja - which is not to say Napheesa wouldn’t deserve it.

 

[Cuango]

I think Napheesa is safe in the MVP conversation.

I would have thought so too but all during this time A’ja Wilson has been absolutely killing it! I still think Phee will win but It could get uncomfortably close if Phee misses much more time. Speaking of Wilson, can anyone explain why teams are not doubling or even tripling her, taking the ball out of her hands etc? If I were coaching against her and she’s routinely putting up 30+ points, I would absolutely sell out and make everyone else beat me! I might lose anyway but there is no way I’m letting her put up 35 & 17 with 12-13 free throws! And yet, I never see them even trying that? I don’t get it! Wilson is definitely not my cup of tea but you cannot deny she is an unbelievable player and you simply cannot play her one on one! Of course, maybe she would still put up big numbers even through double teaming etc but I would at least try to keep the ball out of her hands. I’ll bet she wouldn’t be scoring 35/16/4 w/ 12 fts against a Geno coached team! He would make everyone else beat him. Or, he would let her have hers and shut down the others. The material point being, he would try something!

Frankly, I just don’t think the WNBA coaches are very good. There are a few, I suppose, but most of them seem to be pretty bad. When I see Boston, Howard etc setting screens for Clark and then routinely pulling out/breaking for the basket before there’s any contact, I just have to wonder what Stephanie White is watching? Or when Mitchell, McDonald, Howard, absolutely ignore the wide open, unguarded Sophie Cunningham (when Cunningham was on a streak of shooting 60% from three) ditto Clark when she was healthy, I just have to wonder if she just doesn’t know how to coach? Go Phee!

 

[boontonbomber]

I think Napheesa probably has been the best player through all the games she's played. I'm not a big fan of Alyssa Thomas, but I don't think any player has been as important to her team as she has been to the Mercury. I've always thought that there should be 2 awards, MVP and best player. Of course, a player could be both.