Not for Lack of Effort, Sun Lose

[psconn]

Courtney Williams punched the gas and left the Bone trade in the swirling dust in the rear view mirror. She had 20 points and looked like she could be the savior to the Sun's playoff hopes... the best player on the floor for stretches. If Alex and Alyssa had even average games, the Sun would have left the Garden with a 'W'.

Sun played hard and tough but they have Tina and we don't. -30-

The Sun now need a minor miracle to get what they (and we) richly deserve... Chicago up next in Neon Uncasville, maybe without EDD.

Go Sun!!

 

[Plebe]

It's exciting to see Courtney getting her shot to play and making the most of it. I plan to watch this game in replay mainly to enjoy her breakout performance. She's a spectacular athlete with that magical thing I call go-offability. This was a player not heavily recruited out of high school, and she was the main driving force in for USF's rise to national prominence.

The Sun's playoff hopes are hanging by a thread. They're now in 10th place, two games behind 8th-place Phoenix and one behind the Mystics, AND they would lose the head-to-head tiebreaker with each of the teams now in 7th through 9th.

The silver lining? Each of their last 4 games is quite winnable: 3 home games against Chicago (likely to be without Delle Donne), Indiana and Dallas (now without Glory Johnson), and one road game against the Mystics (now without Hartley).

 

[Rixxx]

Two things separate Courtney from other players: very long hair makes it easy to find her on the court and the elevation on her jump shots, very DDesque.

 

[HardHatGuy#2]

The Sun have their scorer of the future in CW. They have their inside presence in JJ. Lots of other nice pieces all around (Chiney, Stricklen, Faris, Little), but...NO POINT GUARD. Apart from UConn in 2003 & 4, YOU CAN'T WIN WITHOUT A POINT GUARD (we had Dee and they didn't).

They need to make a good trade or two to get one. Bentley is fun, but she is not a PG and holds the team back because she works for her shot more than she does for others; CW renders her available. Alyssa Thomas just isn't a superstar in a team-oriented scenario. Lose both and get the PG you need, or keep both and miss the playoffs (or go out in the first round) for the next few years. They should've made that trade last year and picked up Bon-bon; playoffs for sure, this year. Yeah, yeah...hindsight and all...

Of course, the Sun's business plan doesn't include championships; they want to fill the casino. That's why they make money and nobody else in the WNBA does (to my knowledge).

 

[UcMiami]

The Sun have their scorer of the future in CW. They have their inside presence in JJ. Lots of other nice pieces all around (Chiney, Stricklen, Faris, Little), but...NO POINT GUARD. Apart from UConn in 2003 & 4, YOU CAN'T WIN WITHOUT A POINT GUARD (we had Dee and they didn't).

They need to make a good trade or two to get one. Bentley is fun, but she is not a PG and holds the team back because she works for her shot more than she does for others; CW renders her available. Alyssa Thomas just isn't a superstar in a team-oriented scenario. Lose both and get the PG you need, or keep both and miss the playoffs (or go out in the first round) for the next few years. They should've made that trade last year and picked up Bon-bon; playoffs for sure, this year. Yeah, yeah...hindsight and all...

Of course, the Sun's business plan doesn't include championships; they want to fill the casino. That's why they make money and nobody else in the WNBA does (to my knowledge).

Robinson is a possibility from SA if they are willing to part with Thomas or possibly Morgan. Renee might be available for less.

 

[DaddyChoc]

is Hightower still around, I know she was injured but wasnt sure if she was released, traded or not resigned

 

[psconn]

As far as I know, still a Sun player. "Suspended" due to medical issues... microfracture surgery on her knee last Summer. With the need for about 9 months rehab. Current health status unknown.

Picture from July of this year:

 

[McFly]

No point guard? Tied for third in the league at 4.8 assists per game, it seems to me that Jasmine Thomas does a pretty fair imitation. It's hard to distinguish just who is and who isn't a point guard these days. Even Moriah has to look more for her own shot lately.

 

[psconn]

Not sure how it will all play out, but Pedersen, Hightower, Alleyne and Torrens (according to Jeff J) all potentially competing for a spot on the roster next year. That kind of competition can only make us better.

 

[triaddukefan]

The Sun have their scorer of the future in CW. They have their inside presence in JJ. Lots of other nice pieces all around (Chiney, Stricklen, Faris, Little), but...NO POINT GUARD. Apart from UConn in 2003 & 4, YOU CAN'T WIN WITHOUT A POINT GUARD (we had Dee and they didn't).

They need to make a good trade or two to get one. Bentley is fun, but she is not a PG and holds the team back because she works for her shot more than she does for others; CW renders her available. Alyssa Thomas just isn't a superstar in a team-oriented scenario. Lose both and get the PG you need, or keep both and miss the playoffs (or go out in the first round) for the next few years. They should've made that trade last year and picked up Bon-bon; playoffs for sure, this year. Yeah, yeah...hindsight and all...

Of course, the Sun's business plan doesn't include championships; they want to fill the casino. That's why they make money and nobody else in the WNBA does (to my knowledge).

Faris is a nice piece, but Jasmine Thomas isn't ?? Yeah ok

 

[ed4ourgirls]

I fear that the Sun dug themselves too big a hole early to get out of this year, but
I think they make the playoffs next year.

 

[HardHatGuy#2]

Faris is a nice piece, but Jasmine Thomas isn't ?? Yeah ok

Unproven. Needs work on her fundamentals. Definitely has possibilities, no argument there, but she needs a little polish.

Just watched the Sun lose to a Sky team who didn't have their Star player, one who might play the largest part of any single player on any team in the WNBA. Thomas played well, but made defensive mistakes that cost her team; she was a -13 on the day. Pondexter took her to school, taking advantage of her inexperience in positioning herself many times. Good potential there, worth keeping around to see how she grows next year.

Stricklen got Zero minutes. Bentley sat for the majority of the second half while the Sky built up a lead. My guess is that they are playing for next year.

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

IMO the Sun have to get rid of Bentley! She's a head case, that can shoot 8 for 10 one game and 1 for 15 the next and her defense is always horrible! Put Bentley in a package with Shekinna Stricklen for another PG . They now have Rachel Banham and Courtney Williams that can score from the guard spot with Jasmine Thomas next season! Jasmine Thomas I think can be a pretty good PG with the better support around her! And they add F Jillian Alleyne from the Bone trade to help in the front line. Also I remember just signed Asia Taylor as a pretty athletic SF with L'ville!
Next years draft is going to be lousy so it's better to trade for an experienced player than depend on getting a rookie hopeful!

 

[HardHatGuy#2]

IMO the Sun have to get rid of Bentley! She's a head case, that can shoot 8 for 10 one game and 1 for 15 the next and her defense is always horrible! Put Bentley in a package with Shekinna Stricklen for another PG . They now have Rachel Banham and Courtney Williams that can score from the guard spot with Jasmine Thomas next season! Jasmine Thomas I think can be a pretty good PG with the better support around her! And they add F Jillian Alleyne from the Bone trade to help in the front line. Also I remember just signed Asia Taylor as a pretty athletic SF with L'ville!
Next years draft is going to be lousy so it's better to trade for an experienced player than depend on getting a rookie hopeful!

Ugh, I HATE the idea of letting Stricklen go; that will haunt them. BUT I can't argue too much.

Regarding the quality of the draft, yes, I agree that it looks a little thin at this point. I wonder if someone may go all Jewell Loyd and leave early so that they can be at the top of the draft. Yes, I'm looking down towards Columbia with this comment...