Paige explodes for 44! And sets a record. | The Boneyard

Paige explodes for 44! And sets a record.

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Paige scored 44 tonight against LA on 17-21 shots. I got to watch it on TV because I get the LA Sparks channel out her in San Diego. First player in WNBA history to score 40+ on better than 80% shooting. They lost on a buzzer beater (by San Diego's own Kelsey Plum), but that's okay, since the Wings aren't going to make the playoffs and need a high draft choice. My only complaint is that with about 10 seconds to go, she passed it to a teammate (too unselfish!) who missed a 3 point shot that led to Plum's buzzer beater. Our girl rocks, though!
 
According to my brief research, technically, the record was equaled as Cynthia Cooper scored 44 in the inaugural season of the WNBA (1997), but then all players were rookies, and Cynthia was about 30 years old. The true rookie record was held by Candace Parker who scored 40 points in 2008.

Whatever - full credit to Paige for an amazing performance.
 
There was a hope (or expectation) that Paige would have a game like this. Late in the season with tired legs to boot.
At this point in the season everyone has tired legs. Last night Paige was blowing by defenders and getting whatever shot she wanted as if they were playing in slow motion.

One of the things I was conscious of was how hard Paige worked off the ball to either set screens or get open. She never, ever stops moving on the court.
 
At this point in the season everyone has tired legs. Last night Paige was blowing by defenders and getting whatever shot she wanted as if they were playing in slow motion.

One of the things I was conscious of was how hard Paige worked off the ball to either set screens or get open. She never, ever stops moving on the court.
Once she gets freedom of movement, in other words is not being restrained by the defender, she has every classic move without the ball, whether going to the rim or going to meet the ball. Last night was the pro version of this year's Oklahoma game. It showed for any newbies just how great and efficient a player she is, something we knew for years but many did not see due to her injuries in college.
 
According to my brief research, technically, the record was equaled as Cynthia Cooper scored 44 in the inaugural season of the WNBA (1997), but then all players were rookies, and Cynthia was about 30 years old. The true rookie record was held by Candace Parker who scored 40 points in 2008.

Whatever - full credit to Paige for an amazing performance.
Did Cooper shoot better than 80% in that game? That is part of the achievement
 
How about: Most Valuable Player

one or two more like this and she'll surely be in contention
(even if 3rd or 4th choice).
 
At this point in the season everyone has tired legs. Last night Paige was blowing by defenders and getting whatever shot she wanted as if they were playing in slow motion.

One of the things I was conscious of was how hard Paige worked off the ball to either set screens or get open. She never, ever stops moving on the court.
Bingo. Her movement is something rare in the W. When a player gets her on defense I'm sure by now many let out a long sigh.
 
I have wondered all season how Paige is coping with playing so hard performing so well and losing losing, losing. Yes she is one of the best team players, but it has to hurt. I hope Dallas gets another #1 and works like hell to rework the team for next year.
 
I checked the box score last night before going to bed and with 25 seconds left in the 3rd, she had 31 points on (I believe) 12 of 14 shooting!!!! My only hope was that she would cross the 40 point threshold, so I decided that I wasn't going to jinx her by "watching" the ESPN App Gamecast. Glad that I went to sleep without checking back on her game :) .
 
Geno implied that Paige would have a hard time adjusting to the WNBA. I think the WNBA is having a hard time adjusting to Paige.
 
Bingo. Her movement is something rare in the W. When a player gets her on defense I'm sure by now many let out a long sigh.
And she can get her shot off from anywhere. If you play her tight, she'll go by you to the basket. If you lay off her to prevent the drive, she can shoot from anywhere. Plus, she has a whole array of fakes, change of pace, stutter steps, etc. and if you double or triple team her, she'll hit the open man. She is just an astonishingly complete player.

I'm tempted to change my avatar to this:
IMG_1754.jpeg

If anyone else wants it, feel free to steal it, because I kind of like my 12 national championships avatar.
 
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Paige scored 44 tonight against LA on 17-21 shots. I got to watch it on TV because I get the LA Sparks channel out her in San Diego. First player in WNBA history to score 40+ on better than 80% shooting. They lost on a buzzer beater (by San Diego's own Kelsey Plum), but that's okay, since the Wings aren't going to make the playoffs and need a high draft choice. My only complaint is that with about 10 seconds to go, she passed it to a teammate (too unselfish!) who missed a 3 point shot that led to Plum's buzzer beater. Our girl rocks, though!
Too bad most of us couldn't watch it on TV - I was getting ESPN updates on my phone as she was scoring more points. In reviewing the Gamecast, it seems that Paige didn't have a shot in the last 2:50 of the game (other than the technical free throw). For those watching, what happened? Why couldn't Dallas get her the ball (besides that last second pass mentioned here)? Geiselsoder, Berger and James each had a missed shot in that time frame. Tough loss, great game.
 

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