Washington Mystics @ Seattle Storm - 5/29/18

[Shades]

Seattle, WA - 10:00 PM ET
TV: JoeTV

Video:
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Game page:
05/29/18: Washington Mystics @ Seattle Storm - WNBA.com - Official Site of the WNBA

ESPN Gamecast:
WNBA WSHvSEA,5/29/2018 - ESPN

 

[Shades]

 

[Kaizen]

Steward has 14 pts.
First Q, Storm 29 - 20

 

[MilfordHusky]

Seattle plays well at home. I think I’ll watch the rest of the game.

 

[MilfordHusky]

The Mystics were trying to become the 3rd team tonight to capture a come-from-behind win, but Jewell hit an open baseline jumper at the end for the win. She had 27, and Stewie had 25. Natasha Howard had 14 and 7 and is looking like the missing piece. Sue took an elbow to the neck (flagrant 1) with 4+ minutes to go and had to leave, but she came back with 2 minutes to play and the game on the line. Seattle is 4-1. They are winning close games.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Washington lost, and New York won. The only undefeated team is now Connecticut. The only winless teams are Las Vegas and Indiana. They appear to be the weakest teams. Which other 2 will miss the playoffs?

Defending champions Minnesota have failed to execute in late-game situations and now have a losing record at 2-3.

 

[Carnac]

Washington lost, and New York won. The only undefeated team is now Connecticut. The only winless teams are Las Vegas and Indiana. They appear to be the weakest teams. Which other 2 will miss the playoffs?

Defending champions Minnesota have failed to execute in late-game situations and now have a losing record at 2-3.

Atlanta and Dallas.

While Liz Cambage upgrades the Wings' roster for 2018 and will help them win more games than last year, they will still be one of the four teams with a losing record. Four teams won't make the playoffs. They will be one of the four.

The Aces may qualify for the first pick in the WNBA draft again in 2019. I attended the game Sunday, they allowed too many easy baskets to the Storm. Once they get all of their regular roster players back (Harrison/Jefferson), and tighten up their defense, they should begin to win some close games they lost last season.

They took Kelsey Plum first overall in 2017, and A'ja Wilson first overall this year. Last year the Aces finished 8-26. If they can improve to 14-15 wins this season, it will be an improvement. Next year they can shoot for 18 wins which will guarantee them a winning record. The ACES are still at least two years away from becoming a legitimate contender.

 

[Dillon77]

No Della Donne in this game, but it gave an opportunity to see how Myisha Hines-Allen would do in extended minutes as a fill-in starter. She came through with a double-double (not bad) and showed some of those athletic moves from the wing into the lane that she'd flash from time to time at Louisville. She's in a good place with Coach Thibault.

Ariel Atkins from Texas also had a fruitful game off the bench, getting 18 points in 20 minutes.

Here's a link to a lot of mini-highlight videos of the game, Atkins and Hines-Allen:
05/29/18: Washington Mystics @ Seattle Storm - WNBA.com - Official Site of the WNBA

 

[Orangutan]

After a poor game in Seattle's opener, Jewell Loyd is averaging 26.25 ppg over the last 4, all Seattle wins.

If Loyd plays an elite level, Seattle are hard to beat.

 

[baggerbob]

No Della Donne in this game, but it gave an opportunity to see how Myisha Hines-Allen would do in extended minutes as a fill-in starter. She came through with a double-double (not bad) and showed some of those athletic moves from the wing into the lane that she'd flash from time to time at Louisville. She's in a good place with Coach Thibault.

Ariel Atkins from Texas also had a fruitful game off the bench, getting 18 points in 20 minutes.

Here's a link to a lot of mini-highlight videos of the game, Atkins and Hines-Allen:
05/29/18: Washington Mystics @ Seattle Storm - WNBA.com - Official Site of the WNBA

Seattle needs a 5th starter, Clark brings zero to the table, Loyd is a better rebounder, and defender. Maybe start Canada, let Loyd play up front. At least that lineup would spread the floor, and give Stewie, and Loyd room to drive.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Seattle needs a 5th starter, Clark brings zero to the table, Loyd is a better rebounder, and defender. Maybe start Canada, let Loyd play up front. At least that lineup would spread the floor, and give Stewie, and Loyd room to drive.

Natasha Howard is playing very well and appears to have pushed Crystal Langhorne to the bench.

 

[MilfordHusky]

After a poor game in Seattle's opener, Jewell Loyd is averaging 26.25 ppg over the last 4, all Seattle wins.

If Loyd plays an elite level, Seattle are hard to beat.

Jewell started hot last year but cooled off. She’s off to another hot start. I expect her shooting will moderate some, but may stay solid.

In my opinion, her weakness is the same as Angel’s—she is supremely gifted and has a tendency to take bad shots because she can get off a shot anytime she wants. If she sticks to high quality shots, she can be awesome. Her 3-point shooting seems to have improved. She’s shooting 47% overall compared to 43% for her career and 42% from the arc compared to 33% for her career.

 

[JellyBean]

Washington is playing well. They look like contenders!!

 

[MilfordHusky]

Washington is playing well. They look like contenders!!

They played hard and competed, even without EDD. They were bad in the first half against Vegas, but corrected things at halftime in that game and stole the win. They have been more consistent in other games.

 

[Dillon77]

Jewell started hot last year but cooled off. She’s off to another hot start. I expect her shooting will moderate some, but may stay solid.

In my opinion, her weakness is the same as Angel’s—she is supremely gifted and has a tendency to take bad shots because she can get off a shot anytime she wants. If she sticks to high quality shots, she can be awesome. Her 3-point shooting seems to have improved. She’s shooting 47% overall compared to 43% for her career and 42% from the arc compared to 33% for her career.

As Orangutan and you have said, let's see how it goes. In the limited viewings I've seen, she's letting the game come to her a little bit more, which then allows her to really go when she decides to drive or set up for one of those pull-up, mid-range j's of hers.

Hard to say how much someone is in her ear, but remember Dan Hughes is now patrolling the sideline for Seattle. He's got to love what he has to work with in Breanna, Sue, Jewell and Jordin, et al...

 

[eebmg]

As Orangutan and you have said, let's see how it goes. In the limited viewings I've seen, she's letting the game come to her a little bit more, which then allows her to really go when she decides to drive or set up for one of those pull-up, mid-range j's of hers.

Hard to say how much someone is in her ear, but remember Dan Hughes is now patrolling the sideline for Seattle. He's got to love what he has to work with in Breanna, Sue, Jewell and Jordin, et al...

Throw in Natasha Howard (more than an et. al ) who has really solidified the post allowing Stewie to focus more on her all around game.

 

[Dillon77]

Throw in Natasha Howard (more than an et. al ) who has really solidified the post allowing Stewie to focus more on her all around game.


View attachment 31718

Hey, when your soup is ready, it's ready .
Good point on Howard and I stick with the gut feeling that Dan Hughes will have a good effect on this team, working with Ms. Bird.

 

[bbsamjj]

A lot of folks shook their heads when the Mystics took Atkins at 8th in the draft, but it's worked out for them so far. She's averaging 11ppg and shooting 43% from 3 through 5 games.

 

[DeeHusky]

A lot of folks shook their heads when the Mystics took Atkins at 8th in the draft, but it's worked out for them so far. She's averaging 11ppg and shooting 43% from 3 through 5 games.

Right! She started and scored 21 yesterday in Delle Donne’s absense.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Right! She started and scored 21 yesterday in Delle Donne’s absense.

Both Atkins and Hines-Allen are contributing. Coack Mike made some good choices.