WNBA -- 2023 Season | Page 13 | The Boneyard

WNBA -- 2023 Season

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cancontent said:
Didn't watch the Lynx-Mercury game, but it looks like McBride's absence didn't help matters either. Not saying that her scoring would have been the difference, but she provides offence that the team needs. Carleton is struggling coming back from Europe and seems to be nursing a back injury. If she can get to the form she had while playing in Spain, that could help. Juhasz deserved more than 7 minutes in this game based on how I read the box score. What would have been the harm?

Watched Vegas vs LA as best I could last night (drifted off a bit in the third :confused:). A game of halves if you ask me. LA came out strong in the first quarter and maintained their lead at half time. Vegas woke up and took the lead in the third and maintained it. Wilson was frustrated in this game, including drawing a technical but still came through with 19 points. Young was amazing shooting 12-18 ending up with 30 points. Considering they were able to keep it somewhat close without Nneke and Azura Stevens, LA looks to be more competitive than I thought they would be this season.
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I also just saw the LV/LA contest last night. As cancontent said, the Sparks were extremely underwomanned (especially in the frontcourt without Nneka and Azurá -- who knows when J Thomas will be ready to fortify the backcourt?), but had some bright spots. The player for whom I was most impressed relative to my expectations, was Lexie Brown. Her shot was so pure in the 1st half that it was barely moving the net and she had a few really nice pick and roll dimes (threaded needle on the bounce and the lob numerous times) and would have had even more but Chiney (who played well) and Dearica (who made some nice passes of her own) missed a few bunnies. She also looked better defensively than I have seen throughout her career. Canada looked great on D, but is still inconsistent on O.

Jackie Young looked so confident and I really like her demeanor (she complains far less often than most all-stars), further fortifying my previous statement of Laney is not close to any of the Vegas starters. I also like the Vegas bench with Clark, Bay (when she returns), and Stokes far better than the Liberty's. The remaining backcourt of Plum and C Gray (do people remember the playoffs last year?) is superior to Sloot (great, but on the decline) & Ionescu (super versatile and exciting, but still too inconsistent). Even though you could make the argument that JJ is slightly better than CP at this stage of their careers, I would prefer Parker's intangibles come play-off time.
 
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Geew1992 said:
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Great move in the right direction, but still so much more of an audience to tap considering the #s for the NCAA championship game without UCONN or SC. I get that CC, Angel, and Kim moved the needle and pros will never achieve close to college ratings for numerous reasons mentioned many times on BY, but still more opportunities to increase viewership.
 
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Aces played half the game with their eyes closed and still won against a better-than-expected Sparks squad. Sparks could make some noise this year, have perhaps the most versatile frontcourt lineup in the league with the Ogwumikes/Hamby/Stevens.

Jackie Young looks to have taken another huge step this season after what was a slow start to her career in the league. If she’s near a 20ppg scorer for the Aces she’ll be in the MVP conversation all season long.
 
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Dillon77 said:
Young went off last night with 30, but it was the way she did it that showed her development as a player. She was never reliant on her long-distance shot in college or her early years. Last night, she shot 4-7 from three. BTW, she also had 4 steals, which is an underrated part of her game.
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GoChips20 said:
Jackie Young looks to have taken another huge step this season after what was a slow start to her career in the league. If she’s near a 20ppg scorer for the Aces she’ll be in the MVP conversation all season long.
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Jackie is my favorite ND player (lots to choose; I believe 2nd in # of players, between UCONN & SC) in the pros. I think that her college legacy was somewhat overshadowed (by nationwide NCAAW fans; not by Irish faithful nor WNBA execs) by Ogunbowale's FF heroics (understandably so).
 
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J Young started off last season really hot and was in the early MVP conversation. She missed some games with a sprained ankle IIRC. She never really got in the same groove after she came back. Wilson and Plum were both averaging around 20 ppg, and then Gray went into god mode after the all star break, so she wasn't needed to score as much as she had been earlier.
 
Notyetready said:
The Lynx is a badly constructed team and I do not see much competence in their execution of the 5 out offense.

If you're going to tank, you might as well take your chances with Dorka who has some defense. Sheperd is shorter with little verticality.

Meanwhile the perimeter shooters and defenders can't seem to step up like management advertised. Powers has game but Bonham makes really bad decisions. Collier is Collier but they advertise her as the be all, do all. That's expecting too mich.

I watched their first couple of games but now I just hunt for Dorka minutes.
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Don't see how Dorka has more Defense compared to Shepard. Shepard is the best big Minny has. She is definitely more suited to be a 4 instead of a 5.
 
Jackie Young is maybe the most boring great player I've ever seen. By "boring" I mean--she barely looks like she ever exerts effort on the floor. She plays as if she's doing drills in a gym. No emotion. No "energy." Just pure efficiency.

It's fascinating.
 
Tangential said:
I also just saw the LV/LA contest last night. As cancontent said, the Sparks were extremely underwomanned (especially in the frontcourt without Nneka and Azurá -- who knows when J Thomas will be ready to fortify the backcourt?), but had some bright spots. The player for whom I was most impressed relative to my expectations, was Lexie Brown. Her shot was so pure in the 1st half that it was barely moving the net and she had a few really nice pick and roll dimes (threaded needle on the bounce and the lob numerous times) and would have had even more but Chiney (who played well) and Dearica (who made some nice passes of her own) missed a few bunnies. She also looked better defensively than I have seen throughout her career. Canada looked great on D, but is still inconsistent on O.

Jackie Young looked so confident and I really like her demeanor (she complains far less often than most all-stars), further fortifying my previous statement of Laney is not close to any of the Vegas starters. I also like the Vegas bench with Clark, Bay (when she returns), and Stokes far better than the Liberty's. The remaining backcourt of Plum and C Gray (do people remember the playoffs last year?) is superior to Sloot (great, but on the decline) & Ionescu (super versatile and exciting, but still too inconsistent). Even though you could make the argument that JJ is slightly better than CP at this stage of their careers, I would prefer Parker's intangibles come play-off time.
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It's nice to see Chiney looking healthy and more like the Chiney that entered the league with the Sun (I'm sure she is loving being reunited with Curt Miller). The fact that Hamby is doing what she is doing when she gave birth like...yesterday...is remarkable.

Karlie Samuelson needs a permanent roster spot in this league. Miller played her the most out of the bench...really hoping her contract allows her to stay on.
 
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bbsamjj said:
Jackie Young is maybe the most boring great player I've ever seen. By "boring" I mean--she barely looks like she ever exerts effort on the floor. She plays as if she's doing drills in a gym. No emotion. No "energy." Just pure efficiency.

It's fascinating.
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Federer is my favorite tennis player of all time, and Young is up there for me among women's basketball players. And it never occurred to me until now how similar they are - so smooth, almost effortless, sometimes looking almost a little blasé. But such complete games, and such a flowing, graceful style of play.
 
bbsamjj said:
It's nice to see Chiney looking healthy and more like the Chiney that entered the league with the Sun (I'm sure she is loving being reunited with Curt Miller). The fact that Hamby is doing what she is doing when she gave birth like...yesterday...is remarkable.

Karlie Samuelson needs a permanent roster spot in this league. Miller played her the most out of the bench...really hoping her contract allows her to stay on.
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Sparks finally are a good vibes team after a rotating cast of toxic players from Parker to Cambage to Carter, as well as several questionable coaching hires. I'm really excited and so glad Nneka has a likeable crew after years of being one of the most unappreciated, selfless promoters of women's basketball.
 
TheFarmFan said:
Sparks finally are a good vibes team after a rotating cast of toxic players from Parker to Cambage to Carter, as well as several questionable coaching hires. I'm really excited and so glad Nneka has a likeable crew after years of being one of the most unappreciated, selfless promoters of women's basketball.
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I whole-heartedly agree with latter 4 of your 5 points. Nneka said during camp “this is the first time I’ve really experienced what I believe to be a professional organization.” Miller is a huge upgrade relating to the culture, energy, and Xs & Os.

As effusively as I praised Lexie (and Zia looking good through 2 games), I still think they could use a little improvement at the guard position (lots of decent WNBA players, but none that really stand out; compared not only to the top teams, but teams like the Sky's backcourt). When healthy, the frontcourt rotation of Nneka, Chiney, Azurá, Dearica, and Karlie will be very solid.
 
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I tried to stay up to watch the games last night but I failed. My beloved Minnesota Lynx. It is a whole team concern. The 3rd loss in a row and it wasn't like a bad quarter here or there. It was the whole game of being bad. The Lynx’s starting lineup lacks much in the way of firepower as rookie Diamond Miller continues to find her footing and Napheesa Collier tallied just eight points on nine shots. Minnesota (0-3) doesn’t seem to possess a No. 1 scorer on its current roster, which doesn’t have to be a death sentence if a team can defend at a high level. The Lynx just aren’t doing that consistently enough at the moment to win games.
 
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I turned it on mid Q3. Pretty much all Liberty from that point. Stewie got going, but I'm giving the game ball to Sloot. An extremely efficient 18 points to go along w/ 10 assists. Just doing Sloot things.
 
nwhoopfan said:
I turned it on mid Q3. Pretty much all Liberty from that point. Stewie got going, but I'm giving the game ball to Sloot. An extremely efficient 18 points to go along w/ 10 assists. Just doing Sloot things.
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And they pickup Johannes in the next couple of days. Defense is starting to come together.
When JJ gets healthy, bone spurs, this team will be very good.
 
I thought you needed 8 players in the WNBA to dress or game is forfeited.

 
ochoopsfan said:
I thought you needed 8 players in the WNBA to dress or game is forfeited.

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Nneka coming back from flu on Thursday, Nia's 1st playing time of the season after just joining team, Rae waived during camp and hasn't been with the team in 2 weeks, Dearica's playing (in her return to LV) after recently giving birth, Joyner not really accustomed to playing that much during her journeywoman career, Zia a rookie early in the year, and Karlie & Lexie both have been waived multiple times throughout their careers vs. a healthy LV power team on ring night and Becky's return. Aces could probably name the score.
 
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Tangential said:
Nneka coming back from flu on Thursday, Nia's 1st playing time of the season after just joining team, Rae waived during camp and hasn't been with the team in 2 weeks, Dearica's playing (in her return to LV) after recently giving birth, Joyner not really accustomed to playing that much during her journeywoman career, Zia a rookie early in the year, and Karlie & Lexie both have been waived multiple times throughout their careers vs. a healthy LV power team on ring night and Becky's return. Aces could probably name the score.
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Vegas still has the game at Aces -15 points (a 15 point favorite).
I wouldnt be surprised with a 95-65 final.
 
ochoopsfan said:
Vegas still has the game at Aces -15 points (a 15 point favorite).
I wouldnt be surprised with a 95-65 final.
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Absolutely. If it gets really out-of-hand, Hammon will probably give a lot minutes to George, Colson, and Bell
 
From France said:
Karlie and Lexie have been waived multiple times but they deserve being on a roster
Those ladies don't quit, they fight
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Tangential said:
Tangential said:
The player for whom I was most impressed relative to my expectations, was Lexie Brown. Her shot was so pure in the 1st half that it was barely moving the net and she had a few really nice pick and roll dimes (threaded needle on the bounce and the lob numerous times) and would have had even more but Chiney (who played well) and Dearica (who made some nice passes of her own) missed a few bunnies. She also looked better defensively than I have seen throughout her career.
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When healthy, the frontcourt rotation of Nneka, Chiney, Azurá, Dearica, and Karlie will be very solid.
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I completely concur that these 2 deserve to be on a roster permanently. In addition to Karlie's shooting and court awareness, she is a very determined defensive rebounder. I admire Lexie's game, but if she doesn't have a premier point guard to properly feed her, she will be very inconsistent. The point I was making, given the circumstances, that their gameday roster yesterday didn't stand a chance to make the game even competitive, and the score was only as close as it was because Vegas didn't play their starters in the 4th.

"Aces ochoopsfan could probably name the score."
 
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