WNBA News, (Post-) Game Comments for June

[Dillon77]

It was nice to see Achonwa back on the court last night. Minnesota needs depth in the post position big time. Now with her and Dantas back, they have a little breathing room especially when foul trouble creeps up, like last night.

- Shep: 31 minutes, 6 pts, 13 rebounds and 5 assists. The latter two categories show why Jess is so important. If she's not scoring, she's doing other things to help the team.

- Ace: 18 minutes, 12 points (5-6 from the field), 6 rebounds.

I think Cheryl Reeve likes having Jess' versatility off the bench to see where she can help. On the other hand, Milic only played 8 or so minutes last night, but Dantas was in 22 minutes, shot 3-9 and had 7 rebounds of her own.

Reeve will tinker with her lineups as situations dictate and/or change. If Milic can go off on an offensive binge, great. If not, bring in Shep or Ace to complement Dantas (and, when/if, Big Syl).

 

[Dillon77]

3 first time All Stars--Ionescu, Young and Plum.

Well-deserved. Get used to seeing those three together on various teams (ones with U.S.A. on them )

 

[eebmg]

Liberty playing really well vs the Sun 27-17 after 1Q.

Dolson with maybe the best quarter I can remember in her career. 4-4. 9 pts. 3 reb, 2 Assists 1 Block. 0 TO's and they took a way a pure fade away make as well. And Johansen can do anything ion the court. Mostly good

Edit. And then the 2Q started.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Lib up 9 at halftime, and that's with Ionescu shooting 1-10.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Hey @eebmg , got a question for you. Just looking at the box score got me wondering about Laney's role when/if she returns. Lib have been playing well, they've got some scorers, and getting Allen back should help. Laney could be...ball dominant w/ questionable shot selection at times IMO. Do you see her accepting a different role with the team? Or possibly upsetting team chemistry? Just curious.

 

[eebmg]

Hey @eebmg , got a question for you. Just looking at the box score got me wondering about Laney's role when/if she returns. Lib have been playing well, they've got some scorers, and getting Allen back should help. Laney could be...ball dominant w/ questionable shot selection at times IMO. Do you see her accepting a different role with the team? Or possibly upsetting team chemistry? Just curious.

I have always thought of Laney as a high character player who fought hard to stay in the league as a defender first who finally put it together on the offensive end and if she comes off the bench, I think she will accept it without a problem. She is more slasher / mid range than the 3pt bombers we have now so I am sure she will find good minutes and contribute depending on match ups / etc. I think just about every team can demonstrate such problems with each team having 8-9 players who can start with the talent surge (imo) . Good problem to have. Especially in NY.

On the other side, I am not sure Crystal will survive the guard upgrade in NY. Johanes is really something else

 

[TheFarmFan]

Am I crazy or does Johannes remind anyone else of a certain recent UConn POY?

 

[eebmg]

Am I crazy or does Johannes remind anyone else of a certain recent UConn POY?

Yes. I could also see Paige fill out with her weight work into her body type. But Johannes is a bit more reckless with her passes

 

[TheFarmFan]

Yes. I could also see Paige fill out with her weight work into her body type. But Johannes is a bit more reckless with her passes

Yeah she doesn't have Paige's laser-guided passing abilities, but the long limbs, trick shots, bomb treys, and near-comical dribbling through traffic to the hoop are all very reminiscent!

 

[nwhoopfan]

I think just about every team can demonstrate such problems with each team having 8-9 players who can start with the talent surge (imo) .

Not Las Vegas. 5 really good players, a couple decent reserves right now. Not sure when Williams is gonna come back, this year is speeding right along. They have several on the bench that make you wonder how they got a roster spot in the WNBA.

 

[eebmg]

Not Las Vegas. 5 really good players, a couple decent reserves right now. Not sure when Williams is gonna come back, this year is speeding right along. They have several on the bench that make you wonder how they got a roster spot in the WNBA.

Good point.

Great win for the Liberty. 81-77 in Uncasville. And the close score included some garbage points by CT. On the other hand, after Dolson hit a mammoth 3 pt shot to up the lead to 10, CT seemed to give up and not pressure the Liberty. Did Miller have an appointment after the game?

 

[nwhoopfan]

Nice win for NY. Connecticut made a bunch of runs in the 2nd half, and the Lib answered back every time.


I'll admit it, early on I thought it was Vegas and Connecticut, and then everybody else. Those 2 have been showing some vulnerability lately, and a bunch of other teams have shown they can play at a high level. Playoffs could be very, very interesting (like last year).

 

[nwhoopfan]

CT seemed to give up and not pressure the Liberty. Did Miller have an appointment after the game?

Yeah, that was strange. They made no attempt to extend the game by fouling inside the last minute.

 

[eebmg]

Yeah, that was strange. They made no attempt to extend the game by fouling inside the last minute.

Maybe they had too much respect for the NY guards. 26 Assists to 10 TO's The NY guards really passed well out of the pressure and Sabrina is a bull on ball. The Liberty are one of the most exciting teams with good ball movement and one of the best 3pt teams.

I did not catch why Han Xu did not play? We could do alot worse than having Cubaj as 3rd Center. She plays under control and has some offensive skills.

And Dolson is putting together a string of good games and seems to be avoiding fouls better.

 

[nwhoopfan]

I did not catch why Han Xu did not play?

I didn't hear it (only watched second half), but on anther site they said non covid illness.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Richards definitely adds a little extra juice for NY, just her second game back. She does a lot of little things, and any scoring they get from her is a bonus.

 

[eebmg]

Richards definitely adds a little extra juice for NY, just her second game back. She does a lot of little things, and any scoring they get from her is a bonus.

Played tough Defense on Bonner and Thomas. Big physical defender and she is a "smiler"

 

[Dillon77]

I have always thought of Laney as a high character player who fought hard to stay in the league as a defender first who finally put it together on the offensive end and if she comes off the bench, I think she will accept it without a problem. She is more slasher / mid range than the 3pt bombers we have now so I am sure she will find good minutes and contribute depending on match ups / etc. I think just about every team can demonstrate such problems with each team having 8-9 players who can start with the talent surge (imo) . Good problem to have. Especially in NY.

On the other side, I am not sure Crystal will survive the guard upgrade in NY. Johanes is really something else

I was thinking of the expanded Liberty roster on a post a few days ago, but was focused more on the return of Allen and Richards.
Geesh, Laney and Willoughby, too? That's a lot of folks to consider. And just think, Brondello doesn't use Vickie Johnson's old "give me five minutes at a time" rule

Like you, I think Laney is a pro and will accept coming off the bench. What she won't accept down the line is not getting minutes.
And I'm betting the Liberty hope she gives them reason to not make this an issue. But if not, I can see some shuffling of that roster between the seasons, particularly if a certain UConn alum decides to come east.

 

[eebmg]

I was thinking of the expanded Liberty roster on a post a few days ago, but was thinking more of the return of Allen and Richards.
Geesh, Laney and Willoughby, too? That's a lot of folks to consider. And just think, Brondello doesn't use Vickie Johnson's old "give me five minutes at a time" rule

With you, I think Laney is a pro and will accept coming off the bench. What she won't accept down the line is not getting minutes.
And I'm betting the Liberty hope she gives them reason to not make this an issue. But if not, I can see some shuffling hitting that roster between the seasons, particularly if a certain UConn alum decides to come east.

Hm,, Katie Lou, Gabby, (Just Kidding). STEWIE STEWIE

 

[Geew1992]

I didn't hear it (only watched second half), but on anther site they said non covid illness.

That’s what they said

 

[triaddukefan]

Glad to see that she was allowed to miss the game tonight.

No biases here but her little brother is a monster

 

[eebmg]

Dallas looks like they are having a special night. 34-19 after 1Q. Arike on fire and actually playing both ends.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Taurasi just about to hit double digit FTA...in the first half. Come on now!

 

[nwhoopfan]

Lynx are finding their stride. Up 12 on the Merc at the half. Jefferson has 12. DT has 15.

 

[nwhoopfan]

I don't think it's getting much fanfare, but McCowan has been having an impact for Dallas, she's regularly putting up good numbers off the bench.