WNBA News, (Post-) Game Comments for June

[eebmg]

Fisher fired as head coach of struggling Sparks

The Los Angeles Sparks have fired head coach and GM Derek Fisher. Assistant Fred Williams will take over as interim coach.

www.espn.com

 

[MSSportsGuy]

This was overdue. Fisher didn't succeed as the coach of the Knicks in the NBA and this seemed like a lazy hire for the Sparks when it happened. That franchise has experienced some highs but also some lows and the players deserve better.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Of course now the Sparks are stuck w/ Fred Williams as an interim coach, who has some baggage from his time at Dallas, no?

 

[nwhoopfan]

Lib seemed to have figure some things out. Killing Minny right now, nearing end of Q3. Ionescu on triple double watch, and she's just chucking 30 footers that are nothing but net. She's been tearing everybody apart the last 3+ games.

 

[nwhoopfan]

So...who is the worst team in the league? NY seems to have moved themselves out of the conversation with their recent play. Minny, Phoenix, Indy, probably one of those three. Of those, Phoenix has no business being at that level.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Ah, too bad, Sabrina sat out the entire 4th quarter. Minnesota never challenged. 26 pts/8 reb/8 assists on 10-11 shooting, 4-4 behind the arc. That's getting it done.

 

[nwhoopfan]

I guess I kinda forgot how good Loyd can be. She's having one of those kind of games. Red hot to start, disappeared in Q2, but back at it in the 2nd half. Up to 26 points early in Q4. Some sick moves to shake free of defenders, hits some tough shots. Stewie has 16 but fairly chilly FG shooting, nobody else scoring much for Seattle. They are in control though. Howard has been struggling all game. Williams has played some good D on her, as have some other Seattle players when Gabby's not in the game.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Seattle is allergic to big leads. 17 got whittled down to 6. Now they've pushed it back up to 12 w/ under a minute left, hopefully that is safe.

I've been impressed with Wallace for Atlanta. Howard of course is out in front in the ROY race, but Wallace gives them another quality rookie.

 

[eebmg]

Gabby on the defensive end was far better than her stat line. Stewie with some big 3's

 

[Dillon77]

Lib seemed to have figure some things out. Killing Minny right now, nearing end of Q3. Ionescu on triple double watch, and she's just chucking 30 footers that are nothing but net. She's been tearing everybody apart the last 3+ games.

Watched a fair amount of both Liberty-Lynx games:

• Ionescu is, indeed, on fire. When Dangerfield is at lead guard, it allows Sabrina to focus on scoring.
• Rebecca Allen continues to grow on me. "Spider" plays great defense with those long arms and she's gotten more aggressive offensively.
• Xu seemed to muck up the middle against the Liberty this game. Fowles wasn't just posting again and again like first game. She also runs the floor pretty well. Brondello must've agreed, playing her 25 minutes.
• When Powers is on, she's a force, When she focuses on herself, she can take the Lynx out of a game.

 

[cancontent]

Watched a fair amount of both Liberty-Lynx games:

• Ionescu is, indeed, on fire. When Dangerfield is at lead guard, it allows Sabrina to focus on scoring.
• Rebecca Allen continues to grow on me. "Spider" plays great defense with those long arms and she's gotten more aggressive.
• Xu seemed to muck up the middle against the Liberty this game. Fowles wasn't just posting again and again like first game. She also runs the floor pretty well. Brondello must've agreed, playing her 25 minutes.
• When Powers is on, she's a force, When she focuses on herself, she can take the Lynx out of a game.

Was thinking the same thing last night.

 

[Carnac]

Fisher’s firing was overdue. The Sparks are my local team, thus I pay a little more attention to them, and I attend several games each year. I never understood his being hired in the first place. I didn't see this coming, but it's welcome news to me.

They have under performed this year. Their record does not reflect the the talent on the team. I’d rather have Fred Williams as head coach than Fisher. Let’s see how the sparks do under his leadership the rest of the season.

 

[Geew1992]

 

[MSSportsGuy]

Fisher’s firing was overdue. The Sparks are my local team, thus I pay a little more attention to them, and I attend several games each year. I never understood his being hired in the first place. I didn't see this coming, but it's welcome news to me.

They have under performed this year. Their record does not reflect the the talent on the team. I’d rather have Fred Williams as head coach than Fisher. Let’s see how the sparks do under his leadership the rest of the season.

WNBA hires are often tough for me to understand. I get the league isn't the most attractive place to coach due to money and perception but too often it seems to me like teams just hire a name that has been around the game and doesn't seem to want to attract or even develop new coaching talent. Hiring Hammon was the best decision a franchise has made because she's a former player who spent years working under an established and talented coach in the NBA and paid her dues.

 

[bbsamjj]

Yes Sparks have under performed at 5-7, but they also had a quirky schedule where 9 of their first 12 games were on the road.

Nneka looks like she is finally healthy and is once again doing Nneka things (18ppg, 7.5rpg, and absurd 59% FG). Liz Cambage is still Liz Cambage (and seems invested in this team).

Jordin Canada, KLS, Lexie Brown, Chennedy Carter might all have finally found the team that will let their talents be on display.

Do I think LA is at the level of Connecticut/Las Vegas/Chicago (or DC with EDD)? Likely not. But I see a lot of opportunity for them to move in the 5-8 seeds.

 

[ochoopsfan]

 

[nwhoopfan]

Wait, didn't NY draft Walker and then dump her after a year? Why are they bringing her back again?

 

[ochoopsfan]

More to follow

 

[ochoopsfan]

From the twitter world

 

[azfan]

Wait, didn't NY draft Walker and then dump her after a year? Why are they bringing her back again?

Great question.

 

[ochoopsfan]

 

[nwhoopfan]

Wow, the Lib are busy today. I can't believe I forgot about Johannes. She looked good last season.

So if in the end they get rid of Durr and Walker, resign Dangerfield and bring in Johannes, pretty decent moves overall.

 

[azfan]

So...who is the worst team in the league? NY seems to have moved themselves out of the conversation with their recent play. Minny, Phoenix, Indy, probably one of those three. Of those, Phoenix has no business being at that level.

As a Mercury fan I anticipated that the absence of BG would have a significant impact on the team. That combined with a first-time head coach who really seems out of her depth means for me makes Mercury the worst team in the W.

By a wide margin the Mercury the worst defensive team in the league. They've always been mediocre defensively and that mediocrity has been offset by BG's presence at the rim. Aside from Turner no one on the roster is confident defensively. The GOAT unfortunately is showing her age and is clearly a half to a full step slower than almost any guard in the league. Skylar Diggins invests so much energy running the team on the offensive end that while her energy is appreciated it lags on the defensive end of the court. And speaking of age Charles who can still hit the open shot has precipitously declined in her defense.

Moreover over the last several seasons the Mercury have never invested significant energy, commitment, or interest in the defensive side of the ball. I think that that has been revealed now that their rim protector is gone.

It pains me both to watch what's happened to the Mercury as well as DT. She can still shoot the heck out of the ball but her age is clearly showing defensively and I would have liked to have remembered her as she was not as she is. Reminds me of the final Willie Mays season.

 

[Bigboote]

From the twitter world

So the Liberty basically traded Durr for the rights to Carrera, cut Dangerfield so that they could bring Walker on to cut her so that they could bring Dangerfield back so that they can cut her when Johannes comes aboard.

Have I got that right? If not, no problem, I have to go down to the workshop to get a new set screw to fix my spinning head.

 

[baggerbob]

So the Liberty basically traded Durr for the rights to Carrera, cut Dangerfield so that they could bring Walker on to cut her so that they could bring Dangerfield back so that they can cut her when Johannes comes aboard.

Have I got that right? If not, no problem, I have to go down to the workshop to get a new set screw to fix my spinning head.

Crystal would look good in a storm uniform, good backcourt with January, cut their 11th person they signed
to a train camp contract who is a 7th frontcourt player.
That way get back to 5 guards, and 2 that are under 34.
Stewart, Ezi, Gabby, Tolbert, Langford, and Russell, are more then enough front court players.
Plus at least Crystal can shoot the three, which they have a lot of players who can't.
Gabby has to pick it up on offense, needs to shoot even if she misses. She has to be some kind of threat to open up the floor. So Stewie, Jewell, and Ezi have room to operate.