WNBA News, (Post-) Game Comments for June | Page 14 | The Boneyard

WNBA News, (Post-) Game Comments for June

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Vandersloot will go down as the greatest PG in WNBA history no shot at sue but Vandersloot's #'s and consistency have been out of this world since she entered the league. She's always been the most underrated imo .
To Sue's credit, she has been astonishingly consistent for 20 years now. Two of the smartest and best facilitators in the league. Can't go wrong with either, though I do agree Vandersloot doesn't get near the overall credit she deserves.
 
One can only wonder what could've happened in Chicago if Big Syl and EDD didn't both force their way out, and how that would've effected Sloot's legacy. Not hard to imagine multiple Championships.
 
Expecting the Aces to stomp on the Sparks after their recent record.
 
How about a little Liv Luv. :p

That reverse layup around Stewie / Ezi off the blown layup :oops: (but points for the O Board) was very impressive to me in real crunch time. A lot of poise and she did not panic and push an impossible shot up.

Liv had more minutes than Cambage (21-15) and I think was on the court through all the important crunch time minutes. Maybe even more minutes if Liv was not in foul trouble

LA Coach probably likes the change of a center able to run the floor and who does not pout. :rolleyes:
And that impressive reverse layup was with 2 minutes left in a tight game. Lotta poise from Liv.
What I noticed about Liv was how fast she got back on defense, in comparison to Liz-- sometimes she was the first one back, thus able to guard the pathway to the basket and free up guards for the perimeter defense. Oftentimes a guard has to wait on the center to get back to cover the basket before releasing to the perimeter. The TV announcers commented that L.A.'s transition defense had blocked Seattle's fast break opportunities. If Liv's ability to cover the court is what Fred Williams sees in Liv, he could have a problem with Cambage.
 
Expecting the Aces to stomp on the Sparks after their recent record.
Little -- a lot? -- tougher than one would've thought, but not having Chelsea Gray play for the Aces was a factor, for sure. Game was nip and tuck until the latter stages, when Aces pulled away and won, 79-73.

Kierstan Bell was inserted into the starting line-up for Gray and contributed exactly 0 (zero) points. And Dearica Hamby was off, with only three points on 4 shots. Missing Gray? Having hands full with Nneka Ogwumike, who was tough all night.

Jackie Young only scored 9 points but seemed to slide back into lead guard mode, with 7 assists. But have no doubt: A'ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum won this game for the Aces. Both shot 8-16 from the field, with Wilson going 8-9 from the FT line and grabbing 11 boards, while Plum shot 4-7 from three-point land and 9-11 from the FT line.

The Ogwumikes each scored and rebounded and Liz Cambage played 23+ minutes and had 11 rebounds herself in this one.
KLS came back to earth with a tough shooting night (1-7 from three) overall. But Lexie Brown came off the bench to light it up from three, going 5-8.
 
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The Liberty have once again released Crystal
Explanation of what most likely is happening with Crystal

They could also keep Dangerfield and Cubaj through the game on Friday(6/24), release Dangerfield from her hardship deal after that game, then re-sign her when the cap math allows on July 3. That would cost them a little extra cash and cap space but allow them to keep Cubaj longer (and make her an extra $30,000). Dangerfield would still only miss one game - bizarrely enough, also against the Dream(6/30).

It is mentioned in the Newsletter linked below.

 
Absolutely agree and wonder how another young coach will integrate Charles into a veteran lineup. Clearly a rookie Mercury coach really didn't have any idea what to do.

That said the situation in Seattle is certainly different as the Storm have demonstrated an ability to engage defensively.
And it's official Tina signed for the rest of season. Hopefully Seattle moves Gabby to the bench, she can come in for all the starters.
Gabby can play 3 or 4 positions, and if she comes in for any of Stewie, Ezi, or Tina, she is the 3.
She can run the point when Sue sits, and can fill in minutes For Jewell.
January and Talbot would be the other consistent reserves. A solid 8, and if Mercedes can make it back a good 9.
Suddenly Seattle has a chance, and enough games to become cohesive.
 
Plum shot 4-7 from three-point land and 9-11 from the FT line
The 11 FTs really caught my eye. She's been driving and drawing contact all season, and rarely gets a whistle. No reason she shouldn't be shooting as many FTs as some other players in the league.
 
Maybe Phoenix should've gotten rid of Charles sooner? 2-0 without her.

I'm really not sure that this is a good move for Seattle. We'll find out.
 
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Maybe Phoenix should've gotten rid of Charles sooner? 2-0 without her.

I'm really not sure that this is a good move for Seattle. We'll find out.
Tina has always been a volume shooter, to be a volume scorer for me. (Not sure if that’s the right terminology). Very much like the post version of Arike. She’s a fantastic player, and I sometimes feel she gets a bad reputation for having demanded trades. But for most of her career, she had subpar teammates, and was so heavily relied on to do so much. It’s not fully her fault she never won a championship. In her prime she could’ve been a valuable part of any championship run.

I understand the ring chasing, but this particular instance is just intensified because her first two moves completely backfired. I thought for sure Washington would win prior to all their injuries, and I thought Phoenix had a really good shot until the situation with Griner unfolded.

I’m going to guess they fall short in Seattle, as Tina overlaps a lot with Stewie at this stage of her career. I think the benefit of her coming is through boosting those bench minutes, not necessarily elevating the starting 5. It’s going to be interesting to watch. But I’d guess if Seattle doesn’t win this season, you’ll see her making attempts to join whoever does win. Or calling it quits.

One reason I respect Sue and DT so much, is they came into franchises, became the faces of those franchises, and are going to retire with those franchises. There’s something pure to me about being loyal to an organization, especially during the down seasons. It makes it more special when you capitalize on the years the team is in a good position.
 
What you didn't show was Jewell 1-9 and 3 points. Don't know what her problem is but 4 of the last 5 games she hasn't been good.
Three of the five games she was in single digits. She's too good a player for that.
Jewell was in a shooting slump. I think she got back into a decent shooting flow against Washington.
 
WNBA All Star reserves

Ariel Atkins
Kahleah Copper
Skylar Diggins-Smith
Dearica Hamby
Natasha Howard
Rhyne Howard
Brionna Jones
Jewell Loyd
Emma Messeman
Arike Ogunbowale
Alyssa Thomas
Courtney Vandersloot

I guess Sue and Diana can use the rest.
 
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Washington Absurd 3pt shooting (8-12) gives Washington 52-32 Half time lead
 
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MN dismantling Dallas 50-24 at the half. Mabrey is having a really bad game. Moriah with a nice effort on her former team. She really looks physically like she did at UConn and is not showing any hesitation, Shooting in the 2Q went down but she is pressuring the defense big time
 
Evina came in at end of 3Q and had 2 quick TO's that looked pretty bad. Much better 4th Q. 1-2 from 3 and 3 assists and almost had a sweet 4th but teammate fumbled it.
 
WNBA All Star reserves

Ariel Atkins
Kahleah Copper
Skylar Diggins-Smith
Dearica Hamby
Natasha Howard
Rhyne Howard
Brionna Jones
Jewell Loyd
Emma Messeman
Arike Ogunbowale
Alyssa Thomas
Courtney Vandersloot

I guess Sue and Diana can use the rest.
Rhyne Howard over NaLyssa Smith? SMH
 
Atlanta going the wrong direction. Wallace and Wheeler back from injuries. Durr and McDonald had been playing well with increased minutes while others were out.

Dallas....they just can't find any consistency. One step forward, one step backward for them.
 
Moriah with a triple double. Some of those rebounds at the end were weird but I guess they count. I was much more impressed with her defense and energy. She shut down Arike in the 4th Q and went hard into the crowd to deflect and save a possession. A jump back in time to Storrs
 
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WNBA All Star reserves

Ariel Atkins
Kahleah Copper
Skylar Diggins-Smith
Dearica Hamby
Natasha Howard
Rhyne Howard
Brionna Jones
Jewell Loyd
Emma Messeman
Arike Ogunbowale
Alyssa Thomas
Courtney Vandersloot

I guess Sue and Diana can use the rest.

I think the list is fine. Biggest snubs to me are Kelsey Mitchell from IN and Alisha Gray from Dallas. I love Copper, but I would have put either of them in over her--that being said, the game is in Chicago, which definitely worked in her favor. Also fairly surprising EDD isn't on the list, but I wonder if given her playing limits she would have even wanted to participate.

Really love seeing players like Hamby and B. Jones get recognition.
 
Dallas....they just can't find any consistency. One step forward, one step backward for them.
It's been a cha-cha with that team. Last year, Coach J tried the "go hard for five minutes" for everyone and substitutions were made seemingly at the expense of hot combinations. This year, there are more consistent rotations, but some circumstances where players see air time one game, then disappear to the bench. Lastly, Sabally always seems to injured and now Gray is out, which hurts. Teams can either double Arike or get in Mabrey's face all the time.

Still, the major issue is in the paint, particularly on defense. You'd have to think Teaira McCowan would be used to at least clog the middle. Charli Collier looks plastered to the bench here so you've got to wonder...do they miss Bella Alarie on defense that much? ;)
 
I think the list is fine. Biggest snubs to me are Kelsey Mitchell from IN and Alisha Gray from Dallas. I love Copper, but I would have put either of them in over her--that being said, the game is in Chicago, which definitely worked in her favor. Also fairly surprising EDD isn't on the list, but I wonder if given her playing limits she would have even wanted to participate.

Really love seeing players like Hamby and B. Jones get recognition.

I watched most of the Mystics-Dream yesterday and the player I think is missing from the All-Star team is Natasha Cloud. She leads the league in assists and is the heart and soul/driving force the Mystics. There are only so many choices to make once the fans make their call, so I'm not sure whom I'd remove.

Until her recent injury, I agree with Alisha Gray from Dallas getting a nod: the Wings look lost without her. And Mitchell was snubbed so much I'm bolding it.
 
After reflecting on what seems to be an inordinate number of technicals by the Mercury as a team I checked this morning and DT leads the league with five, Skyler is tied for second with four, and DeShields is in the top 10.

So I've been reflecting on what significance if any of this holds. We know DT has spent all of her career crossing the line so I'm not really surprised to see her leading the league.

While there is a time and place for technicals strategically, in general I've always viewed this as a lack of discipline on the part of the player and the team.

In DT's case as she's gotten older her performance cannot rise to her level of expectations so that combined with her fiery on court personally explains how often she is teed up.

For most of the season I don't think any of these Ts have made any difference in the outcome of the game. The Mercury given their total lack of interest in defense have most frequently been blown out. I can't think of a single close game that this lack of discipline by DT, Sky and DeShields has impacted.

So maybe it really just doesn't matter but like fun to think about.
 
I think the list is fine. Biggest snubs to me are Kelsey Mitchell from IN and Alisha Gray from Dallas. I love Copper, but I would have put either of them in over her--that being said, the game is in Chicago, which definitely worked in her favor. Also fairly surprising EDD isn't on the list, but I wonder if given her playing limits she would have even wanted to participate.

Really love seeing players like Hamby and B. Jones get recognition.


Regarding Gray's omission from the All-Star game, Lachina Robinson made an interesting point about the roster format. She believes part of the issue is how Gray us listed on the Wings roster.

Here's a clip I saw on Twitter.

 
Sky are hot and Sun are slumping. Chicago jumped out to a big lead in Q1 and got another W.
 
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