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WNBA Playoffs Thread

Merc hanging around. This shouldn't be remotely close, but it is. Wilson is shooting 1-8. Young, Plum and Gray have combined for 31 at the half. DeShields leading everybody w/ 13.
 
This game has gotten almost laughably bad. Really uninspired effort by Vegas. 51-46 thru Q3. Wilson still can't find her game.
 
Refs starting to hand out Flagrant 1 calls like candy. Both were the incorrect call IMO. Each team got one so I guess it evens out.
 
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This final score not at all representative of how the game actually went. Vegas putting a ton of window dressing on at the end. Merc was scrappy and kept it close for about 35 minutes. During the back breaking run Plum had 4 points and 2 assists. Game high 22, tied Gray for a team high 4 assists. Stokes matched Wilson's 8 pts. and grabbed 1 more board, 13 to 12. A'ja just HAS to be better than this if Vegas is going anywhere beyond Round 1.
 
Oh, more bad news for Phoenix. Peddy went down and didn't return. No official diagnosis, but I keep seeing people say it looked like an Achilles tendon injury.
 
nwhoopfan said:
This final score not at all representative of how the game actually went. Vegas putting a ton of window dressing on at the end. Merc was scrappy and kept it close for about 35 minutes. During the back breaking run Plum had 4 points and 2 assists. Game high 22, tied Gray for a team high 4 assists. Stokes matched Wilson's 8 pts. and grabbed 1 more board, 13 to 12. A'ja just HAS to be better than this if Vegas is going anywhere beyond Round 1.
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Wilson will be fine--Turner has been a tough matchup for her all year. She's torched Seattle in every matchup this year should they meet in the semis. Even with minimal production, Vegas still won by double digits and Phoenix just doesn't have the fire power to pull off back to back wins.

I will say, without Taurasi/SDS there, I think Vegas officially owns the title for biggest complainers in the league. Seriously Wilson/Plum complain every single time they drive to the basket and Gray has shown a lot more feistiness this year too.
 
Chicago sure didn't look like a veteran championship team in the fourth quarter last night. Panic was palpable. I'm a big fan of Sloot and Quigley but they are defensively challenged. I though Gardner played well at the defensive end - terrible call on the block of Ionescu's three-point shot.
 
ochoopsfan said:
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As Ryan Ruocco alluded (in all credit to him, virtually immediately after the play), this will be one of the best wNBA highlights .. ever. (And I still have MJ's shot over Craig Ehlo stuck in my head ;))
 
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bballnut90 said:
I will say, without Taurasi/SDS there, I think Vegas officially owns the title for biggest complainers in the league. Seriously Wilson/Plum complain every single time they drive to the basket and Gray has shown a lot more feistiness this year too
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BLJ.
(Be like Jackie....:cool:)
 
I liked Sabrina's post game interview.

Q: How come you play so well under pressure situations?
A: I love pressure. I really want pressure.

Us NY fans are very lucky we have her and the Liberty as a team play the best team basketball (when not overpassing into bad TO's)
 
Hats off to New York. They made their shots when they had to, and they stole a solid win in Chicago. Was not expecting that to happen. Pretty sure Chicago will answer back.

I really don't expect Phoenix to win a game against Las Vegas. The Mercury kept things close, but the Aces just has too many options and then when they get locked in defensively, it is a wrap.
 
nwhoopfan said:
Merc hanging around. This shouldn't be remotely close, but it is. Wilson is shooting 1-8. Young, Plum and Gray have combined for 31 at the half. DeShields leading everybody w/ 13.
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I was surprised that Phoenix hung around and kept it close for a while. The first three quarters, Phoenix was hanging around and keeping the game interesting. I was shocked given Phoenix's current roster situation. I mean they are solid players but not one of those games where you are too worried about matchup concerns.
 
JellyBean said:
I was surprised that Phoenix hung around and kept it close for a while. The first three quarters, Phoenix was hanging around and keeping the game interesting. I was shocked given Phoenix's current roster situation. I mean they are solid players but not one of those games where you are too worried about matchup concerns.
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It was close because the Aces could not make any shots. I am enjoying the Big Fundamental (Gustafson) playing so well.
 
eebmg said:
It was close because the Aces could not make any shots. I am enjoying the Big Fundamental (Gustafson) playing so well.
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This is a prime example of a very big-name college player who came into the league and found what had worked in the collegiate game was not enough. How many stops did Gustafson have at various courts-of-call (Dallas, Washington, among them)? However, she's worked hard in the league, as well as overseas, to go from a person that relied on the George-Mikan inspired hooks to being able to launch 3's. She has also developed into a good high-post passer. And, she always hustles, works hard and supports her teammates.

So, for Elissa Cunane and others (including those in the W that are parked at the end of the bench) that found a "come back later" message at the W's locker room doors, there might be a lesson here.
 
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Dillon77 said:
This is a prime example of a very big-name college player who came to the league and found what had worked in the collegiate game was not enough. How many stops did she have a various courts-of-call (Dallas, Washington, among them). However, she's worked hard in the league, overseas to go from a person that relied on the George-Mikan inspired hooks to being able to launch 3's? She has also developed into a good high-post passer.

So, for Elissa Cunane and others (including those in the W that are parked at the end of the bench) that found a "come back later" message, there might be a lesson here.
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I watched, on the computer, Gustafson play this past winter in Poland. She might not be the most talented player out there but she always busted her butt on the court. That is the type of player I want as my back up, one who never lets the other team rest. Her role on Iowa, was totally different than what she has now in the WNBA, but wherever she has gone, she has adapted.
 
ochoopsfan said:
One thing I notice, both Plum and Sabrina never seem to tire when they are on the court. 2 California girls who played college in the PNW.
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I know Plum has caught the fitness bug with Sue Bird being one of her mentors in this area. Not sure I see that in Sabrina. I think right now, she is just too ornery to get tired.
 
eebmg said:
I found this end of year report by Lynx coach Reeve very interesting and in an alternate universe, could see Geno use the same language

www.startribune.com

After Lynx miss playoffs, Cheryl Reeve says, 'I was not able to get through to this group'

The coach and general manager vowed a harder-working group in 2023, although the retirement of Sylvia Fowles will be a tough blow.
www.startribune.com www.startribune.com


But the biggest problem, the thing that had Reeve questioning herself as a coach, was that she was never able to get the team to commit to working hard enough to consistently win.

Reeve said the team had a similar problem in 2021, but the presence of Collier and Clarendon's steady play masked that. But this summer, the losing exposed the problem.

"We've been the same team for two years," Reeve said. "A little more averse to working hard, plain and simple. They want less, not more. They want less drills, not more. It was hard for me to convince them that what we were doing wasn't good enough. I tried to get on 'em. I tried yelling at them. I tried to leave 'em alone. I was not able to get through to this group. With this team, I had to accept less."
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Found this kind of surprising considering who have been part of the team these past 2 seasons. I'm having a hard time envisioning some of these players not willing to put in the work. Really disappointing.
 
eebmg said:
It was close because the Aces could not make any shots. I am enjoying the Big Fundamental (Gustafson) playing so well.
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I am super happy for Gustafson. Huge fan. Been watching her whole career from high school (Wisconsin) into the Big Ten (Iowa). Gifted player and I love the Big Fundamental reference. Her game is just that, fundamentally sound.
 
cancontent said:
Found this kind of surprising considering who have been part of the team these past 2 seasons. I'm having a hard time envisioning some of these players not willing to put in the work. Really disappointing.
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Thanks for sharing this article. As a Lynx fan, this year was tough. Heck even in preseason, there was an odd vibe about the team. There wasn't that usual "Togetherness" about the team. It just wasn't authentic enough. Maybe it was the roster moves and injuries. I mean letting Crystal Dangerfield & Layshia Clarendon go, just took the heart out of the team, from a fan's perspective. Then we had the whole weird situation with Odyssey Sims and Angel McCoughtry. Throw in the injuries to Achonwa and Dantas. Having Kayla McBride joining the team a few games later. Mo Jeff and Evina joining the roster and then Mo getting hurt and then releasing Evina. Throw in the injury to Fowles. Oh, and we cannot forget Naphessa but that is a positive situation and nothing against her. We just had a rough season.
 
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eebmg said:
Satou Sabally back. Hits a pure 3 pt shot in the corner and a 70 ft heave to beat the buzzer at end of Q1. :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:
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Las Vegas, and Connecticut will sweep. New York and Washington have a great chance to get to the second round.
Washington has the best defense in the league, and since Tina has started Seattle can't play defense. She has never been great at defense and appears slow now.
 
Gabby with an incredible start to the game. Defensive steals, block, assists, rebounds, buckets, energy.
 
Good competitive game. Washington with EDD made a good run to end 2Q.
 
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