WNBA Semifinals - who you got? | Page 2 | The Boneyard

WNBA Semifinals - who you got?

Semifinal winners:

  • Minnesota over Phoenix

    Votes: 24 85.7%

  • Phoenix over Minnesota

    Votes: 4 14.3%

  • Las Vegas over Indiana

    Votes: 26 92.9%

  • Indiana over Las Vegas

    Votes: 2 7.1%
  • Total voters
    28
  • Poll closed .
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Reeve says Collier “has a fracture” while blasting the league’s officiating and calling for wholesale changes. She’s right in general - it is terribly officiated, and fans of all teams have said as much throughout the year. But she’s wrong about the specific play, where Collier suffered a bad luck injury on incidental contact after a steal.

And she still needs to be suspended for her out of control actions on the court.
 
JstVisiting said:
Reeve says Collier “has a fracture” while blasting the league’s officiating and calling for wholesale changes. She’s right in general - it is terribly officiated, and fans of all teams have said as much throughout the year. But she’s wrong about the specific play, where Collier suffered a bad luck injury on incidental contact after a steal.

And she still needs to be suspended for her out of control actions on the court.
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Thomas is a physical player but that was a clean steal.
 
nwhoopfan said:
I just saw the clip of her getting ejected at the end. I don't think I've ever seen her fired up like that before. Pretty much the entire coaching staff plus a player or two had to get involved to restrain her and get her off the court.
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Yeah, Coach was heated. She has had crash outs before, but this one was her most epic
 
Hopefully the injury to Collier is minimal. Feels like this seasoned was destined to be hers, but it has started slipping through her fingers.

I saw a UCONN fan post this last year, but I’m not sure anyone has had as much heartbreak in her career as Phee:
2017-undefeated season lost on Morgan William buzzer beater

2018-undefeated season lost on Arike buzzer beater

2019-lost in Final Four after having 9pt lead in 4th quarter

2024-lost in game 5 of finals on a controversial call

2025-was prohibitive MVP front runner, obtained an injury while up 43 points in the 2nd half which likely cost her the award. Team was heavy title favorites and might bow out in the semis.
 
JstVisiting said:
Reeve says Collier “has a fracture” while blasting the league’s officiating and calling for wholesale changes. She’s right in general - it is terribly officiated, and fans of all teams have said as much throughout the year. But she’s wrong about the specific play, where Collier suffered a bad luck injury on incidental contact after a steal.

And she still needs to be suspended for her out of control actions on the court.
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I did not know or hear about a fracture. I will have to watch the post-game interview.
 
The playoffs are kind of the first time you are starting to see the Big 3 for Phoenix all click together. Last night was their best collective showing--scored 65 of the team's 84 points while shooting 23/43 from the field (and 16/18 from the FT line). Vets like Bonner and Whitcomb are going to make them a very tough out with all that experience.
 
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bballnut90 said:
Thomas is a physical player but that was a clean steal.
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I agree that, on the play in question, Thomas' steal was clean.
I would also say that the Mercury have been the better and more clutch team in this series.
But.....I would also say that Reeve's meltdown was understandable as a cumulative reaction to the mugging that her team withstood for 40 minutes (& was forced to try replicate in their own play) without significant policing by the refs.
The officiating is beyond horrible, and, IMO, results in a product more akin to rugby than basketball.
The Mercury deserved to win (to begin with, they made more clutch baskets), but benign neglect by the refs is really a gift to them as it rewards their style of play.
To me, Reeve's temporary insanity was understandable in the heat of that particular moment, even though Thomas made a clean play.
 
Last night, the Mercury ourscored the Lynx 21-9 in the 4th quarter. Collier got just one FG attempt. In game 2, between Q4 and OT, the Mercury outscored the Lynx 35-21. Collier was just 2-6 in the 4th Q and OT combined.

Hopefully Napheesa is good to go for game 4; and if so, the Lynx need to keep her involved late in games.
 
Basingstoke said:
. . .
The officiating is beyond horrible, and, IMO, results in a product more akin to rugby than basketball. . .. .
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W officiating is intentionally terrible. The league delights in its roller derby or rugby style. As Paige has noted, she has had to learn how to play defense while fouling.
 
Looking at how well Boston has defended A’ja, you think the Fever FO is having second thoughts about shutting down CC? LV has been extremely beatable, they just don’t have the firepower to finish it.

You can’t backtrack now, and I suggested this the day after Cunningham was out for the year, but somebody in their organization has to be thinking “what if…” Even more-so with Minnesota on the ropes.

Addendum: there’s going to be roster chaos everywhere, the Fever will be the public’s preseason betting favorites solely on Boston + Clark, and everyone else in the league will seethe
 
Have to watch both games as I was out last night, but Reeve's beef with physicality in general is valid. The Indiana-Vegas series has the same challenges based on the amount of fouls being called. Coach Hammon and Coach White have also been vocal about it.

It's been a problem all season, contrary to the promised emphasis of "freedom of movement" by the league. The WNBA needs to own up to the fact they screwed up in this area.
 
cancontent said:
Have to watch both games as I was out last night, but Reeve's beef with physicality in general is valid. The Indiana-Vegas series has the same challenges based on the amount of fouls being called. Coach Hammon and Coach White have also been vocal about it.

It's been a problem all season, contrary to the promised emphasis of "freedom of movement" by the league. The WNBA needs to own up to the fact they screwed up in this area.
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Agreed. I'm not even sure whether I think it favored one side or the other in the Fever-Aces game, because Boston was getting away with a ton of stuff, but so was Young - honestly, kind of the first time I recall seeing Jackie playing what I think was a kind of "dirty" style, with a LOT of contact away from the basketball.

And I do understand why Reeve was upset because Phoenix is extremely physical and in that matchup the more physical the game, the more it works to Phoenix's benefit, since they run a lot more ISO plays and the Lynx need that freedom of movement to get open or into the lanes. I feel really bad for Phee because the last month and a half has been something of a nightmare and I have a hard time seeing how the Lynx can come back from this (a) at all and (b) with Phee on the bench. Fingers crossed it was just a rolled ankle and her tears more emotional than physical.
 
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bballnut90 said:
Hopefully the injury to Collier is minimal. Feels like this seasoned was destined to be hers, but it has started slipping through her fingers.

I saw a UCONN fan post this last year, but I’m not sure anyone has had as much heartbreak in her career as Phee:
2017-undefeated season lost on Morgan William buzzer beater

2018-undefeated season lost on Arike buzzer beater

2019-lost in Final Four after having 9pt lead in 4th quarter

2024-lost in game 5 of finals on a controversial call

2025-was prohibitive MVP front runner, obtained an injury while up 43 points in the 2nd half which likely cost her the award. Team was heavy title favorites and might bow out in the semis.
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Add in the upset in Unrivaled!
 
Game four times & broadcasts updated -

1758995170355.jpeg
 
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Basingstoke said:
Unfortunately, definitely justified. Now do the refs for game 3...
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Seems appropriate to (re-)up this: How WNBA referees are scouted, trained, and held accountable, explained | SB Nation

Gist to current events: Institutionalized deja vu.

It’s more of the same unless the WNBA becomes nimble (“Competition Committee” and “Department of Refereeing”) in responding to player and team “innovations” of “pushing boundaries” in “big picture … trends”.

Basically, it is a staring contest. The Competition Committee approves rules changes less frequently than desired and the Department of Refereeing merely implements &1 &2 them. I don’t know why the Committee can’t legislate guiding principles with a grant of in-season legislating authority on certain types of rules, subject to a veto, and end-season formal ratifying review of in-season interim rules.

Then there’s the important issue of referee compensation system so the fines system &2 can have a better punitive effect.

One gets a sense that the current system (with automatic punishments against dissenters) immunizes the league and its officials from the “noise” of criticism. The officials interviewed casually attribute the “noise” to (uninformed) expanded eyeballs.

&1 Referee Engagement Performance System (REPS).

&2 Currently only for misapplication of rules, not “typical blown calls”.
 
TheFarmFan said:
Agreed. I'm not even sure whether I think it favored one side or the other in the Fever-Aces game, because Boston was getting away with a ton of stuff, but so was Young - honestly, kind of the first time I recall seeing Jackie playing what I think was a kind of "dirty" style, with a LOT of contact away from the basketball.

And I do understand why Reeve was upset because Phoenix is extremely physical and in that matchup the more physical the game, the more it works to Phoenix's benefit, since they run a lot more ISO plays and the Lynx need that freedom of movement to get open or into the lanes. I feel really bad for Phee because the last month and a half has been something of a nightmare and I have a hard time seeing how the Lynx can come back from this (a) at all and (b) with Phee on the bench. Fingers crossed it was just a rolled ankle and her tears more emotional than physical.
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Hmmm. As a guy who still lugs his body out to play in a Sunday morning league, I find teams react to what the refs are calling...or not calling. Players who are inclined to be physical tend to be even more so, but those who generally are not can even get caught up in it. And those players physicality is even more glaring because it's out of character and unexpected.

Not using this as an excuse for any one player, but it is an indictment of a philosophy of "letting 'em play" in games that showcase the alleged best and brightest. It's disappointing.
 
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LwrcasefaN said:
As much as I enjoy watching basketball, I have not watched a WNBA game this season. Didn’t see this play so I’m not making a judgement here. It’s just way too physical and it wasn’t always like this.
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I agree with you. I’m really souring on the pro game. It’s no longer about basketball skills. The strongest and most aggressive are being rewarded. It’s more like the old roller derby. Not fun anymore.
 
I saw the bad news last night about Phee. Not good but no need to fear. We got Bridget, Maria, and Alanna. First to three. Rally the troops...and if we miss three 3-point attempts in a row, take it to the rack. With so much attention on the officials today, we are getting some calls. Let's go, Lynx!! First to three. It ain't over. Let's see who our Dawgs are out there today.
 
Indy pushes it to game 5. Regardless of what happens in game 5 it's been a heck of a run for a team that's endured so much adversity this year. Monster efforts today by Boston and Mitchell. White proving once again she's among the best coaches in the game. The turnaround they've made from 2+ years ago is remarkable.
 
Boston so very aggressive today in the paint, drawing fouls to the tune of 10-13 from the FT. line. Las Vegas hit 8-11 as a team, with Wilson 3-6 and Young 4-4.

Boston, Mitchell, Sims and Coach White got this one across the finish line to force a trip back to Las Vegas.
 
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