WNBA Open Thread - Three Game Thursday; Can the Lynx Clinch the Playoffs?
by Jessica Lantz on Aug 18, 2011 11:33 PM EDT
Email
PrintSomething that's been long in the making for Minnesota Lynx fans can become a reality tonight. Minnesota needs to rebound from their last ugly loss and get a win in Washington and then it's up to LA, or rather Indiana. If the Fever can grab a victory from the Sparks and the Lynx get the W, Minnesota becomes this season's first team to clinch a playoff berth. And not just any playoff berth, their first in seven years.
Mixed into the playoff watch, there's - of course - a third game of the evening. In the battle of the casino-sponsored teams, the Mohegan Sun travel to the New York Foxwoods. Care to wager on who will win? Take a trip to the sports book rooms at the Connecticut gambling palaces and place your bets!
|
Connecticut at New York The Sun (16-8) are coming off a 108-79 beat-down victory over perhaps the best team in the league, the Lynx. New York (14-11) also enters after a win, theirs a 69-66 squeak-by of the Mystics on Tuesday. 7 p.m. ET | NBA TV | LiveAccess |
Minnesota at Washington Washington (5-17) heads home after an almost win where "Ugly Beat Bad". The Lynx (18-6) have to shake off their 29-point loss on Tuesday as they travel to Washington. Make a point to look at Charde Houston's shorts! 7 p.m. ET | LiveAccess |
Indiana at Los Angeles Both the Fever (18-7) and the Sparks (9-14) enter after tight games on Tueseday. Indiana held on to take a road win in San Antonio and Candace Parker showed she's back – complete with an ejection in the Sparks 84-79 loss to Atlanta. 10:30 ET | LiveAccess |
168 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Injuries going to be a factor...
For the Liberty tonight. Quanitra Hollingsworth is on the bench in street clothes again (sprained her ankle in practice at the beginning of the week) and Nicole Powell is dressed but may not play (knee contusion).
Dang yeah...
That’s not good. Especially when the Sun are coming off a 108 point game. Unless Connecticut is tired from playing two offensive games in one. LOL
by Jessica Lantz on Aug 18, 2011 7:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Thanks for the update onetimer
This would be a good opportunity for Kara Braxton to prove her worth…
SwishAppeal.com for women's basketball...SB Nation Seattle for Seattle sports...and trying to maintain a Golden State of Mind about the Warriors. Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
That sounds good in theory...
Too bad she still looks like she completely forgot how to play basketball on the flight to NY from Phoenix ;)
Haha
I think some Phoenix fans would say, “More of the same…”
SwishAppeal.com for women's basketball...SB Nation Seattle for Seattle sports...and trying to maintain a Golden State of Mind about the Warriors. Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
Both games
Very close in this first period…
NY 12, Conn 10 and Minny/Washingon tied at 14s in the last half of the first quarter
Washington 18, Minnesota 17 - end of the 1st quarter
Matee Ajavon and Seimone Augustus both with 6 points
New York 20, Connecticut 17 - end of the 1st quarter
It’s a two-woman show in New Jersey! Kia Vaughn has 9 points and 6 boards for the Libs. TIna Charles has 9 for the Sun but Connecticut is only shooting 33.3% from the field…
thanks
Some kinky fans close to the lynx bench… Animated
by thewiz06 on Aug 18, 2011 7:45 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
what the hell?
Autocomplete on the phone made.me type crazy things. I meant to say crazy not kinky……. Who knows what’s next with me.
by thewiz06 on Aug 18, 2011 7:50 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Lynx starting to get a lead
I see it at 6 right now… 30-24, the other game still uber close – a 1-point Sun advantage…
36 29 minny
They’ll make the playoffs tonight
by thewiz06 on Aug 18, 2011 7:52 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Did Jessica Moore just low-bridge Kia Vaughn
or was Kia Vaugh over the back. Play-by-Play thinks the former but color commentator Mary Murphy wonders that latter. After viewing the slow-motion replay Mary Murphy says emphatically – “No doubt about it Moore just cleared Vaughn out”. Although Moore protests the call vehemently.
Patterson East Side High Ghosts
welcome back Essence Carson with Sydney Colson accompanying her.
Kym Hampton says “She’s touchable, she’s tangible. She’s someone who walked through these same halls. She gives people hope”.
Liberty "Timeless Torches" dancers
(in their golden years) include at least one male dancer?! And I think there might have been another.
Coach Whisenant: what things should the Liberty do in the
second half?
“Well it’s one big thing. They got 12 offensive rebounds that half…
… clean up that rebounding. we gotta block out."
Kia Vaughn wears possibly the shortest shorts in the league.
Pondexter and Mitchell both have the knee completely covered.
Epic Road Trip information
Per Twitter
7 hours ago Shannon Cotterell hit Redding, CA.
28 minutes ago stuck in Portland, OR traffic.
LOL
Thanks for keeping everyone updated.
Got into Seattle about 9 and spent time catching up with my friends. Now trying to catch up on yesterday!
by Shannon Cotterell on Aug 19, 2011 10:29 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I see a change in the league these days.
Mary Murphy is talking about how the Liberty misses the solid minutes Quanitra Hollingsworth was giving them. In the old days a player that far down the bench wouldn’t be contributing. The days of two players down at the end of the bench who are not ready for prime time might be ending.
Q’s not really “that far down the bench”. She’d often been the first substitution for the Liberty the last handful of games before she got hurt.
That being said, I also agree with you – with the change to the 11 person roster there’s a lot fewer players who are just sitting on the bench the whole game for the bulk of the season.
Lawson hits a three.
Mary Murphy says “You can’t allow Kara Lawson to get going because she is like a wildfire. Once it gets going it’s hard to put out!”
Braxton gets more credit just for trying from commentators than any other player in the league
SwishAppeal.com for women's basketball...SB Nation Seattle for Seattle sports...and trying to maintain a Golden State of Mind about the Warriors. Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
T-Wolves Fan Here...
…watching Lynx/Mystic. It is so surreal to see a team from Minnesota play with the lead, get the other team into foul trouble, have a offensive plan, actually execute that plan, get fast break points, force turnovers, etc. Everytime the refs make a 50/50 call our way I have to pinch myself! Plus the feed is free. climbing on the bandwagon
by Los Lobos Del Bosque on Aug 18, 2011 8:45 PM EDT reply actions
tell me about it
They Re beating us without a superstar performance. Then again, I talked to folks a lot through this game
by thewiz06 on Aug 18, 2011 8:47 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Welcome to the site, Los Lobos
Shannon, resident Lynx homer, will be glad to know there are others around rooting for the Lynx.
Between she and I, if you don’t like Whalen as a point guard more than Ricky Rubio’s hype, we have not done our job. ;)
SwishAppeal.com for women's basketball...SB Nation Seattle for Seattle sports...and trying to maintain a Golden State of Mind about the Warriors. Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
I've seen 'Mone live...
…and expected Moore to be dominant, but I was suprised by how good Wahlen is. And Brunson too. Didn’t know we had four all-stars, lol.
by Los Lobos Del Bosque on Aug 18, 2011 9:08 PM EDT up reply actions
your team is real damn good.
So jealous.
by thewiz06 on Aug 18, 2011 9:21 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
"Pondexter will not go away"
“Connecticutt’s big lead has shrunk. It has melted away”.
Mitchell ties it at 71 – 71. “We’re all even!” And the crowd goes wild….
"Oh baby, she hit it. She made it!"
“The Sun is stunned. There’s still plenty of time but….”
“makes magic happen.”
Nice to have a player who can get off a good shot at any time regardless of who is guarding her.
Pondexter puts the Liberty up 3 with a 3 pointer.
"Posterizes her"?!
That sounds quite naughty.
Not really applicable but I stole it from
the NBA where they will make posters out of a better than average dunk. They say that the defender who also shows up in the poster getting dunked on got “posterized”.
A new WNBA-specific term could be derived from thewiz06's photoshopping ability...
I’m contemplating… but I’ve got nothing…
SwishAppeal.com for women's basketball...SB Nation Seattle for Seattle sports...and trying to maintain a Golden State of Mind about the Warriors. Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
i don't photoshop. i just put words in people's mouths in an offbeat way
by thewiz06 on Aug 18, 2011 9:08 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I’m sorry for mischaracterizing your work.
It shall not happen again.
SwishAppeal.com for women's basketball...SB Nation Seattle for Seattle sports...and trying to maintain a Golden State of Mind about the Warriors. Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
I was hoping to actually go play basketball before the Sparks game...
But this NY game is too good to just leave…
SwishAppeal.com for women's basketball...SB Nation Seattle for Seattle sports...and trying to maintain a Golden State of Mind about the Warriors. Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
I am seeing comments about Liz Cambage being
slow but I don’t know if she is any different than Braxton.
Wow... Cappie Pondexter...
This woman is ridiculous…
SwishAppeal.com for women's basketball...SB Nation Seattle for Seattle sports...and trying to maintain a Golden State of Mind about the Warriors. Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
Who takes a shot like that in a non-desperation situation?
SwishAppeal.com for women's basketball...SB Nation Seattle for Seattle sports...and trying to maintain a Golden State of Mind about the Warriors. Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
Kara Lawson cares not for my excitement.
Wow…
SwishAppeal.com for women's basketball...SB Nation Seattle for Seattle sports...and trying to maintain a Golden State of Mind about the Warriors. Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
C.P. may be silly on occasion,
but she is admirably relentless. Still rooting for Kara and the Conn, though.
(And if I may whine once more, to think that my childhood friend lives about 3 miles away AND DOESN’T GO TO GAMES! Makes me want to throttle her.)
3 miles from Prudential Center
in Newark? Crowd is getting better than earlier in the season, but “good seats still available”.
I was at a few games earlier in the year
The crowds were pretty miserable. It’s definitely looked and sounded better since the All Star break.
the team basically relocated
so I’d give them slack.
by thewiz06 on Aug 18, 2011 9:35 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Not Plenette too!!
Too many injuries already. If Plenette’s hurt too the Liberty are in huge trouble down the stretch.
I was worried it was her shoulder when she went down
She’s had so much trouble with her shoulders in the past so that would NOT have been good. Hopefully she’ll be okay.
and we lose..
But I did get to ask laurel richie a question after the chalk talk so that mitigated it.
by thewiz06 on Aug 18, 2011 9:04 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
What did you ask?
What did she answer?
SwishAppeal.com for women's basketball...SB Nation Seattle for Seattle sports...and trying to maintain a Golden State of Mind about the Warriors. Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
i asked her if there was a more ideal ownership model in the league like what we have and minny have
And she said that there really isn’t but there are advantages we have that the Seattles and la’s don’t enjoy. But they also have advantages we do not have though she wouldn’t say in detail. I also asked on if the wnba is trying to make more efforts to market to a younger male demographic. Here, she said that she was looking for effective ways for such marketing, but she doesn’t know how it would work. She said the bigger issue with men and younger men is on bringing them to games rather than watching it on tv and I believe she did tell me that most wnba tv watchers are men fwiw.
by thewiz06 on Aug 18, 2011 9:16 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
she does like that our ownership
displayed all of our three teams in the Verizon Center as well prominently throughout the building so on this front, the Mystics are not being treated unfairly and I agree with that.
by thewiz06 on Aug 18, 2011 9:19 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Thanks for the summary
I sort of think that the younger males will come along with more TV/media exposure – the closer the WNBA comes to being a normal part of the sports landscape, the more likely boys will show up.
That, and the product getting better is the key. I can’t really imagine any specific marketing techniques other than to market it…like… filet mignon instead of bad ice cream…
SwishAppeal.com for women's basketball...SB Nation Seattle for Seattle sports...and trying to maintain a Golden State of Mind about the Warriors. Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
it is a chicken and the egg debate
Sponsors won’t put dollars into the league unless the product improves yet these dollars help spur that development.
by thewiz06 on Aug 18, 2011 9:29 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I know people disputed Pondexter's place on the Top 15 of all-time...
…but there aren’t too many players in league history who can put on a show like this one on one, driving and pulling up…
SwishAppeal.com for women's basketball...SB Nation Seattle for Seattle sports...and trying to maintain a Golden State of Mind about the Warriors. Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
Liberty offense stalls
Pondexter has to throw up a fadaway and the rebound bounces off New York hands and Connecticut gets the fast break layup for the 1 point lead. Next New York possession they lose the ball to an illegal screen.
Yeah, that is the flip-side of Pondexter's performance...
The fact that she has to do so much this game is not positive in terms of the Liberty’s offensive fluidity…
But, um,… this is impressive…
SwishAppeal.com for women's basketball...SB Nation Seattle for Seattle sports...and trying to maintain a Golden State of Mind about the Warriors. Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
Renne Montgomery is not a bad point guard this year...
But she makes some of the most untimely turnovers of any point guard in the league…
SwishAppeal.com for women's basketball...SB Nation Seattle for Seattle sports...and trying to maintain a Golden State of Mind about the Warriors. Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
Pondexter puts the Liberty back up by one.
Mary Murphy points out that Connecticut put Lawson on Pondexter even though Kalana Greene had been doing a better job.
Tan White with both hands on the ball but
Pondexter appears to hit it out although White may have still touched it after Pondexter.
Not just to plug this site....
(and you’re here anyway, so who cares)
But I am looking forward to both queenie and ray’s pieces on this game, win or lose…
SwishAppeal.com for women's basketball...SB Nation Seattle for Seattle sports...and trying to maintain a Golden State of Mind about the Warriors. Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
Man, for a second it looked like
Tan White had a wide open layup and then Pondexter comes over and blocks it.
Pondexter misses two
free throws but the ball rattles around and uses up some time and Pierson gets in the way and uses up some more taking it out of bounds.
that is a very interesting interpretation
because I seem to recall seeing Jones’s arm around Pierson’s waist.
I am the victim of a basketball jones.
Just watched the play again.
Mary Murphy said “They hook her, and they drag her down”, in reference to Pierson going out of bounds.
I didn’t see any hook or drag.
Just looking at those East standings I feel horrible for Chicago...
Missing the playoffs again is even more disappointing than last year…
SwishAppeal.com for women's basketball...SB Nation Seattle for Seattle sports...and trying to maintain a Golden State of Mind about the Warriors. Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
Let me not say "is"...
“…*would be…”
SwishAppeal.com for women's basketball...SB Nation Seattle for Seattle sports...and trying to maintain a Golden State of Mind about the Warriors. Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
With 1.8 seconds left the Sun blow the inbounds pass.
Lawson got open but Tan White didn’t see her or couldn’t get it over Leilani Mitchell.
Stole my comment lol
SwishAppeal.com for women's basketball...SB Nation Seattle for Seattle sports...and trying to maintain a Golden State of Mind about the Warriors. Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
maybe mitchell can jumo real righ real quickly?
by thewiz06 on Aug 18, 2011 9:32 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Or maybe we should review the play...
To see if she was cheating and using a pogo stick…?
SwishAppeal.com for women's basketball...SB Nation Seattle for Seattle sports...and trying to maintain a Golden State of Mind about the Warriors. Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
if she was maybe she's a magician....
by thewiz06 on Aug 18, 2011 9:36 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
OK.... quick shootaround before the Sparks game...
Be good peoples.
SwishAppeal.com for women's basketball...SB Nation Seattle for Seattle sports...and trying to maintain a Golden State of Mind about the Warriors. Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
Just realized that New York pulls out the big
guns for a NBA-TV game. The normal play-by-play woman becomes a sideline reporters, Kym Hampton stays home and out come Mike Crispino and Mary Murphy to cover the game.
Wow... 1988 first round between Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavs...
This is better than summer league.
I’m still leaving though.
SwishAppeal.com for women's basketball...SB Nation Seattle for Seattle sports...and trying to maintain a Golden State of Mind about the Warriors. Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
Absolutely no argument here.
I refuse to argue with three rings, baseball, three more rings. ;)
SwishAppeal.com for women's basketball...SB Nation Seattle for Seattle sports...and trying to maintain a Golden State of Mind about the Warriors. Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
by Nate Parham on Aug 18, 2011 11:15 PM EDT up reply actions
The only thing where this fool can beat MJ is with his oversized ego when he meets other buffoons:
and also when he’s abroad:
Let's be honest though:
LeBron has plenty of time left in his career and that team in Miami is capable of winning a few titles, particularly after a year playing together.
And he’s so physically dominant that as he matures, he’ll easily go down as one of the most dominant perimeter players in league history.
But as of right now, I don’t see any purpose in comparing the two – it’s apples and oranges, with MJ just in a different class of championship players.
SwishAppeal.com for women's basketball...SB Nation Seattle for Seattle sports...and trying to maintain a Golden State of Mind about the Warriors. Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
by Nate Parham on Aug 18, 2011 11:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Yes, I'll give you that, but as long as LeBron continues to defiantly act like he makes Michael Jordan like Michael Olowokandi
he will continue to be perceived like the way I do.
On a Serious note on the latter pic, I made that a week ago.
and now unfortunately DC sports gets a bad rap once again because of a brawl between the Georgetown basketball team and the Bayi Rockets of the Chinese CBA.. To be fair however to DC, many indications are pointing out that the refs were very bad at controlling tempers in the game, and the Rockets appeared to have instigated the bulk of the brawl.. Look at this pic:
Wacky still shot. Those dudes are MEANNNNN.
by Jessica Lantz on Aug 18, 2011 11:46 PM EDT up reply actions
tell me about it....
still in shock. it was on national news I bet.
I hope no Georgetown students are ignorant to go after the Chinese national and Chinese American population because of this. Like most Catholic universities, Georgetown doesn’t have a particularly high Asian American population for college, even though it is the best Catholic university in the US, at least in name only. I believe most students there aren’t Catholic, or specifically part of the “Society of Jesus”.
Sparks having a much better game than the score looks
After getting down 19-9 in the first quarter, they went 17-2 holding the Fever without a point in the second quarter until just a few possessions ago.
It seems the challenge for Bryant – even though he was an asst with the Sparks the whole season – will be figuring out a rotation with Parker in there…
SwishAppeal.com for women's basketball...SB Nation Seattle for Seattle sports...and trying to maintain a Golden State of Mind about the Warriors. Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
The Sparks are doing a great job of penetrating and finding players for high percentage baskets.
But oddly, it’s coming a) at the expense of making the simple play to hit the open player on the perimeter and b) with some very difficult passes.
They’re making this much harder than it needs to be, and that’s before noting the long shots…
SwishAppeal.com for women's basketball...SB Nation Seattle for Seattle sports...and trying to maintain a Golden State of Mind about the Warriors. Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
32-31 Fever at halftime
Given their bad start, that’s not a bad outcome for the Sparks against the best team in the East.
Sutton-Brown is the Fever’s leading scorer with 9, but those came early and the Sparks clamped down in the paint after that…with Davenport only adding 2 points, the Sparks are doing better defending the paint than this looks.
The Sparks have 10 turnovers and seem to be intent on forcing tough plays instead of moving the ball and hitting open players….
SwishAppeal.com for women's basketball...SB Nation Seattle for Seattle sports...and trying to maintain a Golden State of Mind about the Warriors. Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
Corrected score: 31-30 Sparks
One shot negated due to being after the shot clock.
Even better news for this Sparks team.
SwishAppeal.com for women's basketball...SB Nation Seattle for Seattle sports...and trying to maintain a Golden State of Mind about the Warriors. Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
by Nate Parham on Aug 18, 2011 11:45 PM EDT up reply actions
VERY decent....
Really it just seems like it’s taking some time for them to get back to playing the fluid ball they were playing prior to Parker’s injury.
Their defense after that bad start has been outstanding…and Douglas’ cold shooting doesn’t hurt.
SwishAppeal.com for women's basketball...SB Nation Seattle for Seattle sports...and trying to maintain a Golden State of Mind about the Warriors. Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
by Nate Parham on Aug 18, 2011 11:51 PM EDT up reply actions
As good as Phillips has been, tonight's game is one in which the Fever really miss January
They’re standing around looking for jumpers and although January wasn’t the league’s most efficient pg, she was able to get herself to the free throw line, which helps.
SwishAppeal.com for women's basketball...SB Nation Seattle for Seattle sports...and trying to maintain a Golden State of Mind about the Warriors. Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
And Zellous is a player who can give them that, but simply hasn’t been much of a factor tonight..
SwishAppeal.com for women's basketball...SB Nation Seattle for Seattle sports...and trying to maintain a Golden State of Mind about the Warriors. Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
by Nate Parham on Aug 19, 2011 12:01 AM EDT up reply actions
The ruling on the track is that the train is leaving the station
this ruling is being reviewed… no, seriously, after those three straight reviews, we all got on the train, it closed its doors, it jerked forward three feet… and the doors opened and we sat there for five minutes.
Scott Twadorski must really want an Essence Carson bobble-head and been told he can’t have one. Only reason I can think of for him paying so much attention to her falling and not picking her up.
I am the victim of a basketball jones.
I can word
And by “picking her up” I mean “calling a foul on the person who knocked her over, NOT ON HER SCOTT YOU IDIOT”.
I am the victim of a basketball jones.
End 3: 55-54 Sparks
The Sparks had opportunities to expand this lead and squandered free throws and kept jacking quick shots.
Meanwhile, Erin Phillips carried the Fever offensively with her shooting.
If something were to give here… I’d say the Sparks are more likely to settle into a stronger rhythm than the Sparks continuing to live on jumpers.
SwishAppeal.com for women's basketball...SB Nation Seattle for Seattle sports...and trying to maintain a Golden State of Mind about the Warriors. Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
Erin Phillips
Keeping em in this puppy…
by Jessica Lantz on Aug 19, 2011 12:13 AM EDT up reply actions
Oh.
and that girl Catchings. Who is she anyway? lol
by Jessica Lantz on Aug 19, 2011 12:15 AM EDT up reply actions
She’s aiight.
SwishAppeal.com for women's basketball...SB Nation Seattle for Seattle sports...and trying to maintain a Golden State of Mind about the Warriors. Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
by Nate Parham on Aug 19, 2011 12:23 AM EDT up reply actions
HUH?
Katie Douglas and Ebony Hoffman went wedding dress shopping together overseas? I have a hard time picturing that…
why do the commentators have to mention stuff like that?
I don’t really care.
by thewiz06 on Aug 19, 2011 12:22 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Agreed...
Very different team.
I have little doubt that they’d be fighting for home court advantage in the playoffs (at least in the first round) if Parker had been healthy…
Every single player is playing with more confidence.
SwishAppeal.com for women's basketball...SB Nation Seattle for Seattle sports...and trying to maintain a Golden State of Mind about the Warriors. Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
by Nate Parham on Aug 19, 2011 12:25 AM EDT up reply actions
I'm with you
I don’t think that the ‘will LA make the playoffs’ convo would be happening…it would be more abt where will they be seeded for sure….she makes a huge difference
by Jessica Lantz on Aug 19, 2011 12:28 AM EDT up reply actions
Have I mentioned how much I like Natasha Lacy's game before?
If not, I sure do like Lacy’s tenacity on the court.
SwishAppeal.com for women's basketball...SB Nation Seattle for Seattle sports...and trying to maintain a Golden State of Mind about the Warriors. Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
Sometimes it looks like the game comes so easily to Parker that she overdoes it a bit.
Once she learns to just make the simplest play and save the spectacular, she’ll be an unstoppable force.
SwishAppeal.com for women's basketball...SB Nation Seattle for Seattle sports...and trying to maintain a Golden State of Mind about the Warriors. Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
As I was saying....
Up 4 with under a minute left, taking 8-10 dribbles going one on one v Catchings on an isolation from the top of the key is not necessarily the best play to make.
Get the team into the offense, take Catchings into the post where there might be an advantage or chance to draw a foul…
SwishAppeal.com for women's basketball...SB Nation Seattle for Seattle sports...and trying to maintain a Golden State of Mind about the Warriors. Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
by Nate Parham on Aug 19, 2011 12:32 AM EDT up reply actions
Yep
Toying around on the iso with Catchings wasn’t the wisest.
by Jessica Lantz on Aug 19, 2011 12:33 AM EDT up reply actions
More quick things with the Chalk Talk last night/earlier tonight (if you're in the west) on Laurel Richie at the Verizon Center.
1. She complimented managing partner Sheila Johnson’s work with the Mystics, which got a considerable amount of snickers and groans. I was one of them. Richie then said she would answer any questions, positive or negative on the league or the Mystics. No one asked a question that was negative on the Mystics, likely in fear of being kicked out of Verizon Center, at least publicly.
2. She got cheers when she expressed displeasure on the league not being presented as a sports league in the way the Big Four leagues are.
3. There was one woman who mentioned that she had some type of connection to get WNBA players on overseas trips to teach third world children basketball. After, before I spoke with her briefly, Richie disclosed her email address and was interested in it. I assume the woman was a media lady/charity worker of some sort.
4. Numerous questions were asked in regards to how we can keep WNBA players here in the US and ultimately the best women’s pro league in the world. Richie said this is a priority. I believe she mentioned that sponsors will be a very large part of bringing in the resources to make that happen.
5. She did talk about being a Cavs fan as her family is made up of long time season ticket holders, and this gives her perspective on being a fan. She said that her father will not allow anyone to mention LeBron’s name (and she didn’t mention his name so you know), since he went where money talked (see pic above) in his presence. That’s like Nate not allowing anyone here to mention a member of the UNC system.
I love when you make fan posts in the comments.
But feel free to just make them fan posts. ;)
SwishAppeal.com for women's basketball...SB Nation Seattle for Seattle sports...and trying to maintain a Golden State of Mind about the Warriors. Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
by Nate Parham on Aug 19, 2011 12:34 AM EDT up reply actions
I hear that.
But it’s interesting stuff and I just won’t promote it to front if you literally copy and paste your thoughts here…
SwishAppeal.com for women's basketball...SB Nation Seattle for Seattle sports...and trying to maintain a Golden State of Mind about the Warriors. Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
by Nate Parham on Aug 19, 2011 12:42 AM EDT up reply actions
I'm most interested because she's been around the league for a while longer since she was in Seattle
or the All-Star break.
I’d like to know how her understanding/perception of the league is changing now as things progress…
I have a lot of confidence in her, personally fwiw.
SwishAppeal.com for women's basketball...SB Nation Seattle for Seattle sports...and trying to maintain a Golden State of Mind about the Warriors. Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
by Nate Parham on Aug 19, 2011 12:44 AM EDT up reply actions
Look forward to it.
SwishAppeal.com for women's basketball...SB Nation Seattle for Seattle sports...and trying to maintain a Golden State of Mind about the Warriors. Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
Other quick notes.
1. on media coverage, one STH noted that WJLA (ABC affiliate) in DC was doing a good job with media coverage. Another STH asked about trying to ensure that when Team USA gets on primetime when this #6:
takes the court. Kinda hard to do when London is five hours ahead of my time…
another random thought just hit me, but it's not worth in a post.
fwiw:
One STH was disappointed that one of the Navy Midshipmen players, I believe it was from last year’s team, didn’t get seriously considered for the WNBA. Richie responded that she will actually be at West Point soon for another event and gave what I believe was a generic response to the idea of recently graduated mids and cadets in the WNBA. She liked the idea, but wouldn’t elaborate too much.
To be brutally honest, it’s not something that really can be done easily for a newly commissioned officer, especially for mids who become Marines (Navy produces Marines if you didn’t know), unless they get a David Robinson type of deal… Not to mention Army and Navy play in a small conference, while Air Force is a bottom feeder in a major conference and most players have future ambitions that don’t involve military service, so therefore the basketball teams at the three D-I academies just aren’t going to be that good most years. I get the fact that active duty military officers could be great leaders and role models in the WNBA if their playing ability is qualified to be at the WNBA level, but it’s really hard to do even if they are granted some type of part time deal to play in the W.
dumb luck too
Army had a player a couple of years back who might have gotten a look, but she tore up her knee in the middle of her senior season.
I think the service requirement, in the end, is too much of a burden for most teams to take on; there are fewer teams, after all, and they have more options.
I am the victim of a basketball jones.
Also
I like making rules.
They will become even more arbitrary during college season.
SwishAppeal.com for women's basketball...SB Nation Seattle for Seattle sports...and trying to maintain a Golden State of Mind about the Warriors. Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
by Nate Parham on Aug 19, 2011 12:35 AM EDT up reply actions
Oh just general allegiances
Football is done before it started: Alex Smith is not taking my Niners anywhere. And I’ll save other random Michigan football stuff for Maize & Brew or something.
But college is where completely random things like indifference to Illinois might come out (if anyone can actually access the Big Ten Network).
SwishAppeal.com for women's basketball...SB Nation Seattle for Seattle sports...and trying to maintain a Golden State of Mind about the Warriors. Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
by Nate Parham on Aug 19, 2011 12:39 AM EDT up reply actions
I get it on Verizon FiOS
and I’m in ACC and Big East territory. Then again, Penn State has a huge alumni base in our area.
I do actually...
But when I started watching football, the Raiders were still in LA… and the Niners were in the midst of becoming the Team of the 80’s. And they had Jerry Rice, Roger Craig, Joe Montana, John Taylor, and Tom Rathman (in order of childhood favorites).
So … Niners it is.
SwishAppeal.com for women's basketball...SB Nation Seattle for Seattle sports...and trying to maintain a Golden State of Mind about the Warriors. Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
I get it!
And it makes me miss the days when Vera Jones and Doris Burke were calling the Liberty (and occasionally getting spectacularly drunk while doing it).
I am the victim of a basketball jones.
I'm not sure I'm gonna have it here...
But I’m going to make a concerted effort to watch Mich wbb again this year.
SwishAppeal.com for women's basketball...SB Nation Seattle for Seattle sports...and trying to maintain a Golden State of Mind about the Warriors. Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
We absolutely agree on death to OSU.
I thought of making them the school that shall not be named, but it’s far more necessary for that other school that played UM in that game that never happened, thus rendering the outcome moot.
SwishAppeal.com for women's basketball...SB Nation Seattle for Seattle sports...and trying to maintain a Golden State of Mind about the Warriors. Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
I don't agree with keeping players in the US as a priority
There has been almost zero American players who play exclusively in Europe. Like a handful. Not enough to threaten the league in any way.
Making it a priority to keep Americans playing only in the WNBA would mean they would have to signficantly raise salaries. Which means the teams would lose even more money.
The teams need to lose more money to get Deanna Nolan and Nykesha Sales back in the WNBA?? Disagree.
Wow... this would be a huge win for the Sparks...
Of their 11 remaining games as of today, I had this as one I didn’t think they’d win.
This bodes really, really well for them…..
SwishAppeal.com for women's basketball...SB Nation Seattle for Seattle sports...and trying to maintain a Golden State of Mind about the Warriors. Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
by Nate Parham on Aug 19, 2011 12:41 AM EDT up reply actions
Rewatching the Liberty game
Didn’t even notice the first time I saw it that Tan White blocked Pondexter not once, but twice on fast breaks, and both times the ball went out of bounds off of Pondexter.
The announcer said that Kara Lawson was “a classic front runner. She’s got all the energy in the world!”. I think by front runner he means a player who plays best when their team has a nice lead??
Watching the replay
of Kalana Greene making a layup to put the Sun up in overtime, it looked to me like she traveled and Mary Murphy said “possible travel”.
John Whisenant post game:
“That was a tough game. I am proud of my layers. We had a rough third quarter. We hung in there and we got a win. "
(regarding Cappie)
“Cappie is a superstar and it’s nice to have her on our team.”
In a losing effort
Tina Charles CAREER-HIGHED the Liberty with 29 points.
by ttdomi on Aug 19, 2011 4:45 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
but we have Kara Braxton!
and we had Sidney Spencer! Doesn’t that matter more?!
And there goes my blood pressure. BRB, attempting to strangle Carol Blazejowski for trading a first round pick for a player who was almost sure to be cut from LA’s roster…
I am the victim of a basketball jones.
Wow...
I forgot to make the connection to that pick…what a brutal trade…
But at least Braxton has a chance to improve the net benefit/detriment of that one … assuming she doesn’t get herself traded again for near-nothing…
SwishAppeal.com for women's basketball...SB Nation Seattle for Seattle sports...and trying to maintain a Golden State of Mind about the Warriors. Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
NBA Playoffs Content Module
Related FanPosts on Swish Appeal
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
Featured Stories
In Association With
Ball Don't Lie - NBA - Yahoo! Sport
- Behind the Box Score, where the Boston Celtics are moving on to the conference finals
- NBA Playoffs Fan Fiction: San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
- The Indiana Pacers? Gone till November
- Shaquille O’Neal is in a Chinese beer commercial, too (VIDEO)
- ‘Deep Thoughts’ and Cheap Thoughts: San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
