WNBA Open Thread: Thursday Twinbill on NBA TV
by Jessica Lantz on Sep 8, 2011 4:18 PM EDT
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PrintThe WNBA season is coming to a close and the playoff fates of tonight’s two matchups is nearly decided with three of the four knowing exactly where they stand. Both games will see the playoff-bound hosting the playoff-less. In the first game of the evening, Minnesota hosts the Chicago Sky. The Lynx, who have home court advantage throughout the playoffs, play their last regular-season game for the #LosLynx crowd. In the nightcap, the Mercury host the Shock as Phoenix continues their bid to jump to the second spot in the West. Tulsa has been eager to play playoff spoiler but face a tall task against Phoenix, who’s outscored them 284-215 in their three meetings this season.
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Chicago (14-17) at Minnesota (25-7) 8 p.m. ET | NBA TV | LiveAccess Previews: wnba.com | Lynx | Sky For Minnesota, Homecourt is Nice But No Guarantee (Ray Floriani/Swish Appeal) |
Tulsa (3-28) at Phoenix (18-13) 10 p.m. ET | NBA TV | LiveAccess Should DeWanna Bonner repeat as 6th Woman of the Year? – analysis (Nate Parham/Swish Appeal) |
Remember, you can follow along on your mobile device at mobile.swishappeal.com or on your iPhone using SB Nation's free iPhone app.
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Lynx game will be pretty much over by the time I get home tonight.
Boo. You’ll have to put up with me randomly posting stuff like “OMG WHALEN!!!!!” on like a 2 hour delay.
by Shannon Cotterell on Sep 8, 2011 7:32 PM EDT reply actions
I suspect
That everyone’s watching the gridiron.
Not me though I’m watching with fascination as Maya resolutely refuses to go near the paint even when Vandersloot is her only obstacle. It’s astounding.
by JustineL on Sep 8, 2011 8:42 PM EDT via iPhone app up reply actions
i am going to watch nfl on sunday to see the skins lose.
In the meantime I will soon head home and drive on flooded roads in the dc area
by thewiz06 on Sep 8, 2011 8:47 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Remember:
You could be a 49ers fan and be without a quarterback. :)
I’m still making my way home…might get the 4th quarter, but will probably just watch on DVR later.
(Swish Appeal: Made possible by DVR)
Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
Well there was the one time she went in the paint...
…and got stuffed by Fowles.
by Shannon Cotterell on Sep 8, 2011 8:48 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Ooh she went for the layup there and drew a foul!
She might learn someday. Maybe.
by Shannon Cotterell on Sep 8, 2011 8:51 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Yeah, very impressive
She can get a layup if there’s no one in her path & only a wee guard trailing her. Such bravery!
She might also end up challenging Sue Bird for lowest career free throw rate for an All-Star
I’m sure she’ll improve…but…it’s funny the lengths she’ll go to to avoid the painted area altogether.
Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
Minnesota only up by eight points.
Not a blowout. Maybe Chicago is finally putting it together; too late of course.
Reeve got T'ed up already?
What happened?
by Shannon Cotterell on Sep 8, 2011 8:49 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
If Fowles played for any other team than Chicago....
…she’d have an MVP. Well, maybe if she played for Tulsa she wouldn’t have one.
She could still get it
Despite no one from a non-playoff team ever having managed it before . . .
Maybe Washington too?
Conventional basketball wisdom says you should almost automatically make the playoffs with a post force like Fowles…I struggle to think of a NBA team that has taken this long to get to the playoffs with a MVP-caliber center. I’m sure she’s willing to be patient with Chatman as GM/coach after Key…but still…this has to be disappointing for her.
Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
Every time I see Alana Beard say "Don't sit on the sideline"...
….it totally makes me sad for her.
by Shannon Cotterell on Sep 8, 2011 8:56 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Candice Wiggins feature
Candice…even more excited than usual? Is that even possible?
by Shannon Cotterell on Sep 8, 2011 9:01 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Can a brotha get a score update tho? :)
(Mobile commenting must be a relatively recent feature…I don’t even have a fancy iPhone!)
Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
So, this is going to sound weird
But Seimone Augustus kind of reminds me of a young Robert Mitchum.
A simple screen will stop Vandersloot.
…any screen. Anything that even looks like a screen. If someone even mentions the word she leaves the room.
Everyting I see Charde Houston....
…I wonder if she’s going to come onto the court with a ball tied to a string or a water bucket full of confetti.
Minnesota might want to consider
Guarding Erin Thorne.
Let's go, Tulsa!
May they win & Lizzie get a triple double!
by JustineL on Sep 8, 2011 10:18 PM EDT via iPhone app reply actions
OK... here for Tulsa.
If Phx loses, Seattle is going to the Western Conference Finals the second seed.
Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
Cocky much?
Lizzie looking good!
by JustineL on Sep 8, 2011 10:27 PM EDT via iPhone app up reply actions
Someone must have drugged Edwards
by JustineL on Sep 8, 2011 10:32 PM EDT via iPhone app up reply actions
Maybe cocky...
Or very confident that a 9 of 10 Seattle win streak vs Phoenix will hold over three games with 2 in KeyArena? :)
Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
I've actually been very impressed with Swanier this year.
She’s a lot more patient with the ball and seems to be reading situations better.
Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
Cambage looks so confused on defense.
I maintain they should play zone with her in the game.
She’s a presence around the room but struggles in space.
Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
She doesn't for the Aussie team
Or for the Boomers.
by JustineL on Sep 8, 2011 10:46 PM EDT via iPhone app up reply actions
That was my next question then
Is the system or speed of players?
(I’ve only seen highlights of her with the Boomers)
Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
i do think
The adjustment’s been tough. She’s young it’s her first time living far from home. The game is faster & tougher here.
Otoh she more than held her own against the US in the worlds. So I do think the coaching in Tulsa is part of the equation too.
by JustineL on Sep 8, 2011 10:54 PM EDT via iPhone app up reply actions
Agreed on all accounts
Especially age. I think maybe people forget because 19 yr olds are a common feature in other leagues.
But she’s GOING to get better.
Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
At the Worlds
You could watch her get better each game. It was fabulous. And that’s what i thought would happen when she hit the WNBA.
by JustineL on Sep 8, 2011 11:01 PM EDT via iPhone app up reply actions
With the right players around her in the right system
I’m not sure that’s the biggest concern.
Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
Margo Dydek had a long career
and she was probably slower than Cambage. Maybe centers are quicker these days??
Quicker, better footwork
Also, I think Dydek was more defensive oriented. Cambage is certainly more of an offensive impact player right now in the W.
Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
and i was thinking
That was some kind of fancy hoops term i was unfamiliar with.
by JustineL on Sep 8, 2011 11:05 PM EDT via iPhone app up reply actions
Bonner is so good...my lord...
That, not McCoughtry, is the real player the Mystics missed out on wiz06
Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
Why Tulsa doesn't run more plays with Cambage moving toward the basket baffles me
Defenders can’t stop her in that situation – they have to foul or hope she misses.
Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
It's ridiculous
See above. Poor coaching.
by JustineL on Sep 8, 2011 10:56 PM EDT via iPhone app up reply actions
That...
..and guard play.
Someone would have to get her the ball without turning it over or shooting first.
But playbooks exist…as does film…so it shouldn’t be that hard to “borrow” some sets from some basketball team.
Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
They're actually doing a better job this game
Lizzie already has 12 pts.
by JustineL on Sep 8, 2011 11:06 PM EDT via iPhone app up reply actions
Playing her is a start :)
I like what I’ve seen so far tonight.
It’s not like she hasn’t had big games, which is why we’re harping on it…. :)
Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
Cambage will be an offensive force
when she decides that on every trip down she is willing to do the pushy pushy thing with the defender down low – like way down low – limbo low – right near the “glass”. And of course, the Tulsa players have to want to hit her down there. She needs to improve her catching of the ball too – hands.
Yep, agreed.
That just goes back to the “she’s 19” point to me.
We’re not used to seeing people that young in the league very often…barring a superstar who’s among the best of all-time…
Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
Cambage is a funny 19. At the draft she was talking about how she thought
she was more mature than the other college graduates and she sounded more mature. But on twitter she sounds younger than 19.
Maybe more camera-ready?
The NCAA is very controlled and wbb here is not a media magnet.
I don’t know what type of media exposure exists for the Boomers, but I just figured it was a function of already playing pro ball.
Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
LJ struggled in her 1st year
I think people forget that.
by JustineL on Sep 8, 2011 11:12 PM EDT via iPhone app up reply actions
she was doing that
At the beginning of the year & was wracking up lots of fouls. Like I said adjusting to the different league has been tough.
by JustineL on Sep 8, 2011 11:11 PM EDT via iPhone app up reply actions
"Important for the Mercury to win the last three games to get
homecourt advantage over the evil empire of the Northwest" – announcer (paraphrasing)
"they are not guarding her"
“You know, with the on ball screen they are letting Dupree have the 15 footer”. Charlie
This would be the third quarter of unpleasantness
Oh, Tulsa.
by JustineL on Sep 8, 2011 11:18 PM EDT via iPhone app reply actions
I was just thinking the same thing
“Hmmm why does Phoenix look like their gonna blow them out? Oh, it’s the quarter-that-shall-not-be-named”
Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
Teresa Edwards wants Pedersen
to drive to the hoop more. I’m OK with that, but I really want Pedersen to get a great outside shot. Like to she her be over 40% from three.
Ditto.
I don’t think she’s in a position of strength off the drive in this league – speed would be an issue for her if you want her to become a slasher.
Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
Speaking of Edwards and rookies...
She doesn’t seem fond of these two.
I wonder who she would’ve drafted if in charge then.
It’s not like this class was lacking for talent.
Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
She was sitting in Australia with the owner watching Cambage play mutliple games.
They have it on video somewhere. I wonder if she raised any objections or reservations back then?
Yeah - that's what I'm wondering
But moreso, Pedersen – Cambage seemed like a can’t miss prospect. Pedersen was worthy of more debate.
Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
Richardson didn't hesitate to say how he loved
Pedersen. Even if Edwards had reservations about her she wouldn’t have won that battle for sure. But if you look at the rest of the first rounders – none of them seem to be doing better than Pedersen.
Ta’Shia Phillips
Jeanette Pohlen
Alex Montgomery
Victoria Dunlap
Jasmine Thomas
Cambage is still going to be fantastic dont forget she is 20
and is still doing well and has stuck out the chaos that is Tulsa. Edwards cant coach and it is a terrible situation for someone so young to be caught in – but she has stayed, shown great strength of character and tried to do her best. her numbers are comparable to other Rookies with fewer minutes and no coach. i just wish she had gone somewhere with a coach. Just imagine how you would all be screaming if Maya had ended up in Tulsa and what would that have looked like? Very sad for a quality kid sad for KP as well
by Almost there on Sep 9, 2011 12:17 AM EDT up reply actions
Hypothetically speaking, if Tulsa had selected
Robinson and Adams, and retained Scholanda Robinson, LA would be in the playoffs.
Ha.
That’s a good point.
Although I wonder if they woulda gone with KP. She’s a fit for what they do.
Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
And Lizzie has 18 pts
Imagine if she was on a better team . . .
by JustineL on Sep 8, 2011 11:34 PM EDT via iPhone app up reply actions
The other unfortunate thing is that her minutes have been so erratic
that it’s hard to know if she’ll even be All-Rookie.
Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
So. not. her. fault.
Can you tell that i think she got the short straw?
by JustineL on Sep 8, 2011 11:40 PM EDT via iPhone app up reply actions
Cambage was right there in the lane ready for a lob
pass but Jackson didn’t make it. If I was coach of the Shock I would have all the players work on making passes in to Cambage that only she can catch and her on catching them.
The announcer gives a shout out to Brian Agler
“They have average 7x points per game against Agler and that Storm defense”.
When Pedersen gets the ball above the three point line
she likes to bend over and hold the ball down by the ground. From that position she can only drive. To pass she has to bend back up which takes time.
She's got good triple threat form:
A threat to drive, pass, shoot.
She’s just got better habits than most, which makes it stand out more.
Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
I do see what you're talking about
But against most players guarding her, it gives her an advantage to get lower too.
I’m just not sure she has a WNBA first step yet to make that drive threat dangerous.
Twitter: @NateP_SBN.
Shock lost by 8 to Phoenix in Tulsa
without Ivory Latta and Phoenix had Taylor. But the Shock played a new player that game in place of Latta – Doneeka Lewis.
Too bad I wasn't able to watch the game(s) live last night
It would have been a great night to spam you all. Whalenites, rejoice! 20 points, 10 assists, 7 rebounds and NO turnovers.
by Shannon Cotterell on Sep 9, 2011 1:38 PM EDT reply actions
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