Swish Appeal - 2013 Minnesota Lynx season storystreamBasketball is basketball.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49391/swish-fave.png2013-09-23T16:06:50-04:00http://www.swishappeal.com/rss/stream/37030092013-09-23T16:06:50-04:002013-09-23T16:06:50-04:00How the Lynx overcame Storm defense to advance
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/u3yDly0sjbv9XauIcp0_Cl3uX3E=/0x288:2916x2232/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/20035749/20130920_ajl_av4_208.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Marilyn Indahl-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The <a href="http://www.wnba.com/games/20130922/MINSEA/gameinfo.html#nbaGIboxscore" target="new">Minnesota Lynx defeated the Seattle Storm 58-55</a> in Game 2 of the first round of the 2013 WNBA Playoffs to return to the Western Conference Finals. And they did so in unsurprising fashion.</p> <p>A lot had to go right for the Seattle Storm to even win one game against the Minnesota Lynx in the first round of the 2013 WNBA Playoffs.</p>
<p>And for a time in Game Two, things were good: the Storm went into halftime tied with the Lynx, probably considered a victory in the minds of most people.</p>
<p>The dominant narrative was that the Storm "uglied the game up", playing physical ball to make the game sloppy. But on closer examination of what happened, that doesn't quite tell the full story - as Tina Thompson alluded to at halftime, they weren't necessarily even the team setting the physical tone.</p>
<p>In the first quarter, the Lynx were their own worst enemy as they settled for a number of perimeter jumpers - the two shots they did make in the paint were fast break layups off of Storm turnovers. Removing those shots from the equation, just 3 of 15 shots for the Lynx came around the basket.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Wnba_092213_lynx_1qtr_sc_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/assets/3274073/wnba_092213_lynx_1qtr_sc_medium.jpeg"><br><i>Minnesota Lynx first quarter shot chart against the Seattle Storm in Game 2 of the first round.</i></p>
<p>In the second quarter, there was a similar story but you got a much better sense of what makes the Storm's defense tick.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Wnba_092213_lynx_2qtr_sc_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/assets/3274103/wnba_092213_lynx_2qtr_sc_medium.jpeg"><br><i>Minnesota Lynx second quarter shot chart against the Seattle Storm in Game 2 of the first round.</i><br><i>(One shot in the inner circle is mis-marked.) </i></p>
<p>The Lynx clearly looked to correct for their first quarter shot distribution - they did get to the rim, although 3 of their 8 shots around the basket came on one possession - but every single one of their shots were contested. And really, shots were not just "contested": 2-3 Storm defenders with hands raised high surrounded the shooter on almost every shot, making for extremely difficult scoring opportunities.</p>
<h4>Storm MVP: Tanisha Wright's leadership and defense</h4>
<p>While the interior defense stood out for most of the game, the pressure on the perimeter was also essential to the Storm's success. They generally closed out on 3-point shooters well and conceded long mid-range shots that are generally less efficient scoring options.</p>
<p>Defensively, Tanisha Wright was a part of that perimeter effort both setting the tone at the top of the defense and making things difficult - or as difficult as possible - for Maya Moore when she was guarding her at times. Offensively, Tanisha Wright was an outstanding 14-for-24 for the series - by far the Storm's most consistent scoring option - and her grit on both ends seemed to be the engine that kept the team going throughout both games. Her scoring efficiency allowed the team to go bigger defensively with Temeka Johnson on the bench and Alysha Clark and Noelle Quinn on the wings.</p>
<p>Game 2, even in its botched ending, was blue collar Seattle Storm basketball at its best. The Storm played outstanding interior defense and made things extremely difficult for the Lynx. The Storm were aggressive and the refs were either letting things go or missing calls depending on your perspective, but that began with outstanding rotations and communication to be in position to challenge nearly every shot and pressure up on ball handlers.</p>
<p>The second half featured similar defense, though the Lynx just continued to make a concerted effort to go inside and eventually found ways to get buckets. But shot charts like that would often be enough to earn a win, even if they sabotaged themselves a bit with turnovers.</p>
<p>Ultimately what led to the Lynx winning the series was their most dominant strength.</p>
<h4>Key statistic: Minnesota dominated the offensive boards</h4>
<p>The Lynx have been the most consistently dominant rebounding team for three years now and finished the regular season as the best offensive rebounding team in the Western Conference despite a lull after the All-Star break.</p>
<p>And the Storm simply had no answer for that.</p>
<p>
<style type="text/css"></style></p>
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
<colgroup>
<col width="65*">
<col width="53*">
<col width="47*">
<col width="45*">
<col width="46*">
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td height="21" width="25%">
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="21%">
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Verdana"><b>eFG%</b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="18%">
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Verdana"><b>Tov%</b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="18%">
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Verdana"><b>Oreb%</b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="18%">
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Verdana"><b>FTA/FGA</b></font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="18" width="25%">
<p align="LEFT"><font face="Verdana"><b>Sea</b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="21%">
<p align="CENTER">46.85%</p>
</td>
<td width="18%">
<p align="CENTER">18.23%</p>
</td>
<td width="18%">
<p align="CENTER">14.81%</p>
</td>
<td width="18%">
<p align="CENTER">20.72%</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="18" width="25%">
<p align="LEFT"><font face="Verdana"><b>Minn</b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="21%">
<p align="CENTER">46.09%</p>
</td>
<td width="18%">
<p align="CENTER">16.18%</p>
</td>
<td width="18%">
<p align="CENTER">33.80%</p>
</td>
<td width="18%">
<p align="CENTER">21.09%</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="18" width="25%">
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="21%">
<p align="CENTER"> </p>
</td>
<td width="18%">
<p align="CENTER"> </p>
</td>
<td width="18%">
<p align="CENTER"> </p>
</td>
<td width="18%">
<p align="CENTER"> </p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="18" width="25%">
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Verdana"><b>Weighted Differential<br></b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="21%">
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Verdana"><b>eFG%</b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="18%">
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Verdana"><b>Tov%</b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="18%">
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Verdana"><b>Oreb</b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="18%">
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Verdana"><b>FTA/FGA</b></font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="18" width="25%">
<p align="LEFT"><font face="Verdana"><b>Sea</b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="21%">
<p align="CENTER">0.08</p>
</td>
<td width="18%">
<p align="CENTER">-0.17</p>
</td>
<td width="18%">
<p align="CENTER">-0.80</p>
</td>
<td width="18%">
<p align="CENTER">-0.01</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p align="center"><i>Four Factors statistics for the Minnesota Lynx & Seattle Lynx in the first round of 2013 WNBA Playoffs.</i></p>
<p>There was really one thing that won the series for the Lynx: offensive rebounding.</p>
<p>The Storm did pretty much everything else they had to do: in Game 2, they did better in shooting efficiency, turnovers, and free throw rate (and yes: again, we could critique how much the refs let go there). But the Lynx managed to get a lot of it back by getting second and third chance points to overcome their shooting woes.</p>
<p>Part of the Storm's inability to rebound was a direct byproduct of their aggressive defensive rotations: by sending 2-3 defenders at one shooter, the Storm weren't in position to prevent the Lynx from getting an offensive board. And really, that's a reasonable concession: the Storm weren't a good rebounding team anyway this season. Had they shot a little better, made close range shots, and shot better than 6-for-11 from the free throw line they could have won that game even with the number of turnovers they committed and rebounds they gave up.</p>
<h4>Key player: Rebekkah Brunson's rebounding</h4>
<p>When rebounding is the theme, obviously Rebekkah Brunson is going to play a starring role. Brunson averaged 4.5 offensive rebounds per game in the two-game series and her never-ending tenacity on the offensive end helped power the Lynx through the Storm's defensive intensity.</p>
<p>Defensively, she was just as critical as her athleticism allowed her to guard the likes of Camille Little or Tina Thompson on the perimeter. But the bottom line is that you don't dominate the boards the way the Lynx did - even against a poor rebounding team - without the effort of a player like Brunson.</p>
<h4>Lynx MVP: Maya Moore's all-around effort</h4>
<p>In a game like Game 2 though, the Lynx still needed someone to step up and make things happen when the entire team was struggling to find quality scoring opportunities.</p>
<p>In this series, that was Maya Moore.</p>
<p>Clearly, she's making a name for herself as a great scorer, but she also showed in this series why she was the MVP runner-up: Moore was more than merely a scorer in this series. In Game 1, it was her game-high 6 assists (to 1 turnover) when her shooting wasn't stellar. In Game 2, she was definitely hot in a game when the Storm were making everything difficult but she tied a game-high with 3 steals, contributed 7 rebounds to Minnesota's biggest advantage, and added another 3 assists (to just 1 turnover).</p>
<p>This wasn't really a series about statistics at all though: it was far more about hunger. And the Storm were scrapping for whatever they could get while being stingy with what they allowed the Lynx to have. Yet the Lynx simply had more weapons: outworking Brunson is not something that's going to happen often. Although Lindsay Whalen didn't post outstanding statistics, she helped guide the Lynx through the Storm's pressure. And Maya Moore is just not going to stay quiet in a three-game series - she's becoming a well-rounded player who can find ways to have an impact.</p>
<p>But that's just the thing with the Lynx: you can't make even the relatively few mistakes the Storm made and expect to beat them, home or away.</p>
https://www.swishappeal.com/2013/9/23/4762864/wnba-playoffs-2013-minnesota-lynx-vs-seattle-stormNate P2013-08-30T11:00:06-04:002013-08-30T11:00:06-04:00First place Lynx looking to finish season strong
<figure>
<img alt="Cheryl Reeve chats with media at the Prudential Center after a big win over the New York Liberty." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/S2ZJY1YP7dX-dJ-UORy-2MPJDBU=/140x67:1011x648/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/18672647/dscn4652.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Cheryl Reeve chats with media at the Prudential Center after a big win over the New York Liberty. | Photo by Ray Floriani.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Minnesota Lynx have the best record in the league and aren't looking to let up any time soon.</p> <p><b>NEWARK, NJ </b>- Her team owns the best percentage in the WNBA. There is legitimate talk of a championship.</p>
<p>For Cheryl Reeve, there is no inherent pressure.</p>
<p>The coach of the Minnesota Lynx, currently leading the Western Division of the 'W', admits she is "not into scoreboard watching." She will acknowledge an awareness of where they are and who the fellow contenders are, but the game and execution are keys.</p>
<p>The Lynx led the entire way in <a target="_blank" href="http://www.wnba.com/games/20130827/MINNYL/gameinfo.html">Tuesday's 73-47 romp over the New York Liberty</a> at the Prudential Center. The victory put Minnesota at 21-7. The campaign is winding down, yet Reeve and her charges attack it like the first week of the season.</p>
<p>"Six games left, we don't want to go about things half-hearted," she said outside the Minnesota locker room on Tuesday. "You do not want to go into the playoffs with less than your best effort. This is the standard this team has set and why they are so good."</p>
<p>The notables, Maya Moore, Lindsay Whalen, Seimone Augusts, Rebekkah Brunson. Even Janel McCarville is an effective, though lesser touted, contributor. A very talented cast but one completely devoid of agendas or egos. Except for one thing: winning.</p>
<p>"We have very good players," Reeve conceded, "but the thing about this team is they blend so well together. They are not about recognition or headlines. They just do what they have to win."</p>
<p>Credit Reeve for instilling a lot of that. She played for LaSalle in the late 80's and still recollects those MAAC days with affection. She is a long time veteran of coaching in college and the WNBA. On the resume are two WNBA titles as a Detroit assistant to - interestingly enough - Bill Laimbeer and the league Coach of the Year in 2011. Knowledgeable and demanding, she is easy going enough to listen to her mother's suggestions about the team.</p>
<p>"My mom has met the players here," she said. "They connected with her so well."</p>
<p>Throughout those years her philosophy has been "every possession counts". As Reeve said, "We do not worry about the score as much, we play and look to maximize every possession."</p>
<p>To date, Minnesota is doing just that. There are competitors to be certain. Ascending to the rarefied air of championship play in the WNBA is an arduous task. It is a task the Minnesota Lynx will address with vigor. Possession by possession.</p>
https://www.swishappeal.com/2013/8/30/4675072/minnesota-lynx-look-to-finish-the-regular-season-strongRay Floriani2013-08-30T08:00:11-04:002013-08-30T08:00:11-04:00Liberty plagued by offensive struggles
<figure>
<img alt="Former Detroit Shock coach Rick Mahorn and former New York Knicks star Allan Houston chatting at the Prudential Center." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/m_d2GDBV7zkPyws6UVoRNU5quc8=/0x42:1024x725/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/18672447/dscn4646.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Former Detroit Shock coach Rick Mahorn and former New York Knicks star Allan Houston chatting at the Prudential Center. | Photo by Ray Floriani.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The New York Liberty face the Indiana Fever tonight looking to find their rhythm on offense after a blowout loss to the Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday.</p> <p><b>NEWARK, NJ</b> - <a target="_blank" href="http://www.wnba.com/games/20130827/MINNYL/gameinfo.html"> The Minnesota Lynx handily defeated the New York Liberty 73-47 </a>at the Prudential Center on Tuesday. The basic and 'tell tale' numbers follow:</p>
<p><a name="0.2_table01"></a></p>
<table width="624"><tbody>
<tr valign="top">
<td width="144"></td>
<td width="161" align="center">
<p><b>Minnesota</b></p>
</td>
<td colspan="2" align="center">
<p><b>NY Liberty</b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td>
<p><b>Possessions</b></p>
</td>
<td colspan="2" align="center">
<p>81</p>
</td>
<td align="center">
<p>83</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td>
<p><b>Offensive Efficiency</b></p>
</td>
<td colspan="2" align="center">
<p>90</p>
</td>
<td align="center">
<p>57</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td>
<p><b>eFG</b></p>
</td>
<td colspan="2" align="center">
<p>48</p>
</td>
<td align="center">
<p>26</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td>
<p><b>FT Rate</b></p>
</td>
<td colspan="2" align="center">
<p>15</p>
</td>
<td align="center">
<p>25</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td>
<p><b>OREB Pct</b></p>
</td>
<td colspan="2" align="center">
<p>22</p>
</td>
<td align="center">
<p>20</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td>
<p><b>Turnover Rate</b></p>
</td>
<td colspan="2" align="center">
<p>19</p>
</td>
<td align="center">
<p>15</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p> </p>
<p>New York coach <span>Bill Laimbeer</span> said his team's defense was not the problem. He was right as there is many a case you can hold an opponent to a 90 efficiency and exit with a W. Unfortunately, for the Liberty, that does not happen if you post a high school JV-like 57.</p>
<p>Field goal percentage with the Liberty going 2 of 13 (15%) was a factor. The turnover rate was one of the best of the season. Offensive rebounding was almost even and the Liberty got to the line. Regardless of the other factors, the poor shooting was enough. Sometimes the analysis, over analysis and breakdown of sets clouds the picture - you must put the ball in the basket! Case closed.</p>
<p><b>You are on the line get selfish:</b> Legendary basketball coach Pete Carill often said the free throw line is the only place a player is encouraged to get selfish. The Liberty all too generous.</p>
<p>As noted in a previous column, the free throw shooting was poor. New York went 9 of 18 for 50%. Now those nine misses woulld not have made a huge difference but it shows the lapses in concentration trhat carried over into other areas.</p>
<p><b>The double figure scorers and efficiency (NBA/WNBA formula):</b></p>
<table border="1" align="center"><tbody>
<tr>
<td><b>Player</b></td>
<td align="center"><b>Points</b></td>
<td align="center"><b>EFF</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Lindsay Whalen, Minn</td>
<td align="center">18</td>
<td align="center">22</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Cappie Pondexter, NY <br>
</td>
<td align="center">13</td>
<td align="center">6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Plenette Pierson, NY <br>
</td>
<td align="center">12</td>
<td align="center">7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Maya Moore, Minn <br>
</td>
<td align="center">11</td>
<td align="center">15</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Monica Wright, Minn <br>
</td>
<td align="center">10</td>
<td align="center">7</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p> </p>
<p>Whalen was excellent shooting 9 of 11, adding 6 boards and guilty of just two turnovers. Pondexter, zero turnovers but the efficiency was hit with 5 of 17 shooting. Cappie did knock down the Liberty's only two treys. For Moore, 10 (game leading boards) helped the EFF cause. Pierson suffered through a 5 of 15 night from the field.</p>
<p><b>Right from the Start:</b></p>
<p>Lynx got out of the gate to a 7-0 lead and never looked back. At the quarter, Minnesota led 18-9. The possession numbers:</p>
<p><b>Team POSS Off. Efficiency</b></p>
<p>Minn 21 86</p>
<p>NY 21 43</p>
<p>Instantly, out of the gate, Minnesota held the Liberty to an extremely low 43 efficiency. From that point, they never looked back and were in complete command.</p>
<p>Minnesota improved to 21-7, the Liberty fell to 11-17.</p>
<p><b>Notes:<br></b></p>
<ul>
<li>Great to discuss the MAAC with Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve. She starred at LaSalle inb the late Eighties. We joke how the younger fans need instruction on how the Exploers were in the MAAC back then, and a strong men's and women's power. Reeve rattles off the names of coaches like Dianne Nolan at Fairfield, Mike Granelli of St. Peter's and Bill Gibbons of Holy Cross (also in the MAAC then) with a sense of history and admiration. "Just great days," she says with a smile. Agreed.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Former Detriot Piston 'Bad Boy" Rick Mahorn was on hand. As was former Knick Allan Houston. In attendance as well was a player yours truly officiated in her grade school and high school days. Lauren Mincy, a University of Maryland senior, took in the action. Mincy starred at St. Joe;s (East Orange, NJ) grade school and prep power University High School of Newark. Mincy has hopes for a big senior year at College Park.</li>
</ul>
https://www.swishappeal.com/2013/8/30/4675048/wnba-2013-new-york-liberty-statisticsRay Floriani2013-08-25T01:05:08-04:002013-08-25T01:05:08-04:00Video: Maya Moore scores career-high 35
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/JR78E-QkDjCAwRyG6rVkdY4HIs0=/0x1111:2667x2889/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/18389637/20120917_ajl_ai9_051.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Brad Rempel-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>WNBA highlights of the 2012 WNBA Finals rematch between the Minnesota Lynx and Indiana Fever (video from the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YU-kfqqaDk">WNBA YouTube account</a>).</p> <p>Minnesota Lynx wing Maya Moore scored a career-high 35 points on 15-for-21 shooting in addition to 8 rebounds, 4 steals and 2 blocks in <a href="http://www.wnba.com/games/20130824/INDMIN/gameinfo.html">an 84-77 win over the Indiana Fever</a>.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, it wasn't televised, a fact not lost on Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve.</p>
<blockquote align="center" class="twitter-tweet"> <p>First words out of Cheryl Reeve's mouth postgame: "I thought that was a great game for TV." <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Lynx&src=hash">#Lynx</a></p>— Phil Ervin (@PhilErvin) <a href="https://twitter.com/PhilErvin/statuses/371441058875322369">August 25, 2013</a> </blockquote>
<p><script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>The game was originally scheduled to be on ESPN2<a href="http://espnmediazone.com/us/press-releases/2013/04/2013-14-game-wnba-regular-season-schedule-unveiled/"> at the beginning of the season</a>, but the Atlanta Dream<a href="http://www.wnba.com/dream/news/aug24gameonespn2.html"> announced on August 6 that they'd be facing the Chicago Sky</a> on ESPN2 instead<a href="http://www.wnba.com/dream/news/aug24gameonespn2.html">.</a></p>
<p>The Dream and Sky were playing just their second game in their four-game regular season series and entered the game separated by 3.5 games at the top of the Eastern Conference. And of course, the game featured Rookie of the Year frontrunner Elena Delle Donne as well as top MVP candidates Sylvia Fowles and Angel McCoughtry.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.wnba.com/games/20130824/CHIATL/gameinfo.html">Delle Donne scored a game-high 25 points to help the Sky win </a>in a competitive game on the road to put themselves in firm control of the Eastern Conference with just six games remaining on their schedule. Yet it might be safe to say that a few people would've tuned in to see the league's most balanced team get a 35-point performance from a player who was once hyped up as The Chosen One herself and is <a href="http://www.swishappeal.com/2013/8/23/4649252/wnba-2013-mvp-award-candidates-candace-parker-plus-minus">putting up MVP-caliber numbers this season</a> despite the hype being directed elsewhere this season.</p>
<fieldset class="poll-box">
<legend>Poll</legend>
<h5 class="poll-title">Does Maya Moore have a shot to win the MVP award?</h5>
<div id="poll_container_193979_257060651" class="poll_container">
<div class="poll_option clearfix">
<div class="poll_option_percentage" style="display:none">73%</div>
<div class="poll_option_result">
<h5>Yes</h5>
<div class="poll_option_bar"><span class="vote_count">16</span> votes</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="poll_option clearfix">
<div class="poll_option_percentage" style="display:none">23%</div>
<div class="poll_option_result">
<h5>No, but she's a top five candidate</h5>
<div class="poll_option_bar"><span class="vote_count">5</span> votes</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="poll_option clearfix">
<div class="poll_option_percentage" style="display:none">0%</div>
<div class="poll_option_result">
<h5>No</h5>
<div class="poll_option_bar"><span class="vote_count">0</span> votes</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="poll_option clearfix">
<div class="poll_option_percentage" style="display:none">5%</div>
<div class="poll_option_result">
<h5>Too hard to tell</h5>
<div class="poll_option_bar"><span class="vote_count">1</span> votes</div>
</div>
</div>
<p class="poll-total-votes"><strong>22</strong> votes
| <span class="poll-has-closed">Poll has closed</span>
</p>
</div>
<script type="text/javascript">
jQuery(document).ready(function(){
new SBN.Poll('poll_container_193979_257060651').animateResults({renderImmediately:true});
});
</script>
</fieldset>
https://www.swishappeal.com/2013/8/25/4655948/wnba-video-highlights-2013-minnesota-lynx-vs-indiana-fever-maya-mooreNate P2013-06-20T16:30:05-04:002013-06-20T16:30:05-04:00Thursday links: Prince returns, Whalen's NBA pick
<figure>
<img alt="Minnesota Lynx point guard Lindsay Whalen expects San Antonio Spurs post Tim Duncan to win his fifth title tonight." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/B2fDc4_Lnu0X9erkoBDpTz7tOzs=/0x260:2666x2037/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/15121783/20120917_ajl_ai9_144.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Minnesota Lynx point guard Lindsay Whalen expects San Antonio Spurs post Tim Duncan to win his fifth title tonight. | Brad Rempel-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>With a game on this morning to provide your WNBA fix, we offer 10 Thursday afternoon links. </p> <p>There was only one game last night and one this morning, but there are still WNBA links to be read.</p>
<ul>
<li> <a target="_blank" href="http://gapersblock.com/tailgate/2013/06/prince-to-return-sooner-than-expected-to-struggling-sky.php">Donny Rodriguez of Gapers Block</a> previewed the Chicago Sky's meeting with the Tulsa Shock today, including what the return of Epiphanny Prince means to the team. Rodriguez notes that Prince's 52% 3-point shooting so far this shooting could be of help. In her first game back after her return from Russia, she did shoot 3-for-6 from beyond the arc but just 1-for-6 everywhere else from the field <a href="http://www.swishappeal.com/2013/6/20/4449362/photo-glory-johnson-defending-elena-delle-donne-in-tulsas-win-today" target="_blank">as the Sky took a loss</a>. <a target="_blank" href="http://gapersblock.com/tailgate/2013/06/prince-to-return-sooner-than-expected-to-struggling-sky.php">Read more >>></a> </li>
<li> <a target="_blank" href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.azcentral.com%2Fsports%2Fmercury%2Farticles%2F20130619maya-moore-leads-minnesota-lynx-win-over-phoenix-mercury.html&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.swishappeal.com%2F2013%2F6%2F20%2F4449338%2Fwnba-links-minnesota-lynx-phoenix-mercury-lindsay-whalen-nba-finals" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener">Odeen Domingo of AZCentral Sports</a> reported that Diana Taurasi believed that the Minnesota Lynx just out-hustled the Phoenix Mercury last night: "They beat us to every loose ball, every rebound," she said. "They kind of out-toughed us at every position. That’s just something we can’t let happen." <a target="_blank" href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.azcentral.com%2Fsports%2Fmercury%2Farticles%2F20130619maya-moore-leads-minnesota-lynx-win-over-phoenix-mercury.html&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.swishappeal.com%2F2013%2F6%2F20%2F4449338%2Fwnba-links-minnesota-lynx-phoenix-mercury-lindsay-whalen-nba-finals" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener">Read more >>></a> </li>
<li> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.edbemiss.com/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=128&lang=en">Ed Bemiss of National Sports Rankings </a>and I have been in contact for a couple of years about various WNBA statistics and his latest project might have been his simplest: a table of tempo-free statistics (e.g. Four Factors & points per possession) for the league. Ray Floriani and I refer to these statistics weekly (or daily) so it's nice to have them all in one place. And in fact, it's just nice to have more stats available for the WNBA period. As of yesterday, the top offense was Minnesota and the top defense was Atlanta. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.edbemiss.com/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=128&lang=en">Read more >>></a> </li>
<li> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.collegiatewomensportsawards.com/basketball.html">The Honda Collegiate Sports Awards for Women </a>has given the Honda Sports Award for basketball to Delaware alum Elena Delle Donne, who is now a finalist for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the 2013 Honda Cup. In addition, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.collegiatewomensportsawards.com/inspiration.html">Purdue's Drey Mingo has received the Honda Inspiration awar</a>d. Both will be presented with their awards live on ESPNU on June 24. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.collegiatewomensportsawards.com/basketball.html">Read more >>></a> </li>
<li> <a target="_blank" href="http://globalgrind.com/music/wnba-star-essence-carson-new-music-basketball-career-seasons-hottest-gear-interview">Dimas Sanfiorenzo of the Global Grind </a>interviewed injured wing Essence Carson of the New York Liberty asking her about her music career, life beyond basketball, and shoes. She named the Balenciaga Arena sneakers as the sneaker of the summer.<a target="_blank" href="http://globalgrind.com/music/wnba-star-essence-carson-new-music-basketball-career-seasons-hottest-gear-interview"> Read more >>></a> </li>
<li>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.wnba.com/storm/news/agler130620.html">The Seattle Storm have announced in a release</a> that coach Brian Agler will be inducted to the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame next May. Agler graduated from Wittenburg University in Springfield, Ohio where he led the school to its only NCAA Division III title and made an impact in the state by leading the ABL's Columbus Quest to the back-to-back titles in 1997 & 98. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.wnba.com/storm/news/agler130620.html">Read more >>></a></p>
</li>
<li> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.letsmove.gov/blog/2013/06/18/indiana-fever-brings-heat-wnba-champions-host-let%E2%80%99s-move-basketball-clinic">AJ Pearlman of the White House's Let's Move! project </a>wrote up a brief blog summarizing the Indiana Fever's visit to the South Lawn last Friday for a basketball clinic, including a 44 minute video of the event. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.letsmove.gov/blog/2013/06/18/indiana-fever-brings-heat-wnba-champions-host-let%E2%80%99s-move-basketball-clinic">Read more >>></a> <i>(<a href="http://www.swishappeal.com/2013/6/15/4434000/barack-obama-wnba-champion-indiana-fever-white-house-visit-2013" target="_blank">Click here</a> for our storystream documenting the event)</i> </li>
<li> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.multichannel.com/mcnbc-events/sports-summit-wnbas-richie-views-rookie-trio-game-changers/144002">Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News</a> reported yesterday that WNBA president Laurel Richie hopes that Elena Delle Donne, Skylar Diggins and Brittney Griner will have an effect on the league similar to what Larry Bird and <a href="https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Magic</a> Johnson had on the NBA. She added that this current draft class is the embodiment of Title IX, which has supported the development of a faster and more athletic brand of women's basketball. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.multichannel.com/mcnbc-events/sports-summit-wnbas-richie-views-rookie-trio-game-changers/144002">Read more >>></a> </li>
<li> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_23478891/minnesota-lynxs-lindsay-whalen-picks-san-antonio-spurs">Bob Sansevere of the Pioneer Press</a> asked Lynx guard Lindsay Whalen for her thoughts on on who would win tonight's Game 7 of the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba-finals" class="sbn-auto-link">NBA Finals</a>. Her answer: "I know my teammate Amber (Harris) is not going to like me for this -- she's a huge Heat fan -- but I've got to say <a href="https://www.poundingtherock.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Spurs</a>, even though they're going into Miami." <a target="_blank" href="http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_23478891/minnesota-lynxs-lindsay-whalen-picks-san-antonio-spurs">Read more >>></a> </li>
<li> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2013/6/19/4446502/chris-bosh-miami-heat-fans-nba-finals">Kevin Zimmerman of SB Nation</a> writes that <a href="https://www.hothothoops.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Miami Heat</a> forward <span>Chris Bosh</span> says the fans who left Game 6 early can 'watch the game at home.' And he also knows how arena protocol works, which means less sympathy for Miami fans. Any wonder why the Sol left? Game 7 is tonight at 9 p.m. EDT. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2013/6/19/4446502/chris-bosh-miami-heat-fans-nba-finals">Read more >>> </a> </li>
</ul>
<p><i>As usual, there are other links out there which you can drop in the comments or a fan shot. If you have an extended commentary to make, feel free to write up a fan post. </i></p>
https://www.swishappeal.com/2013/6/20/4449338/wnba-links-minnesota-lynx-phoenix-mercury-lindsay-whalen-nba-finalsNate P2013-06-17T11:00:03-04:002013-06-17T11:00:03-04:00Morning links: Moore for MVP & '13 All-Star voting
<figure>
<img alt="Connecticut Sun Players Allison Hightower, Kalana Greene, Tina Charles, Kelsey Griffin and Kara Lawson encourage fans to vote for their favorite players for the 2013 WNBA All-Star Balloting presented by Boost Mobile." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0zMzmPbHbbo9TpcbORemZTQnyR0=/0x65:1100x798/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/14903939/170742890_storm_sun_sfr_0024.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Connecticut Sun Players Allison Hightower, Kalana Greene, Tina Charles, Kelsey Griffin and Kara Lawson encourage fans to vote for their favorite players for the 2013 WNBA All-Star Balloting presented by Boost Mobile. | Photo by the WNBA.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>10 links from the weekend to get your week started. </p> <p>This past weekend featured nine WNBA games with a few surprising results.</p>
<p>However, having already discussed many of those elsewhere (in our <a href="http://www.swishappeal.com/wnba-scores" target="_blank">"WNBA Scores" section </a> and <a href="http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/mercury-wnba/2013/6/15/4432326/phoenix-mercury-win-big-despite-being-shorthanded-preach-patience" target="_blank">with the help of SB Nation's Bright Side of the Sun</a>) we'll focus on some of the games we missed and throw in a random link that applies to how all basketball fans think about the game.</p>
<ul>
<li> <a href="http://www.wnba.com/sky/news/dream_survive_resilient_sky__2013_06_16.html" target="_blank">The Chicago Sky </a>found themselves down 16-2 early in their game against the Atlanta Dream yesterday and spent the game trying to dig themselves out of a hole. During that first quarter and most of the game, former Sky player Le'coe Willingham was guarding star rookie Elena Delle Donne and held her to 1-for-4 shooting. But the Dream's quickness as a unit to collapse on Delle Donne when she got into the paint was key to holding her to 36.8% for the game. <a href="http://www.wnba.com/sky/news/dream_survive_resilient_sky__2013_06_16.html" target="_blank">Read more >>></a> </li>
<li> <a href="http://www.tulsaworld.com/article.aspx/Shock_falls_to_Phoenix_in_OT/20130616_413_0_Losing766496" target="_blank">Mike Brown of the Tulsa World</a> recapped the Tulsa Shock's fourth overtime loss of the young season yesterday, this time to the Phoenix Mercury. Gary Kloppenburg's post-game quote sums up the Shock's season thus far: “I’m running out of speeches for overtime losses,” head coach Gary Kloppenburg said. “But I’d rather be in these where kind of games where you have a chance to win than losing by 10 or 12 points." <a href="http://www.tulsaworld.com/article.aspx/Shock_falls_to_Phoenix_in_OT/20130616_413_0_Losing766496" target="_blank">Read more >>></a> </li>
<li> <a href="http://www.startribune.com/sports/211646671.html" target="_blank">Lynn Jacobsen writes</a> that Maya Moore had an off night in the Minnesota Lynx's 83-74 win over the Tulsa Shock on Friday night, but teammate Rebekkah Brunson stepped up with a team-high 19 points to go with a game-high 13 rebounds. On a night when Tulsa only shot 38%, the Lynx simply overwhelmed them. <a href="http://www.startribune.com/sports/211646671.html" target="_blank">Read more >>></a> </li>
<li>It's early, but it's All-Star voting time. Voting began yesterday and the game itself is on July 27. Please think deeply about this and vote responsibly. <a href="http://allstarballot.wnba.com/" target="_blank">Vote here >>></a> </li>
<li> <a target="_blank" href="http://panicbutton.sportsblog.com/post/81092/is_maya_moore_on_the.html">Rich Winter of the Panic Button blog</a> laid out Maya Moore's MVP credentials, highlighting her impressive scoring efficiency numbers: "The numbers are just impossible to argue. Moore is shooting 46 percent from the field, 57 percent from distance, and is close to 90 percent accuracy from the charity stripe." <a target="_blank" href="http://panicbutton.sportsblog.com/post/81092/is_maya_moore_on_the.html">Read more >>></a> </li>
<li> <a href="http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2013/06/15/sports/doc51bbf7c5a1fd2931825268.txt?viewmode=fullstory" target="_blank">Jim Fuller of the New Haven Register</a> wrote about California Golden Bears alum Ashley Walker's long journey back to a WNBA roster. Since being drafted in 2009, Walker has played no more than 13 games in a season due to injuries and the roster limitations of the league. Having made the Connecticut Sun roster this season - and leading the team in offensive rebounding (16.88% offensive rebounding percentage, albeit in limited minutes) - Walker is just hoping to stick around for a bit longer than she has in the past.<a href="http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2013/06/15/sports/doc51bbf7c5a1fd2931825268.txt?viewmode=fullstory" target="_blank"> Read more >>></a> </li>
<li> <a href="http://courantblogs.com/uconn-women/faris-is-learning-about-the-realities-of-wnba-life/" target="_blank">John Altavilla of the Hartford Courant </a>looked at the early going of Connecticut Sun rookie Kelly Faris who has been forced to endure playing for a losing team thus far this season after four years of winning with the Connecticut Huskies. Howeverm compared to other rookies, Faris is getting her chances to contribute with the Sun nursing injuries. <a href="http://courantblogs.com/uconn-women/faris-is-learning-about-the-realities-of-wnba-life/" target="_blank">Read more >>></a> </li>
<li> <a target="_blank" href="http://buckeyextra.dispatch.com/content/stories/2013/06/14/smith-39-still-climbing-upward.html">Jim Massie of the Columbus Dispatch</a> reported on Friday that 39-year-old Katie Smith is "pretty sure" that this will be her last season, though she hasn't officially announced it. The article concludes by describing the impressive defensive work that Smith did on Atlanta Dream star Angel McCoughtry last week. <a target="_blank" href="http://buckeyextra.dispatch.com/content/stories/2013/06/14/smith-39-still-climbing-upward.html">Read more >>></a> </li>
<li> <a href="http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/national/when-adelaide-basketball-star-erin-phillips-met-barack-obama/story-fnii5yv5-1226664465777" target="_blank">Scott Walsh of the Courier Mail </a>reported after the Indiana Fever visited the White House on Friday that Erin Phillips has now met Michael Jordan, Reggie Miller, and now President Barack Obama. She says Obama tops the list.<a href="http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/national/when-adelaide-basketball-star-erin-phillips-met-barack-obama/story-fnii5yv5-1226664465777" target="_blank"> Read more >>></a> </li>
<li> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/wizards/stanford-student-hoping-to-change-game-of-basketball/2013/06/15/43acd4f4-d613-11e2-ab72-3f0d51ec1628_story.html?utm_source=TwitterFeed2&utm_medium=twitter">Michael Lee of the Washington Post </a>caught up with Muthu Alagappan, who authored a paper for the 2012 MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference that redefined the standard taxonomy of positions in terms of style of play. <a href="http://www.sloansportsconference.com/?p=5430" target="_blank">The paper itself </a>was interesting if you haven't read it previously, but it's worth noting that the idea that traditional "point guard" to "center" positions are antiquated has been around for a while - it's one of the first things that I found fascinating about the WNBA. What distinguishes this paper is the level of analytical rigor it brought to the discussion. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/wizards/stanford-student-hoping-to-change-game-of-basketball/2013/06/15/43acd4f4-d613-11e2-ab72-3f0d51ec1628_story.html?utm_source=TwitterFeed2&utm_medium=twitter">Read more >>></a> </li>
</ul>
<p align="center"><object width="560" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/E-gpSQQe3w8?version=3&hl=en_US">
<param name="allowFullScreen" value="true">
<param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always">
<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/E-gpSQQe3w8?version=3&hl=en_US" mce_src="http://www.youtube.com/v/E-gpSQQe3w8?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object> <br><i>The new positions of basketball: Muthu Alagappan at TEDxSpokane</i></p>
<p><i>As usual, there are probably more links floating around the web that haven't been listed here. Feel free to drop them in the comments, create a fan shot, or write up a fan post if you have extended thoughts about something related to women's basketball. </i></p>
https://www.swishappeal.com/2013/6/17/4437330/wnba-2013-links-all-star-voting-maya-moore-kate-smith-retirementNate P2013-06-08T21:25:08-04:002013-06-08T21:25:08-04:00DC 85, Minnesota 80
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/SfazcjoLykZM5WExqCn6l9VZt6c=/0x42:267x220/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/14455865/20120519_ajw_ae4_150.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Paul Frederiksen-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Washington Mystics defeated the Minnesota Lynx at home, 85-80. Guard Ivory Latta had 24 points and 5 assists for the game and led the team in great fashion in the wake of her grandfather's passing. Bottom line, she's the best player on the Mystics this season and is making Mike Thibault look like a genius which he is. In addition, forward Monique Currie had a breakout game scoring 13 points in the first quarter, and had 23 points overall along with 6 rebounds and 4 assists. This gives the Mystics their first win at home for the 2013 season, and also their first winning streak since August 2010, when they had a six game winning streak which helped them reach the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference regular season.</p>
<p></p>
<div class="read-more">
<b>More</b>: <a target="new" href="http://www.swishappeal.com/2013/6/8/4409688/wnba-score-2013-minnesota-lynx-vs-washington-mystics-ivory-latta-monique-currie/in/4128529">Post-game reactions from Verizon Center</a>
</div>
<p>If the team's previous wins against a rising Tulsa Shock squad or perennial Eastern power Connecticut Sun don't qualify, this win also gives the Mystics their first true signature win of the 2013 season, defeating the two time defending Western Conference Champions and the 2011 WNBA Finals champions, and the Lynx figures to be a frontrunner for the 2013 WNBA championship race once again even with the disappointing loss.</p>
<p>For the Lynx, Maya Moore had 22 points and six rebounds, along with four made three pointers. Rebekkah Brunson had 21 points, 17 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks. Seimone Augustus had 21 points but it took her 27 shots to get there so it wasn't one of her signature nights.</p>
<p>In the first half, the Mystics had a big field goal percentage advantage as they made 50% of their shots, while the Lynx only made 31% of theirs. Though the percentage battles evened out a little bit, mostly with the Lynx improving their shooting as the game went on, it was ultimately too much for them to overcome even though they did come back to tie the game at 68 in the 4th quarter after losing by over 10 points at some points earlier in the game after a 10-1 start to that quarter. After that run, the Mystics came back with a small run of their own and never surrendered the lead for the rest of the game.</p>
<p>Last year in a game like this, if a team made a run like this and if the Mystics surrendered a double digit lead, the Mystics would have lost. But with Mike Thibault as the head coach and some personnel improvements, the Mystics know how to bounce back in such situations and got a much needed win. The Mystics are now 3-1 for the regular season as well and got to three wins in their first four games of the year. Last year, they didn't get three wins until their 13th game of the season.</p>
<p>I know the Shock has the #ShocktheWorld hashtag, but should that be the Mystics' slogan instead? Just saying.</p>
https://www.swishappeal.com/2013/6/8/4410394/wnba-score-2013-mystics-vs-lynxAlbert Lee2013-06-01T15:12:49-04:002013-06-01T15:12:49-04:002013 Lynx preview: The quest for dynasty status
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Q-xnYIScpOJov0zG0nRQ8yKA4cc=/4x0:3995x2661/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/13939389/20120817_jla_ai4_143.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Marilyn Indahl-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>A (belated, but still in time?) statistical preview of the Minnesota Lynx based on <a href="http://www.swishappeal.com/2013/5/23/4358068/2013-wnba-preview-statistics-primer" target="new">the season preview framework described in our primer the other day</a>. For those not interested in all these words, the tl;dr version is essentially the first section of 2012 review and the last section titled "key question". For more on Minnesota's major offseason moves, <a href="http://www.swishappeal.com/2013/2/1/3938968/2012-2013-minnesota-lynx-offseason-storystream" target="new">check out our offseason storystream</a>. </p> <h4>2012 review and offseason summary</h4>
<p>
<meta http-equiv="CONTENT-TYPE" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></p>
<p> </p>
<p>
</p>
<title></title>
<meta name="GENERATOR" content="OpenOffice.org 3.4 (Unix)">
<meta name="CREATED" content="20130530;20464700">
<meta name="CHANGED" content="20130530;22131300">
<p>It wasn't so long ago when the Minnesota Lynx were all the rage in the WNBA.</p>
<p>They stormed through the league in 2011 putting together an historic season on their way to the franchise's first WNBA title. They were the best defensive rebounding team in the history of the league, led by the will of Rebekkah Brunson. It might seem like ancient history now, but they also had some rookie who was being called the best women's basketball player ever by some and might have been worth seeing too – guess she didn't pan out.</p>
<p>2012 was supposed to be a continuation of their march toward dynasty status.</p>
<p>With three Olympians in Seimone Augustus, Maya Moore, and Lindsay Whalen – and a fourth Olympic caliber player in Brunson – the Lynx entered the season as unquestionably the team to beat. And held that status really all the way to the playoffs when the Seattle Storm unexpectedly gave them a challenge in the first round before the Indiana Fever shocked everyone by beating the Lynx in the Finals.</p>
<p>Still, as explained in our offseason primer for the Lynx, it's not as if they had a whole lot of things to tweak this offseason: a little internal development and addressing the turnover issue figured to have them right back on top of the league.</p>
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
<colgroup>
<col width="42*">
<col width="25*">
<col width="32*">
<col width="37*">
<col width="31*">
<col width="36*">
<col width="22*">
<col width="30*">
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td height="18" width="16%">
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="10%">
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Verdana"><b>eFg%</b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="13%">
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Verdana"><b>Fta/Fga</b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="15%">
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Verdana"><b>Oreb%</b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="12%">
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Verdana"><b>Tov%</b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="14%">
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Verdana"><b>TeamFacs</b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="9%">
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Verdana"><b>MEV</b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="12%">
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Verdana"><b>Adj Synergy</b></font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="18" width="16%">
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Verdana"><b>Minn</b></font></p>
</td>
<td sdval="0.521496130696475" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%" width="10%">
<p align="CENTER">52.15%</p>
</td>
<td sdval="0.282889079965606" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%" width="13%">
<p align="CENTER">28.29%</p>
</td>
<td sdval="0.347666971637694" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%" width="15%">
<p align="CENTER">34.77%</p>
</td>
<td sdval="0.16504284090764" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%" width="12%">
<p align="CENTER">16.50%</p>
</td>
<td sdval="5.88286979214666" sdnum="1033;0;0.00" width="14%">
<p align="CENTER">5.88</p>
</td>
<td sdval="86.7344705882353" sdnum="1033;0;0.00" width="9%">
<p align="CENTER">86.73</p>
</td>
<td sdval="0.479370639787384" sdnum="1033;0;0.00" width="12%">
<p align="CENTER">0.48</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="18" width="16%">
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Verdana"><b>Opp</b></font></p>
</td>
<td sdval="0.454662655779974" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%" width="10%">
<p align="CENTER">45.47%</p>
</td>
<td sdval="0.269015900300816" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%" width="13%">
<p align="CENTER">26.90%</p>
</td>
<td sdval="0.272508038585209" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%" width="15%">
<p align="CENTER">27.25%</p>
</td>
<td sdval="0.159266533998398" sdnum="1033;0;0.00" width="12%">
<p align="CENTER">0.16</p>
</td>
<td sdval="4.91825482490279" sdnum="1033;0;0.00" width="14%">
<p align="CENTER">4.92</p>
</td>
<td sdval="61.5492352941176" sdnum="1033;0;0.00" width="9%">
<p align="CENTER">61.55</p>
</td>
<td sdval="0.307175644164346" sdnum="1033;0;0.00" width="12%">
<p align="CENTER">0.31</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td sdnum="1033;0;0.00" height="18" width="16%">
<p> </p>
</td>
<td sdnum="1033;0;0.00" width="10%">
<p> </p>
</td>
<td sdnum="1033;0;0.00" width="13%">
<p> </p>
</td>
<td sdnum="1033;0;0.00" width="15%">
<p> </p>
</td>
<td sdnum="1033;0;0.00" width="12%">
<p> </p>
</td>
<td sdnum="1033;0;0.00" width="14%">
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="9%">
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="12%">
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="18" width="16%">
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Verdana"><b>Weighted</b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="10%">
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Verdana"><b>eFg%</b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="13%">
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Verdana"><b>fta/fga</b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="15%">
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Verdana"><b>Oreb%</b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="12%">
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Verdana"><b>Tov%</b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="14%">
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="9%">
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="12%">
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="18" width="16%">
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Verdana"><b>Minn</b></font></p>
</td>
<td sdval="0.668334749165004" sdnum="1033;0;0.00" width="10%">
<p align="CENTER">0.67</p>
</td>
<td sdval="0.0291336772960583" sdnum="1033;0;0.00" width="13%">
<p align="CENTER">0.03</p>
</td>
<td sdval="0.315667518820439" sdnum="1033;0;0.00" width="15%">
<p align="CENTER">0.32</p>
</td>
<td sdval="-0.05" sdnum="1033;0;0.00" width="12%">
<p align="CENTER">-0.05</p>
</td>
<td width="14%">
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="9%">
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="12%">
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p align="CENTER"><i>2012 Four Factors statistics for the Minnesota Lynx.</i></p>
<p>And after a few personnel moves and a solid draft, the Lynx might be right back on track to continue their regular season success this season.</p>
<h4>2013 WNBA Draft: Lindsey Moore and Sugar Rodgers</h4>
<p>We've already been through <a target="_blank" href="http://www.swishappeal.com/2013/5/23/4359318/wnba-point-guard-prospects-2013-skylar-diggins-lindsey-moore-alex-bentley">what made Moore a great point guard prospect elsewhere</a>, but to summarize: she was the most efficient point guard in one of the better point guard classes in recent years, her style of play at Nebraska was reminiscent of Whalen though she was not nearly the volume scorer, and her three point shooting improved to 38.2% in her senior year. A player with those numbers figures to find a niche for themselves in the league and starting out learning from a player like Whalen in a system like Minnesota's should only help her along in her development.</p>
<p>Sugar Rodgers, however, was one of the more difficult prospects to project.</p>
<p>On the one hand, Rodgers was this year's classic example of the low-efficiency volume shooter that just hasn't lasted in the WNBA in recent years aside from Riquna Williams, who was not only an elite athlete but also a solid 3-point shooter at 36.6%. Rodgers was a 30.8% 3-point shooter in her senior year, which wasn't too far behind her 36% shooting from the field overall. She was the lead ball handler for Georgetown, but wasn't efficient on that front either as a player with a -5.34 pure point rating.</p>
<p>On the other hand, Rodgers has an excuse for all those numbers: she was Georgetown's offense this past season and everybody in the gym knew that the ball had to be in her hands in order for her team to score. In a non-conference game against Cal State – Fullerton this season in Berkeley, even Fullerton was able to stifle Rodgers in the second half by forcing her into jumpers going left. But obviously, that won't be the case in the pros: she won't be the focal point, won't have to be so single-minded on the offensive end, and her ability to create shots could actually become an asset as she works more off the ball at 5'11". Her steal rate of 4.9% was among the top 40 in the nation during the 2012-13 NCAA season and bodes well for her to make an impact on that end with a combination of size and quickness.</p>
<p>Rodgers could fill the role of scorer off the bench and a commitment to the defensive end could make her a valuable contributor to a WNBA rotation, but she'll definitely be among one of the more interesting rookies to watch in terms of learning a little more about draft prospects from her transition to the league.</p>
<p></p>
<div class="read-more">
<b>More</b>: <a href="http://www.swishappeal.com/2013/4/15/4228872/2013-wnba-draft-minnesota-lynx-select-lindsey-moore-12th-overall/in/3703009" target="new">Moore selected 12th</a> <a href="http://www.swishappeal.com/2013/4/15/4228920/2013-wnba-draft-minnesota-lynx-select-sugar-rodgers-with-the-14th/in/3703009" target="new">Rogers selected 14th</a> <a href="http://www.swishappeal.com/2013/2/13/3983662/minnesota-lynx-agree-to-terms-with-rachel-jarry/in/3703009" target="new">Lynx agree to terms with Rachel Jarry</a>
</div>
<p><br id="1370119243676"></p>
<p> </p>
<h4>Balance</h4>
<p> </p>
<table cols="6" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
<colgroup>
<col width="100">
<col width="100">
<col width="100">
<col width="100">
<col width="100">
<col width="100">
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td height="21" width="100">
<p align="CENTER"><b>Player</b></p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER"><b><font color="#000000"><font face="Verdana">S-P-I style</font></font></b></p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER"><b><font color="#000000"><font face="Verdana">TS</font></font></b></p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER"><b><font color="#000000"><font face="Verdana">Turnover%</font></font></b></p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER"><b><font color="#000000"><font face="Verdana">Oreb%</font></font></b></p>
</td>
<td width="100">
<p align="CENTER"><b><font color="#000000"><font face="Verdana">FTP</font></font></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="18">
<p align="CENTER"><b>Maya Moore </b></p>
</td>
<td>
<p align="CENTER">M</p>
</td>
<td sdval="59.1653236067521" sdnum="1033;">
<p align="CENTER"><font color="#008000">59.17%</font></p>
</td>
<td sdval="0.0942879737210293" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%">
<p align="CENTER"><font color="#008000">9.43%</font></p>
</td>
<td sdval="0.0883465774015563" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%">
<p align="CENTER"><font color="#008000">8.83%</font></p>
</td>
<td sdval="0.203271028037383" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%">
<p align="CENTER"><font color="#008000">20.33%</font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="19">
<p align="CENTER"><b>Seimone Augustus </b></p>
</td>
<td>
<p align="CENTER">S</p>
</td>
<td sdval="57.5579169059927" sdnum="1033;">
<p align="CENTER"><font color="#008000">57.56%</font></p>
</td>
<td sdval="0.0926200355660937" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%">
<p align="CENTER"><font color="#008000">9.26%</font></p>
</td>
<td sdval="0.0243681450746441" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%">
<p align="CENTER"><font color="#ff0000">2.44%</font></p>
</td>
<td sdval="0.132992327365729" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%">
<p align="CENTER"><font color="#ff0000">13.30%</font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="18">
<p align="CENTER"><b>Lindsay Whalen </b></p>
</td>
<td>
<p align="CENTER">D</p>
</td>
<td sdval="56.6020917518422" sdnum="1033;">
<p align="CENTER"><font color="#008000">56.6%</font></p>
</td>
<td sdval="0.116726174127987" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%">
<p align="CENTER"><font color="#008000">11.67%</font></p>
</td>
<td sdval="0.0423570871878283" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%">
<p align="CENTER"><font color="#008000">4.24%</font></p>
</td>
<td sdval="0.245733788395904" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%">
<p align="CENTER"><font color="#008000">24.57%</font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="19">
<p align="CENTER"><b>Rebekkah Brunson </b></p>
</td>
<td>
<p align="CENTER">IU</p>
</td>
<td sdval="54.6108973563361" sdnum="1033;">
<p align="CENTER"><font color="#008000">54.61%</font></p>
</td>
<td sdval="0.100180324584252" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%">
<p align="CENTER"><font color="#008000">10.02%</font></p>
</td>
<td sdval="0.162323288964968" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%">
<p align="CENTER"><font color="#008000">16.23%</font></p>
</td>
<td sdval="0.278388278388278" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%">
<p align="CENTER"><font color="#008000">27.84%</font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="18">
<p align="CENTER"><b>Monica Wright </b></p>
</td>
<td>
<p align="CENTER">PS</p>
</td>
<td sdval="54.8196377787756" sdnum="1033;">
<p align="CENTER"><font color="#008000">54.82%</font></p>
</td>
<td sdval="0.163218159903576" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%">
<p align="CENTER"><font color="#ff0000">16.32%</font></p>
</td>
<td sdval="0.0343092406221409" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%">
<p align="CENTER"><font color="#008000">3.43%</font></p>
</td>
<td sdval="0.315555555555555" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%">
<p align="CENTER"><font color="#008000">31.56%</font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="18">
<p align="CENTER"><b>Devereaux Peters </b></p>
</td>
<td>
<p align="CENTER">IU</p>
</td>
<td sdval="60.1034692635423" sdnum="1033;">
<p align="CENTER"><font color="#008000">60.1%</font></p>
</td>
<td sdval="0.191702713330712" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%">
<p align="CENTER"><font color="#ff0000">19.17%</font></p>
</td>
<td sdval="0.130547739474184" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%">
<p align="CENTER"><font color="#008000">13.05%</font></p>
</td>
<td sdval="0.330275229357798" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%">
<p align="CENTER"><font color="#008000">33.03%</font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="18">
<p align="CENTER"><b>Amber Harris </b></p>
</td>
<td>
<p align="CENTER">IP</p>
</td>
<td sdval="47.6286988244832" sdnum="1033;">
<p align="CENTER"><font color="#ff0000">47.63%</font></p>
</td>
<td sdval="0.116568231271371" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%">
<p align="CENTER"><font color="#008000">11.66%</font></p>
</td>
<td sdval="0.0524168953949375" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%">
<p align="CENTER"><font color="#ff0000">5.24%</font></p>
</td>
<td sdval="0.168539325842697" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%">
<p align="CENTER"><font color="#ff0000">16.85%</font></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p align="CENTER"><i>2012 Four Factors statistics for Minnesota Lynx returners and veterans.</i></p>
<p>Minnesota's balance was part of what helped them win the 2011 WNBA Finals. That year, they didn't really have any major weaknesses as they stormed through the league.</p>
<p>Last season, that wasn't quite true: turnovers were a major Achilles heel for the team.</p>
<p>But that makes their offseason departures particularly significant: with Jessica Adair being released, Taj McWilliams-Franklin retiring, Erin Thorn signing with Phoenix and Candice Wiggins being traded the Lynx have lost four of their five most turnover prone players. That's obviously a narrow way to look at the impact of those players, but it's fair to say that they have a chance to improve on that one negative differential they had last year.</p>
<p>And improvement from that fifth turnover prone player could make a major difference for the team.</p>
<h4>Depth</h4>
<p>Peters actually had the highest turnover ratio on the team last season, which was mildly surprising because she was relatively efficient with the ball at Notre Dame. And looking at this team's potential, it's difficult not to start there.</p>
<p>Although Peters was an efficient scorer and strong offensive rebounder, her turnover rate and fouls (6.3 per 36 mins) limited her effectiveness on the floor. But she showed flashes of being a great fit in this system with the tools to be a very effective contributor.</p>
<p>If Peters just improves on those two things as part of the standard course of her development, the Lynx could have a solid frontcourt rotation.</p>
<p>Part of that depends on what Janel McCarville brings after being away from the league since 2010. On paper, it's reasonable to think that she could post numbers similar to McWilliams-Franklin: <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/players/m/mccarja01w.html">McCarville's numbers in 2010</a> with the Liberty weren't too far off from <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/players/m/mcwilta01w.html">McWilliams-Franklin's over the last two years</a> (turnovers included in 2012). But obviously, McWilliams-Franklin brought more than what shows up in the stats in terms of defense and leadership and that will be a loss. But between McCarville and Peters they should have two solid, albeit not the tallest, players to fill their post rotation.</p>
<div class="read-more">
<b>More</b>: <a href="http://www.swishappeal.com/2013/3/1/4053442/wnba-trade-tulsa-shock-minnesota-lynx-new-york-liberty/in/3703009" target="new">Breakdown of Lynx trade for McCarville</a> <a href="http://www.swishappeal.com/2013/3/2/4056098/wnba-trade-minnesota-lynx-janel-mccarville-rt-rybak-mayor/in/3703009" target="new">Minneapolis' mayor on the McCarville trade</a> <a href="http://www.swishappeal.com/2013/3/5/4069086/ncaa-womens-basketball-minnesota-gophers-lindsay-whalen-janel-mccarville/in/3703009" target="new">McCarville, Whalen working out with alma mater</a>
</div>
<p>On the perimeter, their depth will depend on what they get from the 2013 draft selections as well as Rachel Jarry. Along the lines of that turnover issue from last season, Wiggins was essentially the backup point guard last season and had a pure point rating of -2.20. Moore's college numbers suggest that she will be more efficient than that, setting aside questions about whether she can keep up with the speed of the game.</p>
<p>Even without major production from any of the rookies, when you have three Olympians and Monica Wright returning to the perimeter rotation you can find a way to make things work.</p>
<h4>X-Factor: Amber Harris' development</h4>
<p>Amber Harris could be a major factor in the team's depth this season if she can get back to rebounding the way she did in 2011 (10.4% offensive rebounding percentage) while becoming a more efficient scorer and maintaining the impressive shot blocking rate she had last season (4.5%).</p>
<p>Most of us will agree that Harris has a versatile skillset at 6'4", which creates visions of upside to dance around fans' heads – as an example from last season, Harris shot 38.9% from the 3-point line. Sure it was only 18 attempts, but it's just one more thing that you begin to believe that maybe she can do. The problem has just been bringing it all together into a productive package on the court.</p>
<p>As for her scoring efficiency, her shot attempts were distributed across close and mid-range but it's not like her low efficiency could be attributed entirely to drifting away from the basket – she shot just 5-for-18 from 6-10 feet, which is probably an area she'd have to improve more than anywhere in order to become an above average efficiency interior player.</p>
<p>There was plenty expected of Harris when she was drafted by the Lynx in the 2011 lottery and she hasn't quite lived up to those lofty expectations. But she's also shown some signs that she might be able to bring it all together. With the Lynx losing McWilliams-Franklin and there being some uncertainty about what exactly McCarville and Peters can contribute this season, Harris still has an opportunity to become a valuable contributor.</p>
<h4>Versatility: Question marks & upside</h4>
<p>What's always been fascinating about the Lynx is that as good as their starting lineup has been for the last two years, they've also had plenty of upside.</p>
<p>And that's no different this season.</p>
<p>Beyond Harris, the Lynx have a number of question marks that could be the difference between them being just a very good team and a great one.</p>
<p>Harris and Peters could very easily improve, which would could give the team some different looks on the offensive end. <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/players/w/wrighmo01w.html#advanced::none">Monica Wright has steadily improved over the course of her career </a>and is well prepared to step into a bigger role this season. If any of the rookies can produce, they'll be deeper around the perimeter.</p>
<p>That potential upside gives them the potential to go with bigger, defensive lineups, smaller, quicker lineups with shooters spread around the court or the more "traditional" double post, two wing, and a point guard style.</p>
<p>The one place they could run into trouble is with teams that have bigger post players – McWilliams-Franklin wasn't tall, but she was an expert defender. Whether they can match that with the group of posts they have this season remains to be seen.</p>
<h4>Complementarity</h4>
<p>One of the things that really struck me about the Lynx in 2011 was that their most efficient players were also their highest usage players, which is something I really haven't seen from any other team in my time watching the WNBA.</p>
<p>The Lynx weren't quite there last season, but their shot distribution was still arguably the closest to optimal of any team in the league: their most efficient group of players still had the ball in their hands most often, which is a large part of what makes this team work.</p>
<p>Along those lines, while they have a number of players who had above average usage rates for their position last year they also didn't have any extremely high usage players and they were balanced across the roster. And relative to other teams around the league, they have a number of efficient ball handlers (Moore and Whalen are both extremely efficient for their position, Augustus is well above average).</p>
<p>It would be going too far to say that the Lynx were lacking a clear MVP – statistically last season, it was Maya Moore by margin wider than most other teams in the Western Conference (excluding the injury ravaged Mercury) – but to have five players accounting for between 12-20% of the team's statistical contributions is still remarkable.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Wnba_lynx2013preview_html_1727bf7c_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2704867/wnba_lynx2013preview_html_1727bf7c_medium.gif"></p>
<p>And if you're looking for an advantage that the Lynx have over almost any team in the league it's that chemistry in terms of how the players complement each other: they have skillsets that allow the type of give and take that it requires to be a successful basketball team.</p>
<h4>Key question: Have WNBA fans underestimated the Minnesota Lynx?</h4>
<p>There's currently a San Francisco Giants themed AAA radio ad running in the Bay Area that opens with the narrator saying, "What's better than winning two titles in three years? WOOOOOOOOOOOO! Nothing!"</p>
<p>But the Lynx actually do have a chance to do the Giants one better: they have a legitimate chance to make their third championship series in three years, making them among the most dominant teams in all of U.S. professional sports right now. If in fact they do make it three years in a row, they'd be the first team since the Los Angeles Sparks to do so.</p>
<p>In other words, the Lynx are not just contenders – they're still on dynasty watch right now.</p>
<p>We've discussed this elsewhere on the site, but of the things overshadowed by the #3tosee campaign, the Lynx are probably the biggest: yes, the top of the Western Conference has improved to the point that the Lynx probably won't match that 27-7 record they've put up the past two years. But there isn't another team in the conference (and really the league) with their kind of depth at each position, assuming a few things work out in their favor.</p>
<p>Even if neither Harris, McCarville, nor Peters work out to perform to their most optimistic projections, no frontcourt can be considered "bad" with Brunson at the power forward spot. Similarly, you can't call their perimeter rotation "bad" with three Olympians, each of whom some would argue are the best at their position in the conference.</p>
<p>Setting the hype for the 2013 season aside, you can't look at the WNBA over the past two years and not think that this is the team to beat – they have the potential to have five productive players on the floor for all 40 minutes of a game. That's a luxury most teams don't have.</p>
https://www.swishappeal.com/2013/6/1/4382546/wnba-2013-minnesota-lynx-previewNate P