RebKell's Junkie Boards

[J-Spoon]

For the Liberty I still prefer the scoring guards Durr or Ogunbowale (or Ionescu if she declares even if we have to try and trade up) because I want more scoring and I think they will both be able to score at the next level, and either will be better than what we have right now, and I am not convinced that UFAs Prince or Zelous will return after the joy of being on the Liberty last year so I'm no sure the log jam at SG is as jammed as it has been.

If we go big I have switched my preference to McCowan over Brown, McCowan's defense and rebounding will translate, but I think that will slot the Liberty into more years of grind it out basketball without too much offense, that has worked for us in the past but can be painful to watch if you are not winning. Though if McCowan is our choice we might be able to win that way, and imo McCowan would be a very good compliment to Charles upfront, and the combo of McCowan and Stokes at the 5 could bring our defense back to where it has been in previous seasons.

When it comes to the SF spot, if we go that way I would prefer KLS to Collier. KLS' shooting would be the main reason. NY needs another knock down shooter with range, and KLS has that if nothing else and the potential is there to grow other aspects of her game and create mismatches and offense from the 3. I really like Collier but I am not sure she is a SF I think she is a skilled undersized PF maybe she can develop the rest of her game to transition but as has been seen in the past that is a hard transition. I do however believe that Collier could work in the league as an undersized PF. I am not sure the Swin comparison is the best, Cash if I remember correctly played the 3 at UConn with Williams and Jones in the post, Collier has played almost exclusively at the 4 or the 5 the last two years (if not her whole career. Also Swin imo had slightly better range and handle. Collier seems a little closer to me to say Sophia Young, who was a very successful undersized PF or maybe even a slightly smaller Charles?.

[PickledGinger]

[snlMINAJ]

cash was a 4/5 at uconn especially her jr and sr seasons.
she played her rookie year as a 4 in the W. once laimbeer was hired as coach is when she was 'changed' to a 3.she didn't really have any consistent range til she was in seattle. she scored her 15-20 per game off transition, slashing, free-throws.

colliers offensive game is definitely more along at this point, imo. this year i have seen collier rebound and bring the ball up in transition ala cash her 2nd/3rd/4th year in the W.

i actually think the comparison is spot on, cash was just more wiry/athletic even faster than collier.

[zune69]

I just watched the highlights of McCowan's 35p/19r game against Oregon. I've been selling Teaira a bit short. McCowan showed more mobility and low post moves in the Oregon game than any game this season. She even knocked down a jump shot. I also believe Bill is posturing when he says "there are only quality role players" in this draft....R.Brunson was never more than a 3rd/4th, but she was more than just a quality roleplayer. Brunson was a rebounding/defensive star and a game changer. The same can be said for Cheryl Ford...In 3-4 years I can see McCowan being a 16p/12r elite post defender....That's more than just a role player.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8CiP2Q-ZGdM" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[NYL_WNBA_FAN]

[ClayK]

Two questions about McCowan, I think:

1) Is she fast enough to keep up with the other centers in the league?

2) Can she defend the pick-and-roll?

I have serious doubts about both, enough that I don't expect her to be an immediate success in the league. Can she step in right away and play 12-15 mpg as a backup? Most likely. Will she be an starter from day one? I just don't see it.

But she could turn out to be a very effective WNBA player at some point in her career, and certainly will do well overseas.

_________________
Oṃ Tāre Tuttāre Ture Svāhā

[WNBA 09]

[NYL_WNBA_FAN]

[Shades]

[NYL_WNBA_FAN]

Let’s put it this way. LV started Swords for a reasonable amount of last season. Does McCowan start over her? Chicago started Dolson and Williams. With Parker and Dolson sharing minutes at times. Does McCowan get minutes over those horrible defensive combinations? Over Vaughn or Stokes in NY? I think the answer is clear in all three instances. I think she’d start even over an improved Achonwa. It’s not like Indy was good defensively last year. They were terrible. How much worse could they be with a 6’7” shot blocker when they haven’t defended the rim for years?

_________________
The poster formerly known as LibWNBAFan.

[stever]

espnW Player of the week:
<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.espn.com/core/video/iframe?id=25789560&endcard=false" allowfullscreen frameborder="0"></iframe>

_________________
Women's Basketball Daily
Celebrating the Women's Game Since 2005
WBBDaily Mobile Edition

[ClayK]

[root_thing]

I have a few comments:

1) Collier is way better offensively than Gabby Williams. Napheesa put up 20.4 ppg as a sophomore and has averaged over 18 ppg over the last three years. Williams had a high of 14.3 as a junior and averaged a little over 11 ppg over her last 3 years. Collier isn't reliable from long range, but she's fine from midrange, and she has a variety of moves down low. Gabby primarily scored by driving past slower opponents and then hitting that reach around scoop shot. Collier simply has a more diverse arsenal than Williams.

2) The discussions on this board have demonstrated that all of these players are flawed and that none of them are sure things. However, the draft goes on and some players have to be taken high. You can't just go around saying everybody is unworthy. Furthermore, people have to look at the positives as well as the negatives. I see a lot of dwelling on the negatives. I also see a lot of cherry-picking of games to prove a point. One has to consider a player's overall career, not only what happened today or even just this season. It's also necessary to take into account factors like injuries and the player's supporting cast.

3) In the last two years, we've seen the NCAAW career leading scorers enter the WNBA -- Kelsey Plum and Kelsey Mitchell. Neither has taken the league by storm. So, why do people think Durr and Ogunbowale will do any better? If you're only looking at senior years, then arguably Rachel Banham and Odyssey Sims had more dominant seasons. Now, if you want to make the athletic ability argument, I don't see where Durr and Ogunbowale are superior athletes. They don't jump out at you (literally and figuratively) the way a Brittney Sykes or Courtney Williams do. (I'll leave Deshields out of the argument because she's a much taller player.) I'm not saying that Durr and Ogunbowale won't be good. I'm just asking why their fans think they'll start off better as rookies than other players who were more successful either careerwise and/or in their senior season. I know with Arike people will point to her big shot ability. Fair enough, you can be flawed and inconsistent but that one virtue will carry you a long way. We've seen that with Kristi Toliver. Still, it took a while for Toliver's career to take off, and even then she was criticized for a myriad of sins -- turnovers, indiscriminate chucking, bad defense, moping on the bench -- that suggested her big shot ability was not always enough to justify her minutes.

4) If you look at recent history, the players who have had the most immediate success are the power forward/quick centers like Wilson, Stewart, Chiney, EDD, Nneka, Charles, and Parker. So maybe people should be taking a closer look at Anigwe, Smith or even Gustafson. I would argue Megan is a better athlete than people give her credit for. She's not only leading the nation in scoring, but she is also third in rebounds right behind Anigwe and McCowan. Megan is even averaging more blocked shots than Kalani Brown. Smith is second in the nation in 3Pt shooting at 50.5% (46-91). She is 15th in scoring (Ogunbowale #10, Durr #11) and 18th in blocks (6th among P5 players). Anigwe is 6th in the nation in scoring as well as the leading rebounder. She invites physical play, and there is no doubt about her athletic ability.

_________________
You can always do something else.

[Shades]

You have two 6’7 players in this draft. Players of that size that could be lottery picks don’t come around too often. 5’8 guards are in abundance. I’m really high on Slocum whenever she comes out. Chennedy Carter is another one to keep an eye on. Where are these 6’7 players of the future? I guess Oregon St has a 6’9 freshman but did she redshirt for some reason? I don’t think she’s a back to the basket type either. People think it should be easy to pass on 6’7 bigs?

_________________
Nnekalonians 1:14 - Thou shalt not accept that which is not earned

[Rock Hard]

[root_thing]

Here's a brain teaser for everybody: if Alanna Smith continues to play the way she's been playing -- acknowledging that we still have a long way to go -- why can't she be like Emma Meesseman? We're talking about 14 ppg and 6 boards. Not superstar level, but a pretty good player. Obviously, Meesseman has the confidence and experience advantage that pretty much guarantees she'll succeed whereas Smith could get awe-struck and totally flop. But deconstructing the two players based on size, athletic ability, and skill set, they look very similar to me. Smith has good footwork and scoring ability down low, she shoots 3s reliably, and she is active on defense with decent shot-blocking ability. So, if Emma Meesseman was in this draft, where would you take her?

_________________
You can always do something else.

[Davis4632]

[J-Spoon]

Not that the National team is a perfect measuring stick but I think come 2020 the guards in serious contention to make the team (outside of Bird and DT) will be

Diggins-Smith, Sims, Plum, Loyd, McBride, C. Gray, K. Mitchell, Durr, Ogunbowale and Ionescu.

If you are in that mix you are probably going to be a starter borderline all-star type of player. If that is the tier that Asia and Arike are on that is good enough for me.

This is not to say the other top 6 draft prospects won't be in consideration Collier was a very late cut for the Worlds team and KLS was hurt. I can't remember if McCowan or Brown were in any camps this go round but their position is stacked and they were both still in college I am sure they will get considered for 2020 camps.

All I am saying is that Durr and Ogunbowale as college seniors and Ionescu as a junior are already seen as serious contenders for best in the country at their position.

[toad455]

Draft day set for Wednesday, April 10.

https://highposthoops.com/2019/01/21/2019-wnba-draft-date-april-10-achonwa-fever/

_________________
LET'S GO LIBERTY!!!!!!

Twitter: @TBRBWAY

[PickledGinger]

[willtalk]

[root_thing]

[zune69]

[Shades]

[Randy]