RebKell's Junkie Boards

[Shades]

WNBA Semifinals Game 1
Seattle, WA - 5:00 PM ET
TV: ESPN2

Video:
http://www.espn.com/watch

Game page:
http://www.wnba.com/game/20180826/PHOSEA/

ESPN Gamecast:
http://m.espn.com/wnba/gamecast?gameId=401074457

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

[pilight]

The Mercury and the Storm have met in the playoffs four times. Phoenix won three of those series.

Sandy Brondello is the only coach remaining in the playoffs who has won a WNBA championship.

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I'm a lonely frog
I ain't got a home

[zune69]

Hard for me to bet against Phoenix with Minnesota and LA being eliminated.

[Shades]

[Rock Hard]

We are going to have an old fashioned east versus west finals again.

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You can win, as long as you keep your head to the SKY! Be OPTIMISTIC!

[toad455]

[Aladyyn]

We deserve a Seattle-Washington finals.

[toad455]

[Michelle89]

I wonder what the matchups are going to be. For the Mercury January on Bird again, Sandy would be insane to put DT on Loyd again (3x 30+ games already this season) so i expect Talbot on Loyd and DT on Clark. Lets see if zclark can get DT in foul trouble by posting her up a couple of times. Griner will be defending Stewie on the perimeter so cant help as much in the paint.
So Bonner on Howard and Griner on Stewie and the Storm will switch that around with Howard on Griner and double teaming with Stewie but this time that will be harder to do with Bonner spotting up for 3. That gives Griner way more room inside and its more difficult to double. Birdy on January, Loyd on Talbot and Clark stalking DT

This will be a fun series. Die bitches vs DT is always great

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"Sue Bird and Lauren Jackson were and are the dynamic duo. They're the one-two punch. They're all the clich�s possible to describe people that perfectly complement each other, who make each other better and also bring out the best in the team." �Karen Bryant

[ucbart]

[zune69]

[Rock Hard]

[mercfan3]

[Silky Johnson]

I'm on #TeamABS for the duration.

[pilight]

[WNBA 09]

[Michelle89]

[scrappy]

oh boy, the phoenix cheaters.

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She's blonde, she can block. She is 6 foot five, she can deny. Though she is tall, she definitely can score. ya'al think she is quite nice, but on the court she can put up a fight.

[mercfan3]

[ClayK]

The matchup possibilities are fascinating ...

For Phoenix, how about Talbot on Bird? Bird isn't going to go around her (29 FTA all season, less than one a game), and Talbot is athletic. Then January goes to Loyd and DT to Clark, where they need her.

In addition, with Talbot on Bird, any pick-and-roll switch puts Talbot on a big, which is OK.

Bonner, I think, has to start out on Stewart, but if she gets in foul trouble, there's not much of a Plan B. If Griner guards Stewart, Stewart just camps beyond the three-point line and the whole Phoenix defensive scheme disappears.

So every minute Stewart is on the floor, Bonner is on the floor. If Loyd goes out, then January can rest.

For Seattle, Bird draws January, and I'm assuming she can stay in front of January well enough. Clark gets DT and Loyd relaxes on Talbot -- or put Loyd on January every once in a while let Bird battle Talbot (no threes, and screen out every time should do it).

Stewart has to guard Griner, I think, but Paris might be able to muscle her a little bit, so she might get some minutes.

I always have fun with this stuff, and then none of it happens, of course. That's why I coach in high school ...

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Oṃ Tāre Tuttāre Ture Svāhā

[RavenDog]

Playing a 5 game series is different than a 1 game. Any team can win a 1 game series but a 5? With talent pretty much equal, the bigger more physical team has the advantage. Pretty hard to physically play against bigger and stronger players on a continuing basis. The wear-down factor usually sets in.

However, the way to success for the lighter faster team is to make shots and run the shit out of the bigger heavier and in this case older opponents, i.e., just like boxing and UFC.

[pilight]

[zune69]

Since moving Bonner to PF. The mercury are a different basketball team on both sides of the ball. With DB being highly active and spreading the half court offense, doubling Griner's going to be much more difficult. The defensive rotations will be longer. This will give Griner more time to make a decision(pass, shoot)...Matching up with Bonner in transition is another issue...Howard led the league in Fouls. I believe she’s more susceptible to getting in foul trouble guarding Bonner than if she was defending Sancho.

Seattle does have one obvious advantage in this series,and that’s J.Loyd...Taurasi,nor Talbot are capable of slowing JL down…...Loyd’s offensive production/consistency could be the difference.Don’t be surprised if January/Bonner are given the task of guarding Loyd.

[mercfan3]

[Nixtreefan]

Looking forward to this series, in a 1 game I would take PHX, in 3 the deeper team may take it.