RebKell's Junkie Boards

[Shades]

WNBA Semifinals Game 3
Phoenix, AZ - 10:00 PM ET
TV: ESPNews, NBA TV simulcast

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

Game page:
http://www.wnba.com/game/20180831/SEAPHO/

ESPN Gamecast:
http://m.espn.com/wnba/gamecast?gameId=401074461

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

[toad455]

Mercury will be rested a little and with the home court get a win here.

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LET'S GO LIBERTY!!!!!!

Twitter: @TBRBWAY

[Randy]

I don't want to see a Seattle sweep. I want this to go five games. I'm pretty sure all the pundits will be saying that this is the "true Finals".

[Shades]

This Semi should have been the Finals.

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

[Randy]

[pilight]

[toad455]

[Randy]

[Shades]

I was just playing along with Randy. I’m fine with whatever Final.

A part of me wishes to see the continued futility of Thibault. That’s like an old tradition that must continue, sorta like Thanksgiving. That, combined with not wanting to see Delle Donne rewarded so quickly for demanding out of CHI (after only 4 years service. Fowles did 7 excruciating years), makes WAS my least favorite remaining team. But it’s not a huge big deal for me on any outcome.

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

[Silky Johnson]

[craigmont]

Storm need to get one in Phoenix somehow. After games 1 & 2, I do not want to come back here for a Game 5.

[canadaball]

Before going on to game 3, let's take a look at the wonderful game 2. Jordin Canada, defying my expectations based upon her body of W work, hit 5 for 5, including 2 three pointers. Watching her shots Tuesday, I still think she has a terrible release, and uses a cockeyed reverse rotation. It is no accident she is a sub 20% shooter. This kind of player can have a great game once in a while (remember even a broken clock is right twice a day), but if I'm Phx, I continue to go under screens and leave her open. Canada's greatest skill is her quickness, and no one on Phx can stay in front of her. Langhorne also amazed with 10 rebounds in just 14 minutes. Throughout her career, Lang has been a solid offensive player w/o much defense and rebounding. We have seen it before in many sports, where a star player on losing teams (prior to this year, Lang is 1-8 in playoff games, and had never won a series) finds herself, in the backside of her career, and gets in a backup position on a title contender. The coach's cliche is rebounding is all about effort and desire, so who knows; maybe Lang has seen the light. I had noted that Camille Little was buried at the bottom of the Phx bench. Coach Sandy tried everything possible in game 2, even using perpetual retread Dev Peters, before finally, in total desperation, going with Little, down 17 midway 4th q. Lo and behold, Little had a wonderful 10 minutes with hustle and defensive savvy/toughness. Camille has had a solid W career, including some great years in Seattle. I doubt it was conscious, but her appearance in game 2 represented probably the last chance she had to resurrect a pro career. Another game or two, or three like Tuesday and she just might be able to sign on somewhere for another year.
The core conundrum for Phx remains how to guard the Sea perimeter with just one quality defensive guard (January). In game 2, they switched assignments for Talbot and January. Loyd was held in check, but Bird's play sent Talbot to the bench. If we add Little to the mix, I still do not know what coach Sandy will do. DT must stay on Clark; she needs a defensive vacation, and can avoid foul trouble. Asking Bonner to guard Bird just is too much to ask. Check out the following clips to see what a Bird defender must do:
https://twitter.com/splitthepost/status/1034984871335145472 My best guess is that, at times, we will see Bonner on Loyd when Little enters game and takes Stew. One other point: Camille certainly earned her place in purgatory from a Phx braintrust that knows her well, and I will follow with interest to see if her game 2 showing was a one time thing.

[Randy]

Was the Little the starter when they lost all those games a month or so ago?

[mercfan3]

[Michelle89]

Its about matchups. Little is a better matchup defending Stewie then Bonner and Griner. Bonner cant defend her on the block and Griner cant defend her on the perimeter and off the dribble.

So play Little for 10-15 min and probably in the end of game 3 and move Bonner to the 3 spot and try to give her rest somewhere aswell.

Even if you put January on Bird. Pick& roll action between her and Stewart is impossible to guard without a good rotation or help defense. See example pick &pop 3pointers from stewie in game 1 and then the open layups against Talbot and at the end of the game against January. So we cant really blame Talbot for playing bad defense. Yes she made some mistakes ( going under a screen, and switching to Stewie instead of lock and trailing Bird) but everyone makes mistakes. Even Clark went under a Griner screen at the end of game and got a DT 3pointer in her face

Sue Bird s basketball IQ is unmatched

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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

[mercfan3]

[Shades]

[mercfan3]

[canadaball]

I have always felt that healthy teams win WNBA titles. The only team I remember breaking this rule was Indiana when they upset the Lynx w/o Katie Douglas. Detroit did manage to win w/o Cheryl Ford, but they added Taj. This year, it is amazing that the only healthy team in the league is Seattle. The Storm had the best regular season record; won as many road games as home; never lost 2 in a row; and have beaten Phx 4 of 5 (the only loss was first game of year when Howard was a bench player), yet watching Sea play the most important asset is that good health. Just imagine if the least heralded starter, Clark, got in foul trouble or banged her head. The next player up is KML, and it is frightening to imagine her trying to guard the players AC must defend (think 5 fouls in 10 minutes). On further thought, it is surprising that Clark is able to stay out of foul trouble while defending the likes of DT, Maya, Angel, Chelsea Gray and Tolliver. She cannot jump, and cannot shoot from beyond 5 feet, unless feet are set, but does show how intelligence (never takes bad shot; almost always makes good decisions) can mean much.

[ClayK]

[pilight]

Stephanie Talbot is out with a concussion

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

[Shades]

[mercfan3]

[ClayK]

[threefrom60]