Two interesting games in the WNBA last night, not that I could blame you for being a little distracted by Mavs-Heat Game 5. Of course, the first major breakdown in the WNBA’s LiveAccess system this season meant that no one outside of Key Arena could watch the first half of the late game, which made the choice to go with the NBA game even easier. But more on that one later. First up was the ESPN2 game in Atlanta, where the shorthanded Mystics came in as heavy underdogs against the home town Dream. This one was ugly early, with sloppy passing and terrible shooting at both ends sending the ball careening back in the opposite direction. The first quarter eventually finished with a reasonable-looking scoreline of 22-19 to Atlanta, but that was more through scores off breakdowns, turnovers and defensive mistakes than anything resembling decent offensive execution by either team. Continue reading
Monthly Archives: June 2011
WNBA Today, 06/09/2011: Predicting the Awards, Part the Second
Lots more picks today, so let’s get going.
Coach of the Year
Well they gave it to Brian Agler last year, which probably means he’d have to go 34-0 to win it again this season. The last person to retain this award was Van Chancellor, which should tell you something. It usually comes down to who can push their team to exceed expectations, whatever the reason behind that success, which makes me lean towards Cheryl Reeve in Minnesota. Whether you think she’s a good coach or not, that roster should finally make the playoffs, which will likely draw the attention of the voters. Pokey Chatman would have a chance if she could achieve something similar in Chicago, but that seems less likely due to the holes on her roster. After that, it comes down to which teams you think might win a whole lot of games. Although if John Whisenant can take the Liberty back to the playoffs after losing his two starting posts for nothing, he should probably be in the discussion as well.
CotY Pick: Cheryl Reeve
Backup pick, if I were allowed: Whisenant
Cheeky left-field pick: Jellybean Bryant, after Gillom gets the boot in LA Continue reading
Linking and Tweeting and Writing, Oh My!
Proper daily column coming soon, but first a little housekeeping. My twitter account has been opened at @RichardCohen1, where I’ll link any columns and maybe provide a few of my delightful insights as well. Feel free to follow me there if that’s an easier way for you to keep updated (or there’s a ‘Subscribe’ option in the right-hand column of any page on this site, where you can click to receive emails every time I update, if you prefer).
Also added to the site today are a few links in the sidebar, where you can find some places that write about the WNBA and some useful resources if you want to find out more about the league. I’m sure I’ve forgotten several places that I ought to have linked to, so please don’t be offended if you’re not on there.
Back soon with today’s update.
WNBA Today, 06/08/2011: Shocking Basketball
I barely know where to start with this one. One WNBA game last night, with Tulsa travelling up to take on the Lynx in Minnesota, and if you stuck around to watch the second half when Mavs-Heat Game 4 was on offer instead, you’re an extraordinarily dedicated WNBA fan. Or you need your head examined. It’s really hard to watch or write about this Shock team, because they turn every game they’re a part of into disorganised chaos. By the end of the season they’ll probably be lucky to win 6 games, but they’ll likely have a 34-0 record in making games a complete mess.
Last night started out as everyone expected, with Minnesota aggressive and scoring at will, while Tulsa could barely string two passes together and certainly couldn’t make a shot. Seven minutes in and it was 17-3, and it seemed like the only question remaining was how embarrassing it could get. However, Minnesota relaxed, and somehow the Shock hung around and were only down 39-28 at the half. The Lynx woke up from their catnap for the second-half, blew the game open for a 20-point lead by the end of the third, then dozed off again and let Tulsa wander their way back towards striking distance in the 4th. It never got closer than 8 though, and Minnesota closed out the win 75-65. Only a decidedly optimistic Shock fan or a desperately nervous Lynx counterpart would’ve felt much excitement, even though the numbers make it look like it was almost a contest.
This Shock team’s a disaster. Continue reading
WNBA Today, 06/07/2011: Predicting the Awards, Part the First
Seeing as I didn’t get to them before the season started, and we’ve got a spare day, time to throw out some wild guesses as to who might go home with the hardware at the end of the season. Before anyone makes like Diana and whines, I know that it’s cheating to predict this stuff after the first weekend of games. I apologise. But I don’t own a time machine and can’t wipe my memory, so there’s not a lot I can do about it. Assuming I’m still writing this thing in a year’s time, I’ll try to make sure that everything’s done before the opening tip next season. Meanwhile, you’ll just have to live with it. If you want to check out how I did last year, 2010 predictions can be found here
Most Valuable Player
Got this one right last season. A healthy Lauren Jackson coming into the season on one of the best teams in the league was too hard to ignore, which begs the question, why not go with her again? Continue reading
WNBAlien 2011 Previews: Tulsa Shock
PG: Ivory Latta/Andrea Riley
SG: Amber Holt, it looks like/Marion Jones
SF: Kayla Pedersen/Sheryl Swoopes/Chastity Reed
PF: Tiffany Jackson/Jen Lacy
C: Elizabeth Cambage/Miranda Ayim
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Head Coach: Nolan Richardson
Significant additions: Cambage, Pedersen, Swoopes (at the box office, they hope)
Significant losses: Hard for much to be too significant given how bad they were last year, but they gave away Scholanda Robinson for nothing, Chante Black and Shanna Crossley are both out hurt, and Nicole Ohlde walked (and retired, possibly in disgust).
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Aw come on, it’s the last one, can’t I just say “they’re horrible” and leave it at that? You want more? Really? Fine. They’re really, really horrible. Despite two high draft picks and a year to mess with the roster at will, Nolan Richardson’s opening day squad in 2011 is probably worse than it was 12 months earlier. Continue reading
WNBAlien 2011 Previews: Seattle Storm
PG: Sue Bird(/Wright/Smith)
SG: Tanisha Wright/Katie Smith(/Snell)
SF: Swin Cash/Ify Ibekwe/Belinda Snell
PF: Camille Little/Le’coe Willingham
C: Lauren Jackson/Ashley Robinson/Krystal Thomas
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Head Coach: Brian Agler
Significant additions: Smith, maybe Snell or Ibekwe if either can get off Agler’s notoriously short bench.
Significant losses: Svetlana Abrosimova (maybe not for the whole year), Jana Vesela, and Erin Phillips (sort of). Young Aussie big Abby Bishop isn’t coming this year either
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So, the team that romped through the 2010 WNBA regular season, losing only six games all year before sweeping seven straight in the playoffs, brings back the top six in their rotation and adds an all-time great to the bench. You can see why Vegas had the Storm as their overwhelming favourite to repeat as champs in 2011. Continue reading
WNBA Today, 06/06/2011: Mone makes me eat it, and the Libs are alive! Aliiive!
Yes, we’re going with sub-headings now. Figured it might make things a little more interesting.
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Now that’s more like it. Our first game of the season with a grandstand finish; the first upset road win that confounds expectations; and the first game of the year where LaChina Robinson makes me talk to a computer monitor – now the WNBA season is really underway! Continue reading
WNBA Today, 06/05/2011
Four games yesterday as the season got going in earnest and we got our first look at how most of the WNBA teams are shaping up in 2011. Phoenix were in Seattle as the Storm collected their championship rings and then picked up right where they left off last year. Seven straight times they beat the Mercury last season, and it always felt like they were in control of this one, despite reigning MVP Lauren Jackson only taking one shot in the entire first half. The Merc could never get their running game going which left the whole contest being played at Seattle’s pace, and in the face of that the Mercury are never going to have much chance. Seattle are more precise in their execution, far smoother defensively, and when it comes to Phoenix they’re actually deeper than their opponents as well. The Storm blew the game out to a 19-point lead with under 5 minutes left before a late charge led by 11 Taurasi points in the space of 90 seconds reduced the scoreline to a respectable 78-71. Phoenix made a mess of trying to foul to stop the clock in the final seconds, but it wouldn’t have made any difference. Continue reading
WNBAlien 2011 Previews: San Antonio Silver Stars
PG: Tully Bevilaqua/Danielle Robinson
SG: Becky Hammon/Jia Perkins
SF: Scholanda Robinson/Roneeka Hodges (yeah they’re both mostly guards. Someone‘s gotta play here)
PF: Sophia Young/Danielle Adams/Porsha Phillips
C: Ruth Riley/Jayne Appel
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Head Coach: Dan Hughes
Significant additions: Perkins, maybe Robinson, maybe other Robinson, and throw Tully in there as the latest in their line of point guards who don’t score. Hughes back as coach could be the most important change.
Significant losses: Chamique Holdsclaw, Michelle Snow, and purely because they’d been there so long, the two-headed pointless point-guard pairing of Helen Darling and Edwige Lawson-Wade.
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So considering I’m writing to this two days late, and as a result we all got to see San Antonio win by 20 last night, I should be all upbeat and positive about their season, right? Right? Yeah, not so much. Continue reading
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