I was all set to strip the Tulsa WNBA team of their nickname. I’d had enough, and they didn’t deserve to keep the same title as the storied franchise that won three championships back when they were playing in Michigan. Too much mismanagement, too many horrible performances, and too many completely unwatchable games of basketball that poor WNBA fans have been subjected to ever since this team moved to Oklahoma. I even had a whole new name picked out. We were going to call them the Wreck. Still a five-letter word ending in -ck, just like their official nickname; a far more fitting description for the state of their franchise and their roster; and a homophone of ‘rec’, as in the rec-league team that they frequently resemble. However, then they had the impertinence to go out and actually show some improvement against Connecticut on Sunday afternoon. Still lost, and it wasn’t really all that close, but improvement nonetheless. So, Tulsa franchise, you get to keep your nickname. For now.
Category Archives: WNBA Today
WNBA Today, 06/12/2011 (Part Two): She’s on Fire!
Part One of today’s coverage was posted earlier here, if you missed it
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Friday night, the San Antonio Silver Stars blew out that rec-league team from Oklahoma again, moving to a completely meaningless 2-0 record. Saturday night, they finally had to play a real basketball team, when the 0-2 Atlanta Dream came into the AT&T Center searching for their first win of the season. Atlanta finally had their full roster available, with Angel McCoughtry starting for the first time this year after recovering from her knee sprain. The first play of the game was McCoughtry’s layup attempt being smacked right back in her face by Ruth Riley, but Atlanta still took the initiative early, opening up a six-point lead by the end of the first and a 35-28 advantage by halftime. As the scoreline might suggest, this was by no means the prettiest game of basketball you’ve ever seen.
As expected by anyone with eyes and a modicum of sense, Atlanta’s size was giving San Antonio problems, especially on the glass. Continue reading
WNBA Today, 06/12/2011 (Part One): Fever/Libs battle, and the Sky’s the limit
You know, I had a report just about finished on the New York-Indiana game at Conseco on Friday night, then they went and played again last night and produced a carbon copy, only with the result reversed. So let’s tackle both games together. Pierson and Vaughn both picked up two early fouls in Friday’s game, which considering people like me keep going on about New York’s post situation looked worrying for the Libs. Not the case. Breland and Hollingsworth both came in and provided perfectly reasonable backup, the starters avoided drawing too many more whistles when they came back, and New York rolled. In both games the Libs opened up a lead in the second quarter, winning the period 30-18 on Friday and 22-16 last night to lead 52-42 and 49-45 respectively. So that’s the much vaunted Indiana Fever defense giving up 101 points in first halves alone on two consecutive nights – not what you’d expect from a team that has always built from a defensive base above anything else.
Apparently, Whiz can teach offense now as well. Continue reading
Sorry
Apologies to anyone checking the site and expecting ‘WNBA Today, 06/11/11’. Technical difficulties, as LiveAccess would say, prevented it today. Check back tomorrow for a bumper weekend edition. Promise.
WNBA Today, 06/10/2011: Broken Streaks, Broken Dreams
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
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
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
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
WNBA Today, 06/04/11
As a break from the previews, here’s the very first installment of the regular daily coverage. I’m making a concession to the fact that most of my readers are American and going with the silly US way of writing the date.
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After all the talking and all the debates, the games that matter finally got underway last night. Seriously late last night, if you live anywhere besides the West coast of the US (or far enough east that it was early today instead), but regardless, we’re off. It was a pretty good game too, as openers go. The WNBA tends to be a mess in the early weeks, thanks to players arriving late due to overseas commitments and the short preparation time available in the first place. However, in years such as 2011 without a World Championships or Olympic Games, that issue is alleviated somewhat. Most teams had everyone in town from the first day of training camp and that should lead to better performances to start the season than we’re used to
LA held off Minnesota in Staples Center last night, 82-74, behind Candace Parker showing what she can do when her arms and legs are solidly attached, and a ridiculous barrage of three-pointers from their guards in the second-half. Continue reading
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