Should WNBA end and just allow women in the NBA?

[Cobb]

No, keep it how it is.

[Check my Stats]

I'm not blaming anyone for "hating" unless they are simple minded comments that don't take the time to back their [expletive] up (not you or RD). I'm not arguing for the sake of "sticking up for women", either. I truly believe that there are a few women that exist that could possibly play off the bench at the NBA level.

 

 

And again, there are certain match ups certain players have difficulty with. It's part of the reason why Earl Boykins, Ty Lawson, and Nate Robinson come off the bench, and so would Taurasi and Parker. When the match ups permit it, they can come off the bench, provide a spark, and contribute positively.

 

The difference is those little players have a quickness advantage, no women in the WNBA is probably faster than the average wing player in the D-League.

[Real Deal]

I've drawn charges on guys 60+ pounds heavier than me (I'm a 6 foot, 170 pound guard). If you do it right, you won't get hurt.

 

And Woman in the NBA IS a possibility, or else David Stern would not have acknowledged it.

Simple question: what happens when a woman takes a Dwight Howard elbow to the chest? Not a Tina Charles elbow, but one that covers more area and has a few hundred pounds of force behind it.

 

I can't think of one player in the WNBA that has true man pectoral muscles, so here's the simple answer: fractured sternum.

 

Another question: stick Temeka Johnson (5'3" and 140 pounds) into the game, and she's in a game-winning situation. She's getting chased down by, say, LeBron James, and he blocks her shot and proceeds to make contact with her body. How many backflips does Johnson do before she hits the floor?

 

Female players would be getting injured left and right, every game. Sadly, they don't have the back and arm muscles the men have, and falling hard on the floor (with a 250-pound man falling on top of them) would be devastating. Bogues, Boykins, even Webb...those guys were strong players. They played among the giants because they were physically gifted, either having the weight to withstand the punishment down low (Bogues), the strength to endure it (Boykins and Webb) or the agility to avoid it (Webb). Different planet.

 

How good of a running back would Marion Jones be? Well, she'd be damn good as long as she didn't get hit. She has the speed. She can blow by guys. But we all know it doesn't work that way.

[Poe]

Simple question: what happens when a woman takes a Dwight Howard elbow to the chest? Not a Tina Charles elbow, but one that covers more area and has a few hundred pounds of force behind it.

 

I can't think of one player in the WNBA that has true man pectoral muscles, so here's the simple answer: fractured sternum.

 

Good thing Taurasi and Parker wouldn't play center in the NBA, then.

 

Another question: stick Temeka Johnson (5'3" and 140 pounds) into the game, and she's in a game-winning situation. She's getting chased down by, say, LeBron James, and he blocks her shot and proceeds to make contact with her body. How many backflips does Johnson do before she hits the floor?

 

...........what?

 

How good of a running back would Marion Jones be? Well, she'd be damn good as long as she didn't get hit. She has the speed. She can blow by guys. But we all know it doesn't work that way.

 

And it's not like every male player will be looking to tackle a female player at every possible moment. Yes, NBA players get bumped on a daily basis, but it's not to the extreme that you say it is. Injuries are a possibility to any player in any sport, and accidents can happen, but it's not like Dwight Howard is going to fall to ground on top of Parker or something like that. Plus the guard positions aren't quite as physical as the forward and centers, and there is less "wear and tear" when you are coming off the bench.

Edited June 23, 2010 by Poe

[Real Deal]

Good thing Taurasi and Parker wouldn't play center in the NBA, then.

I know...because when all guards drive to the rim, all of the centers move out of the way and let them score. And it's insane to think a guard will try and get a rebound. They need to stay on the perimeter!

 

...........what?

...how does a 5-3, 140-pound player that is the size of an 8th grade boy keep her balance when anyone over 200 pounds (that's +60) initiates contact?

 

Plus the guard positions aren't quite as physical as the forward and centers

Sure they aren't, but they are still too physical for women's play. Ask Kobe this, when Raja Bell was defending him, or when Kobe took Artest into the post last year. I guess Fisher and Ray Allen weren't getting very physical the entire series of the NBA Finals, either.

 

and there is less "wear and tear" when you are coming off the bench

So in other words, Taurasi and only the BEST women's players will play in garbage time? No more all-star spots, no more MVP's, no nothing for these women? I'm sure they would love that. Tina Charles would rather play 10 minutes a game, averaging 4 PPG and 1 RPG, instead of leading Connecticut to a WNBA championship?

 

Sounds like a plan.

[Poe]

I know...because when all guards drive to the rim, all of the centers move out of the way and let them score. And it's insane to think a guard will try and get a rebound. They need to stay on the perimeter!

 

Guards don't get elbowed nearly as much as centers. And yes, Taurasi would resort to more jumpshooting in the NBA, as well as Candace Parker. They wouldn't last very long with the Allen Iverson mindset. They have more limits, but that doesn't mean they can't contribute.

 

 

...how does a 5-3, 140-pound player that is the size of an 8th grade boy keep her balance when anyone over 200 pounds (that's +60) initiates contact?

 

That's completely irrelevant. I never even suggested that Temeka Johnson can compete in the NBA.

 

 

Sure they aren't, but they are still too physical for women's play. Ask Kobe this, when Raja Bell was defending him, or when Kobe took Artest into the post last year. I guess Fisher and Ray Allen weren't getting very physical the entire series of the NBA Finals, either.

 

Taurasi would play the point and Candace would play the 2 (or perhaps the 1 even, if she improves her ball handling a bit more). Both players would need help on the block, but they should be able to hold their own on the perimeter somewhat. They can with stand the physical part of the game for 15 mpg. I'm not suggesting they grind it out for 35 minutes or anything.

 

 

So in other words, Taurasi and only the BEST women's players will play in garbage time? No more all-star spots, no more MVP's, no nothing for these women? I'm sure they would love that. Tina Charles would rather play 10 minutes a game, averaging 4 PPG and 1 RPG, instead of leading Connecticut to a WNBA championship?

 

Sounds like a plan.

 

....right, and I'm sure Chris Quinn would rather be an all star in China than play in the best league in world while making more money. And why the hell did Anthony Parker join the NBA after winning 2 MVPs in Europe?

 

Besides, you don't think these WNBA players would kill to be the first woman to ever play in the NBA? AND make AT LEAST 4x the money while they are at it? I already made my point about this pages ago.

 

And Tina Charles wouldn't make it in the NBA, by the way.

Edited June 23, 2010 by Poe

[Real Deal]

If Tina Charles wouldn't make it in the NBA, you're basically saying only WNBA guards would make it. Charles is going to be a top three WNBA player next season, if she isn't in that top three already. I'm sure I could argue that and stick her up there with Taurasi and Parker, but that's not the point.

 

So here's what it comes down to: only the best WNBA guards, playing 10-15 minutes per game, coming off the bench, and putting up numbers similar to Daequan Cook's from this past season?

 

I'm sorry, but I don't see that ever happening. Stern can talk about it all he wants, just like he can tell us he wants the NBA to become global and house international teams, but we all know how that would turn out as well...and that's actually more of a possibility than allowing women to play men's basketball.

[Poe]

I'm sorry, but I don't see that ever happening. Stern can talk about it all he wants, just like he can tell us he wants the NBA to become global and house international teams, but we all know how that would turn out as well...and that's actually more of a possibility than allowing women to play men's basketball.

I never heard him say that, and I think that's a great idea actually. The NBA should go global and have international teams, but that's another argument.

 

 

 

Anyway, Tina Charles just happens to be built better for the WNBA. She's strong and thick, but only 6'4, which is small for the NBA for foward-centers (has there ever been an NBA PF/C at 6'4''?), but a great size in the WNBA.

 

Taurasi is 6 foot, a decent PG size, and Candace Parker is 6'4, a decent SG size (as well as the quickness to play the position). There's a big difference.

 

If you want to talk about a player that can potentially play the forward, perhaps you might want to look at Brittney Griner, who is 6'8'' and has a 7'2'' wingspan. She is only a freshman in college I believe, so her game still has a long way to go before I compare her to NBA talent.

Edited June 23, 2010 by Poe

[Nitro]

Taurasi is 6 foot, a decent PG size, and Candace Parker is 6'4, a decent SG size (as well as the quickness to play the position). There's a big difference.

 

6ft is a decent PG size when you're a freak athlete, and aren't 170lbs like Taurasi is.

 

6'4'' is slightly undersized for SG, and Parker is only 180lbs, which is WAY undersized for the SG position. And Parker is in no way, shape or form as athletically gifted as the average bench wingman.

 

And you keep saying that because they'd be perimeter players in the NBA they'd be able to withstand the physicality...it doesn't work like that. There's a lot more to playing in the NBA than when you have the ball in your hands or taking a shot. Either of those two players would get leveled by screens, seriously hurt if they tried to attempt to take a charge on a player 60-100 pounds larger than them (and a woman's body will react a lot different than your body, like you tried to use as an example), they'd get abused in the post, abused trying to defend far more athletic men in iso situations, would have trouble getting shots up over NBA players who are taller with greater wingspans and vertical jumps, etc...

 

Also, to touch on a point you brought up before- The zone defense is a gimmick. Some teams like the Celtics will utilize zone defense principles, but still play man-to-man defense. If you are forced to play a zone to hide a woman defensively, you're already at a major disadvantage. And offensively, I don't care how quick a trigger Taurasi has...if she won't be a threat to slash to the basket, then NBA players will hound her and not let her even get a shot attempt off. A 6'3'' PG with NBA level jumping ability will give Taurasi FITS on the release.