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WNBA Playoffs Thread - Conference Finals

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Discuss the WNBA Conference Finals Here!

 

 

Western Conference

Seattle Storm (1) vs Phoenix Mercury (2)

 

Series Preview: http://www.wnba.com/playoffs/2010/westseries3.html

 

Storm wins 2 - 0

 

Eastern Conference

 

New York Liberty (2) vs Atlanta Dream (4)

 

Series Preview: http://www.wnba.com/playoffs/2010/eastseries3.html

 

Dream wins 2-0

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Atlanta pulled the upset! (I think) :D

 

As much as a 4th seed beating a 1st seed is as an upset, though there was only a 3 win differential in their regular season records. The Eastern conference is very tight.

 

They play tonight at New York. McCoughtry vs Pondexter should be an interesting matchup. Both are 20 ppg scorers (which would be like averaging 25 points given the NBA quarter length).

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Taurasi got off to a hot start and hit 7 threes, but Seattle made a huge comeback in the 4th which led to a game-winner from Sue Bird.

 

It sucks Phoenix lost, I was hoping it would at least go 3 games. I think the Storm have a good chance at sweeping their way to a championship.

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Poe Newbie

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DUDE...lol, I thought about how pissed you were going to be right when Bird's shot fell. They were down what...15 or 16? It was a nice rally.

 

More shocked than pissed, really. Seeing the way Seattle played during the regular season, I knew they would come back... was pulling for Phoenix to hang on as you might guess.

 

 

If I'm pissed at anyone though, it's the Mercury's coach Corey Gaines. Notice how Agler's playcalling actually generated open looks, which led to a wide-open Sue three... and in the meantime, Phoenix can't get [expletive] in the half-court. Not for lack of talent though, it's basically just different players chucking up shots and forcing shots in 1-on-1 situations hoping for the refs to bail them out. It's pathetic, really. The only truly open looks they get are either in the fast break, which Seattle was successfully able to take away because of their offensive rebounding and fouling every time Phoenix began to pick up speed. The other times they score is only because Taurasi is so damn talented, or she gets looks for her teammates because of all the attention she gets.

 

Really, I'm only a fan of their team because of Taurasi. She got me into women's hoops the same way T-Mac got me into the NBA, and they have similar playstyles too. I also have respect for DeWanna Bonner and Candice Dupree. Bonner is a terrific defender that can put up points as well (best defender on the team.... and she comes off the bench??), and Candice Dupree is super efficient (66% FG percentage this season...gimme the rock plz??).

 

I hope the Mercury get a new coach soon. I'm sick of that guy.

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Dr. Feelgood Newbie

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I actually watched the Mercury/Storm game and wow, what a game. It started off back and forth and then Phoenix pulled away by 19 points. Then Seattle made their come back and that game winner by Bird, wow. She didn't hesitate the shot at all and sank it with confidence. I've always liked Sue Bird and the Storm ever since they were in the finals back a couple years ago. I've been paying just a bit of attention to the WNBA this year but I think I'll for sure watch the finals now that the Storm are back in it.

 

I gotta try to keep up with the WNBA more often. I also really like Candice Dupree's game. She's a very smooth player, kind of reminds me of TMac. Also Taurasi was just sick in this game, her shot when she thought she got fouled by Bird late in the fourth that was way behind the three point line...wow.

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I gotta try to keep up with the WNBA more often. I also really like Candice Dupree's game. She's a very smooth player, kind of reminds me of TMac.

 

Are you sure you are thinking of the same player? Dupree is the Mercury PF. She's not like T-Mac at all, especially since she plays a different position. She's actually much more like David Lee because she works hard off the ball and scores very well off pick and roll situations.

 

Also Taurasi was just sick in this game, her shot when she thought she got fouled by Bird late in the fourth that was way behind the three point line...wow.

 

Yea, she has a pleasant knack of making shots nobody should make... or even take lol. She probably did get fouled on that play, though.

 

The only thing I don't like is how she always complains to the refs all game long.. but I guess that's what superstars do.

 

 

 

BTW, it's good to see other people getting into it a little bit. There are a lot of misconceptions that need to be thrown out.

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Dr. Feelgood Newbie

Dr. Feelgood

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Are you sure you are thinking of the same player? Dupree is the Mercury PF. She's not like T-Mac at all, especially since she plays a different position. She's actually much more like David Lee because she works hard off the ball and scores very well off pick and roll situations.

 

 

Yeah I'm thinking of Dupree, the couple of plays I saw (I had the game on while I was surfing the net, so I was looking back and forth between the TV and my laptop), she was gliding in for a layup and just the way she was gliding in, reminded me of TMac. She made it look very smooth and easy.

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Good to see the Dream win Game 1!

 

Hopefully they can win Game 2 tomorrow at home.

 

GO DREAM!

 

I didn't watch that game, though it's interesting to see the Dream win despite a poor shooting night from McCoughtry (4-15). If they have enough depth to pull that off, we may very well see them in the finals against the Storm.

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I didn't watch that game, though it's interesting to see the Dream win despite a poor shooting night from McCoughtry (4-15). If they have enough depth to pull that off, we may very well see them in the finals against the Storm.

Just going off standings, do the Dream even stand a chance against Seattle considering they went 28-6 in the regular season?

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Just going off standings, do the Dream even stand a chance against Seattle considering they went 28-6 in the regular season?

 

The chances are very, very slim. They are 0-2 against them in the regular season, which includes a home game against a Seattle team that was resting their starters because their seeding was already decided.

 

We'll see what happens though. The chances aren't high, but upsets do happen in sports.

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Multi-Billionaire Newbie

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I haven't seen a WNBA game for quite some time... I do know Storm had a great season, the way they've played up to this point, it's a no brainer they will win a championship. Down 16 and won means they passed the test.

 

Corey Gaines did lead them to a championship once... they broke the core by trading Pondexter, and took risk by bringing in Dupree... I guess it didn't really work. They had a so-so season. Even if they had won this game, Storm would have blown them up in Seattle imo. They do have nice trading chips... they also brought in the bruiser from Detroit, what's her name? She can play. Little doubt they will make a move in the off-season.

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The following is going to be pretty long. Sorry if this doesn't interest you or anyone else, but I have thoughts about this and I feel I need to put them down somewhere.

 

 

Corey Gaines did lead them to a championship once...

I didn't watch much WNBA until this year, but I'm willing to bet Gaines' coaching wasn't the key to their success. They had a better coach in Paul Westhead a few years back (who also lead them to a championship IIRC), and Gaines was an assistant for him at the time and is now just following his blueprint. Other than that, the reason they won was only because they had 2 superstars on one team in Cappie and Diana. In a 12 team league, that's probably all you need to get a championship.

 

 

they broke the core by trading Pondexter, and took risk by bringing in Dupree... I guess it didn't really work. They had a so-so season.

That trade changed the make up of the team, and I think that is what is exposing Gaines' lack of coaching ability. He knew how to run Westhead's offense through 2 guards like it was initially, but now that the two best players are a guard and a forward, he doesn't know how to adjust without Westhead there to guide him. There is no way the team's talent has decreased THAT much, it's that the coach doesn't know what the [expletive] he's doing.

 

 

Even if they had won this game, Storm would have blown them up in Seattle imo. They do have nice trading chips... they also brought in the bruiser from Detroit, what's her name? She can play. Little doubt they will make a move in the off-season.

 

 

Really quickly, the "bruiser" you are talking about is 6'6'', 225 lbs Kara Braxton. Great size, horrible skill. Basically she's like a female Glen Davis if he was 3 inches taller. All she does with the ball is turn into her man and attempt to draw contact. If she fails to get the call, she winds up playing catch with herself and the backboard until either the ball goes in or the opponent manages to get a rebound. IMO, her skill is clearly not at a professional level, but her size and strength does cause problems for the opponent. Right now she is my least favorite player on the team, but if she can develop some post ability, it'll be harder for me to complain about her.

 

 

 

Anyway, I hope they don't make any moves other than get a new coach, and maybe find a way to sign or draft a good wing player. The team clearly isn't the problem. They have plenty of talent with a team full of mismatches, with plenty of inside and outside scoring, and defensively they match up just fine.

 

I do believe they need to make an adjustment, which is why I hope they bring in a good wing player. Let me explain why:

 

This year they ran a line up of

 

PG - 5'3'' Temeka Johnson

SG - 6'0'' Diana Taurasi

SF - 6'1'' Penny Taylor

PF - 6'4'' Candice Dupree

C - 6'3'' Tangela Smith

 

 

A talented group with Diana and Candice usually getting the best out of their matchups, since the average size for their position is about 2 or 3 inches smaller than they are. There are two problems though. One is Temeka is very undersized, though has the defense to make up for it. The other is Tangela Smith is getting old at 33, and her field goal percentage is awful. She shot 39% last year, and her defense isn't nearly as good as her reputation suggests, probably because she's losing a step.

 

 

Next year they need to run a line up of

 

PG - 6'0'' Diana Taurasi

SG - 6'1'' Penny Taylor

SF - 6'4'' DeWanna Bonner

PF - 6'4'' Candice Dupree

C - 6'6'' Kara Braxton

 

 

Explanations:

 

PG - While Taurasi is the best scorer in the league, she may also very well be the best passer. She played point guard very often this year, which created huge mismatches for the opponent since the average PG is about 5'6''. Next year they should run her at point full time and utilize her passing ability. There is enough talent on the team where she doesn't need to score 30 for them to win under the right coaching.

 

SG - Penny Taylor is a very good ball handler and passer for her size, averaging 5 assists in 30 minutes this season, so having more ballhandling at guard instead of forward shouldn't be an issue. Beyond her passing ability, she is also a terrific three point shooter at 44%, though was only 17th in the league in three pointers made this year despite shooting a higher percentage than everyone above her in makes other than Temeka Catchings and Leilani Mitchell. They need to utilize her shooting ability more next year.

 

SF - After winning the sixth woman award two years straight, it's about time they started DeWanna Bonner and gave her more playing time, especially since she's the best defender on the team. She can defend all 5 positions, so Taurasi doesn't necessarily have to match up against the opposing PG defensively if they wish to preserve her energy. Offensively, DeWanna is a matchup nightmare at 6'4'', though is only 140 lbs. She can space the floor with her 36% 3PT shooting as well.

 

PF - Simply put, give Candice Dupree more shots. Run more pick and rolls, pick and pops, post up isolations... anything to give her more looks. She shot 66% this year. Enough said.

 

C - Though I'm not a fan of her game, Kara Braxton's size creates problems. Find a way to discipline her defensively and make her more reliable in the post, and she's good enough.

 

 

Overall, this team would be absolutely FILLED with mismatches. Add Temeka, Tangela, and a wing off the bench, and that should be good enough to compete with Seattle. If they can get a better coach, then that's almost a guaranteed championship pending unexpected injuries.

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