mood
son of a legend. PDX. D1 Ball at UNLV/ASU. Co-host of The Dunker Spot. 5+ years of NBA exp. Former Asst. Coach w/Nets, Video w/Grizz. 0-2 as a Head Coach in Summer League. shjones1@gmail.com
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mood
Very few teams gameplan like the Golden State Valkyries do.
The Liberty shooting 5 of 17 from 2 feels like the story of the first half. Golden State takes away drives with their help defense and swarm on post ups.
Teams continue to poke at the Liberty's defense. High P&R to get Jonquel Jones in action. Keep Breanna Stewart on the strong side. At the level turns into a switch, Fiebich takes the roll, Cloud works to get to corner. Skip is there to Kate Martin for 3.
lol Marine Johannes
The amount that teams have forced the Liberty to have a small guard as the low weakside help continues to increase and feels 10x more dangerous when it's an empty side action.
Well alright Sami Whitcomb
Kelsey Mitchell has 15 points in the first quarter.
Alyssa Thomas looking for her shot early in this one.
Look at the defense from the Phoenix Mercury.
Nice pass from Alyssa Thomas in transition, nice seal from Kahleah Copper.
RICKEA!
Nice drive from Rickea Jackson
The Seattle Storm have made 10 threes in the first half vs. the Sparks (10 of 17) The Seattle Storm are 6-1 when they make 10+ threes in a game.
Napheesa Collier had 25 points on 10 field goal attempts.
It's the little things from Alanna Smith on defense. Defending the trailer at half court, sees the drive, rotates to get in the paint and contest. Stop leads to a 3 from Carleton on the other end.
Smooth move from Paige Bueckers.
Once the Lynx find a pressure point you can see what opens up. Wings defend the DHO between Napheesa Collier and Courtney Williams. Rescreen gets a switch. Ball right in the post, double comes, open 3 for Bridget Carleton.
The Golden State Valkyries are just letting it FLY from 3 in this one. Kate Martin adds another.
The Golden State Valkyries shot 7 of 8 from 3 in the first quarter against the Fever.
The Golden State Valkyries are just so consistent with their help defense vs. drives. Look at the black jerseys when Mitchell/Sims try to get in the paint.
Like to see this work from Jonquel Jones. Good work to seal and get deep post position but notice pointing for the ball to go back to the top of the key so she can get a catch.
I am nodding my head at the Liberty's jumbo lineup.
The Golden State Valkyries have had the Mystics in the sharpshooter for an entire half.
Look at the ball movement from the Golden State Valkyries.
Sparks really look to use Kelsey Plum as a screener for their bigs. Backscreen for Hamby, no switch or help and its a layup.
The biggest thing from Cam Brink on defense is just her timing on defense. Great feel to get back to the rim and protect.
Like this drive and finish from Cam Brink.
The growth from Rickea Jackson is fun. Sees the under, gets right to a pullup 3.
Sparks have tried to mix in zone vs. the Fever, good job to try to distort the matchups. Nice pass by Powers to Boston.
Little things from Julie Allemand. Sparks go with a pindown into P&R. Notice Allemand rejects the screen, sees the help, gets it right to Rae Burrell for 3.
Look at the help from Cam Brink.
The drives from Rickea Jackson.
If Bri Jones does nothing else she is going to hit you, seal and look to finish.
The Atlanta Dream were 7 of 12 from 3 in the second quarter, lead the Wings by 9 at half.
alright...
I guess Rhyne Howard wanted to give them something to cheer for sheesh.
Flow from the Atlanta Dream. Griner wth a pindown for Gray. Wings guard that. Howard with a split for Gray, handoff to Gray and Griner rolls into the paint. Wings switch but that is a deep post up.
Nice pass from Paige Bueckers to Maddy Siegrist.
The Seattle Storm made a season high 16 threes vs. Minnesota last night. They had made a combined 16 threes in the two games prior. Storm arre 6-1 when they make 10+ threes this season.
Clutch basket from Alyssa Thomas.
Like this flow from the Mercury. Working for movement but watch Alyssa Thomas. Doesn't see much on one side, gets it right to Mack who hands it right off to Kahleah Copper for a shot.
Angel Reese, coast to coast
The high low between Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso is just fun to watch. When Cardoso gets two feet in the paint it's tough to deal with. Good work and good patience.
Mercury starting the 4th with Westbeld/Bonner/Satou to me just points to trying to open things up for Satou/Bonner down the stretch.
Good flow from the Sky here. Stagger but you can see Kia Nurse pointing at Kamilla Cardoso to flash. Handback and now Nurse sets a backscreen for Cardoso. No switch, layup for Cardoso.
The passing from Angel Reese is going to pay off.
Storm beat the Lynx at home and did the electric slide for 0.75 seconds. Might need that playoff series.
The Storm shoot 63% from the field in the third quarter (12 of 19) and 63.6% from 3 (7 of 11) and score 34 points while Minnesota shoots 33% from the field and scors 17 points. Storm up 67-63 going into the 4th
The Seattle Storm are not having a single bit of fun with the Minnesota Lynx my goodness.
Great side out of bounds set from the Minnesota Lynx.
The casual buckets from Sonia Citron are fun.
Look at Marine Johannes
Falling to the 5 seed and fighting for playoff positioning is not ideal and neither are injuries but if the Liberty can get *any* of Johannes/Harrison/Talbot/Gardner going before the playoffs...it's a plus.
Big shots from Jewell Loyd and Chelsea Gray
Inconsistency on both ends. Lack of flow offensively, could not land on a coverage defensively. Slide Loyd to the bench and unlock her. More playmaking from Young. More switching on defense to keep it simple. Playing with belief now vs. searching for it.
I just think there is so much more value in understanding a teams flaws and struggles and how they work through them instead of just writing a team off and being surprised when things flip.
The Atlanta Dream led the Aces 42-40 at halftime. The Aces lead the Dream 61-48 at the end of three. Atlanta went 2 for 19 from the field in the third.
A'ja Wilson with back to back triples.
Good block from NaLyssa Smith here.
Good defense from the Las Vegas Aces here, have really worked to be more solid on that end.
Bri Jones has just been huge for this Atlanta Dream season. Feel like her play has really elevated this team.
Allisha Gray is a bucket getter.
Aces start the game with A'ja Wilson on Paopao and I am intrigued.
Please let Rickea be alright.
Sami Whitcomb's playmaking can fly under the radar. Shooting brings the big close to the level, turns the corner and holds the help. Good kick to to Satou Sabally for 3.
The off ball usage of Kahleah Copper for the Mercury pays off here. AT brings it up, stagger for Copper with Whitcomb as the second screener. No switch, stay attached and it's a curl.
Rickea Jackson is having a fun year.
Good set from the Indiana Fever and great work from Aliyah Boston. DHO to staggered backpicks but watch Boston stop short and seal early. Gets a deep paint touch and finishes.
Like that the Indiana Fever can just flow into inverted P&R with Kelsey Mitchell screening for Aliyah Boston. Mitchell does a good job of using Sykes denial to screen her own, Boston turns the corner and finishes.
Strong drive from Aliyah Boston. Really just works to hit first and finish through contact.
Good defense from the Indiana Fever, like the nuance, really working to keep the ball in front. Howard shows and Hull goes under. Mitchell and Sims switch off ball, Boston slides under the screen and is there to contest.
Indiana Fever continue to work to move the ball to find openings. Storm doing a good job of being active and working to deny. Have to finish the stop. Hard show on Mitchell, Boston with a good short roll.
The hesitations and rejects from Kelsey Mitchell have been fun all year. Good patience, changes speeds to get a paint touch.
The Seattle Storm alternating between a very active, physical defense and a team full of breakdowns is just wild to see at times.
LOOK AT THIS BLOCK FROM NALYSSA SMITH
Feels like the passing from Angel Reese falls under the radar.
Look at the drives from Jackie Young.
Like this from Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese. Cardoso screens, good job releasing to her roll quick. Forces help from Smith, catches on the roll and gets it right to Reese near the block.
One adjustment from the Aces guards has been noticing teams going under and going right to their pullup. Elbow action to get a DHO for Jackie Young. Defense goes under the first screen, good read from Young to stop and pop.
Little things from Angel Reese. Ball comes back to the top and seals to post up. Sees the double and kicks it to the corner right away. Gets the Sky a solid look.
A'ja Wilson is just so smooth. Great footwork, gets right to her spot and up.
More playmaking from Jackie Young. Gets the stepup from A'ja Wilson, sees the under, drives again and kicks to Gray for 3. Bonus points to NaLyssa Smith for the cut.
Really good seal from Kamilla Cardoso here. Fights for her spot and goes right to work.
Great effort from the Connecticut Sun on the glass. The Liberty are going to have to box out and finish stops.
LETS GO VENUS WILLIAMS
Sabrina Ionescu is reading the defense early in this one. -DHO, no show, sees the space and scores -DHO, keeps the big engaged, hits Meesseman on the late roll -DHO, sees two on the ball, gets it right to Jonquel in the pocket for 2.
It's a little different switching vs. the Liberty when it turns into a Breanna Stewart post up with all the space.
Breanna Stewart bringing the ball up for the Liberty just opens more things up. High pindown for Sabrina gets a backcut. Now that flows into a backpick for Stewie. That flows into Jonquel/Sabrina P&R, two on the ball and it's a layup.
Breanna Stewart is back for the Liberty and you immediately feel the drives, defense and actual ability to get out and run more.
well alright Marina Mabrey
alright Napheesa Collier.
First half: 16 minutes, 14 points, 6 rebounds, 6 of 8 from he field, +16
Napheesa Collier with 9 points in the first quarter on 4 of 5 shooting so hopefully we can remove the "not sure what Phee has done" thing off the table for a minute.
WHAT A FINISH BETWEEN THE STORM AND THE MYSTICS
Gabby Williams is everywhere
An 11-2 run for the Storm in the first 2:11 of the game with every starter scoring feels very Stormy.
The interior passing between Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso is fun to watch. Cardoso rolls on one side, Reese seals on the other. Defense helps on the post up, Cardoso finishes.
Look at A'ja Wilson
The post ups from Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese have been fun to watch.