WNBA discussion thread?
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Whew, not as bad as it first looked. Played a little bit in the 4th but came back out pretty quickly. Looked like just a precaution and I think she’s ok. It was the classic stepped on someone’s foot and turned the ankle.
Rickea had another really good game going. Another hot start, carried them the first qtr. As usual, after her second qtr sit out, her touches were very limited. The Sparks went about six or seven possessions late in the second and early in the third where Rickea didn’t get a touch. No one else could score and Thats when the Mercury pulled away. RJ went on a little 8 pt burst midway thru the 3rd and it got interesting. Then she got hurt and it was over.
Steven’s and Allemade were way off tonight. The Sparks only hit 7 threes and Rickea had 4 of them. Plum finished decent but she was mostly very mid tonight. Rae hustled up 9 pts in extended mins, but had a tough shooting night.
Going to be tough for the Sparks to make the playoffs now. But they’re way better than last yr and Rickea is playing great. Shes 16-27 fm 3 the last four games.
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madtownvol
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Before the replay, right when Rickea went down, I feared it was her knee (after she got screwed on back to back bad calls). Super happy to see her re-enter the game and moving well. Ankle is probably going to be sore tomorrow but chalk one up to the resiliency of youth. .
The Sparks are failing at B-ball 101. Those six or seven possessions were worse than you described. Rickea and Hamby were having their way, got the game close and then the Allemade and Plum decided "let's just dribble around the perimeter and then jack up 3s repeatedly," without getting either of our go to players a touch. Inexcusable that Roberts let that go on.
I had enough of this mess. I demand that the Sparks- Wings make a Lakers-Mavs, Luka Doncic type trade - Bueckers for Plum and maybe a draft choice. I want this deal done before the Sparks next game. While they are at it, the Sparks can also swap Roberts for Brondello or Reeve.
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madtownvol
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Huge comeback win for the Sparks tonight over the Storm. Down 17 early in the 3rd, after Seattle had a freakishly hot 3-pt shooting first half.
Rickea had a forgettable first half with just 8 points (6 in 2nd) and some TO but went all world in the 2nd half, finishing with 23 (and big game changing shots) and huge block down the stretch.
Rae had a very good game coming off the bench, 5 for 6 and 3 assists and some good defensive plays. Would have been a great outing but she had a few of her characteristic out of control plays at some bad times.
Not LVs, but Dearica Hamby was a monster with 27, 11 rebound, 3 assist, 3 block game. Brink fouled out (with some really questionable calls in the 6) but played well in her time on the court. Plum made some big shots but I think overall again played too much hero ball with bad shots and TOs being the result.
With 5 games to go and at 19-20, the Sparks are still in the hunt for a playoff spot but will need some help and a very strong finish (probably need to win 4 out of the last 5 to have a shot).
Rickea had a forgettable first half with just 8 points (6 in 2nd) and some TO but went all world in the 2nd half, finishing with 23 (and big game changing shots) and huge block down the stretch.
Rae had a very good game coming off the bench, 5 for 6 and 3 assists and some good defensive plays. Would have been a great outing but she had a few of her characteristic out of control plays at some bad times.
Not LVs, but Dearica Hamby was a monster with 27, 11 rebound, 3 assist, 3 block game. Brink fouled out (with some really questionable calls in the 6) but played well in her time on the court. Plum made some big shots but I think overall again played too much hero ball with bad shots and TOs being the result.
With 5 games to go and at 19-20, the Sparks are still in the hunt for a playoff spot but will need some help and a very strong finish (probably need to win 4 out of the last 5 to have a shot).
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What a game! Frustrating as they can be, the Sparks are always fun to watch. Rickea said she’s been a little tentative since hurting her ankle a couple of games ago. Said she’d been hanging around the perimeter too much, even tho her 3s have been falling. In fact, she just set a franchise record for 11 games in a row with multiple threes.
Tonight the 3 wasnt falling so she said the ankle or no she was taking it downhill. And boy did she in the second half. Rickea and Hamby just overwhelmed the Storm in the paint and midrange. So important to Rickeas game to keep the midi alive. Then the huge block on Nneka to seal the game was just icing on the cake
Rae has been tremendous lately. She had 11 pts, 4 rebounds, 3 assists tonight. She plays her mins with complete abandon and then goes out when her abandon becomes a negative. Perfect 6th player.
Sparks still probably won’t make the playoffs. They go to Atlanta now for 2 games. But it’s sure been more fun, and way more promising than last year.
chuckiepoo
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Unfortunately the Sparks remaining schedule is a gauntlet so they're unlikely to make the playoffs. They play at Atlanta x2, at Phoenix and at home against the Aces. They would have to win at least three of those four and much as I love them that's unlikely. All three of those teams are fighting for second seed and so are unlikely to rest players against LA.
The Sparks will miss playoffs, while two badly faltering teams they beat three times, the Storm and the Fever, will get in. Spatks also beat both the Liberty (RJ with a buzzer beater) and the Aces (RJ with 30 points) on their homecourts. But because they didn't take care of business at home when they absolutely had to, a terrible loss to the lowly Chicago sky (on Candace Parker Jersey retirement day) and the loss last weekend to the Washington Mystics, they'll miss out.
Sparks will have a huge decision in the upcoming expansion draft They can protect six and Plum. Hamby. RJ, Brink, and likely Stevens will be protected. So they'll have to choose between Rae and Julie A. It will be interesting
Have to give Roberts credit, there's been vast improvement this year and lots of player buy in. Although I generally hate her system, she's been flexible enough to get some key wins other ways, such as letting Rickea cook in the midrange last night. Gives me hope for next yr.
Even if the Sparks don't make the playoffs this season, the way they've been able to bow up and beat some good teams after such a bad start should give them a great deal of hope for next season. Not that it's any different for any other franchise, but somehow it feels like the next draft and next trade deals are particularly crucial for L.A. they're alllllllmost there. Even just one or two smart personnel changes could make a world of difference.
oh... just want to take another moment to throw some more love toward Rae Burrell, who continues to bring energy to that Sparks lineup. She's unlikely to ever be anyone's top superstar, but she has undeniably proved now that she belongs in the WNBA. I'm so proud of her for being the pro she is. Really, watching Rae out there fearlessly attacking has been the highlight of the season for me. I mean, yeah ... Rickea Jackson is Rickea Jackson. She IS "superstar" material. But Rae has had to scrap and persevere and find a way to overcome the very rough start she had, and she is now truly solid. Pat would love her resilience.
oh... just want to take another moment to throw some more love toward Rae Burrell, who continues to bring energy to that Sparks lineup. She's unlikely to ever be anyone's top superstar, but she has undeniably proved now that she belongs in the WNBA. I'm so proud of her for being the pro she is. Really, watching Rae out there fearlessly attacking has been the highlight of the season for me. I mean, yeah ... Rickea Jackson is Rickea Jackson. She IS "superstar" material. But Rae has had to scrap and persevere and find a way to overcome the very rough start she had, and she is now truly solid. Pat would love her resilience.
madtownvol
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Rae's situation is interesting. She is a first round pick so maybe the Sparks feel some sense of investment, particularly given how well she is playing down the stretch,. I think it comes down to the kind of player that they get in the upcoming draft.
I would hate to see it but I kind of expect Rae to be playing for one of the expansion teams next season.
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He's done such a good job blending his 3 pt heavy philosophy with a couple of traditional bigs in BG and Bri. Would be a good choice for COY but I believe the coach of the Valks will win it instead. The Valks just drilled the badly faltering Liberty tonight and are the most successful expansion team in W history. They're likely to make some noise in the playoffs.
The entire situation will be interesting next year, with the new player agreement (hopefully), the expansion draft, and everyone except those on rookie contracts pretty much being free agents.
I believe the Sparks will want to keep Rae. But that may depend on them finding another point guard, hopefully one whose perimeter defense is a little better than Julie A. They definitely need another really effective facilitator who is not Plum. Also I think the sparks consider Rae good trade bait; she's been rumored in a couple of potential deals.
One outside possibility is they let Azura Stevens go. Would really hate that, but she may be redundant with Brink. On the other hand, she and Brink are good compliments, Brink superior defensively and Stevens a far better shooter. Also, Cam remains a foul out waiting to happen so the Sparks have to have a good backup.
Will all be interesting to see.
Storm 22-20, two home games left against Liberty and Valks.
Fever 21-20, Sky at home, at Washington, Lynx at home.
Sparks 19-20, at Atlanta x2, Dallas at home, at Phoenix, Aces at home.
Best hope for Sparks is go 3-2 and get to 22-22. Need the Storm to lose out and/or the Fever to go 1-2. Both would then be 22-22 and the Sparks have tie breaker against both. Of course if the fever lose out that would be really helpful.
Biggest obstacle is the Sparks have to win at least 2 of the 4 against of the 3 teams battling for second seed. No player resting will happen.Quite a challenge but we'll see how it goes Would be great to start with a win against the Dream tomorrow night.
Fever 21-20, Sky at home, at Washington, Lynx at home.
Sparks 19-20, at Atlanta x2, Dallas at home, at Phoenix, Aces at home.
Best hope for Sparks is go 3-2 and get to 22-22. Need the Storm to lose out and/or the Fever to go 1-2. Both would then be 22-22 and the Sparks have tie breaker against both. Of course if the fever lose out that would be really helpful.
Biggest obstacle is the Sparks have to win at least 2 of the 4 against of the 3 teams battling for second seed. No player resting will happen.Quite a challenge but we'll see how it goes Would be great to start with a win against the Dream tomorrow night.
madtownvol
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Storm could drop 2. They are reeling a bit and will be playing teams with incentives to win.
That is a good schedule for the Fever. Lynx won't have anything to play for in the final game. Need Angel and Sky to be really up for the spoiler role. Similarly, the mystics need to get up for a "pride" game and building momentum for next season.
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