2024 WNBA PLAYOFFS Discussion Thread (WNBA Finals: New York Liberty vs Minnesota Lynx; NYL WIN 3-2)

[cupcakesnake]

Pretty crazy to get a finals rematch in the second round.

Will the Liberty's improvements (and Las Vegas' slight decline) be enough? Or does Las Vegas still have their playoff number?

[Ice Man]

Will the Liberty's improvements (and Las Vegas' slight decline) be enough? Or does Las Vegas still have their playoff number?

Besides the Liberty's slight improvement, isn't Chelsea Gray the big issue? I don't follow the Aces closely this year (and not at all last year), but it seems from the stats that she's not the same player she was last season.

[cupcakesnake]

Will the Liberty's improvements (and Las Vegas' slight decline) be enough? Or does Las Vegas still have their playoff number?

Besides the Liberty's slight improvement, isn't Chelsea Gray the big issue? I don't follow the Aces closely this year (and not at all last year), but it seems from the stats that she's not the same player she was last season.

That was true all season as she's been returning from injury, but she's been turning it up since the end of the regular season. She's looked to have a lot of the pep back her step the first 2 games of the playoffs, on both ends of the floor.

Chelsea went down in the finals last year, and the Aces still managed to finish the Liberty off. That's just one game, but there's plenty of reason for the Liberty to fear the Aces stumbling onto the same magic that had them looking a tier above last year.

The Liberty are a better team this year. They're more organized defensively around Stewie (and Jonquel and Betnijah), they're less reliant on Sloot lineups (or any defensively putrid combos of Sabrina, Sloot, Marinne Johannes), and they're unleashing Leonie Fiebich at the right time. They played with a stronger offensive identity this year, but can still be prone to forgetting Jonquel or reduced to Sabrina hunting pull up threes on an off night.

There's a bad habit version of the Liberty that is vulnerable, but when they're clicking they're the best team in the league.

[hermes]

doesn't morrow spend a lot of time in the lane? would morrow be a good addition for the sky? seems like it would make their spacing problem worse. everyone can't play down low

[MrDollarBills]

Will the Liberty's improvements (and Las Vegas' slight decline) be enough? Or does Las Vegas still have their playoff number?

Besides the Liberty's slight improvement, isn't Chelsea Gray the big issue? I don't follow the Aces closely this year (and not at all last year), but it seems from the stats that she's not the same player she was last season.

Gray has gotten herself together which is why the Aces have been red hot as of late

Scary times.

[MrDollarBills]

Pretty crazy to get a finals rematch in the second round.

Will the Liberty's improvements (and Las Vegas' slight decline) be enough? Or does Las Vegas still have their playoff number?

We have a lot more depth than they do but I can't sleep on them. I'm very nervous

[MrDollarBills]

doesn't morrow spend a lot of time in the lane? would morrow be a good addition for the sky? seems like it would make their spacing problem worse. everyone can't play down low

She can hit threes but her consistency is an issue

[cdubbz]

Elena Delle Donne:

She decided to not sign the super max extension with the Mystics after they designated her as their core player and take time off this season. From what I've read the Mystics can again 'core' EDD in 2025 if she chooses to return and if they want to. I'm wondering if she is ready to come back or even wants to come back and if Mystics would want to core a 35yo EDD.

Why I am asking? VALKYRIE BASKETBALL BABY. Or whichever team she wants to go if she is a free agent.

[Green Chile]

Will the Liberty's improvements (and Las Vegas' slight decline) be enough? Or does Las Vegas still have their playoff number?

Besides the Liberty's slight improvement, isn't Chelsea Gray the big issue? I don't follow the Aces closely this year (and not at all last year), but it seems from the stats that she's not the same player she was last season.

Gray has gotten herself together which is why the Aces have been red hot as of late

Scary times.

And Plum got hot last night.
Heaven help everybody if Jackie finds her early season form.

As you know of course, it's going to be quite the heavyweight match-up.

[Billy Goat]

Read on Twitter

^this is an absolutely disgusting question.

The media plays a huge role in fostering the toxicity that's happening. I'm so glad Dijonai kept her cool because I would have looked at her like she's crazy.

Ya they just hunt for clips n' clicks. With that reporter had a little more class. Like to look Dijonai in the eye with a mic in your hand and obviously invite her to say something stupid. It's a little annoying.

Wtf was Dijonai supposed to say? Yes I tried to claw her eye out and then I laughed about it with my evil sidekick after! I'm a cartoon villain muahahahaha!

"Yeah i tried to gouge her eyes out."

Like what would possess you to ask someone a question like this?

Click bait journalism really shows who has integrity and who doesn't.

How? That was clearly an intentional eye poke by a dirty player.

[cdubbz]

Fever starting Fagbenle over Smith. Thoughts?

Personally I like Smith with the starters because she can run the floor and make offensive plays a little better than Fagbenle, but Fagbenle has more grit and hustle imo. I do want to see Smith off the bench and get involved on offense though.

[MrDollarBills]

Haha things are getting chippy

[MrDollarBills]

Very fun start to this one

[cdubbz]

Haha things are getting chippy

I love it. Definitely was a wreckless closeout foul on Bonner, but love them yelling at each other afterwards.
Maybe I was wrong, but Temi has been really active on the offensive boards and just crashing with Hull & Boston. Definitely a different look.

[MrDollarBills]

Fever starting Fagbenle over Smith. Thoughts?

Personally I like Smith with the starters because she can run the floor and make offensive plays a little better than Fagbenle, but Fagbenle has more grit and hustle imo. I do want to see Smith off the bench and get involved on offense though.

I like it, the Fever need to run.

[TheWitcher]

Very fun start to this one

Fever are matching the intensity from the get go. I really feel like they were shellshocked a little bit by the intensity out the gate in game 1 and just couldn't catch up or find a rhythm.

[MrDollarBills]

Haha things are getting chippy

I love it. Definitely was a wreckless closeout foul on Bonner, but love them yelling at each other afterwards.
Maybe I was wrong, but Temi has been really active on the offensive boards and just crashing with Hull & Boston. Definitely a different look.

Yeah they look much better. I kinda like Temi next to Boston

Clark from deep. Man this is fun

[MrDollarBills]

They are talking so much sh*t out there.

This is what i wanted to see in game 1. The Fever are playing fast, the Sun are attacking inside.

[cdubbz]

Sun fan looks like he got booted from the game after CC was talking back to him and let the referees know.

I'm not a fan of kicking fans out of the game, but it all depends on what the fan was saying. If its normal trash talk like "You suck", "you're a cry baby" i think that is fine even if its over and over.

[cdubbz]

Back to back playoff games where they had to use a challenge to reverse a foul call. It wasn't even a close call in either instance. I get calls can be missed here and there, but these two were really bad. To have to use a challenge in the 1st quarter is ridiculous for those reasons.