Doctor MJ wrote:MrDollarBills wrote:cupcakesnake wrote:A'ja had a stretch where her defense looked so good that I was leaning towards her for MVP, but the defense has not been the same the past couple weeks, and she's had some real stinkers on offense against the Liberty.
I think for a lot of media it's going to be an A'ja vs. Stewie thing, and I get it. They're the faces of the league and have the gaudy scoring numbers while starring on super teams.
But Alyssa Thomas to me has by far the best MVP case, and I wish there was a stronger narrative push for what she's doing in Connecticut. This team is really light on offensive firepower with Brionna Jones out for the season, but this team has just chugged along around AT. She leads the NBA in rebounding and assists (has this ever happened before?), she's the best defensive player in the W, and look at the terrifying on/off number. She's at +29.5 in on/off and the next closest starter (her wife) is at +11.8. This is as big as carry job as we ever see. While A'ja and Stewie are playing on super teams, AT has the Sun keeping pace without anywhere near the same talent.
As much as this season is focused on the clash of the titans (Liberty vs. Aces), the Sun are an incredibly fun, plucky underdog built around one of the best individual efforts this league has ever seen. Narrative bonus points for a team led by a married couple.
Is this the first time in pro sports history where we have a married couple on a team, but also leading them? Amazing to think about honestly.
I think that's one of the beautiful things about the W. No one has to hide who they are or who they love.
So Taurasi & Taylor weren't married at the time, but they did lead the Mercury together.
Vandersloot & Quigley did get married while playing together and I think they count.
It is something that I've only ever seen in the W though, and I think that's really something. I'm generally positive about it, but as with all office romances, if it goes bad, it would be really bad.
Still, I wish that NBA players were only held back by that instead of the massive cultural shame attached to atypical male sexuality.
Oh for sure. I have no doubts that there are gay/bisexual NBA players, or even players who are romantically involved with each other on the low. It's sad that they can't live their truth.
That's why i was so happy for my guy Jason Collins (former Nets Center) for when he came out and the support he gets from his peers. Jason Kidd, Richard Jefferson etc all have publicly showed their love for him. When he gets interviewed you can tell he's just happy and free...everyone regardless of gender or sexuality should be able to be that way.