VOTE: WNBA 2024 All-Stars. Ends June 29th

[cupcakesnake]

I find it annoying that when you go to vote, they automatically list the players in order of PPG.

On my laptop right now, I've got to scroll down to the 4th row of frontcourt players to find Alyssa Thomas because she's only averaging 12ppg. Most voters are new and are likely to pick the couple players they know and then pick from the top of the list. This I think is the main reason AT (who I'd have second in MVP voting right now) is 20th, behind all kinds of indefensible selections. If they're going to rank off of a single stat, might as well make it win shares or something a little closer to representing the league's best players.

[MrDollarBills]

I find it annoying that when you go to vote, they automatically list the players in order of PPG.

On my laptop right now, I've got to scroll down to the 4th row of frontcourt players to find Alyssa Thomas because she's only averaging 12ppg. Most voters are new and are likely to pick the couple players they know and then pick from the top of the list. This I think is the main reason AT (who I'd have second in MVP voting right now) is 20th, behind all kinds of indefensible selections. If they're going to rank off of a single stat, might as well make it win shares or something a little closer to representing the league's best players.

Yeah my first time voting took way too long because I was wondering where the actual all stars were lol

[cupcakesnake]

Probably going to change my picks every time I vote, but for my most recent vote I went:

Frontcourt
A'ja, Stewie, AT, Jonquel, Ezi Magbegor, Naphissa
Snubs: Nneka, Alanna Smith, Griner, Dearica Hamby, the other Conneticut forwards

I went back and forth on Nneka vs. Ezi. Offense vs. defense. Ezi's 3 more games played was the tie-breaker so far. Other than that I feel the frontcourt is pretty easy compared to the backcourt.

Backcourt
Sabrina, Kahleah, Kayla McBride, Natasha Cloud
Snubs: the Vegas backcourt, Arike, Marina Mabrey, Skylar Diggins-Smith

I honestly had no idea what to do here. Maybe Cloud seems like a weird pick, but I'm taking her Dimes & Defense over a lot of better scoring guards who are struggling with the efficiency. I probably should get Arike on there but Dallas has been so bad during this injured stretch and I thought Arike + size would result in them surviving a little bit more. Kayla McBride isn't a flashy pick but she's been so much more solid than a lot of starrier guards having a rough shooting stretch to start the season. I don't know what to do with Jackie Young, who still should probably be on this team despite her shot disapearing, but everytime I watch Las Vegas it feels like such an A'ja carry job on both ends.

[KembaWalker]

lol, so am I going to be the only one to point out that those numbers are extremely fake and fabricated? You’re telling me those votes are 6x higher than last year but the singular person that is the reason for that isn’t even winning? Just more laughable stuff from the W. Btw not saying anything about the quality of play or what is “deserved” but if they publish something that is so completely laughably illogical I’m going to laugh at it

If you don't like the WNBA, you don't have to post in this forum. This is a weird post.
- ccs

Guess the actual point couldn’t be argued. Weird warning

[cupcakesnake]

lol, so am I going to be the only one to point out that those numbers are extremely fake and fabricated? You’re telling me those votes are 6x higher than last year but the singular person that is the reason for that isn’t even winning? Just more laughable stuff from the W. Btw not saying anything about the quality of play or what is “deserved” but if they publish something that is so completely laughably illogical I’m going to laugh at it

If you don't like the WNBA, you don't have to post in this forum. This is a weird post.
- ccs

Guess the actual point couldn’t be argued. Weird warning

I responded to you over PM. I have no interest in this thread being dragged down into a discussion about whether the WNBA is lying about its popularity, unless there's something substantive to talk about. I'll moderate accordingly to preserve the quality of discussion.

You can continue talking to me about this by responding via PM, but discussions for clarification about moderating don't need to go into the thread.

[MrDollarBills]

Probably going to change my picks every time I vote, but for my most recent vote I went:

Frontcourt
A'ja, Stewie, AT, Jonquel, Ezi Magbegor, Naphissa
Snubs: Nneka, Alanna Smith, Griner, Dearica Hamby, the other Conneticut forwards

I went back and forth on Nneka vs. Ezi. Offense vs. defense. Ezi's 3 more games played was the tie-breaker so far. Other than that I feel the frontcourt is pretty easy compared to the backcourt.

Backcourt
Sabrina, Kahleah, Kayla McBride, Natasha Cloud
Snubs: the Vegas backcourt, Arike, Marina Mabrey, Skylar Diggins-Smith

I honestly had no idea what to do here. Maybe Cloud seems like a weird pick, but I'm taking her Dimes & Defense over a lot of better scoring guards who are struggling with the efficiency. I probably should get Arike on there but Dallas has been so bad during this injured stretch and I thought Arike + size would result in them surviving a little bit more. Kayla McBride isn't a flashy pick but she's been so much more solid than a lot of starrier guards having a rough shooting stretch to start the season. I don't know what to do with Jackie Young, who still should probably be on this team despite her shot disapearing, but everytime I watch Las Vegas it feels like such an A'ja carry job on both ends.

Natasha Cloud is the truth

[hermes]

i'm on desktop but i think there was an option to sort players by stats other than ppg

i'm just picking all the lynx

[Wingy]

Good point. The fewer games/space between games does help keep the product fresh. I honestly think that the NBA season is way too long and they schedule is too tight. To be fair, most NBA players do compete, I'm being hyperbolic, but I feel like W regular season games carry more weight and the players just bring it. You can't coast in the W and expect to make it in the playoffs.

Yeah, maybe we, and people in general are a bit too critical. People cite how hard college kids play, but most of them play only 30-35 games, not 82 plus playoffs. When you frame it that way, it makes sense there will be more off nights in terms of energy.

In addition, the NBA’s playing 48 instead of the head-scratching 40. W needs to go to 48.

[cupcakesnake]

We all know the W is ruled by bigs, but man does this year is on another level in terms of all-stars. If voting was completely positionless, I think at best I'd get 2-3 guards in there (Sabrina Ionscu, Kahleah Copper, and then Arike if you don't hold Dallas record against her). Of the WNBA's top 10 players, I think 8 of them are bigs. That's with Satou Sabally out injured, and Britney Griner only recently coming back, so I'm not counting either.

[cupcakesnake]

In addition, the NBA’s playing 48 instead of the head-scratching 40. W needs to go to 48.

You mean minutes, yeah?
I don't think it's head scratching. Every pro-level basketball game in the world goes 40 minutes except for the NBA.

[Wingy]

In addition, the NBA’s playing 48 instead of the head-scratching 40. W needs to go to 48.

You mean minutes, yeah?
I don't think it's head scratching. Every pro-level basketball game in the world goes 40 minutes except for the NBA.

Yeah, but it’s the W-“NBA” and it’s America. Surprising they aren’t looking to squeeze more beverage and snack and merchandise buying into the games. Plus as the league grows in popularity, they’ll want more tv ad revenue.

[cupcakesnake]

In addition, the NBA’s playing 48 instead of the head-scratching 40. W needs to go to 48.

You mean minutes, yeah?
I don't think it's head scratching. Every pro-level basketball game in the world goes 40 minutes except for the NBA.

Yeah, but it’s the W-“NBA” and it’s America. Surprising they aren’t looking to squeeze more beverage and snack and merchandise buying into the games. Plus as the league grows in popularity, they’ll want more tv ad revenue.

I have no objection to them changing the duration. It probably is a tv ad slot thing, but also the WNBA's rise in popularity is coinciding with a late stage of tv broadcasting decline so it's unclear if that incentive will ever be there for the W even it became a major sports entertainment league.

[Wingy]

I have no objection to them changing the duration. It probably is a tv ad slot thing, but also the WNBA's rise in popularity is coinciding with a late stage of tv broadcasting decline so it's unclear if that incentive will ever be there for the W even it became a major sports entertainment league.

Yeah that’s a factor too, though streaming services are evolving backwards and adding ads back in. I’m sure a lot of people are like me: cheap, and will be willing to deal with them. I try to mute as much as possible, but they’re there. So guess it would be up to number crunching to see if it’s really worth it.

Network still has some life. I read that NBC’s network reach was a factor in them being added to the NBA circle in the next tv deal. TBD how long that lasts. Guessing a vast amount of the remaining influence will be gone by the time the latter part of Gen Z hits adulthood.

[TinmanZBoy]

We all know the W is ruled by bigs, but man does this year is on another level in terms of all-stars. If voting was completely positionless, I think at best I'd get 2-3 guards in there (Sabrina Ionscu, Kahleah Copper, and then Arike if you don't hold Dallas record against her). Of the WNBA's top 10 players, I think 8 of them are bigs. That's with Satou Sabally out injured, and Britney Griner only recently coming back, so I'm not counting either.

That is my observation too from my limited WNBA watching experience… size has a big advantage in WNBA… and I don’t think it is going to change any time soon…

[Wingy]

We all know the W is ruled by bigs, but man does this year is on another level in terms of all-stars. If voting was completely positionless, I think at best I'd get 2-3 guards in there (Sabrina Ionscu, Kahleah Copper, and then Arike if you don't hold Dallas record against her). Of the WNBA's top 10 players, I think 8 of them are bigs. That's with Satou Sabally out injured, and Britney Griner only recently coming back, so I'm not counting either.

That is my observation too from my limited WNBA watching experience… size has a big advantage in WNBA… and I don’t think it is going to change any time soon…

Probably not, but think it'll slowly start to balance a little more. Players like MiLaysia, Flau'jae, and I know she's not small, but definitely plays like a guard in JuJu...lots of talent coming in the pipeline. Surely plenty of others I've yet to learn.

[LewisnotMiller]

Man, someone gotta put some respect on Ezi Macbegor's name...

[LewisnotMiller]

We all know the W is ruled by bigs, but man does this year is on another level in terms of all-stars. If voting was completely positionless, I think at best I'd get 2-3 guards in there (Sabrina Ionscu, Kahleah Copper, and then Arike if you don't hold Dallas record against her). Of the WNBA's top 10 players, I think 8 of them are bigs. That's with Satou Sabally out injured, and Britney Griner only recently coming back, so I'm not counting either.

That is my observation too from my limited WNBA watching experience… size has a big advantage in WNBA… and I don’t think it is going to change any time soon…

Probably not, but think it'll slowly start to balance a little more. Players like MiLaysia, Flau'jae, and I know she's not small, but definitely plays like a guard in JuJu...lots of talent coming in the pipeline. Surely plenty of others I've yet to learn.

Bueckers is a wing, rather than a big.

[cupcakesnake]

Man, someone gotta put some respect on Ezi Macbegor's name...

I've been voting for her.
Hard to look at Seattle's success with that 3rd ranked defense and Ezi leading the league in blocks (and getting 1.6 steals) and not put 2 and 2 together. I have her 2nd in DPOY right now after Alyssa Thomas.

Then there's her offense. Ezi has been incredible as a screening, rolling, passing hub this season. It's one thing to stack up a bunch of scorers on a team (Nneka, Diggins-Smith, Lloyd), but it's another to make them into an offense that makes sense. Ezi makes it make sense. She's a fantastic quick decision maker. Basically whenever the offense bogs down, getting it to Ezi (either on a screen & roll or DHO) opens something up and gives the Storm an advantage. To top it all off, she doesn't miss free throws are barely turns the ball over.

Early in the season I was giving Nneka the benefit of the doubt because of her awesome scoring season, but after watching a few Ezi games, I feel she's what makes them go.

There. Some respect. On her name.

[MrDollarBills]

Man, someone gotta put some respect on Ezi Macbegor's name...

I've been voting for her.
Hard to look at Seattle's success with that 3rd ranked defense and Ezi leading the league in blocks (and getting 1.6 steals) and not put 2 and 2 together. I have her 2nd in DPOY right now after Alyssa Thomas.

Then there's her offense. Ezi has been incredible as a screening, rolling, passing hub this season. It's one thing to stack up a bunch of scorers on a team (Nneka, Diggins-Smith, Lloyd), but it's another to make them into an offense that makes sense. Ezi makes it make sense. She's a fantastic quick decision maker. Basically whenever the offense bogs down, getting it to Ezi (either on a screen & roll or DHO) opens something up and gives the Storm an advantage. To top it all off, she doesn't miss free throws are barely turns the ball over.

Early in the season I was giving Nneka the benefit of the doubt because of her awesome scoring season, but after watching a few Ezi games, I feel she's what makes them go.

There. Some respect. On her name.

As the kids say, you cooked with this one

I'm bout to vote now

[LewisnotMiller]

Man, someone gotta put some respect on Ezi Macbegor's name...

I've been voting for her.
Hard to look at Seattle's success with that 3rd ranked defense and Ezi leading the league in blocks (and getting 1.6 steals) and not put 2 and 2 together. I have her 2nd in DPOY right now after Alyssa Thomas.

Then there's her offense. Ezi has been incredible as a screening, rolling, passing hub this season. It's one thing to stack up a bunch of scorers on a team (Nneka, Diggins-Smith, Lloyd), but it's another to make them into an offense that makes sense. Ezi makes it make sense. She's a fantastic quick decision maker. Basically whenever the offense bogs down, getting it to Ezi (either on a screen & roll or DHO) opens something up and gives the Storm an advantage. To top it all off, she doesn't miss free throws are barely turns the ball over.

Early in the season I was giving Nneka the benefit of the doubt because of her awesome scoring season, but after watching a few Ezi games, I feel she's what makes them go.

There. Some respect. On her name.

*tips hat*

Her brother plays for my local team in Australia (literally), at the semi-pro level. Doesn't have the sort of talent Ezi has, but just like her, he's a quiet achiever who is all about team. Someone raised them right.