JoePgh
Cranky pants and wise acre
- Joined
- Aug 30, 2011
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This afternoon (9/19), the Sun completed their regular season with a 20-point win over the Atlanta Dream. Yes, the Dream are one of the league's bottom feeders, but the Sun have won 14 straight league games, including two wins over Minnesota, 1 over Las Vegas, two road wins at Dallas, another road win in Phoenix, and a 3-0 sweep of the LA Sparks. Most of the wins have been dominating, particularly on defense. I read that the Sun's opponents during the streak have averaged in the mid-60's in points per game, compared to a league average in the high 70's. For the entire season, the Sun are allowing only about 71 points per game to their opponents, ahead of the rest of the league by a mile in that category.
I have watched most of these games, and they are reminiscent of that other Connecticut WBB team in its best years. Jonquel Jones has become an amazing talent at both ends, and seems likely to be the league MVP. Brionna Jones has developed beyond anyone's expectations for her when she was drafted out of Maryland five years ago. At 6-2, she is proving that she is NOT too small to be a scoring and rebounding force in the paint. I'm sure it helps to have JJ and Dawanna Bonner as her front court teammates.
The Sun's 26-6 record for the year has been accomplished without the services (until the last two games) of their best player in past years, Alyssa Thomas. She did return this week for limited minutes, and seemed to be understandably rusty. I don't think the Sun will rely heavily on her in the upcoming playoffs.
Speaking of the playoffs, since the Sun have earned the top seed and a bye through the first two rounds of the playoffs, which amounts to a week off to rest and recharge. They will then start a 5-game series against the lowest remaining seed, which seems likely to be Minnesota or Phoenix. Except for Seattle, they have decisively beaten every team that they might have to face in the playoffs, so their chances for a championship seem very good.
If the Sun do win a WNBA championship this year (or even if they don't), I think Curt Miller, their coach, has earned a place on the short list of Geno's most plausible successors. He has checked every box -- college head coaching, WNBA assistant, and WNBA head coach, and has been successful in every role.
I have watched most of these games, and they are reminiscent of that other Connecticut WBB team in its best years. Jonquel Jones has become an amazing talent at both ends, and seems likely to be the league MVP. Brionna Jones has developed beyond anyone's expectations for her when she was drafted out of Maryland five years ago. At 6-2, she is proving that she is NOT too small to be a scoring and rebounding force in the paint. I'm sure it helps to have JJ and Dawanna Bonner as her front court teammates.
The Sun's 26-6 record for the year has been accomplished without the services (until the last two games) of their best player in past years, Alyssa Thomas. She did return this week for limited minutes, and seemed to be understandably rusty. I don't think the Sun will rely heavily on her in the upcoming playoffs.
Speaking of the playoffs, since the Sun have earned the top seed and a bye through the first two rounds of the playoffs, which amounts to a week off to rest and recharge. They will then start a 5-game series against the lowest remaining seed, which seems likely to be Minnesota or Phoenix. Except for Seattle, they have decisively beaten every team that they might have to face in the playoffs, so their chances for a championship seem very good.
If the Sun do win a WNBA championship this year (or even if they don't), I think Curt Miller, their coach, has earned a place on the short list of Geno's most plausible successors. He has checked every box -- college head coaching, WNBA assistant, and WNBA head coach, and has been successful in every role.