Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. We jot down NBA and WNBA stuff mostly from last night that we want to talk about. Check it out.
It’s so good to have Breanna Stewart playing again.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Stephen Gosling/Getty Images.)
First of all, I am extremely happy and relieved simultaneously that the WNBA has made it a week into the season with little problems. Yeah, there was news that the Las Vegas Aces’ Lindsay Allen had an inconclusive positive test but, other than that, it seems like the women’s basketball league has gone pretty smoothly.
And the thing I took out the most from this week? Holy sh*t. I forgot how good Breanna Stewart really was.
We were robbed of Stewie last year when she hurt her Achilles playing overseas. This was likely one of the reasons why the new Collective Bargaining Agreement had the women being paid more in the WNBA. With Stewie and Sue Bird sitting out, we never really got an honest title defense from the Seattle Storm. The finalists from before, the Washington Mystics, were able to grab the championship last season.
Now Washington will also not be in full strength in this title defense with Elena Delle Donne, Natasha Cloud, and Latoya Sanders all sitting out for various reasons. But Seattle (now 3-1) has their core back from their 2018 title team. And man, oh, man, did I miss watching Stewart play.
She especially showed her repertoire against the Los Angeles Sparks on Saturday. Younger players really should watch Stewart more often. She has a wiry frame but she knows all the moves to get a good position on the post. The way she seals people inside. Her footwork is magnificent. She has a great feel of the court and can find teammates everywhere. She can get separation for her shot. And she takes full advantage of her amazing 7’1″ wingspan. Stewart finished with 21 points, 9 boards, 5 assists, and 4 steals and the 2018 WNBA MVP showed why the Storm have been such a force over the years.
And we have Stewart on such a pedestal because have you seen her resume?! She won the championship every year in UConn (that’s four years). She also won NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player in all four of those years, too! When she played at UConn, the Lady Huskies went 151-5. She possibly has the greatest college basketball resume ever and she carried that over to the WNBA, where she’s won Rookie of the Year, MVP, and Finals MVP. She’s also one of the best defensive players in the league and it wouldn’t shock any of us if she won Defensive Player of the Year, too. Simply put, Breanna Stewart is one of the best basketball players in the world today.
With Elena Delle Donne sitting out this season, I’m looking for Stewie to reclaim the MVP. Hell, Stewart could even claim WNBA Comeback Player of the Year. I want Breanna Stewart to win everything; she deserves that much for her outstanding play and her work ethic.
Bullet Passes
I love random career high-scoring games from NBA players who are not deemed stars. On Saturday, we had T.J. Warren scoring 53 points in a Pacers’ win over the Sixers. The NBA bubble only started on Thursday but we already got our 50-point game in Day 3. Joel Embiid himself went for 41 points and 21 boards but hey, it’s more fun to highlight the winner or/and the non-star.
I love that everyone immediately asked about Jimmy Butler after Warren had his scoring explosion. Man, we already forgot about what happened in January. YES, IT HAPPENED THIS YEAR.
Also, I’d like to think this happened.
Jimmy Butler’s reaction to T.J. Warren scoring 53. pic.twitter.com/OqhIBdBvN4
— 𝘙𝘦𝘺-𝘙𝘦𝘺 🤞🏾✌🏾 (@TheNoLookPass) August 2, 2020
By the way, I do scream like Jimmy Butler.
Well, the Jazz lost and everyone’s ready to count them out after losing big against the Thunder. OKC is the sentimental favorite since no one really ever thought they’d do any damage before the season started.
Meanwhile, people are so hard on Donovan Mitchell. I give him more leeway than most fans. He’s so young and yet he’s the team’s best offensive player. His game still has a lot of maturing to do.
I have raved about the Toronto Raptors many times this season. And they impressed me yet again when they took care of business against the Lakers. They’re just so scrappy defensively. Their backcourt isn’t the biggest but Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet don’t give an inch.
By the way, Lowry got 14 boards in the Raptors’ win. Amongst all those trees! Man…
The Clippers blasted the Pelicans with a franchise-high 25 three-pointers. Suddenly, everyone is wondering what the heck the Pelicans are doing in the bubble.
The Washington Mystics continue to impress, even though they lost a close game against the Chicago Sky. Cheyenne Parker made a clutch basket to put the Sky ahead and that eventually became the game-winner. It’s pretty awesome that the Mystics are 3-1 even though half of their core from last year is not there.
But hey, the Sky at 3-1 is pretty damn cool, too.
I mentioned how DeWanna Bonner and Alyssa Thomas have become such a deadly duo but it’s also really sad that the Connecticut Sun are 0-4. Maybe they’ll turn it around but they’re quickly running out of time.
But, hey, the Minnesota Lynx are 3-1. That’s another pleasant surprise. Sylvia Fowles, as I mentioned before, can still be a dominant player. She went for 21 points and 13 boards against the Sun on Saturday.
What? Am I wrong when I say that Fred VanVleet is Bootleg Deron Williams?
NBA Scoreboard
MIA 125 (42-24) v DEN 105 (43-23)
UTA 94 (42-24) v OKC 110 (41-24)
NO 103 (28-38) v LAC 126 (45-21)
PHI 121 (39-27) v IND 127 (40-26)
LAL 92 (50-15) v TOR 107 (47-18)
Double U Scoreboard
MIN 78 (3-1) v CON 69 (0-4)
WAS 86 (3-1) v CHI 88 (3-1)
LA 75 (2-2) v SEA 81 (3-1)
Watch This Play
This dime from Bol Bol was FANTASTIC.
Holy shit what a dime from Bol Bol! pic.twitter.com/esDF5ePfS0
— Leigh Ellis (@LeighEllis) August 1, 2020
That is a hell of a bounce pass. Holy crap.
Hope everyone in the bubble and wubble stays safe!
Rey-Rey is on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
TNLP on FaceBook.