quote:

ORIGINAL: David Levine

Lynx absolutely lit up the best defense in the WNBA tonight.

This team is getting scary good.

quote:

ORIGINAL: David Levine

Lynx absolutely lit up the best defense in the WNBA tonight.

This team is getting scary good.

quote:

ORIGINAL: DavidAOlson

quote:

ORIGINAL: David Levine

Lynx absolutely lit up the best defense in the WNBA tonight.

This team is getting scary good.

Imagine how good they'll be when Moore isn't a rookie.

quote:

ORIGINAL: David Levine

Lynx absolutely lit up the best defense in the WNBA tonight.

This team is getting scary good.

quote:

ORIGINAL: kgdabom

quote:

ORIGINAL: David Levine

Lynx absolutely lit up the best defense in the WNBA tonight.

This team is getting scary good.

They finally seem to be putting it all together. They have had enough talent to be good for years.

True in some ways but not really. Young talent doesn't win a lot of games & for about 3 yrs in a row the Lynx were the youngest team in the league, as the roster was constently flipped. Not to mention the coaching changes & injuries to key plyers.

So to say they've had enough talent for "years" really isn't true. A lot of picks yes but really good talent, not so much.

* Only 1 player left from 2007. Augustus. Zeirden traded away his 2007 draft class; which included 2 lotto picks (1 via trade) by 2009.

* Only 3 players left from 2008 and 2009 teams are Augustus, Wiggins & Houston.

* A 2009 trade got the Lynx the NY Liberty's 2010 1st round pick. NY missed the playoffs so the Lynx had 2 lottery picks. The ping pong balls came up for Liberty & the Lynx owned it. Thus Lynx gave #1 & 09 #4 pick Montgomery to CT-Sun for Whalen & the #2 pick.

The Lynx trade of #3 2010 pick to CT for their 2011 first round pick worked out yet again. CT missed the playoff. Lynx again, have 2 lottery picks. We talk Moore & Harris.

And yet again, the Lynx trade Anosike to Washington for their 1st pick in 2012. And as mentioned, Wash Mystics are sitting last in the East w/ a 3-14 record.

So make the playoffs & get a lottery pick This team is stacked with assests. (sadly assets the Wolves can only dream of)

So over the last 3 yrs Roger G. has actually made some nice moves, kept the right talent, actually attract some talent, finally has the right head coach & staff that has made good on what they said they'd like to accomplish; players have bought in 100%; and of course mix in some good luck.

This quote from Sue Bird sums things up well. Players know full well where is more to winning then just having taletnted players on a roster.

quote:

"Compared to last year? They're healthy. That's the bottom line. If you look at the last three or four years, you had Seimone get a serious injury, then they had Lindsay come to the team last year, Seimone was kind of halfway on her way back, Rebekkah Brunson came late, was injured as well. In the WNBA, health is the number one key. I mean, look at our team. That's what I see. With that, they were able to add some high draft picks and really form a nice solid core group, if you want to call it that, and they're able to build chemistry."

quote:

ORIGINAL: David Levine

Its a young team too. Other than Taj, there isn't another player who is even 30 yet.

Brunson is 29
Whalen is 29
Augustus is 27
Houston is 25
Wiggins is 24
Wright is 23
Harris is 23
Moore is 22

If they can stay healthy, they can have a long run as a contender in the league.

quote:

Augustus, who had 10 points in the first half, needs 87 points in her next four games to become the WNBA's fastest player to reach the 3,000-point mark.

quote:

This night the Lynx played with extra motivation, stemming from sadness. Monica Wright had to leave the team after her father suffered a heart attack.

"Everybody's hearts and prayers are with [Wright] and her family," Augustus said. "[This game] was like an emotional thing for us more than anything."

quote:

"We understand this team likes to get out in transition, so you have to limit their ability by making shots and not turning the ball over," Cash said. "That makes them play in the half-court

quote:

ORIGINAL: Minnyme

quote:

ORIGINAL: David Levine

Its a young team too. Other than Taj, there isn't another player who is even 30 yet.

Brunson is 29
Whalen is 29
Augustus is 27
Houston is 25
Wiggins is 24
Wright is 23
Harris is 23
Moore is 22

If they can stay healthy, they can have a long run as a contender in the league.

6-4 Jess Adair is a keeper for me. Just 25, she is proving that she has some game & after losing 70 lbs over the last 3 yrs, since college, her hard work is now paying off.

A team full of players in their prime or yet to approach prime yrs. And best of all they get along w/each other. The chemistry is the best it's ever been w/this franchise. This is a special group. Those of us who follow this team are enjoying the heck out of this group of women

quote:

ORIGINAL: David Levine
And with the WNBA salary system (MAX contract of just over 100K, and a salary cap that would allow for up to 8 MAX contracts) the way it is, salary issues will never become a reason to worry about breaking up the team.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Minnyme

Well I'm not so sure about all that. I don't think the league cap is at 800k. It was like 770k if I recall? But you're right there shouldn't be any issue signing people going forward for a while ... unless they want to leave.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Minnyme

Free Agents:
Unrestricted - Brunson : I'd give her Whay/Mone money to stay

Yes, even with Amber Harris waiting in the wings, you don't want to part with a double double maching on the front line.

Restricted group -
Wiggins : I'll over pay for her. She will get offers from other teams for sure. Her injury history gets brought up but she brings so many intangible to a team she's worth it for me.

I wouldn't over pay, but I would definitely try to keep her. High intangibles and a top defensive player.

I don't over pay for Houston. And not interested in making an offer to Hornbuckle; trade bait or just let her go. Angel Robinson or another draft pick can have her spot.

I was really surprised when they didn't make room for Robinson. I like Houston. She goes to her own drummer and there isn't a player with more character in the league. I just don't know what role she fills at this point.

quote:

ORIGINAL: TJSweens

Right now there seems to be a genuine team first mentality. Egos are being checked at the door. Maya Moore did not come in looking to be treated like the chosen one. Nine times out of ten a player like her is made the focal point right away and force fed the ball. Instead she is looking to do a little of everything and compliment the other all stars on the team. Simone Augustus is reminding everyone just how good she was before her knee injury and cancer surgery. She's back. Whalen keeps running the show and making everyone around her better. I think McWilliams Franklin has been a huge piece of the puzzle too. She is still a top flight center, but more importantly is all about sacraficing self for the team. This is a team starting to come together in a big way with certain players just scratching the surface of what they can be.

quote:

ORIGINAL: kgdabom

One more piece of good news for the Lynx is that they own the Washington Mystics first round pick next year and they have the 5nd worst record in the league. A little lottery luck and the Lynx will have another first overall pick next year.

quote:

ORIGINAL: David Levine

And I've never been been much of a women's basketball fan (outside the Whalen/McCarville run), but the Lynx play a very entertaining brand of basketball.

They're legitimately fun to watch.