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Randy Buehler's avatar

A very reasonable list, but I think you're underrating Minnesota. Everyone else in the top 4 from last year got worse, but they didn't. If anything they got a little better (I like what Karlie Samuelson brings to the table). In addition to that, I think Napheesa Collier is about to go scorched earth on the whole league. I think there's good value right now in betting on her for MVP and Minnesota to win it all. I guess this is really just me projecting a narrative onto the season that might not happen, but it reminds me of the way the Spurs spent a whole year stewing about barely missing a title versus the Heat and then won it the next year. Getting that close and failing can lead to a tremendous focus the following year, especially when you bring everybody back (and judging by how good Phee looked in Unrivaled I think that's very much in play).

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David M. Brown, MD's avatar

It looks like your projection of Phee going scorched earth on the rest of the league was quite accurate. I know the Lynx are really good but I never thought that they would be undefeated through their first nine games. They are hanging right there with the Liberty.

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cija johnson's avatar

I have notes but haven’t had time to really voice a cohesive thought except that I feel like there are a lot of T-2 and T-5…and these INJs are going to impact.

Dallas has no inside defense. They might be waiver wiring…

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CRAIG MONTGOMERY's avatar

I think everyone is overrating Indiana.Who are their bigs?

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Storm Chasers w/ Jeff Brown's avatar

Aliyah Boston, Natasha Howard, DeWanna Bonner, Damiris Dantas, Brianna Turner, and Makayla Timpson. I'm not sure if Turner or Timpson will get a lot of playing time, but Boston, Howard, Bonner, and Dantas are a solid group of post players. And I know Bonner also plays the three, but she's played the four too.

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CRAIG MONTGOMERY's avatar

Are you watching IND-ATL right now? This is what I meant when I asked 'who are their bigs?' Of course I know who their bigs are. But if Boston is their biggest big, what are they gonna do about teams that have bigs like Atlanta and New York?

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Storm Chasers w/ Jeff Brown's avatar

I was at work so I only managed to watch the final 5 minutes of the game. I saw BG be very good inside the paint on a few possessions but I would expect that Atlanta would be able to give several teams problems with both Griner and Brionna Jones. I don’t think that’s an Indiana only problem.

Also, the Liberty are a cheat code. Having Stewie and JJ on the same team is pretty much unfair. I expect them to be a problem for every single WNBA team. It’s why they’ve gone 64-16 over the past two seasons.

If I’m the Fever, I’d be a little more concerned about DeWanna Bonner than their post players right now.

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cija johnson's avatar

I think Indiana was very smart in the off season. The vets they picked up are plug and play…Howard produces wherever she’s gone…and Dewanna Bonner IMO is a big reason CT was a contender for the past several years in spite of their INJs (EVERY YEAR!!). And Steph White is a solid coach. I don’t think their high positioning is unfounded.

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