During Jewell Loyd’s Warehouse podcast released earlier this year, Loyd’s mentor said that Breanna Stewart demanded that Boucek be fired. And the team obliged.
Right decision. Dan Hughes unleashed Stewie to excel. He brought in Natasha Howard who freed Stewie up. Would not have won the 2018 championships with Natasha Howard and Dan Hughes. On a side note, Jenny has an excellent basketball IQ. She was responsible for the Pacers defensive schemes and played a big part in getting them to the NBA finals. There is an ESPN article about her life that is really inspiring. She’s an amazing person. I can understand why Sue is close to her.
This is something I didn't know but I find super, super fascinating. 1. Good on Stewie; 2. I got the feeling from Jenny Boucek's speech at Sue Bird's number retirement ceremony (side note: have the Storm run out of ways to honor Bird?) that Bird and Boucek were incredibly close. I've been thinking in that context of how the argument for keeping Quinn as HC seems to be that she's popular with the star players.
On the broadcast yesterday, they said Nneka’s long time trainer and Quinn are best friends and there is a strong LA connection between the two. Did the front office keep Quinn in order to sign Nneka? A cautionary reminder to not let star players be the GM’s. I. E Kevin Durant and the Nets.
While the draft pick Seattle surrendered to WAS looks like a disastrous choice, I’d have to think the Mystics had a say in the choice of picks, and saw the trends unfolding. Their FO clearly isn’t stupid.
I’m going to keep beating this drum even though people probably won’t like it… Moving Seattle’s pick instead of the other two was the correct decision. Whether it turns out badly is an indictment of the team/coach, not of the GM/front office. If you make a trade to ostensibly improve your team to make a playoff push, betting against your own team by trading a pick from a team that you are competing for a spot with doesn’t make any sense.
But it’s on the GM for trading the pick for another on ball guard who doesn’t space the floor. It’s a duplication of Gabby. Doesn’t address the spacing and horrendous lack of 3 pt shooting which causes them again and again to lose games. And Sykes is an UFA next year. They are 1-4 after the trade. This team is so badly run and coached.
Next away game and next home game are both against Chicago Sky, worst team in the league rn. Storm is 2-8 in the last 10 games, tie with Wings for second worst record and only better than Chicago Sky in the same period. Since adding Sykes to the roster, we are 1-4. We continued to make mistakes in crunch time today, the same mistakes we made in several losses recently. And we still have the same weakness of not being able to hit the threes consistently.
I did find Mystics' decision to win today interesting. Mystics would have increased their chance of having 2 lottery picks next year if they lost. But either way, it gives Storm a little room to breathe.
Since we still have that 56k cap from the trade, i wonder if there will be an attempt to add one more player to the roster, like a role player who have decent 3pt shooting percentage overseas.
The Washington Mystics are trying to build something. Same with the Golden State Valkyries. While it might be in their best interest for both teams to miss the playoffs and have lottery picks, it generally doesn't work like that. Players and Head Coaches always want to win if they still have an opportunity to make the playoffs. There is a lot to building a winning culture. Plus, there would be benefits for Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen to get playoff experience in their rookie seasons. And for an expansion franchise to make the playoffs, I believe it's never happened in WNBA history, so that's something the Valkyries are fighting for.
Plus, in the Mystics' case, if they make the playoffs, there is a chance that they knock the Storm out of the playoffs. And then their franchise gets the best of both worlds: they go to the playoffs, their young players get playoff experience, AND they still get a lottery pick from Seattle via the Brittney Sykes trade.
It's the same reason why the Storm NEED to knock LA out of the playoffs.
Lastly, as I'm sure you saw. The Storm re-signed Zia Cooke. And while I understand some people might complain about that, it makes a lot of sense to me. There is less than 10 games left in the season. She's been with the team a lot this year and knows all their offensive and defensive systems. Plus, she's shot 35% from 3-PT range, which is honestly probably Top 2 or 3 on the roster. She probably won't get much playing time, but she's also good insurance in case Seattle has a late injury in the season. Since she already knows the plays and how the team operates.
Jeff, I don't mean this as a criticism of you specifically but of the press pool as a whole. Being a Storm fan is maddening right now and the press doesn't seem to be helping. Again, I mean this collectively, and not you. You're certainly not the only one who can ask questions at press conferences. If the Seahawks were in the middle of losing seven of eight games, Mike McDonald would've gone into hiding after loss three and within a week Bob Condotta would've found him in a bunker like he was Saddam Hussein. Meanwhile at Storm press conferences it's like everyone is talking about seating arrangements on the Titanic while us fans want to know if anyone sees that iceberg and how they're going to steer around it.
This is the first time I remember having any ambivalence about renewing my season tickets for next season. It's just not fun any more. Even last night's Sue Bird tributefestathon felt like a distraction to what was happening on the court. This team has been in freefall for at least six weeks and each time I read a recap or listen to a postgame press conference and it seems like the only thing anyone ever asks Coach Quinn is about matchups, as though there's some magical defensive scheme that unlocks a door to a kingdom of unlimited victories.
I think it’s a fair criticism. I was the only one to ask a negative question to Quinn, regarding the team’s poor home record. FWIW, Percy Allen hasn’t been around much lately. I think he would have the confidence to ask more negative or “tough” questions. Some others are new and may not want to alienate the Coach or players. But also, even beyond the Storm, Seattle Sports media isn’t as critical as other places like New York or Philadelphia.
I think at this point, the postgame pressers are mainly just word salad from the players and the future former coach. “We did good things, but just not enough.” “We’ll build on this.” “We just have to get over the hump.” “We need to not be in our heads; just play.” “We’re figuring out our identity as a team…”
Seeing Jenny Boucek again reminded me that she got fired as head coach after the Storm lost FOUR consecutive games. Need I say more!
During Jewell Loyd’s Warehouse podcast released earlier this year, Loyd’s mentor said that Breanna Stewart demanded that Boucek be fired. And the team obliged.
Right decision. Dan Hughes unleashed Stewie to excel. He brought in Natasha Howard who freed Stewie up. Would not have won the 2018 championships with Natasha Howard and Dan Hughes. On a side note, Jenny has an excellent basketball IQ. She was responsible for the Pacers defensive schemes and played a big part in getting them to the NBA finals. There is an ESPN article about her life that is really inspiring. She’s an amazing person. I can understand why Sue is close to her.
This is something I didn't know but I find super, super fascinating. 1. Good on Stewie; 2. I got the feeling from Jenny Boucek's speech at Sue Bird's number retirement ceremony (side note: have the Storm run out of ways to honor Bird?) that Bird and Boucek were incredibly close. I've been thinking in that context of how the argument for keeping Quinn as HC seems to be that she's popular with the star players.
In the past, Sue Bird has indicated that either Jenny Boucek was her favorite coach or had the most positive impact on her.
On the broadcast yesterday, they said Nneka’s long time trainer and Quinn are best friends and there is a strong LA connection between the two. Did the front office keep Quinn in order to sign Nneka? A cautionary reminder to not let star players be the GM’s. I. E Kevin Durant and the Nets.
If the Storm has run out of ways to honor Sue, they can always contact the Mariners for ideas.
After a retired number, street, and statue, I think the next step is making her birthday a paid holiday in WA state.
Guess I'm going to have to contact some of my favorite Storm players! :)
While the draft pick Seattle surrendered to WAS looks like a disastrous choice, I’d have to think the Mystics had a say in the choice of picks, and saw the trends unfolding. Their FO clearly isn’t stupid.
I’m going to keep beating this drum even though people probably won’t like it… Moving Seattle’s pick instead of the other two was the correct decision. Whether it turns out badly is an indictment of the team/coach, not of the GM/front office. If you make a trade to ostensibly improve your team to make a playoff push, betting against your own team by trading a pick from a team that you are competing for a spot with doesn’t make any sense.
But it’s on the GM for trading the pick for another on ball guard who doesn’t space the floor. It’s a duplication of Gabby. Doesn’t address the spacing and horrendous lack of 3 pt shooting which causes them again and again to lose games. And Sykes is an UFA next year. They are 1-4 after the trade. This team is so badly run and coached.
That’s a different critique than which pick should have been traded. I agree with you, but it’s not relevant to my argument.
Next away game and next home game are both against Chicago Sky, worst team in the league rn. Storm is 2-8 in the last 10 games, tie with Wings for second worst record and only better than Chicago Sky in the same period. Since adding Sykes to the roster, we are 1-4. We continued to make mistakes in crunch time today, the same mistakes we made in several losses recently. And we still have the same weakness of not being able to hit the threes consistently.
I did find Mystics' decision to win today interesting. Mystics would have increased their chance of having 2 lottery picks next year if they lost. But either way, it gives Storm a little room to breathe.
Since we still have that 56k cap from the trade, i wonder if there will be an attempt to add one more player to the roster, like a role player who have decent 3pt shooting percentage overseas.
The Washington Mystics are trying to build something. Same with the Golden State Valkyries. While it might be in their best interest for both teams to miss the playoffs and have lottery picks, it generally doesn't work like that. Players and Head Coaches always want to win if they still have an opportunity to make the playoffs. There is a lot to building a winning culture. Plus, there would be benefits for Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen to get playoff experience in their rookie seasons. And for an expansion franchise to make the playoffs, I believe it's never happened in WNBA history, so that's something the Valkyries are fighting for.
Plus, in the Mystics' case, if they make the playoffs, there is a chance that they knock the Storm out of the playoffs. And then their franchise gets the best of both worlds: they go to the playoffs, their young players get playoff experience, AND they still get a lottery pick from Seattle via the Brittney Sykes trade.
It's the same reason why the Storm NEED to knock LA out of the playoffs.
Lastly, as I'm sure you saw. The Storm re-signed Zia Cooke. And while I understand some people might complain about that, it makes a lot of sense to me. There is less than 10 games left in the season. She's been with the team a lot this year and knows all their offensive and defensive systems. Plus, she's shot 35% from 3-PT range, which is honestly probably Top 2 or 3 on the roster. She probably won't get much playing time, but she's also good insurance in case Seattle has a late injury in the season. Since she already knows the plays and how the team operates.
Jeff, I don't mean this as a criticism of you specifically but of the press pool as a whole. Being a Storm fan is maddening right now and the press doesn't seem to be helping. Again, I mean this collectively, and not you. You're certainly not the only one who can ask questions at press conferences. If the Seahawks were in the middle of losing seven of eight games, Mike McDonald would've gone into hiding after loss three and within a week Bob Condotta would've found him in a bunker like he was Saddam Hussein. Meanwhile at Storm press conferences it's like everyone is talking about seating arrangements on the Titanic while us fans want to know if anyone sees that iceberg and how they're going to steer around it.
This is the first time I remember having any ambivalence about renewing my season tickets for next season. It's just not fun any more. Even last night's Sue Bird tributefestathon felt like a distraction to what was happening on the court. This team has been in freefall for at least six weeks and each time I read a recap or listen to a postgame press conference and it seems like the only thing anyone ever asks Coach Quinn is about matchups, as though there's some magical defensive scheme that unlocks a door to a kingdom of unlimited victories.
I think it’s a fair criticism. I was the only one to ask a negative question to Quinn, regarding the team’s poor home record. FWIW, Percy Allen hasn’t been around much lately. I think he would have the confidence to ask more negative or “tough” questions. Some others are new and may not want to alienate the Coach or players. But also, even beyond the Storm, Seattle Sports media isn’t as critical as other places like New York or Philadelphia.
I think at this point, the postgame pressers are mainly just word salad from the players and the future former coach. “We did good things, but just not enough.” “We’ll build on this.” “We just have to get over the hump.” “We need to not be in our heads; just play.” “We’re figuring out our identity as a team…”