WNBA Finals Game 1 Observations

Game 1 for the WNBA is in the books, and it was an exciting one…for 3 quarters.  The final score was 99-82 with Vegas’s guard trio of Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum, and Jackie Young dominating.

 

1^st Quarter

• On the first basket, I liked the defense by Jonquel Jones leading up to it by forcing her into a difficult shot.  That said, somebody needs to help with the rebound, since A’ja Wilson was in perfect position
• Wow, Breana Stewart is unstoppable.  That’s amazing defense from Wilson
• We’ve had a quicker offensive matchup so far.  That might favor Vegas
• I don’t think enough people realize how hard the 3 off the dribble is, even if
• I’m enjoying the shootout so far.  Both teams have some really talented shooters
• I was shocked when Courtney Vandersloot had the errant pass.  She is usually so accurate.  That said, amazing play by Wilson.  I don’t think enough people talk about her IQ and instincts, both of which are high
• I think New York figured out how to beat Vegas on defense:  slow their game down.  Even though they have elite shooters, Vegas had difficulty dealing with the length that New York provides, which is quite unique considering the number of guards/wings they have
• New York has done just what they need to do with Kiah Stokes by laying off her defensively.  That said, Vegas was ready for that and had a few plays where they made some nice handoff moves to create an open look for a shooter
• I think it’s a good idea to go right at a defender in the paint when New York is on offense due to Vegas’s lack of depth.  That said, the downside is that the player who would be eliminated first would be Stokes, which is the most replaceable for Vegas.  That said, keep Jones putting the pressure on and good things should come
• Geez, I didn’t expect Courtney Vandersloot to get that block.  It seemed like she got into Kelsey Plum’s head on the next two times she had the ball
• As good a shooter as Jones is, those are the shots that Vegas wants to force her into.  She is so good in the paint that you’re thrived when she fades away
• I don’t know why I always seem to shortchange Jackie Young’s on-ball ability.  She has developed into such a good shooter off the ball that I act like she’s not as good with the ball in her hands, even though she is
• Wilson and Vandersloot doing a jump ball might be one of the more entertaining things in the game
• I thought Alysha Clark was about to get away with a push for a second after Plum ended up colliding with the defender
• I Jones is not injured.  That would be horrible for the game, not to mention that I don’t like seeing players injured
• Marine Johannes being a gamechanger is not something I would have predicted during this game.  That said, it does kind of line up with how New York has relied on their bench at points this season.  She really has a pretty release on her shot; such a good shooter
• I know that New York is celebrating a kicked ball with 2.8 seconds left, but I’d rather have Stewart guarding Chelsea Gray in the paint than an inbound pass (I know it worked out for New York, but it’s the principle)
• I’ve loved this game so far, it really has been so high paced and exciting!  Unfortunately, Roger the dog has not loved it quite as much, as he is currently asleep; he seems more annoyed that there is a computer on my lap preventing him from sleeping on it (I don’t blame him one bit)

 

2^nd Quarter

• Okay, I despise the fact that they interview coaches during the games.  They literally are trying to do their jobs, which is coach.  If I were a coach, I’d only answer with one-word answers and then keep shouting to the team just to spite the broadcasters
• New York has been applying a lot of pressure on Vegas in the half court to slow them down significantly, which is the best way to defend Vegas
• I have the volume low to allow Roger to sleep; did they just call Vegas for a defensive 3-second?  Young was defending the ball (which is allowed) and Wilson was defending a player in the paint before the other player ran off her a second before (the clock would start once the defender gets off her).  If I saw it all correctly, I think they blew that call
• The refs missed a call when Jones was double teams.  Gray had a foot on the line and made contact with the ball, which should have been out of bounds.  The ref was standing right next to them, so I’m not sure what they were looking at
• A tech was just called I think, but I have the volume down so I’m confused by all of it.  Is this game really chippy and I’m missing it?  I’m sure that’s just the analysis you come here to read
• It’s insane that Wilson is one of the best players in the league but then could have legitimate stretches where she is missing offensively.  I can’t think of anyone else in the WNBA where that is the case.  Even if Stewart is struggling with her shot, she still is a massive threat
• The refs really aren’t calling much of anything.  They allowed Jonquel Jones to push someone out of the way with the ball in her hands (the time I would expect someone to see the foul) and then allowed Stewart to jump into Wilson on a shot attempt (while Wilson moved forward, Stewart is supposed to be going straight up for it not to be called a foul)
• Jones is such an amazing rim protector due to her strength, physicality, and timing that she allows New York to not need a traditional big on the court; she provides the protection
• I looked down for a second and Plum is shooting a tech.  What on earth is going on in this game?
• Probably good that I saw the Vandersloot offensive foul occur and was surprised they called the foul
• Plum is such a crafty player; that Eurostep/pro hop is so smooth and I can’t imagine trying to defend it (not that I’d have any luck defending her, but I mean if I was good enough to be on the same court)
• I was getting ready to write about how bad of a look it was by Johannes to take that fadeaway contested 3 off a screen…then she hit it, so I feel like everyone will ignore my point anyways.  Even when they showed the replay I cringed
• There suddenly are a lot of stoppages for pretty minor contact or ones I would say to play on about.  I don’t get what the sudden shift was for
• I thought Clark had traveled on the play she was fouled on, but I saw the replay and I couldn’t figure out how many steps she took
• Johannes is making some ridiculous shots right now.  I wouldn’t want anyone but a superstar to take those, but she’s hitting everything.  I know she’s a good shooter, but wow
• That was quite the strange steal by Vegas where it hit a couple people in the face
• I’m sure it’ll be a controversial call, but the blocking foul on Clark was the right call.  Even though Stewart went right at her, Clark was moving backwards a bit; even if she had just moved sideways, it would have been a charge, but that was the correct call
• Stewart has really struggled this game.  It’s weird that she has largely struggled during the playoffs with her jumper since she is one of the best shooters in the league (I wrote that and then she drilled a 3)
• Jones has been amazing on both ends so far this game, which is just what New York has needed.  It’s wild that she went from being totally lost with the team to being an x-factor when they used her as a supporting big.  While you can question whether she should have a bigger role due to her ability on the ball, they really don’t need that from her given the other ball handlers they have
• Even though New York scored, Vegas had amazing defense prior to the inbound pass.  I loved the coverage they gave outside the arc to three different locations, which was clearly where New York was eyeing
• And now Johannes has a clutch block to finish the quarter.  Geez, that was such a nice play…though it was risky and might have actually been a foul
• Even though it is only a 3-point game, I feel like New York is dominating this right now.  They have forced Vegas to take some odd and poor shots while also slowing the game down.  That said, anything is possible…even Roger waking up and enjoying the game (though I’m not putting money on it)

 

Quarter 3

• As a note, my notes to start the quarter are a bit sparse.  Roger had to go to the bathroom and then got distracted by someone grilling, then a bunch of leaves, then a stick, then the outdoors in general.  He loves the outdoors
• I know that analytics say that the midrange is dying (which the analytic logic behind that is that the points per attempt, or expected value for a statistical-minded person like me, are higher when attempting a 3 than a midrange 2), both Wilson and Stewart have beautiful midrange games.  If they’re struggling, taking an open midrange shot is a pretty good look for the two of them
• Note to New York:  it is not wise to leave Gray open.  Even if there are better shooters available, don’t leave Gray open from 3
• I don’t love the number of pull-up jumpers there have been.  I know that old heads will say that it is fun basketball, but it honestly is a lot uglier than great ball movement
• I love Stewart’s jumper.  I know that is the most vanilla and tame statement I could say in the WNBA, but her jumper is one of the ones I would point to when teaching a kid form for their jumper
• Normally I would say that going into a double team in the paint isn’t the wisest move.  That said, Wilson is very good at picking up fouls, so I didn’t even mind it
• Pretty sloppy run for a stretch; multiple turnovers or bad shots
• I think the Young 3 is honestly the shot that everybody needed for sanity’s sake
• I love Wilson’s midrange game.  Even though her 3 is inconsistent, her midrange looks so smooth and appears automatic
• I don’t love the idea of doubler teaming Ionescu at the top of the arc.  I get that she’s awesome, but that leaves an open player when she has inconsistent shot selection (they also allowed Stewart to be open, though Vegas lucked out)
• Wilson has really come alive on both ends this quarter.  I went into the other room for a second because Roger got a ball stuck under a shelf (his specialty), but came right back in time to see Wilson drill a tough midrange shot and then get an awesome block on Vandersloot
• The MVP chants in Vegas is a brilliant considering Stewart just won it
• Ionescu really has been quiet today.  That’s something you can’t bet on every game, though she has her games
• I think that the combination of Young and Wilson drilling everything has helped Vegas take the lead, even as Stewart has thrived.  Their defense has been so good, as they are forcing New York into some poor shots.  Even Roger has gotten into a ball game…though with a tennis ball

 

Quarter 4

• Again, I hate the in-game coach interviews.  That stinks to have to give one to start the 4^th
• While Stokes is limited on the offensive end, her getting that offensive rebound to allow Gray to get another bucket shows just how important she can be.  While I love the lineup with Clark in instead of her, plays like those show her value against a team without a traditional big
• I love that play by Youn.  While you can question if she should have exploited the 5-on-4, she saw that Jones was not paying attention to her as she gave the ball to Gray, so she drove right into an open paint.  Even if Jones was on her, I like the idea of driving in when the paint is empty after that pass since naturally a defender might collapse
• Roger is throwing a tantrum with his food ball and the mat it goes on; he must be rooting for New York (just kidding, he starts begging for dinner 2 hours before it’s time)
• Vandersloot has been really quiet with her shooting today, though that’s not too shocking since she tends to be a pass-first player, especially at this point.  That said, her being able to take and hit open 3’s is a gamechanger for New York
• That inbounds pass was bad; New York is absolutely in a rut right now and needs something to go right for them
• Roger is quite confused by the Sounds of the Game they just played.  I think that’s an appropriate response to someone with no context of the sport
• I absolutely love Vegas’s offense, especially in transition.  Young gets the steal and two passes later Plum has the ball in the basket within a few seconds
• There were back-to-back awesome assists by two great passers.  Ionescu passed out of a double team to an open Jones in the paint, then Gray saw a driving Clark get open in the paint.  Both of those plays are great examples as for why I love basktball
• I honestly admire Plum’s confidence to go one-on-one against Jones right in the paint.  The fact she made it is even crazier
• Oof, that foul on Gray didn’t look fun.  Getting slapped due to the momentum is not at all fun
• How did the refs miss the Ionescu travel?  That was a horrible no-call considering how blatant it was.  The refs are lucky Becky Hammond is their coach; if it were me, I’d be handing them a rule book and start verifying they know every rule…then I’d probably be thrown out
• Even though the game is over, Vandersloot has started to gain a little more confidence with her jumper and has drilled a couple open ones.  I wonder if that’s going to carry over
• I haven’t talked about Betnaijah Laney at all, which really is a testament to how good Gray’s defense has been
• We have an exchange of words…with less than 90 seconds remaining in a blowout game.  Geez, this could be a fun series
• I know it’s less than a minute left, but I hate late foul calls.  If you weren’t going to call it unless the shot missed, you might as well wait until tomorrow before you call it
• By how that 4^th quarter went, I imagine that most everyone is glad the game is over.  Vegas is glad they won, New York is glad to move on, the WNBA is glad to be done with a blowout to start the Finals, I’m glad to not have to watch this and write about it, and Roger is thrilled to watch his favorite show:  SpongeBob SquarePants

 

What did you think of this game?  How do you think Game 2 will go?  Let me know in the comments!