At the end of all these close games, they seem to just lose... something. Poise? Focus? Defense starts standing around, giving up offensive rebounds, offense becomes stagnant, guards forcing up bad shots. Sloppy passes taking away good shot opportunities. Turnovers.
It's fair to ask what the coaching staff is doing to keep the players locked in at these times.
Also, Is Sonia too nice to tell the guards to THROW DOM THE DAMN BALL?
PDX did not have ANYBODY that can guard Dom. She should have had 38, not 28.
I wanted to write this last night, but after Dom scored to put Seattle ahead 89-84, neither Malonga nor Awa Fam took a shot the rest of the game. I believe Seattle’s remaining possessions were:
Turnover Zia Cooke
Flagrant foul Jade Melbourne as Seattle couldn’t collect a defensive rebound
Missed 3-PT Jade Melbourne
Missed midrange Natisha Hiedeman
I believe shot clock violation Hiedeman
Missed 3-PT Natisha Hiedeman
Missed 3-PT Jade Melbourne
The fact that the Storm didn’t get Dom or Awa a touch in the final two minutes is borderline inexcusable.
I agree with you, Jeff, that this loss felt different. But this was a strange game. We had so many uncharacteristic turnovers early. I think our players were a little off their game, maybe putting some extra pressure on themselves. Flau'jae found it difficult to get into a groove. Jade was a little bit careless.
That said, it was so much fun to see Dom being so effectively aggressive, both running the floor and in the paint. It is fun watching Awa figure out how to be effective and her midrange shot is so smooth. I also that expect Natisha will continue to reach career highs in so many stats
I would argue your point about “uncharacteristic turnovers.” Agree with everything else. I think turnovers have been a problem since day one. But on a larger scale, over and over I see: (A) a total inability to box out; (B) really sloppy and lackadaisical passing; and (C) inexplicable difficulty finishing in the paint - be it missed layups, missed put-backs, or even getting shots blocked by smaller defenders.
We've had some games with lots of turnovers and others which were pretty clean. Some of our earlier turnovers were players trying to do too much or maybe players who moved in a way that the passer didn't anticipate. These are youngster turnovers or new teammate turnovers or both. The early turnovers yesterday were more like inattentive turnovers or distracted turnovers or planning ahead turnovers. That's what it looked like to me.
Frustrating to say the least. They were always gonna lose a lot this season but you really want to sprinkle in a couple wins here and there to help the vibes and release some of the pressure.
I don’t get why they didn’t pressure or foul at the end of the game, but I don’t think it was intentional tanking by Raman. The way minutes are being distributed looks like the coaching staff is trying hard to win.
BUT, on the lottery side of things, ignoring the Sun who will be getting the top odds regardless, we are sitting pretty good. The two other teams in front of the Storm, the Mystics and Sky have a pick swap and both have a bit less incentive to lose. I still want to trade for Lacan now, but alas, the draft will be fun.
I 100% agree that they still need to find some wins, and that is why I wrote about the OK to lose until it's not. If they go 6-38, it'll put the franchise in a great spot for the draft lottery, but it has the potential to do damage to the young players and team as well.
The largest positive this season is that the Storm's best players have often been Dom Malonga, Awa Fam, and Flau'jae Johnson (along with Hiedeman), but it's those 3 young players that the franchise will be built around.
Percy Allen did ask Coach Raman about why she didn't foul at the end there. There were only around 32 seconds left in the game, and the team was down by five. I think you have to foul there because even giving up two more points, which would put them down 7, is probably better to do that and keep 30 seconds on the clock as opposed to remaining down by 5 with 8 seconds to go. Also, there was no guarantee they'd get the defensive stop that they did, so they could have wasted 20-24 seconds and still given up points. I don't think the team is intentionally tanking, but I was very confused by that.
The game was over once Carleton hit that 3 to put Portland up 5 with under a minute to play, and then Seattle didn't score on their next possession.
At the end of all these close games, they seem to just lose... something. Poise? Focus? Defense starts standing around, giving up offensive rebounds, offense becomes stagnant, guards forcing up bad shots. Sloppy passes taking away good shot opportunities. Turnovers.
It's fair to ask what the coaching staff is doing to keep the players locked in at these times.
Also, Is Sonia too nice to tell the guards to THROW DOM THE DAMN BALL?
PDX did not have ANYBODY that can guard Dom. She should have had 38, not 28.
I wanted to write this last night, but after Dom scored to put Seattle ahead 89-84, neither Malonga nor Awa Fam took a shot the rest of the game. I believe Seattle’s remaining possessions were:
Turnover Zia Cooke
Flagrant foul Jade Melbourne as Seattle couldn’t collect a defensive rebound
Missed 3-PT Jade Melbourne
Missed midrange Natisha Hiedeman
I believe shot clock violation Hiedeman
Missed 3-PT Natisha Hiedeman
Missed 3-PT Jade Melbourne
The fact that the Storm didn’t get Dom or Awa a touch in the final two minutes is borderline inexcusable.
That was inexcusable. I don't understand it.
That was inexcusable. I don't understand it.
That was inexcusable. I don't understand it.
That was inexcusable. I don't understand it.
I agree with you, Jeff, that this loss felt different. But this was a strange game. We had so many uncharacteristic turnovers early. I think our players were a little off their game, maybe putting some extra pressure on themselves. Flau'jae found it difficult to get into a groove. Jade was a little bit careless.
That said, it was so much fun to see Dom being so effectively aggressive, both running the floor and in the paint. It is fun watching Awa figure out how to be effective and her midrange shot is so smooth. I also that expect Natisha will continue to reach career highs in so many stats
I would argue your point about “uncharacteristic turnovers.” Agree with everything else. I think turnovers have been a problem since day one. But on a larger scale, over and over I see: (A) a total inability to box out; (B) really sloppy and lackadaisical passing; and (C) inexplicable difficulty finishing in the paint - be it missed layups, missed put-backs, or even getting shots blocked by smaller defenders.
We've had some games with lots of turnovers and others which were pretty clean. Some of our earlier turnovers were players trying to do too much or maybe players who moved in a way that the passer didn't anticipate. These are youngster turnovers or new teammate turnovers or both. The early turnovers yesterday were more like inattentive turnovers or distracted turnovers or planning ahead turnovers. That's what it looked like to me.
Trying to imagine what the post game locker room talk is like at this point from Coach Raman. Oof. Tanking is bad, don’t do it.
Frustrating to say the least. They were always gonna lose a lot this season but you really want to sprinkle in a couple wins here and there to help the vibes and release some of the pressure.
I don’t get why they didn’t pressure or foul at the end of the game, but I don’t think it was intentional tanking by Raman. The way minutes are being distributed looks like the coaching staff is trying hard to win.
BUT, on the lottery side of things, ignoring the Sun who will be getting the top odds regardless, we are sitting pretty good. The two other teams in front of the Storm, the Mystics and Sky have a pick swap and both have a bit less incentive to lose. I still want to trade for Lacan now, but alas, the draft will be fun.
I 100% agree that they still need to find some wins, and that is why I wrote about the OK to lose until it's not. If they go 6-38, it'll put the franchise in a great spot for the draft lottery, but it has the potential to do damage to the young players and team as well.
The largest positive this season is that the Storm's best players have often been Dom Malonga, Awa Fam, and Flau'jae Johnson (along with Hiedeman), but it's those 3 young players that the franchise will be built around.
Percy Allen did ask Coach Raman about why she didn't foul at the end there. There were only around 32 seconds left in the game, and the team was down by five. I think you have to foul there because even giving up two more points, which would put them down 7, is probably better to do that and keep 30 seconds on the clock as opposed to remaining down by 5 with 8 seconds to go. Also, there was no guarantee they'd get the defensive stop that they did, so they could have wasted 20-24 seconds and still given up points. I don't think the team is intentionally tanking, but I was very confused by that.
The game was over once Carleton hit that 3 to put Portland up 5 with under a minute to play, and then Seattle didn't score on their next possession.
Oh yeah, I was just saying I agree with you! Rebuilding is a tricky path.
Thanks for the thoughts on the end of the game, hope they handle it a little better next time, but agree it was pretty out of reach at that point.
We certainly could have and should have won this game. For awhile it looked like it was in the bag.