Oh no! Seems like they've been rushing her back too soon with these injuries of hers. They're becoming recurring and successive, and that's not a good sign for long term player health. Hopefully the team medical staff start erring on the side of caution and hold her out a little longer even if she says she's fine.
WNBA mimicking the NBA All-Star weekend format. Not fond of that. Instead of the skills challenge, they should mimic the very successful Unrivaled format and have four teams play each other, then the winners of those games play a final. Should be open to all WNBA players and open up the weekend for many more WNBA players, including Kayla McBride. More inclusive.
I haven’t watched a WNBA All-Star game and I haven’t watched an NBA All-Star game live for many years. I’m hoping that the WNBA All-Star Game itself is much more competitive
I thought “Blazers” is from “trail blazers,” connected to Oregon history. So “Fire” sounds like literally incinerating the trail. (Why should anything make sense?..)
I guess it doesn't really make sense :) Back in the mid-90s, I guess when the Portland WNBA team front office was trying to come up with a team name, they thought "what can be associated with Blazers"? Blaze... Fire
That's my theory. I could be wrong.
Still remember the first Portland Fire team having Jackie Stiles. She could really score.
I agree, I think that is what they did and they were stupid (can I say that here?). It’s like lowest common denominator thinking. Isn’t the soccer team the Thorns? Now that’s brilliant. Portland is the rose city.
I am just learning about this history. Wish I was around it growing up. Really proud of GSV for educating people about/honoring it. The only women’s pro sport I grew up with was tennis.
Looks like the 2nd half of the season will be a dog-fight to get that playoff spot. I expected the Mystics to be bad this season, but I don't know how they keep winning. Kiki Iriafen buffed up and got stronger. She's been much better than what she showed at USC. I suspect playing under Juju's spotlight kinda stunted her development. That could explain why a lot of the USC players entered the transfer portal after the season ended.
I expect the Aces to go on a winning streak soon. They've been under-performing. Last season, they also started slow, then went on a winning streak. The Fever will probably end up with a near .500 record. Hopefully the Valks can get a boost when Rupert joins after the break.
Let's get some fake controversy going here: I disagree (angrily, for clicks reason) that "dagger" should only be reserved for shots that are game-sealers or that they are synonymous with night-night shots.
I say (with wild-eyed confidence) that a dagger is any psychologically important and/or clearly momentum-shifting shot. Used to be, even a Q1 heat-check 3 could be a dagger, but now any team can come back from any deficit, so I'd accept that they now be limited to end of half heaves and 2nd half shots. Basically, any time the other team slumps their shoulders or starts blaming each other, that's a dagger.
Thank you for addressing this topic with the grave(!) seriousness it deserves.
Let's get down to specifics. I was specifically complaining about using What A Dagger Jumbotron video for Q3.4.02 after Billings hits a 3 to put GSV up 50-49. You can see the game context here: https://www.wnba.com/game/1022500138/PHX-vs-GSV/playbyplay (It completed a comeback from 6 points down.)
Members of the jury, do we think this is an appropriate use of What A Dagger?
... and if it is, then is every lead changing shot a "dagger"?
(I can hear the announcers now: With the Rockets nursing a 2 point lead Steph dribbles up the sideline. Oh! He launches from the Logo Swish! What a dagger! Rockets inbound the ball trailing 3-2 ...)
OK, I'll bite (sort of - I'm not into outrage but I am into the academic discussion)
>Used to be, even a Q1 heat-check 3 could be a dagger
This is where I think you are wrong. Many terms change meaning over time so while I personally agree that "dagger" should mean a shot that basically ends the game - the violent reference to a fight ended when one person takes out a dagger and "ends" the other, I admit that people might have started using it for any momentum turning shot (in their opinion as there is no definition for such a shot).
However it USED to be the way Eric described it. As a basically game ending shot and the game basically was over at that point. That's for sure the way it started, and the way I think it "ought" to be used. I cannot speak to how it is used these days.
Oh yea, kayfabe. Good stuff to act like you're above it all before you jump in.
In the real world, one can (sometimes) survive several dagger wounds, so you're saying "dagger" was understood to be short for "dagger to the heart"?
That's seems right. In my extensive 45 seconds of research I found that n 1985, Pat Riley said in the Finals "We're feeling the dagger a little bit now, but we've got to come back strong Friday night." in 1985, and then it was used heavily to describe Jordan's 1989 shot (aka The Shot) against Cleveland.
Look, I will incorporate "ooh, bet they're feeling the dagger now" because it sounds so Shakespearean and visceral. But I will say it all the damn time, because I'm annoying af. Boom, rapier for the win.
I had to look up kayfabe. Not really into pro wrestling and had never heard that term. Same problem with fake outrage. But I am interested in the roots of the term (if that's being "above it all" than yes, I am, but personally, I think anyone who was truly above it all I wouldn't be on the internet).
Well, I admit the way Riley used it doesn't indicate the end so I guess you're saying anyone can use the phrase to mean whatever the hell they want -> the term dagger doesn't have any meaning at all, so why use it? (I would note that Riley does not appear to be talking about a particular shot but rather the pressure they felt to play well Friday (after presumably losing the previous game) so his quote may not be that applicable to referring to a specific shot as a dagger, but that is neither here nor there.
Lastly, I bet that if you try to define "psychologically important and/or clearly momentum-shifting shot" you will end up with "I know it when I see it"
If JK signs with the expectation that he'll be traded by the deadline, he'll play hard. But in what context? Play hard to showcase his shot-creation and offense so other teams will be interested?
Or will he play hard and do whatever it takes to win (rebounding, setting screens, looking for Steph on relocates, rotating on defense, happily cheering his teammates from the bench, doing things that don't show up in stat sheets)?
What an exciting ending from the Valkyries. They fouled twice at the end and thanks to a missed free throw they were in a position to keep the tie or even win. Then the crowd went wild when the Valkyries tied the game near the very end. Thanks to Janelle’s heave. Too bad the refs had to decide the game.
I was at the game. Can confirm. Ballhalla was rocking and my body is still feeling the vibrations 😵 I imagine I would've felt like jelly today had we pulled off a win instead of that momentum killing ending 😁
The crescendo on top of the crescendo - both gifted by Salaün’s clutch shots - ignited an explosion I didn’t know was possible. Never experienced that. Whole game felt like a playoff.
-If Rupert is everything I've heard, we're gonna start winning some of these close ones. Right now, we're just not good enough at getting that extra bucket we need.
-Agree with Via that, on a team with balanced talent like this, a little more egalitarian playing time could help keep the energy meter up at the end of games especially on long road trips.
-I try not to comlain about refs when my team loses so as not to appear a bad loser, but let me just say that I was a bit unclear about what was and wasn't a foul from time to time during the game.
I am usually a really positive person but I am actually really sad about today’s game sigh. The starting lineup looked exhausted by the beginning of the second half, but Nat refused to rotate. The Carla–Mo Billings / LA–Ceci combos were working really well for a moment, but it was short lived.
Peeps that have been around for a while probably know that Carla’s one of my faves and honestly she really showed up. Something worth highlighting is that she got 5 rebs tonight. She still needs to work on her shots, but at least she’s still trying, and she knocked down a middy (a positive😭). It was still a tough night for Janelle, but she completely redeemed herself in the final seconds, keeping the team alive and proving she’s THAT girl under pressure. Hopefully this gives her all the confidence back.
We still have the Seattle game left, but the team is clearly tired and honestly, I am tired too after so many close losses. Hoping everyone can rest and recharge over the all star break!
Groin injury had Clark in tears by the end of the game.
Oh no! Seems like they've been rushing her back too soon with these injuries of hers. They're becoming recurring and successive, and that's not a good sign for long term player health. Hopefully the team medical staff start erring on the side of caution and hold her out a little longer even if she says she's fine.
WNBA mimicking the NBA All-Star weekend format. Not fond of that. Instead of the skills challenge, they should mimic the very successful Unrivaled format and have four teams play each other, then the winners of those games play a final. Should be open to all WNBA players and open up the weekend for many more WNBA players, including Kayla McBride. More inclusive.
I haven’t watched a WNBA All-Star game and I haven’t watched an NBA All-Star game live for many years. I’m hoping that the WNBA All-Star Game itself is much more competitive
Portland Fire logo is giving firefighters. I guess that's not a bad thing but not loving the name.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portland_Fire
Name and logo are fine but the color is…underwhelming☹️
Color scheme = harrible
It's the same name they had when the wnba first started. Portland Fire. Which is derived from Blazers...
I thought “Blazers” is from “trail blazers,” connected to Oregon history. So “Fire” sounds like literally incinerating the trail. (Why should anything make sense?..)
I guess it doesn't really make sense :) Back in the mid-90s, I guess when the Portland WNBA team front office was trying to come up with a team name, they thought "what can be associated with Blazers"? Blaze... Fire
That's my theory. I could be wrong.
Still remember the first Portland Fire team having Jackie Stiles. She could really score.
I agree, I think that is what they did and they were stupid (can I say that here?). It’s like lowest common denominator thinking. Isn’t the soccer team the Thorns? Now that’s brilliant. Portland is the rose city.
I am just learning about this history. Wish I was around it growing up. Really proud of GSV for educating people about/honoring it. The only women’s pro sport I grew up with was tennis.
Looks like the 2nd half of the season will be a dog-fight to get that playoff spot. I expected the Mystics to be bad this season, but I don't know how they keep winning. Kiki Iriafen buffed up and got stronger. She's been much better than what she showed at USC. I suspect playing under Juju's spotlight kinda stunted her development. That could explain why a lot of the USC players entered the transfer portal after the season ended.
I expect the Aces to go on a winning streak soon. They've been under-performing. Last season, they also started slow, then went on a winning streak. The Fever will probably end up with a near .500 record. Hopefully the Valks can get a boost when Rupert joins after the break.
And the Liberty should look quite different when JJ comes back.
Let's get some fake controversy going here: I disagree (angrily, for clicks reason) that "dagger" should only be reserved for shots that are game-sealers or that they are synonymous with night-night shots.
I say (with wild-eyed confidence) that a dagger is any psychologically important and/or clearly momentum-shifting shot. Used to be, even a Q1 heat-check 3 could be a dagger, but now any team can come back from any deficit, so I'd accept that they now be limited to end of half heaves and 2nd half shots. Basically, any time the other team slumps their shoulders or starts blaming each other, that's a dagger.
Night-night is the dagger that leaves no doubt.
Thank you for addressing this topic with the grave(!) seriousness it deserves.
Let's get down to specifics. I was specifically complaining about using What A Dagger Jumbotron video for Q3.4.02 after Billings hits a 3 to put GSV up 50-49. You can see the game context here: https://www.wnba.com/game/1022500138/PHX-vs-GSV/playbyplay (It completed a comeback from 6 points down.)
Members of the jury, do we think this is an appropriate use of What A Dagger?
... and if it is, then is every lead changing shot a "dagger"?
(I can hear the announcers now: With the Rockets nursing a 2 point lead Steph dribbles up the sideline. Oh! He launches from the Logo Swish! What a dagger! Rockets inbound the ball trailing 3-2 ...)
(obvs. I vote not a good use :p)
OK, I'll bite (sort of - I'm not into outrage but I am into the academic discussion)
>Used to be, even a Q1 heat-check 3 could be a dagger
This is where I think you are wrong. Many terms change meaning over time so while I personally agree that "dagger" should mean a shot that basically ends the game - the violent reference to a fight ended when one person takes out a dagger and "ends" the other, I admit that people might have started using it for any momentum turning shot (in their opinion as there is no definition for such a shot).
However it USED to be the way Eric described it. As a basically game ending shot and the game basically was over at that point. That's for sure the way it started, and the way I think it "ought" to be used. I cannot speak to how it is used these days.
Oh yea, kayfabe. Good stuff to act like you're above it all before you jump in.
In the real world, one can (sometimes) survive several dagger wounds, so you're saying "dagger" was understood to be short for "dagger to the heart"?
That's seems right. In my extensive 45 seconds of research I found that n 1985, Pat Riley said in the Finals "We're feeling the dagger a little bit now, but we've got to come back strong Friday night." in 1985, and then it was used heavily to describe Jordan's 1989 shot (aka The Shot) against Cleveland.
Look, I will incorporate "ooh, bet they're feeling the dagger now" because it sounds so Shakespearean and visceral. But I will say it all the damn time, because I'm annoying af. Boom, rapier for the win.
I had to look up kayfabe. Not really into pro wrestling and had never heard that term. Same problem with fake outrage. But I am interested in the roots of the term (if that's being "above it all" than yes, I am, but personally, I think anyone who was truly above it all I wouldn't be on the internet).
Well, I admit the way Riley used it doesn't indicate the end so I guess you're saying anyone can use the phrase to mean whatever the hell they want -> the term dagger doesn't have any meaning at all, so why use it? (I would note that Riley does not appear to be talking about a particular shot but rather the pressure they felt to play well Friday (after presumably losing the previous game) so his quote may not be that applicable to referring to a specific shot as a dagger, but that is neither here nor there.
Lastly, I bet that if you try to define "psychologically important and/or clearly momentum-shifting shot" you will end up with "I know it when I see it"
on a higher up reply, I break out the specific "dagger" I was complaining about. Do we think it's a real "dagger" or no?
just to stretch this out past the event horizon, you must provide alternatives. to wit: That was no dagger, that was _________.
a. a basket b. a nice basket c. a non-fatal dagger injury d. my wife.
in order of importance
big shot
huge shot
massive shot
gigantic shot
any shot more important than that is likely to be a dagger or a night night
Current state of Bay Area basketball:
When is Iliana Rupert arriving?
When is Jonathan Kuminga leaving?
Rupert is reported to be joining the team after the all star break.
Now do JK :)
JK is reportedly re-signing with the Warriors with the expectation that he'll be traded by the deadline.
I don't like this move. Half-hearted JK, with half of the Warriors season discussion being "where will he be traded?"
I want JK to come back only if he's happy with his role.
I think he’ll play hard. That’s what’s best for his future. It can be a mutual effort.. if JK can grow tf up.
If JK signs with the expectation that he'll be traded by the deadline, he'll play hard. But in what context? Play hard to showcase his shot-creation and offense so other teams will be interested?
Or will he play hard and do whatever it takes to win (rebounding, setting screens, looking for Steph on relocates, rotating on defense, happily cheering his teammates from the bench, doing things that don't show up in stat sheets)?
And JK will have a NTC so he'll have to agree on where to be traded to.
What an exciting ending from the Valkyries. They fouled twice at the end and thanks to a missed free throw they were in a position to keep the tie or even win. Then the crowd went wild when the Valkyries tied the game near the very end. Thanks to Janelle’s heave. Too bad the refs had to decide the game.
That’s the loudest Vallhalla has ever been. Ear-splitting. Physical vibration created.
I was at the game. Can confirm. Ballhalla was rocking and my body is still feeling the vibrations 😵 I imagine I would've felt like jelly today had we pulled off a win instead of that momentum killing ending 😁
Went home hoarse!
The crescendo on top of the crescendo - both gifted by Salaün’s clutch shots - ignited an explosion I didn’t know was possible. Never experienced that. Whole game felt like a playoff.
"Stop. We were already dead" :D
-If Rupert is everything I've heard, we're gonna start winning some of these close ones. Right now, we're just not good enough at getting that extra bucket we need.
-Agree with Via that, on a team with balanced talent like this, a little more egalitarian playing time could help keep the energy meter up at the end of games especially on long road trips.
-I try not to comlain about refs when my team loses so as not to appear a bad loser, but let me just say that I was a bit unclear about what was and wasn't a foul from time to time during the game.
I am usually a really positive person but I am actually really sad about today’s game sigh. The starting lineup looked exhausted by the beginning of the second half, but Nat refused to rotate. The Carla–Mo Billings / LA–Ceci combos were working really well for a moment, but it was short lived.
Peeps that have been around for a while probably know that Carla’s one of my faves and honestly she really showed up. Something worth highlighting is that she got 5 rebs tonight. She still needs to work on her shots, but at least she’s still trying, and she knocked down a middy (a positive😭). It was still a tough night for Janelle, but she completely redeemed herself in the final seconds, keeping the team alive and proving she’s THAT girl under pressure. Hopefully this gives her all the confidence back.
We still have the Seattle game left, but the team is clearly tired and honestly, I am tired too after so many close losses. Hoping everyone can rest and recharge over the all star break!