Doggydaddy's Den: DoggyDaddy's Dailies 5/18/16

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My friend RadyLady made this excellent post about Breanna Stewart's debut. I thought I would share it.
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The AP headline reads "Candace Parker tallies 34 as Sparks ruin Breanna Stewart's debut"

Ruin -

Well, the Sparks did win and Seattle didn't, but I don't consider a stat line for the first game in the WNBA by a rookie that looks like this a failure:

MIN     FGM-A    3PM-A FTM-A OREB DREB     REB AST STL BLK     TO PF     +/-     PTS
34         9-13         0-2         5-8             3             3         6         3     2     1            3     5     -25   23

I think that it is a pretty good outing. (Someone please explain the +/- thing? Has it to do directly by what Stewie does or the overall performance while she is on the floor?)

and Mechele Voepel's headline was along the same line in this article -

Sparks rout Storm, ruin Breanna Stewart's professional debut

Ruin....was Breanna disappointed?

The rookie was high scorer for the storm, and collected the most rebounds - and her thoughts on the game?

"I felt good. As each quarter went on, I felt more comfortable in the game and with what we were trying to do," said Stewart, who was 9-of-13 from the field and 5-of-8 from the line, with six rebounds and three assists. "Obviously, there were a lot of mistakes. That's going to happen.

"But it was fun. Being matched up with a team like them, they're great. For my first game, it's one I'll remember. We lost, and that sucks. But I think there is a lot of good to come out of it as well."

By the way, how many titles has the Sparks earned since Parker has been on the team?

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And another friend, Linkster, posted this great information about Candace Parker and how it relates to her exclusion from the Olympic team.
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There has been a lot of talk about Parker's absense from the olympic team is such a travistry. Now no one is denying that she is a very talented player and she has put up great numbers and has won 2 MVP's. But lets see just how great the WNBA GM's think she is:

Parker is considered the 3rd- 5th best forward
Parker is not considered a center
Parker is not among the best 6 finishers in the league

Parker is 5th best in getting her own shot
Parker is not among the top 5 rebounders
Parker has the second best post moves
Parker is not among the top 4 passers in the league
Parker(7%) trails Angel(42%) and her team mate Ogwumike(33%) as far as athleticism
Parker is not among the top 6 pure shooters
Parker is not among the top 5 leaders
Parker is not among the top 6 toughest
Parker(8%) trails only Bird(42%) and Taurasi(33%) in BB IQ
Parker is not among the top 3 in making her team mates better
Parker is not considered one of the top defenders
Parker is not one of the top interior defenders nor one of the top perimeter defenders

Now there is certainly a strong case for her being on the USA squad but there is a case for a lot of players in the league. Contoversial? Definitely. A travesty? No.

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