Howard: Okay, lightning round: give me your WNBA Finals matchup prediction, winner, and Finals MVP. I’ll go first: Seattle over Washington, Breanna Stewart.
Lindsay: I hate to say “same,” but … same.
Howard: It’s okay, eventually I will be right about something
Lindsay: I am very nervous about Washington getting through the second round, though. I think this format is horribly unforgiving to 3/4 seeds.
Howard: Tina Charles agrees with you
Ben: Phoenix over Washington. Griner.
Howard: BOOM
That feels possible, too
Honestly there’s not a team in the field I couldn’t see winning it all
Lindsay: oooh, i like that.
if brunson’s not back, minnesota can’t. there just aren’t enough bodies, i don’t think.
Howard: BUT the longer they survive, the likelier her return is (and could even be tonight!)
They have a math problem at PG regardless
But to me, betting against those players and that coach feels like a fool’s errand. Will believe they’re done when officially eliminated and not a moment sooner
Lindsay: Yeah, it’s true.
Howard: Anyone else @here have finals prediction?
Okay, on to our final round
Give me your most profound, previously unshared thought about any player or team in these playoffs
Lindsay: (that is a very broad edict, lol)
Howard: PROFOUND OR GO HOME
Ben: Can I just dunk on Blake instead
Howard: Profoundly
Lindsay: I will say this: I’m really excited to see how Atlanta does in a best-of-five series. They have some really cerebral players, and a lot of flexibility with their lineups, and I think it will be fun to see how they adjust and game-plan against the same opponent night after night.
(Also, I feel weird that we haven’t mentioned Connecticut? Maybe at all?)
Ben: ^ Should have mentioned that instead. Glad that Curt Miller has decided to put his 2 best players on the court for as many minutes as possible. It isn’t a slight to anybody, JJ is just too good to not play 30+ minutes a night next to Alyssa Thomas because of how well they complement each other
Howard: You mean Connecticut with the now-unguardable Jonquel Jones and absurdly overqualified backup point guard Layshia Clarendon? Yeah, me too, Lindsay
Lindsay: yes, that’s the one.
Ben: For my money, Candace Parker is still the best player in the league. But I think other teams have made the decision to really drop off of their weaker shooters, namely Alana Beard and Odyssey Sims. Winning two single elimination games is daunting for any team, but I’m not sure the Sparks will be able to do that unless they lean more on Essence Carson and Riquna Williams to try to make teams pay for sending help.
Lindsay: I don’t think Connecticut is going to lose their home playoff game as the 4 seed 2 years in a row. Though it’s also hard to see Phoenix losing, if they beat the Wings. GAH THIS IS SO HARD.
Howard: It remains the largest question about the Sun. I’m not sure we know yet how Curt Miller will decide this going forward. But he truly has three players for two spots there, and amazingly, Chiney, despite playing at an elite level, might be the odd person out.
Here’s my profound thought: the Las Vegas Aces are fortunate to not make the playoffs. They have a great shot at a top-2 pick now, and Bill Laimbeer is better at moves than virtually any GM in the league. So by next season, well, look out.
At any rate, that’s as close to profound as I get.