Rantings of an Insane Platypus - Year in review

Wednesday 31 December 2003

The more things change, the more they stay the same

déjà vû anyone? The 2002-03 college season had its fair share of interesting stories with Texas making some real noise for the first time since the late 1980s and Villanova showing that a tightly constructed system with limited talent can get you everywhere but at the end of the day, it was the same old suspects in the decider - Connecticut and Tennessee. And it was also the same old story in that game with UConn continuing their recent dominance over Tennessee. UConn's season was definitely different from 2001-02 with no more TASS and a tougher run (loss to Villanova, tight games with Tennessee in the regular season and Texas in the Final Four) but they got the big cheese in the end. I watched UConn in the Elite Eight, Final Four and NC game and Geno Auriemma is truly a coaching genius.

In the WNBL, the big story was the emergence of the new generation with Shelley Hammonds, Carly Wilson, Hollie Grima and Laura Summerton all creating waves in the WNBL. Expansion team Townsville made a massive turnaround from going 4-17 the year before to finishing second on the table in the regular season. Who did we see in the grand final though? Canberra and Sydney in Canberra - for the third year in a row! Once again, Sydney fought their way to the grand final with an overtime win over Adelaide at home and then going up to Townsville and inflicting Townsville's only home defeat in the whole season to reach the final. The result of the final was eerily similar to the season before. Unlike last season where they came from behind, Sydney jumped out to a big halftime lead but Canberra went on a 18-0 run in the third quarter to get themselves back in the game. The fourth quarter was a tussle but once again, Canberra held their nerve down the stretch and pulled out another tight win, 69-67. Lauren Jackson was again awarded Grand Final MVP with another mammoth performance (30+ points and 15+ rebounds).

The more things change... the more they DON'T stay the same

Pre-season, most people thought that the WNBA would continue status quo. The East was up in the air with the P word mentioned several times (and judging by the last minute playoff scramble in the East, it wasn't too far off the mark) but the West was expected to continue their dominance with the usual suspects at the top - L.A, Houston, Sacramento.

Very few predicted that "upstart" Detroit would take centre stage.

We all waited for the eventual crash... but it never happened. Detroit finished a league best 25-9 in the regular season. They had a close shave against Cleveland in the first round of playoffs, rolled over Connecticut and set up a titanic clash with the two time defending champions, the Los Angeles Sparks. The first game saw L.A win comfortably but the last two games will go down in the annals of WNBA history as being two of the most exciting finals games ever. Detroit had leads in both games, only to surrender them late in the game. However in a show of mental toughness, they came from behind in both games and made key plays on both ends of the court to take out the title. They also set an attendance record in the series decider. What is so remarkable about Detroit is their lack of experience - four starters have three 3 years of experience or less in the WNBA and only one of those had been to the playoffs (Ruth Riley in 2001). The fifth starter had only been once to the playoffs as well. Their coach, Bill Laimbeer, is in his first major coaching job.

Generation change can also be seen in the awards with the two top vote-getters in the MVP award being drafted in 2001. The winner, Lauren Jackson, is only 22 years old. Eight out of ten players in the All-WNBA teams were drafted in the last three seasons.

So what does next year look like? We could be in for more of the same. Los Angeles and Houston have key players going off to the Olympics while defending champions Detroit Shock will most likely have no players going off to the Olympics.

Ex-NBA players coaching in the WNBA

The new craze in the WNBA. I don't have much of a problem as some others might - it's a bit better than recycling the Linda Hargroves/Lin Dunns/Brian Aglers of the world and all the good college coaches won't want to leave their cushy positions. However it doesn't necessarily work - remember T.R Dunn and Dee Brown? Evidently San Antonio didn't - Dee Brown is responsible for two of the worst trades in WNBA history and needs to touch up on his player evaluation.

FIBA rule changes

These are mainly stupid. Possession arrow - very bad. Change in ball size - why bother? It's a waste of money and I doubt there will be any significant difference in the quality of the game. If they're trying to encourage dunking, they're barking up the wrong tree. Even with the smaller balls, it's not like college basketball and the WNBA are flowing with dunks.

Aussies in the NCAA

This phenomena is becoming more widespread. Young Australian players are viewing America as a good opportunity to play some ball and get a good education. An interesting development is AIS players going to the US after graduating from the AIS, instead of taking the more traditional route of going to the WNBL. Duke sophomore Jessica Foley and Oregon freshman Eleanor Haring are two of these players and are doing well. I also think American coaches are more aware of Australia especially with Australia getting more recognition as a global women's basketball power.

WNBA contraction

Clearly the WNBA is now paying the price for an overly aggressive expansion policy when it was competing with the ABL. The Cleveland situation was especially sad because there was a viable franchise there - it's just that Gund didn't want it and there was too narrow a timeframe to really work anything out. I don't think it's all gloom and doom for the WNBA but they really have to work at preserving what they have and for goodness sakes, try something different to promote the league.

Quickies

Biggest non-story of the year: The Byears thing. Shocking when it first broke, some predicted it would be a scandal that would taint the WNBA for a long time. Then... nothing. What's up?

IMPROVE THE DAMN OFFICIATING - that goes for all levels of basketball.

Stupidest quote of the year award: honourable mentions goes to many things said by Lisa Leslie but current Australian national team coach Jan Stirling takes the cake with...

"Some candidates for the team, especially those who are playing in both Europe and America, may see it as one rule for Jackson and another for the rest," Stirling said.

"But that's not the case." (in reference to Basketball Australia's decision to only allow LJ back to the WNBA)

She didn't really say this with a straight face, did she?

The "I've outstayed my welcome and I really should go" award: Chris Gobrecht of USC. Jan Stirling runner-up.

New years resolutions:

Jan Stirling - I will get an offensive playbook
Karen Dalton - I will play my more than adequate point guards
Lisa Leslie - I will try and think before I say things so I don't end up sounding like an arrogant, clueless bimbo (Lisa sounds like a reasonably intelligent woman - she just has a bad case of "foot in mouth" syndrome)
Tara Vanderveer - I will realise there is more to Stanford than Nicole Powell
Carol Blazejowski - I will not acquire another combo guard when I need posts and bigger wing forward.
Anne Donovan - I will not make obscure drafting decisions that are risky and don't pay off.
All Euro-posts - I will box out, play defense and not shoot 15-footers all the time.
All officials - When I see blatant elbows and shoving in front of me, I will call it.

Basketball personality of year: Lauren Jackson. So you will all call me biased but LJ has had a hell of a year. WNBL, WNBA, World Club Championships - all MVPs. Just goes to show what a bit of good coaching can do. Also worthy of mention - Geno Auriemma, Diana Taurasi, Bill Laimbeer (kudos for posting on the ESPN board), the Detroit Shock as a team

Happy new year everyone!