A'ja Wilson is the WNBA MVP, the Seattle Storm are looking for a new coach and is Indiana this season's Cinderella team? We break it all down in this week's Five Out.
Andrew - regarding the Storm and who to select as the new coach and how to design next year’s team, you said that History tells us that it doesn’t usually work to build a bridge between the old and the new. Can you give some examples? Thanks.
Of course! I think it's worked better in the deep past than it has now. I'd argue that the Wings, Sky and Sparks of this year are an example of bridging two eras not necessarily working. The Mystics also tried to do it post-EDD and it didn't net you much other than a fringe playoff berth. The Lisa Leslie/Candace Parker Sparks probably underwhelmed relative to expectation.
Seattle, interestingly, is one of the few teams that has done it and succeeded in the past but that's also been contingent on a HOF point guard to stabilize everything on both ends.
The Storm were so blessed that Sue decided to remain with the franchise during those rebuilding years when she was a veteran. I assume that is a strong memory in the holders and maintainers of Storm culture and could very well impact future decisions.
Andrew - regarding the Storm and who to select as the new coach and how to design next year’s team, you said that History tells us that it doesn’t usually work to build a bridge between the old and the new. Can you give some examples? Thanks.
Of course! I think it's worked better in the deep past than it has now. I'd argue that the Wings, Sky and Sparks of this year are an example of bridging two eras not necessarily working. The Mystics also tried to do it post-EDD and it didn't net you much other than a fringe playoff berth. The Lisa Leslie/Candace Parker Sparks probably underwhelmed relative to expectation.
Seattle, interestingly, is one of the few teams that has done it and succeeded in the past but that's also been contingent on a HOF point guard to stabilize everything on both ends.
The Storm were so blessed that Sue decided to remain with the franchise during those rebuilding years when she was a veteran. I assume that is a strong memory in the holders and maintainers of Storm culture and could very well impact future decisions.