bucketsndefense

[iluvwomensports]

I really can’t believe people wanted Azzi to skip All-Star Weekend, just for her to come out here, get a personal win, and break a whole freaking record.

Stop putting limits on Azzi, like her ceiling is so freaking high it’s insane. Y’all gotta trust the process and believe in your rookie before the accolades arrive, not just after. It’s so strange to see “fans” continuously doubt or downplay someone whose journey is only beginning.

This weekend was just a glimpse of what’s coming. I’m so freaking proud of her. She deserves this moment, and I know there’s so much more ahead for her. I can’t wait to watch her grow and keep proving people wrong.

[iluvwomensports]

[iluvwomensports]

It doesn’t mean they think 27 guards are better than her. Players only had four guard spots to vote for, so this isn’t a true ranking of overall talent or skill, like the rest of us. That’s just how it even out. And if you watch how opposing defenses game-plan for her, it’s obvious they don’t view her as some scrub. The respect she gets from defenders says a lot. We can put that narrative to rest.

People also seem to forget that Azzi didn’t start, was averaging fewer than 10 fga a game for the May and some of June.

[thankyouforthememoriesworld]

[iluvwomensports]

[iluvwomensports]

🚨think peice, rant.. scroll if u don’t care. lol

Hopefully this season kills the whole “just sign a bunch of vets and you’ll contend” mentality. If you want to build a team that lasts, you have to invest in young players and actually let them play. Look at the Aces. Their dynasty happened because they drafted, invested and developed A’ja, Jackie, and KP.

Seattle is doing it with Awa, Dom, and Flau. The Mystics are doing it with Kiki, Sonia, Lauren, Shakira - right now they need a shooter/PG. These teams aren’t there yet but can already see the potential and they are getting the minutes and touches to grow. The Dream did the same with Rhyne, who’s still only 25/26, + plus vets to complement them and added Angel, Madina, Te-Hina, and Isobel

Then you look at teams like the Sparks. Sania barely got a chance before she was cut, Rickea got traded, Cam hasn’t consistently gotten minutes, Taniya’s been stuck on the bench, and Rae hasn’t really developed. The Mercury don’t really have a young core either.

That’s what I want Dallas to do with Azzi, Paige, Awak, and Zaza. Play them, let them grow together, and live with the mistakes. That’s how you build a team for the long run. Because with this roster trying to contend so bad and not giving your top picks keys, when you can develop them while contending with them in the front seat is crazy idk

[iluvwomensports]

I just watched a wings practice player day in their life and he showed them practicing and was basically them individually shooting shots and based on what we’ve seen from the media watching them practice too, it’s also just shooting drills. Do you guys know if they do five on five practice and if they do like set defensive drills, run plays etc., cause I have not seen that yet.

[bigcanada]

Hey guys the plan is the get Azzi into top 10 by the 27!!! This is a GC that’s gonna show how to vote, and how much. Pls request to join, the more people, the better

[iluvwomensports]

You were complaining about playing bad teams close not the rim defense. That is 2 different things

It’s giving you just want to argue because if you read my post you will see that I’m complaining that we played 2 bad teams close BECAUSE of our lack of rim/paint defense.

[iluvwomensports]

You have to realize it isn’t college anymore where you just beat bad teams. Go look at their travel schedule. They are out of gas. A few days of rest should help

Travel schedule is the reason for their defensive struggles they’ve been having in the paint since the season started?? Even you don’t believe that

[iluvwomensports]

So happy for Paige and Azzi and just the night they had but I actually hated that game. In fights with 2 of the worst teams in the league, mind you they got blown out by the Sun and mercury😀 What do you mean after Kam dropped a season high on us, you turn around and let baby Dom drop almost 40. You watch our bigs play and it’s just like they’re fucking cones oh my God. I’m actually irritated. Awak is not a center! Jess and Li just sorry on the defensive end. I feel so bad that Lan got re-injured, she was starting to look good.

If Aces is smart, they’ll stop all that middy nonsense they did the last 2 games we played them and get to the paint.

[35bucketz]

Azzi, I see your future and it’s so bright mama

#thepeople’sproblem #thepeople’spickpocket

[akaz2908]

[iluvwomensports]

I don’t like the minutes Azzi playing. But she legit can’t sit cus the team defense falls apart

[iluvwomensports]

If Haley can stay out of foul trouble, she’s a solid addition. She a ball handler, and her two man game with Paige was good last season. She sets good screens, rebounds well, and can hold her own as a weak-side rim protector. Plus, she already has chemistry with a lot of this group.

What I’m curious about is how they plan to use her. If she’s mostly at the 4 to give Jess some relief, you’re giving up some size. If she’s at the 3 (which is where I’d prefer to see her), then you start eating into Maddy’s little mins. Either way, she’s a versatile piece. And ik she’s on a dev contract, so she might not even play much. But with them adding another wing, I’m really interested to see how she fits offensively and defensively with Paige and Azzi. I want to see lineups with all three of them on the floor together.

I’m also hoping they bring in a big on a hardship contract so they can let Lan can rest and fully heal her nose. She’s going to be really important for us after the All-Star break. Awak isn’t really a center, and Li is pretty matchup-dependent, so I think we still need frontcourt depth.

[iluvwomensports]

We got 1 rebound as a team. Why can’t I escape a ass rebounding team😭😭 UConn, now Dallas

[iluvwomensports]

What blows my mind is watching people suddenly discover their morals when it comes to this while ignoring everything else they already support. A lot of y’all support Unrivaled. A lot of y’all support the W. Some of y’all are buying All-Star tickets knowing exactly what patches are going to be on those jerseys. Many of y’all support the NBA too. Hell, I’ve even seen people bend over backwards defending Paige’s AI partnership.

The reality is that almost every major league, company, and athlete is tied to money from corporations, investors, governments, or countries that somebody can find an issue with if they dig deep enough. So if your issue is genuinely about morals, keep that same energy across the board.

But if you’re only pulling out the moral outrage for Project B while giving everything else a pass, that’s hypocrisy. Quite frankly, it’s performative. You don’t have to support Project B. You don’t have to like it. But acting like it’s uniquely unethical while ignoring similar relationships throughout sports, the same leagues, teams, and players you already support and even want her to be a part of, is crazy to me.

* and this is not me telling people not to be disappointed. Or whatever. Have valid criticism. Idc. I’m not telling anyone to abandon their morals because of an athlete. If anything, I wish people would stop putting moral clause onto athletes, you don’t know these people. But It’s honestly bigger than that lol. It’s just a pattern where people have selective outrage and it’s so stupid.