Mavericks

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) &mdash; Aliyah Boston missed the second half of No. 1 South Carolina&rsquo;s game against Hampton on Sunday with her right foot in a walking boot, but reserves Bree Hall and Ashlyn Watkins scored 14 points each in an 85-38 win.
Kamila Cardoso added 11 points and 14 rebounds for South Carolina. It was the 6-foot-7 forward&rsquo;s eighth career double-double.
Boston, the reigning Associated Press Player of the Year, took a hard fall on a drive to the basket late in the second quarter and needed several moments to stand up. Soon after, she headed to the locker room before the period ended.
Boston did not come out for the start of the third quarter, returning to the bench midway through the period with a walking boot on her right foot. Boston spent the rest of the game cheering on her teammates, who improved to 6-0 this season and 5-0 all-time against the Pirates.
No. 2 STANFORD 68, HAWAII 39
HONOLULU (AP) &mdash; Ashten Pretchel scored 12 of her season-high 17 points in the first half to help Stanford easily defeat Hawaii on the final day of the Rainbow Wahine Showdown.
The Cardinal (7-1) erased an early deficit and held the Rainbow Wahine (1-6) to a season-low scoring output.
Pretchel came off the bench and shot 6 of 10 from the field, including hitting five 3-pointers. She also grabbed 11 rebounds.
Lily Wahinekapu led Hawaii with 12 points.
NO. 3 UCONN 86, NO. 9 IOWA 79
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) &mdash; Azzi Fudd scored 24 points to rally UConn past Iowa in the championship game of the first Phil Knight Legacy women&rsquo;s tournament.
Fudd had plenty of help, with Aaliyah Edwards (20 points, 13 rebounds) and three other Huskies (5-0) scoring in double-figures. Edwards was named MVP of the tournament.
Iowa (5-2) star Caitlin Clark had 25 points, and Kate Martin added 20.
Edwards got UConn off to a strong start, scoring 10 points while the Huskies built a 20-14 edge.
Clark and the Hawkeyes then surged with a 13-2 run to begin the second quarter and led 41-35 at halftime. Clark scored 17 points in the first half.
NO. 4 OHIO STATE 105, NORTH ALABAMA 67
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) &mdash; Rebeka Mikulasikova scored 23 points and Cotie McMahon added 20 to lead Ohio State past North Alabama.
The Buckeyes (6-0) shot 58.6% from the field as all five starters reached double figures in scoring.
North Alabama (3-3) trailed by eight points with less than eight minutes to go in the second quarter, but Ohio State extended its lead on an 11-0 run keyed by five points from Madison Greene.
The Buckeyes held a 59-37 lead at halftime and stretched it to as large as 39 with less than three minutes remaining.
No. 8 NORTH CAROLINA 73, No. 5 IOWA STATE 64
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) &mdash; Deja Kelly scored 29 points to power North Carolina to a 17-point comeback over Iowa State and win in the championship game of the Phil Knight Invitational tournament.
Kennedy Todd-Williams added 17 points to help the Tar Heels (6-0) complete the comeback and remain undefeated on the season. Alyssa Ustby contributed 14 points, nine rebounds, three steals and two blocks.
Stephanie Soares led the Cyclones (5-1) with 19 points and 12 rebounds, while Ashley Joens had 18 points and nine rebounds as Iowa State suffered its first loss of the year.
NO. 11 VIRGINIA TECH 89, LONGWOOD 28
BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) &mdash; Elizabeth Kitley had a double-double, Kayana Traylor added a double-double off the bench, and Virginia Tech rolled over Longwood.
Kitley had 23 points and 14 rebounds for the Hokies. Traylor had 11 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and two steals. Ashley Owusu scored 21 points, making 4 of 5 3-pointers.
The Hokies established a program record by holding South Carolina Upstate to 24 points on Nov. 14. Longwood passed 24 points when Adriana Shipp-Davis made a layup with 4:44 remaining.
Shipp-Davis had seven rebounds for Longwood (1-5). The Lancers shot 16.7% overall, which was also their 3-point percentage (3-for-18).
NO. 14 MARYLAND 87, PITTSBURGH 63
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) &mdash; Abby Meyers scored 12 of her 23 points in Maryland&rsquo;s 36-point third quarter and the Terrapins rolled past Pittsburgh to finish the Ft. Myers Tip-Off.
Brinae Alexander hit three 3-pointers in the Terps&rsquo; biggest quarter of the season and was 5 of 7 from distance to finish with 17 points. Lavender Briggs contributed 10 points as the three transfers had their biggest outputs of the season for Maryland. Shyanne Sellers added 13 points for the Terrapins (6-2), who went 2-1 in the tournament.
Maryland went 7 of 10 behind the arc and shot 55% in the second half.
Maliyah Johnson had 15 points for the Panthers (5-2), who only had one less 3-pointer but was outscored by 13 at the foul line where Maryland was 20 of 23.
No. 18 OREGON 86, MICHIGAN STATE 78
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) &mdash; Endyia Rogers scored 19 points, including critical back-to-back 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, Phillipina Kyei had a double-double with career highs and Oregon held off Michigan State in the third-place game of the Phil Knight Invitational.
The Ducks led 29-12 when Rogers scored the opening basket of the second quarter but the Spartans slowly came back behind Kamaria McDaniel, who had a season-high 28 points. McDaniel hit a 3-pointer and Matilda Ekh had a steal and layup and Michigan State tied the game with 7:17 to play.
That&rsquo;s when Rogers, who had a career-high five 3-pointers, scored from distance, the first coming after a timeout and the Ducks regained control.
Isaline Alexander scored 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting and Ekh 12 for the Spartans (6-2).
NO. 19 TEXAS 74, PRINCETON 50
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) &mdash; Sonya Morris scored 15 points, Taylor Jones notched a double-double and Texas breezed to a victory over Princeton.
Morris sank 5 of 10 shots from the floor with two 3-pointers for Texas (3-3). Jones finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Rori Harmon had 11 points and Aaliyah Moore scored 10.
The Longhorns picked up their second straight win after a three-game losing streak. Texas fell 16 spots in the AP poll.
Kaitlyn Chen topped Princeton (3-2) with 15 points. Julia Cunningham added 10 points. Ellie Mitchell came into the game leading the nation with 16.2 rebounds per game. She didn&rsquo;t score and had seven boards.
No. 22 MICHIGAN 84, No. 21 BAYLOR 75
ESTERO, Fla. (AP) &mdash; Emily Kiser scored 26 points on 10-of-13 shooting and grabbed 13 rebounds, Laila Phelia added 20 points and Michigan scored the final 11 points to beat Baylor in the championship game of the Gulf Coast Showcase.
Maddie Nolan scored seven of her 12 points in a 20-5 run over the final 4-plus minutes and Leigha Brown finished with 11 points, eight rebounds and six assists forMichigan (7-0).
Ja&rsquo;Mee Asberry scored inside to give Baylor a 75-73 lead with 2 minutes to go but Brown made a layup and, after a missed 3-point shot on the other end, grabbed her own offensive rebound and kicked it out to Phelia for a 3 that gave the Wolverines the lead for good with 48 seconds to go.
Jaden Owens scored 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting for the Bears.
NO. 23 TENNESSEE 105, EASTERN KENTUCKY 71
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) &mdash; Rickea Jackson scored 15 points to lead a balanced attack and Tennessee coasted to a win over Eastern Kentucky.
Jordan Horston added 14 points for the Lady Vols (4-4), Jillian Hollingshead and Tamari Key 13 each and Karoline Striplin 10. Jackson and Horston both had five assists and joined Hollingshead with eight rebounds.
Antwainette Walker scored 18 points for the Colonels (4-3).
NO. 23 VILLANOVA 72, SOUTH FLORIDA 50
ESTERO, Fla. (AP) &mdash; Maddy Siegrist scored 25 points to surpass 2,000 for her career and Villanova used a hot start to beat South Florida in the third-place game at the Gulf Coast Showcase.
Siegrist scored 13 points in the first half and 10 in the third quarter as the Wildcats (6-1) took a 58-36 lead. Lucy Olsen scored 10 of her 13 before the break.
Siegrist became the third player in Villanova history to reach the 2,000-point plateau when she hit a jumper at 3:46 of the third quarter to put the Wildcats up 50-31.
Sammie Puisis scored 17 points for the Bulls (7-2). Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu had 14 points with 17 rebounds &mdash; matching her career high, and Elena Tsineke scored 11.

Boston, the reigning Associated Press Player of the Year, took a hard fall on a drive to the basket late in the second quarter.

Boston hurt in No. 1 Gamecocks’ win; No. 3 UConn tops Iowa

It really took the entire season for the WNBA to solidify its playoff hierarchy.
We had four teams battling for two spots on the very last day of the regular season with the top seed also in flux. Late-season injuries, breakout players and roller-coaster games made it challenging to even visualize what the 2022 postseason would look like.&nbsp;
Now, the dust has settled, and we've arrived at what should be a chaotic, thrilling three rounds of playoff basketball.
I've listed one noteworthy statistic for each team that's worth remembering as we get into the games. This won't be a full playoff preview (we have one coming though!), but more a snapshot glance at the flavors and storylines surrounding each squad. Get yourself ready for Wednesday's first round here!
1. LAS VEGAS ACES
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Number to note: 37
The Aces have been on top of the league practically all season, and are led by an MVP frontrunner in A'ja Wilson. But the most impressive number I found came from Las Vegas' leading bucket-getter. Kelsey Plum canned 37 unassisted made triples in the regular season. According to the PBP Stats hub, which contains data back to 2009, that's the second-most of any player in a single season behind only Diana Taurasi (47 in 2018).&nbsp;
Plum's stepback game is just filthy. She can also rise into her shot so quickly, which flummoxes screening defenders hoping to contain her. Plum is averaging twice as many unassisted three-point makes per 100 possessions (4.57) as she has in any other season of her career, and she's still shooting over 42% from distance. She will be an instant highlight throughout this postseason.
2. CHICAGO SKY 
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Number to note: 11
The Sky have dished out a whopping 11 at-rim assists per game in the regular season. That's by far the most in PBP Stats' WNBA database, which dates back to 2009. Chicago has lead the league in at-rim assists each of the last five seasons, but the team hit an impressive new frontier in 2022.
Courtney Vandersloot led The W with 3.0 at-rim assists per game this season. Candace Parker (2.4) and Emma Meesseman (1.8) also placed in the top 15. With a dazzling playmaker like Vandersloot, big passing hubs like Parker and Meesseman and an all-world slasher in Kahleah Copper, Chicago can creatively pressure the paint like no other.
3. CONNECTICUT SUN
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Alyssa Thomas (<a href="https://twitter.com/athomas_25?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@athomas_25</a>) had herself a night recording her FIRST career triple-double, becoming the 11th player with a triple-double in WNBA history, and 4th player with a triple-double this season 👏 ✅15 PTS ✅12 AST ✅10 REB ✅3 STL <a href="https://t.co/zeVwHDj0kh">pic.twitter.com/zeVwHDj0kh</a>
&mdash; WNBA (@WNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WNBA/status/1550897698563244034?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Number to note: 12.7
Don't be fooled by the third-seed billing; Connecticut has been perhaps the hottest team in the league since All-Star weekend. The Sun's 12.7 Net Rating ranks at the top since the break, and they also hold the league's best Defensive Rating (95.9) in that span.&nbsp;
The Sun are, amazingly, the only team with zero players averaging at least 15 points per game post-All-Star. They've had an incredible blend of spotlight stars in the last month. Alyssa Thomas posted the first two triple-doubles in franchise history. Jonquel Jones is maintaining her MVP-caliber dominance with a lighter minutes load. Natesha Hiedeman has drilled 48.6% of her threes since the break.&nbsp;
Connecticut's starting lineup of Hiedeman, Courtney Williams, DeWanna Bonner, Alyssa Thomas and Jonquel Jones has the third-best cumulative plus-minus in The W post-All-Star break &mdash; and the team has Brionna Jones coming off the bench. Everything seems to be clicking at the right time.&nbsp;
4. SEATTLE STORM
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Number to note: 84
No WNBA pairing has assisted each other more than the dynamic duo of Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart. They've connected a combined 84 times this season, with 62 assists coming from Bird and 22 from Stewart. Seattle has a high-octane offense, and these two help fuel the engine.
Several of these assists come from Stewart getting into her bag in the post. But Bird will also orchestrate sets that give Stewart driving and cutting chances. In return, Stewart recognizes help when she's posting up, and frequently hits Bird for open three-pointers. They've got some of the best chemistry you'll see between any two teammates in the playoffs.
5. WASHINGTON MYSTICS
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Number to note: 24.1
Shakira Austin has entrenched herself as a highlight of an impressive 2022 rookie class. The third overall pick is already one of the top rebounders in the WNBA, and her defensive rebound rate off of missed field goals (24.1%) is third among all players with at least 500 minutes played, per PBP Stats. Austin is also sixth in offensive rebound rate (9.5%). She racked up 40 putback points this season, tying her for seventh with Tina Charles.
Even at 6-foot-5, Austin isn't really a bruiser. The way she hones in on a rebound is almost falcon-like. She soars past boxouts with a burst and can high-point the ball with precision. As Mark Schindler <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/shakira-austin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote earlier this season</a>, Austin's budding two-way skills are also worth following, but she's already arrived as one of the best on the boards.
6. DALLAS WINGS
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Number to note: 3.2
Arike Ogunbowale will miss at least the first round of the playoffs after suffering an abdominal injury. Rookie Veronica Burton has been thrust into the starting lineup in her absence, putting the Northwestern guard into the spotlight just as the young Wings prep for the postseason.
Burton's still experiencing the steep professional learning curve. But, as evidenced by her 3.3% steal rate, the second-best among WNBA players moving on to the postseason, she's already a defensive force.
Burton reads cutters like a fortune teller, as shown in the first two clips above. She also has the lateral movement to play uber-aggressively on digs and help because she can recover; in addition, she's spectacularly active with her arms and timing. It's just fun to watch her play defense, and it can help provide a spark for Dallas as it looks to upset Connecticut in the opening round.&nbsp;
7. NEW YORK LIBERTY
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Marine Johann&egrave;s just hit her sixth three with a one-legged jumper off the screen. 🤯 WHAT?! <a href="https://t.co/hZpcTDUDoL">pic.twitter.com/hZpcTDUDoL</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ownthecrown?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ownthecrown</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WNBATwitter?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WNBATwitter</a>
&mdash; Landon Thomas (@sixfivelando) <a href="https://twitter.com/sixfivelando/status/1558900506512203777?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Number to note: 41.4
The Liberty generate 41.4% of their team's shots from beyond the arc &mdash; the highest percentage in the WNBA this regular season. Sabrina Ionescu leads the squad from a volume perspective (7.3 attempts per game), but New York sends the ball around to several perimeter-oriented players.
Per PBP Stats, Sami Whitcomb and Marine Johann&egrave;s have the highest three-point attempt rates among anyone who logged at least 500 minutes this season. Whitcomb has made 35.1% of her triples this season, while Johann&egrave;s is a red-hot 43.7% from deep. Rebecca Allen (17th) and Ionescu (19th) also rank among the top 20 players in three-point attempt frequency.
8. PHOENIX MERCURY
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Another crazy stat: Diamond DeShields with 15 points in 18 minutes 🤯🤯<a href="https://t.co/151tuZHl3k">pic.twitter.com/151tuZHl3k</a>
&mdash; WSLAM (@wslam) <a href="https://twitter.com/wslam/status/1558291799755587584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 13, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Number to note: 236
The Mercury have played a grand total of 236 minutes without Skylar Diggins-Smith and Diana Taurasi on the floor this season. That's a small sample size &mdash; 160 of those minutes have come after Aug. 4, the last time either of them suited up for Phoenix. Diggins-Smith is currently out for undisclosed reasons with no timetable; Taurasi also has no updated timetable as she deals with a quad strain. Returning two stars would obviously be beneficial, but for now, Phoenix has to defend its 2021 Finals run with its supporting cast.
Fortunately, several players have stepped up when the Mercury has needed them. Sophie Cunningham has shined in a Swiss Army Knife-type role, as <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/sophie-cunningham-giving-phoenix-a-lift-at-the-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nekias Duncan detailed earlier this summer</a>. Diamond DeShields dropped a pair of 20-plus-point outbursts in two huge games to help Phoenix reach the postseason. Brianna Turner is one of the best shot-blockers in the league.
The Cunningham-Turner-DeShields trio has a minus-4.33 NET this season without Taurasi and Diggins-Smith. Phoenix's most-played lineup since Aug. 5 includes those three, Shey Peddy and Jennie Simms; they're a minus-1 in 68 minutes. We'll see how well they can hold up without the star backcourt duo.&nbsp;

Ethan Fuller lists one noteworthy stat to monitor for each team in the 2022 WNBA Playoffs.

2022 WNBA Playoffs: One key stat to know for each team

BasketballNews.com's Senior NBA Draft Analyst Matt Babcock presents a series that peels back the curtain from his time as a sports agent, giving a glimpse at some of his personal experiences working in the sports agency business for over a decade.
In the seventh entry of his series, Babcock shares his story of working at power agency Excel Sports Management early in his career. He outlines the mistakes he made, the lessons he learned and more.
It was 2007, and I had not even turned 23 years old, but I had already gained some unique and valuable experience. First, I completed a summer internship at powerhouse sports agency Wasserman Media Group, followed by a brief stint as an assistant coach for a professional basketball team in Bologna, Italy. Then, without any guarantees, I left my coaching position in Italy to take a job interview with sports agents Jeff Schwartz and Sam Goldfeder of Excel Sports Management.
Fortunately, they decided to hire me and intended to groom me to be an agent. I had spent my entire life up to that point having expectations to follow in my family's footsteps by pursuing a career in coaching or scouting. But instead, I formed a unexpected plan to embark on a new journey down an unfamiliar path: a career as a sports agent.
I packed all my belongings and moved back to Los Angeles, California, as I had lived there the previous summer. When I arrived, Sam and his lovely wife, Laura, were kind enough to welcome me to stay at their home until I sorted out where I would live long-term. Little did we know that I would stay with them for the entirety of my employment with Excel.
My commute to the office from Sam's house was incredible! I would start on Mulholland Drive, a famous road at the top of the hills that separates L.A. from "The Valley." I would then go down Beverly Glen Boulevard and head through the hearts of Bel-Air and Beverly Hills, two of the most prestigious neighborhoods you can find anywhere. I cruised down the hill each morning in my Jeep Cherokee, surrounded by luxury cars and some of the most exclusive real estate in the world. As I made my way toward Century City, I would meet the garage of my high-rise office building at 10100 Santa Monica Boulevard. To say that commute inspired me would be an understatement. I was a young, hungry and ambitious kid starting my career. I was living among the rich and famous, and it fueled my fire even more.
While I worked at Excel, something new and exciting happened every day. For example, star players like Paul Pierce or Tyson Chandler would stop by the office from time to time and have lunch with our staff, and meet with the company's executives. On one occasion, we went to a party for Lamar Odom's record label. There were always things like that happening. I also attended Lakers games regularly with Sam, sitting in the company's seats in the first row &mdash; to see prime Kobe Bryant in action.
Despite the fun and excitement that came with working at Excel, I had some issues. First, it was apparent that there was a disconnect among the executives on my role within the company, which led to me becoming frustrated.
On the one hand, I think Sam understood that, although I was young, my background in basketball could be advantageous. So he had me prepare analysis reports on players, teams and the draft. He also had me call NBA scouts and executives to gather information on current and prospective clients. During that time, I spent a lot of time in Sam's office, picking his brain. He explained contract structuring and negotiating tactics among other things. He essentially showed me the ropes &mdash; training me to be an agent. I value those conversations to this day.&nbsp;
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As I carried on executing the tasks that Sam assigned me, he was complimentary of my understanding of the NBA. He conveyed that he was in awe of how many people I knew within the industry, even though it was my first full-time job. Despite having extensive contacts already, mainly due to my family's involvement in basketball, I was not content; I wanted to build off my established relationships. I grew up as a college coach's son and an "NBA Kid." Because of that, I knew that relationships were the key for me to finding success in any role or level of basketball. I needed to position myself to assist the company in signing new, talented players. I felt the best way to expedite that process was to get a lay of the land on upcoming prospects and develop my network.
I was proactive by creating a database of young prospects we could target in the coming years. I also attended many high school games and tournaments in Southern California and Las Vegas, after office hours and on the weekends. There, I could watch prospects and network with college coaches and people involved in grassroots basketball. During those trips, I remember watching many top high school players that became NBA stars, including Jrue Holiday, DeMar DeRozan, Klay Thompson and Paul George, to name a few.
On the other hand, Jeff had a different vision for my initial responsibilities and development. Although Sam was influential, Jeff was the owner and founder of Excel &mdash; it was his company. The desk I was assigned was at a cubical outside of chief of marketing Jaymee Messler's office. In addition to the tasks Sam gave me, I was responsible for answering Jaymee's phone, running errands for her and doing a lot of work within the marketing department. Jaymee was very good at her job and has had a lot of success in her career, including co-founding and serving as the president of The Players' Tribune and co-founding the sports and entertainment company (co)laboratory. I was lucky to have been able to work for her &mdash; and Jeff too, for that matter. However, I didn't see it that way at the time.
I viewed myself as a "basketball guy," and I did not have much interest or see the value in being heavily involved in the marketing department. Jaymee and I knew I was far more committed to working for Sam. I think there was some tension and resentment between us because of it. I do not hesitate to say that I would have handled myself much differently if I could go back and do it again.
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I voiced my frustrations to Sam, and I think he understood and agreed with my sentiments for the most part. It was not public knowledge at the time, but Sam told me that Jeff planned to move the company's headquarters to New York, which he did the following year. He continued to explain that when the company moved, he and I would stay in L.A. and have an office of our own, and all of my issues would subside. Although I was only months away from being able to work with Sam exclusively, I became increasingly frustrated and impatient.
The next thing I knew, I was on the phone with Andy Miller, a prominent agent from New York who was the owner and founder of ASM Sports, and represented star players like Kevin Garnett, Chauncey Billups and many others. After one phone call with Andy, he offered me a job with the career path and initial responsibilities I wanted. He also offered a little more money than I was making. So, in a knee-jerk reaction, I agreed to leave Excel after only a handful of months to work directly for Andy Miller at ASM Sports.&nbsp;
Over time, I realized that leaving Excel was an enormous mistake for many reasons. I am not one to have many regrets, as I try to use my mistakes as learning experiences to grow and improve. However, I genuinely regret leaving Sam prematurely. It was probably the biggest mistake I have made in my career. I still keep in touch with Sam, and we have a good relationship, but I must admit that I am embarrassed that I bailed on him after everything he and his family had done for me.
My immaturity and impatience at that time hurt me, and it probably set my career back, perhaps significantly. It took me time to absorb the lesson, but I learned that sometimes I need to get out of my own way.
<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/my-past-life-as-a-sports-agent-the-real-beginning" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read the last entry of this series</a>: "My past life as a sports agent: The real beginning" 
Editor's Note: This article was originally published on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.babcockhoops.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BabcockHoops.com.</a>
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Babcock shares his story of working at power agency Excel Sports Management early in his career, and what he learned and regretted.

My past life as a sports agent: Get out of my own way

After an up and down start to the season, New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu has greatly impressed since the start of June. Her recent play was encapsulated by a landmark performance against the Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday night, in which Ionescu scored 26 points... on 11 shots... while only playing in the first three quarters.&nbsp;
In case you still needed confirmation on how wide the rims were for Ionescu last night, she hit this.
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</div>
The Liberty are 4-8, but three of those wins have come in the four games played thus far in June. Ionescu has scored 20 or more points in all four games after having accomplished the same task only seven times in 41 career WNBA games prior. She's been absolutely on fire.
Boasting 26.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists (vs. 2.5 turnovers) per game on .574/.469/1.00 shooting splits is bonkers; that's a 74.7% True Shooting percentage!
While noting that the Liberty have played only one team currently slated to make postseason play in this four-game run (Washington Mystics), this stretch is essential for the immediate future of the New York Liberty.
Another essential indicator: plus-15.83.
What is it? The difference in points scored per 100 possessions when Crystal Dangerfield plays the point guard position alongside Ionescu and when Dangerfield is off the court. Per PBP Stats, the Liberty have a 94.5 Offensive Rating without Dangerfield on the court and Ionescu on. With both on the court, that figure shoots up to 110.1.
When looking at the base Net Rating from Her Hoop Stats as a reference, that's a jump from the 10th-ranked offense in The W to the best. It's of course not a drag-and-drop equation, but the point remains: With Ionescu playing alongside another lead ball-handler, the Liberty offense is vastly better (and the defense remains roughly the same).
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This is not an indictment of Ionescu, but rather a dimension of New York's roster. Ionescu isn't currently routinely able to create high-level looks without a ball-screen. With how good Ionescu is at creating out of pick-and-roll, she's commanded two defenders to the ball much of the season, which has negated much of her ability to put defenses in rotation.
Adding Dangerfield to the starting lineup (the biggest change in this four-game stretch) hasn't actually changed Ionescu's usage as you'd think; her usage in June is up substantially from the first eight games of the season from 22.1% to 28.75%.
While Ionescu has just shot better in general and is certainly in an outlier stretch (21% above league average TS is insane), her looks have been easier &mdash; even her tougher shots. She's been very aggressive, but she's getting more clean three point attempt looks by... not having the ball!
That sounds counterintuitive, but playing with Dangerfield creates the opportunities for easier looks when Ionescu isn't always tasked with intitiating sets. Even when she is taking those tougher looks contested in the mid-range, it's more on her terms and dictated by her pacing than it was earlier in the year.
Dangerfield is remarkably quick and so good at getting downhill, knifing into the paint. The threat of someone who can penetrate the paint outside of Ionescu does wonders for the Liberty. It seems small, but watch this set.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/uye160" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
The dribble continuity is awesome. Dangerfield puts things in motion and Ionescu is brought off of a screen up to the ball. The defense isn't dictating that possession when Ionescu isn't the player starting with the ball. Earlier in the season, she would get swarmed as soon as the screen came (watch that Sky game... MAN).
Again, speaking of the threat of another drive.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/mm9adk" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
In spite of how small this New York team is across the board, it lacks many ball-handlers who can get downhill. The extra step of contemplation that Dangerfield draws from Sylvia Fowles, which in turn opens Sabrina up for the deep shot? That wasn't there earlier this season.
Having a player to even open a set for Ionescu to then initiate after flowing off of the ball makes it that much simpler to find a rhythm.
Utilizing Ionescu off of screens or even as a screener herself opens up more ways to weaponize her shooting abilities, which in turn provides more versatility in attacking out of secondary pick-and-rolls.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/185d8s" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
Dangerfield scores here, but why?
There's a momentary miscommunication and hesitation on the switch between Kayla McBride and Evina Westbrook. Ionescu's threat as a shooter is likely the root cause! If this is properly switched or communicated, Stef Dolson is cleaning house with a solid screen and Dangerfield is likely finding Ionescu above the arc to flow into a secondary action.&nbsp;
Easier looks and less work to get into sets and shift the pieces on the chess board has made life simpler for Ionescu as a decision-maker and scorer. She can use her tempo and pacing to probe and attack now that those lanes exist with more regularity.
Does it matter if Ionescu "is" a point guard? To me, not really. These past four games have shown how good she can be and better apply her skills when she has another ball-handler alongside her. She certainly has limitations as a heliocentric creator, but that's partially on the roster as well.
What Sabrina Ionsecu brings is remarkably valuable and hard to replicate at the highest levels. Putting her in better positions to succeed provides strands of hope for a season that looked headed for disaster. How she and the Liberty continue to grow and develop as the season goes on will be a key storyline as the year unfolds.
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Sabrina Ionescu has found her footing in recent weeks, scoring efficiently and playmaking with guile. What's changed?

Sabrina Ionescu's playmaking and efficiency guiding New York Liberty

BasketballNews.com's Senior NBA Draft Analyst Matt Babcock presents a series that will peel back the curtain from his time as a sports agent, giving a glimpse at some of his personal experiences working in the sports agency business for over a decade.
In the sixth entry of his series, Babcock shares how his background of growing up in an NBA family influenced him to pursue a career as a sports agent and how he got started with Jeff Schwartz, Sam Goldfeder and Excel Sports Management to embark on what turned out to be a wild and crazy roller coaster of a career.
I grew up in and around the NBA, having multiple family members who've had successful careers as NBA executives. My family's success has provided me with many benefits and unique opportunities, and I'm certainly thankful. Still, it has also led me to have an inherent burning desire to create a name and identity for myself within the basketball world &mdash; separate from my family.
Despite a childhood that gave me full access to the behind-the-scenes of the NBA &mdash; including team planes, locker rooms and draft war rooms &mdash; I wanted more. Being "Dave Babcock's son" or "Pete and Rob's nephew" has never been enough for me. I spent the first part of my life putting an unhealthy amount of pressure on myself to succeed as a basketball player. Subsequently, my playing career was my No. 1 priority. I developed into a respectable high school player, but didn't even come close to accomplishing my overall goals. After I finished playing, I shifted my focus to working in basketball. My burning desire to succeed didn't go away; it grew significantly.&nbsp;
In early 2007, I was 22 years old and not even a year removed from the University of Arizona and my unavailing playing career. I had already completed a summer internship at powerhouse sports agency Wasserman Media Group, where I assisted in training their NBA draft prospects. I also had a brief assistant coaching gig with the professional basketball team Virtus Bologna in Bologna, Italy. Although I always thought my career path would be in coaching or scouting, I left my job in Italy to meet with Jeff Schwartz and Sam Goldfeder of Excel Sports Management to pursue a career as a sports agent. I thought, "This is how I can pave my own way."
I stepped off the plane in Los Angeles, California and jumped into a cab. I told the driver, "101 Santa Monica Boulevard, please. I have a job interview." Pulling up to the fancy, high-rise office building in the heart of West L.A., I called Sam Goldfeder, and he told me to come up. Sam had become a mentor to me, as I had lived at his mother-in-law's guest house in Beverly Hills the previous summer during my internship, and he had also arranged a job in Italy for me. He was pushing Jeff to hire me so they could groom me to be an agent. However, there were no promises I'd get the job. So I took a risk by leaving my job in Italy.
I walked into the office building and made my way to the elevator. The building was filled with prestigious law firms, financial groups and other professional businesses. There were seemingly high-powered "suits" running all around. Excel, now based in New York City, represented star NBA players, including Jason Kidd, Paul Pierce, Lamar Odom, Al Jefferson and Tyson Chandler, to name a few. It was a powerful sports agency.
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Although I probably should have been nervous, with it being a massive opportunity for me, I wasn't. I was young, confident and fearless &mdash; a situation where "ignorance is bliss" applied, perhaps. I got off the elevator and entered Excel's office, where Sam waited for me. The office space was impressive, yet refreshingly casual and comfortable despite the stuffiness of the building's lobby. Sam introduced me to Duane Cooper, a former NBA player who had a role with the company assisting with recruiting new clients. I then met Jayme Messler, the head of marketing, followed by Heidi, Jeff's assistant. Sam and I sat in his office for a short time and chatted while Jeff finished a phone call.&nbsp;
After a few minutes, Jeff walked into Sam's office. He was a nice-looking, polished professional with an intense presence. Jeff briefly asked about my background, but then cut to the chase and shifted his focus by drilling me about my intention to be a sports agent and my commitment to pursuing that career path. He also explained, and pretty much warned me, that being a sports agent was challenging and not for everyone. I told him I was sure that I wanted to be an agent and that I thought I would be successful, having a good understanding of the inner workings of the NBA due to the exposure my family had given me and that my network should serve me well in that industry. I assured him that I lived and breathed basketball and the NBA.
He then questioned my ability to handle the pressure that would come with that career path. I explained my experience as a former athlete had prepared me. Ultimately, he asked if I had considered going to law school. I explained that I felt prepared to begin a full-time career in basketball. My answers to his questions seemed well-received, as both Jeff and Sam subtly nodded their heads with apparent approval. Jeff told me it wasn't the best timing to add someone to their staff, but he would talk to Sam to discuss options. Before I knew it, Jeff shook my hand, thanked me for coming and walked out of the room. Sam followed him and asked me to wait there for a few minutes. When Sam came back into his office, he said he thought our meeting went well, and he was optimistic. He said, "I think this is going to work." I hopped into another cab and headed back to LAX Airport to catch a flight to Milwaukee, where my parents lived.
Once I got to my parent's house, I was waiting to hear from Sam. I probably should have looked for other jobs instead of putting all of my eggs in one basket. However, I knew that I wanted to work for Excel. So I waited, and then I waited some more. The more time passed, the more antsy and impatient I became. Eventually, I called Sam to check-in.
He told me that he thought something would happen, but he was still trying to push the idea through with Jeff. So I continued to wait for what felt like many more weeks. I was going crazy, as I was so bored and anxious to start my career. I spent a lot of time at the gym lifting weights, binge-watched the entire series of the TV show "Lost" with my mom and pretty much just twiddled my thumbs waiting for the call.
Finally, Sam called. He said, "Alright, we're good to go. I'll book you a flight. You start Monday."
And that's how "My Past Life as a Sports Agent" really began.
<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/my-past-life-as-a-sports-agent-ciao-means-hello-and-goodbye" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read the last entry of this series</a>: "My past life as a sports agent: Ciao means hello and goodbye" 
Editor's Note: This article was originally published on <a href="https://www.babcockhoops.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BabcockHoops.com</a>.
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Looking to go to the hottest concerts, sports, theater &amp; family shows near you? Get 100% guaranteed tickets to more than 125,000 live events from TicketSmarter, the official ticket marketplace of BasketballNews.com. Order online now!

Matt Babcock shares how his background of growing up in an NBA family influenced him to pursue a career as a sports agent.

My past life as a sports agent: The real beginning

BasketballNews.com's Senior NBA Draft Analyst Matt Babcock presents a series that will peel back the curtain from his time as a sports agent, giving a glimpse at some of his personal experiences working in the sports-agency business for over a decade.
In the first entry of the series, Babcock outlines his move to Los Angeles to begin his lifelong dream of working in basketball.
In the spring of 2006, I packed up my car, moved out of my apartment in Tucson, Arizona, and hit the road. In my rear-view mirror was the University of Arizona and my unavailing playing career; however, I wasn't looking back. In my mind, I was destined to follow in the footsteps of my dad and uncles &mdash; working in basketball. It was time for me to turn the page and start my next chapter.
On the other end of that road trip was a summer internship in Los Angeles where I'd be working at one of the biggest agencies in all of sports: Wasserman Media Group. At the helm of the agency's basketball division was famous sports agent Arn Tellem, who is now vice chairman of the Detroit Pistons.
(Before becoming a sports agent, Tellem worked as general counsel for owner Donald Sterling and the San Diego Clippers. Tellem was also instrumental in the team's move to Los Angeles in 1984. In addition, my uncle, Pete Babcock, had been the vice president of basketball operations for the Clippers while they were in San Diego. So my family had a long-standing relationship with Tellem dating back to the early 1980s before I was even born. Likely due to my family's relationship with him, I was offered a summer internship at Wasserman &mdash; and of course, I accepted).
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Having previously worked in the agency business for over a decade, many people ask me how I got started. Many assume I went to law school and had a sophisticated, well-thought-out plan to pursue a career as a sports agent. Well, that wasn't the case at all. Contrarily, I had always wanted to work directly for an NBA team, even as a child. I thought I'd start my career as a coach and eventually transition into scouting &mdash; just like my dad did. I'll elaborate on all of that later.
While working for Wasserman, I had typical intern-type responsibilities, like sending faxes to teams or making airport runs for players and staff members. However, Bob Myers and Greg Lawrence (both agents) explained that my primary responsibility would be to assist in player workouts on the court and helping prepare their new clients for the NBA pre-draft process. It was the perfect starting point for a young, aspiring coach.
I was ready to begin my career working in basketball &mdash; a dream come true. But there was a big problem: where was I going to live? It was a paid internship, but like most internships, it was only entry-level pay, and L.A. is a costly place to live. My dad worked in the NBA for years and my family did well, but I assure you I was not on any "gravy train." I needed help!
To some people's surprise, although I grew up in an NBA family, I was never given access to much money to spend on my own. Still, I have greatly benefited from my family's connections within basketball, especially early on in my career. My first stop in L.A. might have been the best example of that.
After tapping into my family's network and trying to find somewhere to stay for the summer, our family friend, Sam Goldfeder &mdash; an agent for Excel Sports Management and, ironically, a competitor of Wasserman's &mdash; graciously offered to let me stay in his mother-in-law's guest house for the summer &mdash; free of charge!
So I drove my car west on the I-10 across Arizona and into California. Cell phones didn't have GPS yet, so I grabbed my printed MapQuest directions and made my way into the L.A. area. Before I knew it, I was in Beverly Hills &mdash; one of the world's most prestigious neighborhoods. I passed the Beverly Hills Hotel, and it dawned on me that I was at the final steps of the directions:
<ul>
<li>Head east on N Crescent Dr toward Sunset Blvd.</li>
<li>Sharp right onto Sunset Blvd.</li>
<li>Slight right onto Benedict Canyon Dr.</li>
<li>The destination will be on the left.</li>
</ul>
Sam hadn't told me any details about the house or the setup other than that I would simply be staying in the guest house. I was relieved and thankful that I had a place to stay, but I was still curious to see where I'd be living for the summer.
When I finally pulled up to the house, I couldn't believe it &mdash; the place was incredible! It was like a house I imagined where a movie star would have lived. Eyes wide open, I pressed the button at the security gate, and an unfamiliar voice answered, "Hello?" I responded by telling the person who I was and that I was supposed to be staying in the guest house for the summer. Subsequently, the gate opened, and I pulled my car into the wrap-around driveway.
I was greeted by several women who worked for Sam's mother-in-law at the house. They said they would make me dinner, buy groceries and have my dry cleaning taken care of whenever I needed it. They then showed me to the guest house in the back. The whole situation was a bit surreal. I felt lucky, and I was lucky! It was perfect!&nbsp;
I was a young, 22 year-old kid who was fresh out of college, set to spend the summer living in the heart of Beverly Hills among the rich and famous &mdash; all while working for one of the biggest agencies in the sports industry. Finally, after a disappointing playing career that weighed on me heavily, I had a chance to start fresh and pursue my ambitions of having a presence in basketball &mdash; separate from my family.
The following day, I began my first day at Wasserman and my first day working in basketball. With high hopes, I had a world of endless possibilities ahead of me.
Stay tuned for the next entry of this series: "My past life as a sports agent: The 2006 NBA Draft." 
Editor's Note: This article was originally published on <a href="https://www.babcockhoops.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BabcockHoops.com</a>.
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To begin his eight-part series, Matt Babcock tells the story of his move to L.A. to begin his lifelong dream of working in basketball.

My past life as a sports agent: 'Going to California'

Welcome to your Sunday stats binge!
I've started this column as a diary of sorts, to keep track of the hodgepodge of interesting numbers I come across as a basketball consumer. So many figures fly around in the hoops community, and the endless stream of data can bog down some of the more surprising revelations about the game. The goal is for this column to be a light, yet informative way to pick up details about your favorite teams and players.
We currently only have one major U.S. basketball league in action, and that's the WNBA. I'll be saving some insights for next weekend's numbers-centric playoff preview, but we'll talk a bit about the best shooters in the league this season. This rendition of the stats notebook will be a bit shorter than usual with less basketball going on at the moment.
First, I want to reflect on last year's NBA MVP and argue that Nikola Jokic may&nbsp;still&nbsp;be underrated nationally. People generally recognize the 26-year-old (yep, he's younger than Giannis Antetokounmpo) as an elite passing big man and perimeter shooter. However, Jokic is so much more as an offensive player; in fact, I'm convinced that he's a top-three (at least) offensive talent in the NBA today.
Jokic is elite in nearly every shot context. These numbers below come courtesy of InStat:
<ul>
<li>Off-screen shots: 72-for-124, 58.1 FG% (2nd among players with at least 30 attempts)</li>
<li>Catch-and-drives: 35-for-55, 63.6 FG% (2nd among players with at least 30 attempts)</li>
<li>Post-ups: 239-for-443, 54 FG% (8th among 35 players with at least 100 attempts)</li>
<li>Isolations: 46-for-73, 63 FG% (2nd among 80 players with at least 60 attempts)</li>
<li>On cuts: 54-for-75, 70.7 FG% (28th among 74 players with at least 50 attempts)</li>
<li>As a PnR ball-handler: 11-for-18, 61.1 FG% (probably too small of a sample)</li>
<li>As a PnR roller: 76-for-116, 65.5 FG% (29th among 56 players with at least 50 attempts)</li>
<li>Pick-and-pops: 120-for-245, 49 FG% (3rd among players with at least 50 attempts)</li>
<li>Drives: 97-for-156, 62.2 FG% (3rd among 117 players with at least 100 attempts</li>
</ul>
That's a lot, and Jokic is consistently near the top. The only places he underwhelmed in from a pure field-goal-percentage perspective were in transition (59.5% isn't that great) and on catch-and-shoot attempts (36%, also decent). If you want to nitpick, he's only scoring with average efficiency for a center around the rim (63rd percentile according to Cleaning the Glass).
According to Sportradar, Jokic also made 64.2% of his hook shots, which ranks second among all players with at least 30 attempts, and behind only Captain Hook himself, Robin Lopez. Per <a href="https://cleaningtheglass.com/stats/player/1883#tab-shooting_accuracy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cleaning the Glass</a>, the Serbian big man finished in the 94th percentile for bigs in mid-range efficiency and the 80th percentile in three-point efficiency. InStat says Jokic also took and made the most contested field goals in the NBA last season, doing so at a 55% clip (2nd among 20 players with at least 1000 contested attempts).
Sheesh.
All of this adds up to a 64.7% True Shooting percentage, which slots 15th among Basketball Reference's qualifying players. That's stunning for someone with so many offensive responsibilites. I won't overwhlem you with more, but yes, Jokic can bend minds with his passes. He's also an incredibly versatile scorer.
Let's change direction a bit and head to the WNBA, which is in its final week of regular season action. The league is loaded with elite shooters, and we know Sue Bird is a legend, but I wanted to highlight a few less heralded names that might impact the 2021 postseason. These stats are accurate prior to Sunday's slate:
Allie Quigley, Chicago Sky:&nbsp;The 35-year-old is tied for first in the league with 76 made threes and third with a 44.6% three-point clip. Per InStat, Quigley has taken and made the most shots off screens (41-for-86) among all players and has knocked down 11 of her 22 catch-and-shoot attempts. She's currently mired in a 4-for-16 three-point slump, but Quigley has been a sharpshooter her entire career.
Sami Whitcomb, New York Liberty:&nbsp;As the Liberty flounder on the edges of the postseason race, Whitcomb is canning a career-high 42.5% of her threes as a starter. She's shooting 47.2% on all catch-and-shoot attempts, good for fourth in the WNBA. The 33-year-old is lethal from above the break (<a href="https://stats.wnba.com/players/shooting/?Season=2021&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;DistanceRange=By%20Zone&amp;sort=Above%20the%20Break%203%20FGM&amp;dir=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">42.9%, per WNBA Stats</a>).
Moriah Jefferson, Dallas Wings: It's an extremely small sample (22-for-48), but Jefferson has made 45.8% of her three-pointers this season, good for second in the league. The 2016 No. 2 pick has been a solid low-usage specialist, and her 51.5% clip on catch-and-shoot field goals is tops among players with at least 30 attempts. I'll be interested to see what she does for a Dallas team sneaking into the playoffs.
These are just three names that stood out in the spreadsheets, and I'm excited to follow them as the regular season wraps up.

Ethan Fuller rounds up interesting stats he has seen over the past week in his stats notebook.

Stats Notebook: Nikola Jokic's scoring and some WNBA sharpshooters

Trae Young was back at Madison Square Garden.
Once again, he played the heel.
Atlanta&rsquo;s star guard made a surprise appearance at &ldquo;WWE Friday Night SmackDown,&rdquo; returning to the arena where he led the Hawks to an NBA playoff victory over the New York Knicks.
Wearing a gray Hawks hoodie, Young was the perfect wrestling villain after getting under the skin of Knicks fans with his stellar performance in a sport that&rsquo;s not scripted.
Young was introduced to the crowd of more than 14,000 by wrestler Sami Zayn, who said he &ldquo;arranged for a very special guest to be in our corner tonight, someone who actually knows what it takes to win at Madison Square Garden.&rdquo;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Trae Young pulled up to WWE Smackdown at the Garden 💀<a href="https://t.co/aCRJL5ZKhD">pic.twitter.com/aCRJL5ZKhD</a>
&mdash; Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/ComplexSports/status/1436488043515588611?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Young hit a game-winning shot against the Knicks in Game 1 of the playoffs, sparking the Hawks to a five-game upset victory. He seemed to thrive on the raucous boos of the New York faithful, which culminated in an ugly incident where a fan spit on Young.
Which, of course, provided the perfect setup for Young to play a bad-guy role in wrestling.
He soaked up his boos on the way to the ring and clearly seemed to the relish the setting, though a rough encounter with a referee ended his night.
From outside the ring, Young grabbed fan favorite Rey Mysterio as he was hanging over the ropes in an apparent choke hold, prompting the ref to eject Young from the match.
&ldquo;The ref said, &lsquo;Hey, Trae, you&rsquo;re not that special, pal,&rsquo;&rdquo; crowed WWE commentator Pat McAfee, a former NFL punter. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s what Trae&rsquo;s gonna do. Trae wins at all costs. You can&rsquo;t do that around here. You have rules.&rdquo;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Trae Young got tossed for interference <a href="https://t.co/UyuP54B1XG">pic.twitter.com/UyuP54B1XG</a>
&mdash; CJ Fogler #BlackLivesMatter (@cjzero) <a href="https://twitter.com/cjzero/status/1436487805358772231?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

In the Eastern Conference final, Young sustained an ankle injury when he inadvertently stepped on an officials&rsquo; foot. That forced him to miss two games in a series the Hawks lost to the eventual NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks.
It was the same ending in the ring.
After Young was tossed, the team he was supporting wound up losing their match when Zayn was pinned by Big E.
Backstage afterward, Young was already pitching another WWE card set for New Year&rsquo;s Day at State Farm Arena, the Hawks&rsquo; home court.
&ldquo;It was fun,&rdquo; Young said in a tongue-in-cheek interview with WWE. &ldquo;It definitely felt like maybe the fans are still upset with what happened in the playoffs. But maybe when we can go back to Atlanta January 1 it will be a lot different, the reaction, for sure.&rdquo;&nbsp;

Atlanta’s star guard made a surprise appearance at “WWE Friday Night SmackDown" in New York.

Trae Young back at MSG — this time playing a wrestling heel

Hi, hello, and welcome to yet another edition of Roaming The Baseline! This will be a weekly endeavor where I point out some things that caught my eye: a hot or cold streak from a player, a developmental flash, a well-run play, a funny tweet, who knows? There will be film -- it&rsquo;s me, so of course there will be film -- but this will also be a bit looser. It&rsquo;s an extension of my Twitter feed, if you will.&nbsp;
With that said, let&rsquo;s roam the baseline.
BRING ME LIBERTY, OR BRING ME DEATH (BY PICK-AND-ROLL)
Well, well, well. If it isn't the New York Liberty, fresh off a 2-20 season, getting off to a 3-0 start. Quibble over the early strength of schedule if you will, but it's fair to say this team looks different.
That different look starts with Sabrina Ionescu, a dynamic lead initiator that combines high-level pull-up shooting with I-see-everything court vision. There isn't a surefire way to slow her down. You can attempt pressing her, but she's pretty darn good at navigating her defender into screens.
If you get caught on a screen against Sabrina, you're practically dead.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/z5scxp" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
Just peep the patience from Ionescu on this possession. She's able to get a little separation from Danielle Robinson as she flies off the screen. From there, the hang dribble freezes Teaira McCowan (#15), and causes Victoria Vivians (#35) to rotate over. A timely cut from Sami Whitcomb (#32) puts Kelsey Mitchell (#0) in a tough spot, freeing the corner skip to Betnijah Laney (who's making an early case for MIP).
Ionescu leads the WNBA in pick-and-roll possessions (32) by a wide margin, per Synergy. She's generating north of 97 points per 100 pick-and-roll possessions (passes included), placing her in the 83rd percentile right now.
This is obviously early season stuff, but Ionescu is also the only player that ranks in the top-five in scoring (21.0) and assists (9.0), while also leading the WNBA in three-pointers made (10). It wouldn't be a total shock for any of those designations to hold throughout the season if she stays healthy.&nbsp;
She's that darn good.
TEAIRA MCCOWAN, DOING HER WORK EARLY
Send this clip to every big (wo)man camp in the country.
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There is no play-call here. No frills. This is Teaira McCowan busting it up the floor, knocking Kylee Shook back and setting up shop in a threatening post position.&nbsp;
She's able to put Shook on her right shoulder to create a wider window for the entry pass from Robinson. There is absolutely nothing Shook can do to prevent the pass, nor does she have the length to bother the shot.
It's textbook stuff, stuff that McCowan was doing at Mississippi State. It's what she did as a rookie; for the life of me, I still do not understand why she didn't get more playing time last season.&nbsp;
If you want a number, I'll present you with this one: per Synergy, McCowan leads the WNBA in points (15) off those deep middle seals. Liz Cambage is the only other player in double digits (10).&nbsp;
JAYSON TATUM HAS FULLY ARRIVED
23 points. 7-of-10 from the field, 2-of-3 from three. Three assists, one measly turnover.&nbsp;
That's a darn good game for a hired gun off the bench. A play-finishing wing that sprinkled in some transition dimes or something.&nbsp;
The fact that this is what Jayson Tatum did during the third quarter of Tuesday night's play-in game is absolutely absurd.
There's only so much you can do against Tatum now. As I <a href="https://twitter.com/NekiasNBA/status/1383148215181135879?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote last month</a>, he's rounding out the rough parts of his game. He's gotten more comfortable operating in the intermediate areas. He gets downhill more often, and with more purpose. You don't luck your way into 17 free throws.
The fun part of getting good at the average stuff is that it simply unlocks more of your great stuff. In a way, the hesi-and-drive to Tatum's left against Rui Hachimura ultimately helps him set up this stepback against Davis Bertans.
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50 points. Big win. Playoff spot secured. The Leap is happening right before our eyes, folks.
THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO "HMMMM"
<ul>
<li>We're working with a 30-minute sample right now, but the early returns for the A'ja Wilson-Liz Cambage combo have been positive (plus-6.4 net rating). A'ja took a three on Saturday and made it. Let's just say I'll be keeping tabs on that all season long.</li>
<li>I am just especially fascinated by how the Atlanta Dream plan to find minutes for Chennedy Carter, Courtney WIlliams, Aari McDonald, Odyssey Sims and&nbsp;Tiffany Hayes. They've shown some early willingness to go with three guards, but I am terrified of what the defense will look like.</li>
<li>Breanna Stewart (averaging 27 &amp; 12 through two) is the obvious draw for the Storm, but I'm intrigued by Ezi Magbegor. She got the start on Tuesday night against the Aces; her blend of size and skill provides a nice complement to Stewart's, well, everything.</li>
<li>A quick glance at the blocks per game leaderboard will highlight two members of the Phoenix Mercury: Brittney Griner (2.7, 2nd) and Brianna Turner (2.3). Unsurprisingly, among the teams that have played multiple games, none have allowed a lower field goal percentage than the Mercury.</li>
<li>The Sky outscored the Mystics by 19 points in the 25 minutes that Candace Parker was on the court. This might be as scary as we <a href="https://twitter.com/NekiasNBA/status/1356406720260677639" target="_blank" rel="noopener">thought it would be</a>.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
PLAYS I LIKED
Pick Your Poison
The Indiana Pacers absolutely molly whopped the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday night. Among the many, many, many&nbsp;plays in which the Hornets looked unequipped to defend this team, this play caught my eye.
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I appreciate the misdirection to kick things off, with Justin Holiday kinda faking a connection with Doug McDermott before lifting above the break. McDermott does a great job of setting Terry Rozier up, and Domantas Sabonis finishes the job by sliding over a step to prevent Rozier from shooting the gap.
Watch Your Back(cut)
MOAR TATUM.
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It's all about playing against tendency here. Boston loves to run pindowns for Tatum to get him attacking on the move. Bradley Beal has positioned himself -- back to Marcus Smart, practically hugging Tatum -- to prepare for this screening action.
Tatum uses that so-called knowledge (and that positioning) against Beal, juking before darting to the basket for an easy lob.&nbsp;
Slotting Up
I talked about Ionescu's pick-and-roll proficiency a little bit earlier, but I like this set-up from the Liberty.
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We get a Pistol/21 look as Ionescu trots up the left side of the floor. Laney "ghosts" the screen before running off a flare from Shook. That action between Laney and Shook not only occupies their defenders; it also puts strain on the weak side since Ionescu is able to gain inside leverage on the drive.
The drive forces a rotation, which leaves Crystal Dangerfield (#2) splitting the difference. Whitcomb recognizes that dilemma and cuts inside, receiving a pass and getting an uncontested lay-up as a result.
Good stuff all around.
THE READING LIST
There is plenty of high-level basketball content out here if you know where to look. I wouldn&rsquo;t be where I am as a writer without reading a ton of Zach Lowe or Chris Herring or Caitlin Cooper or Mirin Fader or... well, you get the point.&nbsp;
Anyway, here are some -- not all, but some! -- of the stories I&rsquo;ve read this week that I think you should check out. Their Twitter handles will be linked under their names, so click and follow if you don&rsquo;t already.
<a href="https://twitter.com/MirinFader" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mirin Fader</a> knocks this <a href="https://twitter.com/MirinFader/status/1395020533872222223?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Andre Drummond feature</a> out of the park.
<a href="https://twitter.com/Herring_NBA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chris Herring</a> brought the goods on <a href="https://twitter.com/Herring_NBA/status/1395032294059085826" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Atlanta Hawks</a>, and what Trae Young means to them.
This was technically for last week, but I can't recommend <a href="https://twitter.com/MichaelVPina" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Michael Pina</a>'s <a href="https://twitter.com/MichaelVPina/status/1392115303698534404?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">feature on Dejounte Murray</a> enough.
ESPN's <a href="https://twitter.com/TimBontemps/status/1394299631736172544?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">massive playoff guide</a> is well worth your time.
<a href="https://twitter.com/alexaphilippou" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Alexa Philippou</a> gave us the deets on <a href="https://twitter.com/alexaphilippou/status/1394408732725964800?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tiffany Hayes' return</a>.

In Nekias Duncan's weekly notebook, he shares things that have caught his eye. He breaks down players, teams, plays and stats.

Roaming the Baseline: Sabrina Ionescu, Jayson Tatum, Teaira McCowan

Imagine this: The Philadelphia 76ers are about to play in Game 1 of the NBA Finals at Wells Fargo Center. Minutes before tip-off, 10,000 fans are on their feet -- equal parts antsy and excited. The lights go out, and the PA announcer&rsquo;s voice echoes throughout the building.
&ldquo;Ringing tonight&rsquo;s bell... the man who urged us to &lsquo;Trust the Process,&rsquo; who got us Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, who died for our sins&hellip; former 76ers general manager SAM HINKIE!&rdquo;
Hinkie emerges, and the fans go nuts. He soaks in the cheers, finally getting the acknowledgement that he deserves for laying this contender&rsquo;s foundation.&nbsp;
Sixers fans have been calling for Hinkie to ring the bell for several years, with some even <a href="http://change.org/p/philadelphia-76ers-sixers-invite-sam-hinkie-to-ring-the-bell-in-the-eastern-conference-finals" target="_blank" rel="noopener">creating petitions</a> in hopes of getting the organization's attention.&nbsp;
Well, that dream is now one step closer to reality.
On Tuesday, shortly after the Sixers announced that Wells Fargo Center would be at 50% capacity for the playoffs, president of basketball operations Daryl Morey <a href="https://twitter.com/dmorey/status/1392177484414730246" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tweeted</a>: &ldquo;Let's try to get @samhinkie for the bell ringing.&rdquo;
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Let's try to get <a href="https://twitter.com/samhinkie?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@samhinkie</a> for the bell ringing
&mdash; Daryl Mor&Xi;y 🗽🏀 (@dmorey) <a href="https://twitter.com/dmorey/status/1392177484414730246?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Interestingly, the Sixers&rsquo; bell-ringing ritual started in 2013-14, during Hinkie&rsquo;s tenure. (The bell was initially supposed to be a good-luck charm that players touched on the way to the court, like Notre Dame&rsquo;s "Play like a champion today" sign, but <a href="https://theathletic.com/969705/2019/05/09/the-short-but-resonant-history-of-the-sixers-bell-ringing-ceremony-and-how-it-unites-philadelphia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the players weren&rsquo;t into it</a>.)
The Sixers currently have the Eastern Conference's best record (47-21), thanks in large part to their franchise cornerstones: Embiid and Simmons. The Trust-the-Process era may have rubbed some people the wrong way, but it netted two stars and yielded a contending team. &ldquo;Hinkie died for our sins&rdquo; has become a common refrain among Sixers fans (with <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BION1DVBdIf/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;ig_rid=ad452d8f-0f07-471a-a66f-7517e3ede981" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Embiid joining the fun on IG</a>).
Morey didn&rsquo;t just assume Hinkie's former post in Philadelphia; the two go way back. In 2005, Hinkie got his start in the NBA with the Houston Rockets' front office. Two years later, Morey was hired as Houston's GM and Hinkie was the team's vice president. He would eventually work his way up to assistant GM and become Morey&rsquo;s protege. They saw the world similarly and were both big proponents of advanced analytics. Hinkie <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/sixers/2014/07/20/profile-general-manager-sam-hinkie-patience-secrecy-rebuilding/12903303/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> played an instrumental role in the Rockets acquiring Kyle Lowry and Patrick Beverley.
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Hinkie and the Sixers didn&rsquo;t end their relationship on the best of terms, but if there&rsquo;s anyone who can help repair the damage, perhaps it's Morey (given his history with Hinkie).&nbsp;
Last October, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/espn-daily/id1482680261#episodeGuid=821b098c-1abb-11eb-ae6e-bfac81b05b2e" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ESPN&rsquo;s Pablo Torre</a> asked Hinkie about the possibility of reuniting with Morey for a second front-office stint in Philly. When asked to give a percent chance of this happening, Hinkie made it clear that he&rsquo;s not interested.
&lsquo;&lsquo;Zero,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve turned that chapter of my life. I very much like what I&rsquo;m doing now.&rdquo;
Hinkie has transitioned to a successful post-NBA career as a venture capitalist, founding and managing his own firm, <a href="https://www.87capital.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">87 Capital</a>. It's understandable that he wouldn't want to work for the Sixers again, but perhaps he can be persuaded to return to his roots for one night.&nbsp;
<img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/morr_lg.jpg" alt="" width="748" height="435" />
It&rsquo;s worth noting that all signs seem to point to Morey and Hinkie still having a solid relationship. When the 76ers hired Morey, Hinkie was thrilled.
&ldquo;I was stoked. I&rsquo;m stoked now! I think it&rsquo;s great news,&rdquo; he told <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/espn-daily/id1482680261#episodeGuid=821b098c-1abb-11eb-ae6e-bfac81b05b2e" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Torre</a>. &ldquo;[Daryl Morey] isn&rsquo;t a good hire, he&rsquo;s a great hire. It&rsquo;s a really big move for a franchise I care a lot about, with a bunch of people I care a lot about. I just think it portends really great things for the future, for the Sixers.&rdquo;
When asked whether it was strange that the 76ers parted ways with him only to hire his mentor several years later, Hinkie told <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/espn-daily/id1482680261#episodeGuid=821b098c-1abb-11eb-ae6e-bfac81b05b2e" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Torre</a>: &ldquo;I expect on occasion it may be a little strange. Mostly it will be great&hellip; God bless em&rsquo; for getting to that answer, I think it&rsquo;s a great answer regardless of the oddity of it. It makes my life simple. I&rsquo;ve been a Sixers fan and a Rockets fan more than the other teams for awhile. I can continue to do that, it&rsquo;s cool.&rdquo;
Morey has always been supportive of Hinkie too. Back in 2014, Morey told <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/sixers/2014/07/20/profile-general-manager-sam-hinkie-patience-secrecy-rebuilding/12903303/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">USA TODAY Sports</a>: "He won't stop until he builds a dynasty up there in Philly. He's going to build Lego brick by Lego brick, and there's no chance he won't succeed."
After Hinkie&rsquo;s exit from the 76ers, Morey told <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/news/the-vertical-podcast-with-woj--daryl-morey-134312567.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yahoo Sports</a> that he &ldquo;wanted to take hits for him&rdquo; throughout the Trust-The-Process years, adding that Hinkie is &ldquo;very good at what he does&rdquo; and defending his overall philosophy.
Hinkie still keeps close tabs on the Sixers, watching games and even some <a href="https://twitter.com/JClarkNBCS/status/1329426792466280448" target="_blank" rel="noopener">press conferences</a>.
&ldquo;I watch a bunch,&rdquo; Hinkie told <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/espn-daily/id1482680261#episodeGuid=821b098c-1abb-11eb-ae6e-bfac81b05b2e" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Torre</a>.&rdquo; I keep track a lot because I care about how they do and I care about the people there. I&rsquo;m a fan from afar.&rdquo;
Perhaps he'll get a closer look in the near future, as it seems he has an open invitation from Morey to attend a game and ring the bell.

Daryl Morey invited Sam Hinkie to ring the bell before a Philadelphia Sixers playoff game. Will Hinkie take him up on his offer?

Daryl Morey invites Sam Hinkie to ring bell before 76ers' playoff game

James Posey talks to T.J. Ford about his upbringing, the 2003 NBA Draft, getting traded, how a tough season Indiana strengthened their bond and more.

Sam'i