The Young Man and the Three The WNBA Playoffs First Round Deep Dive Show with Ryan Ruocco
Sep 15, 2023
Ryan Ruocco, a notable WNBA and NBA announcer, joins JJ Redick and Tommy Alter on a bonus episode of The Old Man and the Three. They discuss the WNBA playoffs, including the dominance of the Las Vegas Aces, the play of A'ja Wilson, and Candace Parker's underrated injury. They also talk about the incredible season of the New York Liberty and the MVP candidacy of Alyssa Thomas. Finally, they discuss why The Dallas Wings have a chance to upset one of the favorites in the playoffs.
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Aces' Historic Dominance
- The Las Vegas Aces had a historic offensive season and feel nearly unbeatable in the modern WNBA era.
- Chicago lacks the depth and continuity to realistically challenge Vegas without multiple things going wrong.
Liberty Matchup Exposes Small Edges
- The New York Liberty matchups reveal where Vegas shows tiny vulnerabilities: depth and rebounding versus elite wings.
- New York's length and frontcourt (Jonquel Jones, Breanna Stewart) can exploit those gaps.
Parker's Absence Creates Rebounding Risk
- Candace Parker's injury and Rachuana Williams' absence create small but important vulnerabilities for Vegas, especially on rebounding.
- Without Parker the Aces may need A'ja Wilson at center, which can expose them on the glass against big teams.