3 key questions as WNBA playoffs take shape. Plus, Rudy Gobert returns to Beef Court

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Zach remains overseas and is enjoying the good life, but that doesn’t stop The Bounce.

WNBA Postseason Takes Shape

Three questions with Sabreena Merchant

We’re entering the stretch run in the WNBA. A’ja Wilson’s white t-shirt energy has produced big-time performances, but the Aces haven’t been the league’s best team this season despite having the best player in the league.

But is this the year the New York Liberty break through? For all of New York’s great history, it still hasn’t won a WNBA Championship. The Liberty are on pace to lead the WNBA in wins for a second consecutive season, but their 18 postseason berths are the most in WNBA history without a title. This might be the Liberty’s season to notch a ring, but Minnesota (26-9, second in WNBA) and Connecticut (25-10, third) are two key potential challengers, along with Las Vegas.

Let’s chime in The Athletic’s Sabreena Merchant to break down the WNBA’s regular season ending as the playoffs take shape:

How would you describe the MVP race?

Sabreena: Despite my best attempts to introduce some drama into the MVP race, it’s pretty cut and dry. Just as A’ja Wilson was last year when she was somehow denied the award, she is the best player in the world, and she’s playing like it. No one – not even peak Diana Taurasi – has scored as well as Wilson has this year. She’s rebounding the ball better than anyone in league history but Angel Reese. And she’s keeping the Aces afloat when her Olympian teammates have collectively slumped from 3-point range. It’s near unprecedented for a player who isn’t on a top-two seed to win MVP, but Wilson’s accomplishments this season are unprecedented. Singular dominance from an all-time great in her prime.

Dwyane Wade manned the t-shirt cannon at the New York Liberty game.

🎥 @WNBA pic.twitter.com/BdeaaZjfzU

— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) September 6, 2024

The Liberty are on pace to lead the WNBA in wins again. What is the difference from this team and last season’s finals runner-up?
Sabreena: This season, New York can put the clamps on, with a defensive rating that is nearly five points per 100 possessions better than the 2023 iteration. Part of the improvement is better health from Jonquel Jones, part of it is stronger point of attack defense from Sabrina Ionescu and part of it is a deeper wing group bolstered by Leonie Fiebich. The Liberty can play a variety of coverages, and they have all-defense worthy contributors at three positions. Combine that with Breanna Stewart playing at an MVP level once again and shooting 44 percent on 3s since the Olympic break, and New York is cooking. New York needs to win its last seven games to tie Las Vegas’ mark for single-season wins.

How dominant have Caitlin Clark and the Fever been down the stretch?
Sabreena: Since a 2-9 start that featured 11 games in 20 days, the Fever are 17-8 with the league’s best offense. Caitlin Clark is on pace to break the WNBA assist record while Kelsey Mitchell is leading the East in scoring. Aliyah Boston is the most overqualified third option in the league, a walking nightmare in the short roll. She’s making smart, quick decisions with the ball in her hands while also anchoring what is now a league-average defense. Indiana isn’t on the level of the Liberty or the Lynx at this point, but to be in the second tier of contenders is an achievement nonetheless in Clark’s first year.

Aliyah Boston with a MONSTER performance today vs. the Dream 👀@IndianaFever | @aa_boston pic.twitter.com/1agcQLZJ1R

— The Athletic WBB (@TheAthleticWBB) September 8, 2024

Friday night was a matchup between a pair of MVP candidates and their teams.

Yet Caitlin Clark’s composure had evaporated. She slumped on the court after not getting a foul call, writes @RomeoVilleKid.

The lesson? This is a chance to continue to grow.https://t.co/8weAr9UevB pic.twitter.com/DS3Kmww9ap

— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) September 7, 2024

The Latest From Shams

Murray, Nuggets agree to extension

In case you missed it over the weekend, Jamal Murray and the Nuggets have agreed to a four-year, $209 million contract extension, per league sources, keeping him with the team through 2029.

Without the extension, the 27-year-old Murray would have become a free agent next summer. The guard has spent his entire NBA career with the Nuggets, who drafted him with the No. 7 pick in 2016. Last season, Murray averaged 21.2 points, 6.5 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game in the regular season.

Elsewhere, Markieff Morris has agreed on a deal to return to the Mavericks, league sources tell me. The reigning Western Conference champions prioritized re-signing Morris, 34, who has served as a strong leader in Mavs locker room and is entering his 14th NBA season.

Beef Court

Rudy Gobert takes stand against Shaq’s barbs

Shaquille O’Neal has always put extra focus on the play of centers, especially in his retirement. The Hall of Famer is one of the best centers to ever play and has called out many big men. Anthony Davis, Dwight Howard and even JaVale McGee are among those who have been hit with criticism from the legendary big man. This time, it’s Gobert’s turn.

Shaq was doing a Q&A with his son Myles, who asked the legendary big man who was the WOAT (Worst of All Time), to which his father answered quickly:

“Rudy Gobert … If you sign a contract for ($250 million), show me 250. There’s a reason why I walk funny, why I can’t turn my neck, because I played for my ($120 million). So, you’ve got guys like him who (expletive) the system over. They’re making all this money, and they can’t (expletive) play. So, I don’t respect guys like that. Every time I make these comments, people think I’m hating, but these are facts.”

The big man also called Ben Simmons a “bum” in this context, but we’re focused on Gobert because the latter tweeted:

It is sad to see someone that has accomplished as much as you did @SHAQ both in sport and business still be triggered by another man’s finances and accomplishments. I get the entertainment part but unlike other folks, you don’t need that stuff to stay relevant. https://t.co/KPHs2VmfIb

— Rudy Gobert (@rudygobert27) September 5, 2024

The only place to settle this is in Beef Court.

The Case for Shaq: This could just say, “Well, he’s Shaq!!!” and be done. The Big Diesel won four titles, three Finals MVPs, a regular-season MVP, made 15 All-Star teams, won two scoring titles and remains an unmatched figure in hoops history. When he was one of the highest-paid basketball players in the world, you couldn’t play him off the court.

There were some who criticized Shaq when he missed games with injuries, but he revealed in his documentary “Shaq” just how many injuries he actually played through, so he walked the talk in this case.

But Shaq’s strongest evidence is that he played some of his best basketball in the postseason. There was no way the four-time champ would not have been on the floor in a crucial situation, unless he had fouled out.

Meanwhile there are multiple examples in the NBA playoffs – and even in the Olympics when playing for France – where Gobert’s teams were better without him in games.

Rudy Gobert and the Timberwolves found themselves at the center of the NBA’s offseason circus.

To win over the NBA populace, Minnesota is going to have to be even better than it was last season.@JonKrawczynski has more ⤵️https://t.co/lPcY4dngFj pic.twitter.com/qhRVdIbWqB

— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) September 6, 2024

Case for Gobert: By most accounts, he’s a nice guy who has also racked up his fair share of accomplishments. Last season, he won his record-tying fourth Defensive Player of the Year award. Gobert has made a lot of money. He signed a five-year, $205 million contract extension in Dec. 2020 and has made over $300 million in his career.

The three-time All-Star is not close to the “bum” category that Shaq lumped him in with Simmons. No one has accused Gobert of not wanting to play, but many have questioned why he hasn’t developed more of an offensive game (like Simmons). But to be fair, Gobert and Simmons are not in the same category, even if Gobert has some postseason lapses.

The verdict: I don’t believe Shaq is “triggered” by Gobert’s money or accomplishments. He was a far superior player and has made (and continues to make) a lot of money. Shaq is among my three favorite players of all time, but mentioning Gobert with Simmons hurts his case. Gobert gets teased by players, media and fans, but is he the WOAT? Nah, we can’t go that far.

As Ingram’s World Turns

What’s next for Pelicans forward?

Can big trades happen in September? Sure, but that doesn’t seem likely for Brandon Ingram. Last week, the Pelicans star skipped voluntary workouts in California after being expected to attend, raising questions about his future again.

Ingram is only 27 and a former All-Star, but it’s clear the Pelicans are rolling with Zion Williamson as their franchise player. Signing Ingram to a contract extension should be a no-brainer. The fact that it hasn’t happened gives the 2019-20 Most Improved Player plenty of reason to believe he’s on the way out and to not want to voluntarily do anything with the Pelicans.

New Orleans remains one of the biggest “if only” teams in the NBA. Ingram and Williamson have both missed long stretches due to injuries. Placing Dejounte Murray alongside CJ McCollum in the backcourt is an intriguing move. But as always seemed to be the case in New Orleans, there’s something going on with one of its top players … a routine dating back to the days of Chris Paul. The sooner Ingram’s situation is resolved, the sooner we get to see if the Pelicans can finally live up to their potential.