WNBA 2018 11-week Progress Report

In a WNBA summer in which the unexpected has become almost commonplace – the dreadful Fever own road victories over both 2017 Finalists (Go figger!!) – the Las Vegas Aces produced genuine shock waves with their “boycott” of an August 3 game in DC on the heels of a travel-day-from-hell. Spectators had begun to arrive when word of the “postponement” (which became a forfeit) was released.

Despite the TKO-loss, Bill Laimbeer’s young transplants to Sin City continue to breathe down the necks of the Dallas Wings for the final spot in the playoffs. And the awarded victory keeps the Mystics in the midst of a multi-team scrum – the Dream, Sparks and Sun involved as well, maybe even the reigning-and-defendings – for the last three “Byes” behind Storming Seattle.

Oh, and make sure you check out my “Revelation for the Road” below – maybe the most confounding component of this topsy-turvy season has been the virtual absence of a Home Court advantage. (Maybe the Aces should have rolled the dice that Friday night!!)

The Season by the Numbers (per-game per team) thru 177 games

Possessions: 79.2

Points: 82.4  [PPP: 1.040]

FG: 30.4 – 68.4, .445

3FG: 6.6 – 19.3, .343

3PAr/Usage rate: .282

FT: 15.0 – 18.8, .795

(Off – Tot) Reb: 8.8 – 34.3  [OR% .257]

TO: 13.7  [TO% .151]

Stats and data represent play through Wednesday, Aug. 9.

An explanation of the criteria for ranking is available here.

An index of bi-weekly ratings available here.

No. 1 Seattle Storm, 23-8 (8)

[2-week Abacus Rank: No. 1

4-week Abacus Rank: No. 1

6-week Abacus Rank: No. 1

8-week Abacus Rank: No. 1

10-week Abacus Rank: No. 1]

KK:  +8; (12 Road Wins – 4 Home Losses) / No. 1 overall

Flow:  +2.65; (43.8 stops OF opp [No. 3] – 41.1 stops BY opp [No. 2] / No. 1 overall

Striping:  +1.32; (+2.74) conversions [No. 2] - (+1.42) opp conversions [No. 8] / No. 2 overall

SPOR-t:  +33; (571 [No. 3] – 538 [No. 4]) / No. 4 overall

Abacus Revelation: The Storm have yielded .488 FG shooting since the All-Star Break, despite winning four of five games.

No. 2 Connecticut Sun, 17-12 (13)

[2-week Abacus Rank: No. 3

4-week Abacus Rank: No. 1

6-week Abacus Rank: No. 1

8-week Abacus Rank: No. 3

10-week Abacus Rank: No. 2]

KK:  +4; (8 Road Wins – 4 Home Losses) / No. 2 overall (tied-3)

Flow:  +2.17; (43.6 stops OF opp [No. 4] – 41.4 stops BY opp [No. 4] / No. 2 overall

Striping:  +0.24; (+1.67) conversions [No. 5] – (+1.43) conversions [No. 9] / No. 7 overall

SPOR-t:  +116; (635 [No. 1] – 519 [No. 2]) / No. 1 overall

Abacus Revelation: The best rebounding squad in the “W” ranks No. 1 in OR% (.316) and No. 2 in DR% (.767).

ABACUS INFOMERCIAL

Masters of the Craft (Part 1)

Which teams are performing the rudimentary skills of the game most proficiently at both ends of the floor? Let’s consider six elements of play: FG shooting, three-point shooting, Points per Game, Offensive Rebounding, the matter of turnovers and the SPOR-t score of our ratings. These teams hold a Top Four rank offensively and defensively:

FG%: Phoenix

3FG%: NONE

PPG: Seattle

OR%: Connecticut, Minnesota

TO%: Connecticut, Washington

SPOR-t: Connecticut, Seattle

No. 3 Washington Mystics, 18*-11 (18)

[2-week Abacus Rank: No. 2

4-week Abacus Rank: No. 5

6-week Abacus Rank: No. 5

8-week Abacus Rank: No. 6

10-week Abacus Rank: No. 7]

KK:  +4; (9 Road Wins – 5 Home Losses) / No. 2 overall (tied-3)

Flow:  +0.21; (41.6 stops OF opp [No. 10] – 41.3 stops BY opp [No. 3] / No. 8 overall

Striping:  +1.36; (+2.86) conversions [No. 1] – (+1.50) opp conversions [No. 10] / No. 1 overall

SPOR-t:  -1; (566 [No. 4] – 567 [No. 9]) / No. 6 overall

Abacus Revelation: The Mystics miss just 2.66 FT attempts per game, lowest in the WNBA.

No. 4 Minnesota Lynx, 17-13 (22.5)

[2-week Abacus Rank: No. 8

4-week Abacus Rank: No. 9

6-week Abacus Rank: No. 6

8-week Abacus Rank: No. 5

10-week Abacus Rank: No. 3]

KK:  +3; (9 Road Wins – 6 Home Losses) / No. 5 overall (tied)

Flow:  +1.23; (43.5 stops OF opp [No. 5] – 42.3 stops BY opp [No. 6] / No. 5 overall

Striping:  -1.10; (+0.70) conversions [No. 9] – (+1.80) opp conversions [No. 11] / No. 10 overall

SPOR-t:  +66; (558 [No. 5] – 492 [No. 1]) / No. 2 overall

Abacus Revelation: The one steady component to the Lynx’ uncharacteristically inconsistent performance has been their top-notch (.796) defensive rebounding.

ABACUS INFOMERCIAL

Scoring Pace 24 games [177 overall]

100+ points: 8 games [29 overall]

90-99 points: 9 games [65 overall]

80-89 points: 11 games [106 overall]

70-79 points: 15 games [117 overall]

60-69 points: 3 games [31 overall]

<60 points: 2 games [6 overall]

No. 5 Atlanta Dream, 20-10 (23)

[2-week Abacus Rank: No. 9

4-week Abacus Rank: No. 6

6-week Abacus Rank: No. 8

8-week Abacus Rank: No. 8

10-week Abacus Rank: No. 6]

KK:  +4; (8 Road Wins – 4 Home Losses) / No. 2 overall (tied-3)

Flow:  +1.40; (45.8 stops OF opp [No. 1] – 44.4 stops BY opp [No. 9] / No. 4 overall

Striping:  -1.12; [+0.07) conversions [No. 11] – (+1.18) conversions [No. 4] / No. 11 overall

SPOR-t:  +26; (548 [No. 6] – 522 [No. 3]) / No. 5 overall 

Abacus Revelation: The stout Dream defense ranks No. 1 in FG% (.419) and No. 2 in 3FG% (.326).

No. 6 Dallas Wings, 14-15 (23.5)

[2-week Abacus Rank: No. 6

4-week Abacus Rank: No. 7

6-week Abacus Rank: No. 7

8-week Abacus Rank: No. 4

10-week Abacus Rank: No. 3]

KK:  -2; (5 Road Wins – 7 Home Losses) / No. 8 overall (tied)

Flow:  +1.48; (43.4 stops OF opp [No. 6] – 41.9 stops BY opp [No. 5] / No. 3 overall

Striping:  -0.53; (+0.62) conversions [No. 10] – (+1.16) conversions [No. 3] / No. 9 overall

SPOR-t:  +55; (600 [No. 2] – 545 [No. 6]) / No. 3 overall

Abacus Revelation: The Wings attempt 4.17 more FT’s r per game than do their opponents, No. 2 in the league.

No. 7 Los Angeles Sparks, 18-12 (25)

[2-week Abacus Rank: No. 4

4-week Abacus Rank: No. 4

6-week Abacus Rank: No. 4

8-week Abacus Rank: No. 7

10-week Abacus Rank: No. 7]

KK:  +2; (8 Road Wins – 6 Home Losses) / No. 7 overall

Flow:  +0.97; (41.9 stops OF opp [No. 9] – 41.0 stops BY opp [No. 1] / No. 6 overall

Striping:  +0.75; (+1.48) conversions [No. 7] – (+0.73) opp conversions [No. 1]) / No. 4 overall

SPOR-t:  -18; (524 [No. 8] – 542 [No.5]) / No. 8 overall

Abacus Revelation: The Sparks have posted the league’s worst OR% (.208).

ABACUS INFOMERCIAL

Scoring Differential 24 games [177 overall]

1-5 points: 5 games [42 overall]

6-10 points: 5 games [46 overall]

11-15 points: 7 games [37 overall]

16-20 points:  3 games [25 overall]

>20 points:  4 games [27 overall]

 No. 8 Phoenix Mercury, 16-14 (25.5)

[2-week Abacus Rank: No. 10

4-week Abacus Rank: No. 3

6-week Abacus Rank: No. 3

8-week Abacus Rank: No. 2

10-week Abacus Rank: No. 5]

KK:  +3; (11 Road Wins – 8 Home Losses) / No. 5 overall (tied)

Flow:  +0.40; (42.7 stops OF opp [No. 7] – 42.3 stops BY opp [No. 6] / No. 7 overall

Striping:  +1.18; (+2.48) conversions [No. 3] – (+1.30) opp conversions [No. 5] / No. 3 overall

SPOR-t:  -63; (519 [No. 10] – 582 [No. 11]) / No. 10 overall

Abacus Revelation: The Phoenix opposition posts the lowest usage rate for 3-pointers (.256), but the second-best connect rate (.355). 

No. 9 Las Vegas Aces, 12-17* (36.5)

[2-week Abacus Rank: No. 12

4-week Abacus Rank: No. 11

6-week Abacus Rank: No. 10

8-week Abacus Rank: No. 9

10-week Abacus Rank: No. 9]

KK:  -2; (6 Road Wins – 8 Home Losses) / No. 8 overall (tied)

Flow:  +0.14; (43.8 stops OF opp [No. 2] – 43.7 stops BY opp [No. 8] / No. 9 overall

Striping:  -3.07; (-0.83) conversions [No. 12] – (+2.24) opp conversions [No. 12] / No. 12 overall

SPOR-t:  -5; (540 [No. 7] – 545 [No. 6]) / No. 7 overall

Abacus Revelation: The Aces miss 5.41 FT’s per game, most in the league.

ABACUS INFOMERCIAL

Masters of the Craft (Part 2)

Are not the exceptionally inept worthy of some recognition? Here are the teams that hold a Bottom Four offensive and defensive ranking in our key elements of play: FG shooting, three-point shooting, PPG, Offensive Rebounding, Turnovers and SPOR-t.

FG%: Indiana, Las Vegas

3FG%: New York

PPG: Indiana, New York

OR%: Phoenix

TO%: Chicago, Phoenix

SPOR-t: Indiana, Phoenix

 No. 10 Chicago Sky, 10-19 (38)

[2-week Abacus Rank: No. 6

4-week Abacus Rank: No. 12

6-week Abacus Rank: No. 12

8-week Abacus Rank: No. 11

10-week Abacus Rank: No. 11]

KK:  -5; (4 Road Wins – 9 Home Losses) / No. 10 overall

Flow:  -4.03; (41.0 stops OF opp [No. 11] – 45.0 stops BY opp [No. 11] / No. 11 overall

Striping:  0.38; (+1.72) conversions [No. 4] – (+1.34) opp conversions [No. 6] / No. 5 overall

SPOR-t:  -109; (524 [No. 8] – 633 [No. 12]) / No. 12 overall

Abacus Revelation: The Sky rank dead last in the “W” when it comes to defending the 3-ball (.357).

No. 10 New York Liberty, 7-22 (38)

[2-week Abacus Rank: No. 5

4-week Abacus Rank: No. 8

6-week Abacus Rank: No. 9

8-week Abacus Rank: No. 9

10-week Abacus Rank: No. 10]

KK: -9; (3 Road Wins – 12 Home Losses) / No. 11 overall

Flow:  -2.14; (42.7 stops OF opp [No. 8] – 44.8 stops BY opp [No. 10] / No. 10 overall

Striping:  +0.19; (+1.55) conversions [No. 6] – (+1.34) opp conversions [No. 6] / No. 8 overall

SPOR-t:  -33; (516 [No. 11] – 549 [No. 8]) / No. 9 overall

Abacus Revelation: The Liberty rank No. 10 in FG% (.432) and No. 11 in TO% (.164).

No. 12 Indiana Fever, 5-24 (41)

[2-week Abacus Rank: No. 11

4-week Abacus Rank: No. 10

6-week Abacus Rank: No. 11

8-week Abacus Rank: No. 12

10-week Abacus Rank: No. 12]

KK:  -10; (3 Road Wins – 13 Home Losses) / No. 12 overall

Flow:  -4.76; (40.5 stops OF opp [No. 12] – 45.3 stops BY opp [No. 12] / No. 12 overall

Striping:  +0.29; (+1.31) conversions [No. 8] – (+1.02) conversions [No. 2] / No. 6 overall

SPOR-t:  -77; (497 [No. 12] – 574 [No. 10]) / No. 11 overall

Abacus Revelation: The Fever rank No. 2 in TO% (.143).

Abacus Revelation for the Road / Random Ranking – Home-Court Advantage (?)

In its first 177 games, WNBA 2018 has seen “visiting” teams win 86 times – that’s damn near half the games (.486). Here’s the break-down by team:

Phoenix 30 games – 19 “road” wins (.633)

Indiana 29 games – 16 “road” wins (.552)

New York 29 games – 15 “road” wins (.517)

Seattle 31 games – 16 “road” wins (.516) 

Minnesota 30 games – 15 “road” wins (.500)

Las Vegas 29 games – 14 “road” wins (.483)  

Washington 29 games – 14 “road” wins (.483)

Los Angeles 30 games – 14 “road” wins (.467)

Chicago 29 games – 13 “road” wins (.448)

Connecticut 29 games – 12 “road” wins (.414)

Dallas 29 games – 12 “road” wins (.414)

Atlanta 30 games – 12 “road” wins (.400)