Tag: Caitlin Clark

Podcast: Clark and Reese in the WNBA Olympic All Star Game and Our First Team Selections for the Season so Far

We talk WNBA All Stars vs USA Olympic Team, look back and ahead on the WNBA season, and then look ahead to the upcoming Paris Olympics on this week’s Torg Stories Podcast episode.

What were some of the top reasons the game was entertaining?

  1. Very Competitive: The players tried hard and cared about winning. I think there’s nothing like competitive people having a chip on their shoulder entering a competition.
  2. Well played: The high level of play starting with Arike Ogunbowale scoring 34 points in the second half. What are the greatest shotmaking performances I’ve ever seen. This one has got to be up there.
  3. Expensive Production Values: For starting line ups, how many times has someone like Lebron or Kevin Durant been on a stage that rises up out of the floor? You could see that someone like Caitlin was a little tickled at the fuss. What else?
  4. Length of game: still really enjoying 8 mins less of basketball than we get with the NBA and at least for a little longer, far fewer television reviews.

Torg’s choice for First Team:

  • G Sabrina Ionescu. NY Liberty. 6th in scoring. 42% fg, 34% from 3. 6.2 to 2.6 assist to turnover. Team best record in the league.
  • G Kelsey Plum. LV Aces. Leads the league in 3 pointers made. 9th in scoring.
  • F Alyssa Thomas CONN. 2nd in assists. 5th in rebounding.
  • F Breanna Stewart. NY Liberty. 6th in blocks. 8th in scoring.
  • F. A’ja Wilson. Aces. (MVP) first in scoring and blocks.

Second Team:

  • G Caitlin Clark. IND. 12th in scoring. 1st in assists. Best connector in the league? (32% from 3).
  • G Arike Ogunbowale. Team worst record in the league at 6-19. 35% FG percentage. Leads the league in steals. 3rd in scoring. Went to Notre Dame. 5th pick in 2019. Leads the league with 20 shots a game.
  • F Jonquel Jones. NY Liberty. (maybe should be ahead of Thomas and Stewart)
  • F Nneka Ogwumike. SEA. 4th place. 17-8.
  • F DeWanna Bonner. CONN.

Notable Left Off:

  • G. Kahleah Copper PHX. 2nd in scoring. 45% from field and 33 from 3. More turnovers than assists.
  • G Jewell Loyd SEA. Leads league in FTs made. 5th in scoring.
  • F Napheesa Collier. MIN. 4th in scoring.
  • F Angel Reese. CHI. Leads the league in rebounding.

Anne, you get excited for the olympics? Here are my notes:

  1. Starts this week, July 26th. Been 9 years since bid was announced. 19 days of competition.
  2. What sports will be played? Click here for list. Anne, anything you are especially looking forward to?

Thanks for listening to the Torg Stories Podcast!

Caitlin Clark Gets Started in the WNBA, Torg Tries FanDuel Sports Betting, and the NBA Playoffs

Caitlin Clark gets started in the WNBA, Torg Tries sports gambling on FanDuel and we get ready for some NBA Playoff Game 7s including Pacers vs Knicks.

Click player above to listen to podcast.

Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever Get Started

Level of aggression in second game vs Liberty compared to first. Pace looked good but not ready to be good at it yet.

What does Clark’s game remind me of? How should this team be set up? Building a team that gets on board that this is Clark’s team in the way the Mavs are Luka’s team, etc.

14 Temi Fagbenle getting my attention in a good way: catching passes, finishing, defending.

Let’s look at stats so far this year for the Fever. Click here for Basketball Reference.

Can #17 Erica Wheeler and Clark play together? She started all of last year’s games.

Other WNBA Related Questions and Observations:

How do you like the gray Liberty floor at Barclay’s? What do you like in a basketball court?

Mostly Gray Floor of NY Liberty

The WNBA coaches seem to challenge so much less.

I like sooo much that the WNBA games, season, and playoffs series are shorter than the NBA.

I Tried Sports Gambling on FanDuel

Getting Started…

Understanding Parlays and Managing them on the app

Sticking to the promotions including free bets and matching deposits. The promotions serve as a way to moderate how much of this I engage in.

Placing bets that don’t change my enjoyment of rooting for a team or player.

Game 7 at Madison Square Garden Pacers at Knicks

Hope #1 is that the combination of the Pacers young players getting used to the stage along with another Knick injury (Josh Hart) will put the Pacers over the top.

My biggest concern for the Pacers is that starting with Haliburton the Pacers young players just aren’t ready to win a game 7 in Madison Square Garden.

Dallas Mavericks lead the Oklahoma City Thunder 3 games to 2.

It seems really clear to me that the Mavericks best two players are a lot better than the Thunder’s best two players. Also, with how well PJ Washington is playing for the Mavericks, they have a lot better players.

Celtics

The Celtics are expected to win and that changes how everyone, including those on the team, experiences the games.

There can be a tendency to think you’re supposed to be up by 15 at the end of the first quarter. Lots of people connected to the team say, we’re not winning by enough. This pressure or malaise might get to them, or they might make it through to a worthy opponent and rise to the occasion. Maybe that’s at MSG or maybe that’s in the finals against the Mavs or Nuggets.

Game 7 Minnesota Timberwolves vs Denver Nuggets

Does the altitude matter?

My concern for the Nuggets would be the intensity that the Timberwolves were able to generate defensively in the opening two games and why wouldn’t they be able to do that again?

I am picking the Nuggets because I think Jokic is the best player and his basketball IQ is such that he knows how to play in this game.

Thanks for checking in with us at Torg Stories. We appreciate you!

Fav 80s Movies, Caitlin Clark, and Universal Studios Orlando

Torg 10 favorite movies from the 80’s:

  1. Say Anything (1989) Lloyd Dobler nervous talking, looking for a dare to be great situation, bold ask out and the kickboxing dare to be great example, Keymaster, I gave her my heart and she gave me a pen.
  2. Field of Dreams (1989) supernatural voice, just built something totally illogical, James Earl Jones as the kidnapped activist writer, acting with belief in the face of no real reason
  3. Hoosiers (1986) for it’s old gyms, Hoosier references, Dennis Hopper character, pains in the butt in the community,
  4. The Princess Bride (1987) framed story, inconceivable, you killed my father; prepare to die. Billy Crystal mostly dead. Fred Savage! Robin Wright! Is this a kissing book? Fairytale!
  5. Dead Poets Society (1989) inspiring literature teacher, teacher connect with students, seize the day speech
  6. Die Hard (1988) Yipee, Ki Yay? curse word. John McClain 1 cop won’t die, just keeps coming. Happy Trails Hans.
  7. Top Gun (1987) the Tom Cruise character attitude paired with Val Kilmer, the brash guy who comes through, the relationship with Kelly McGillis
  8. Bull Durham (1988) Tim Robbins and Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon, giving away pitches, breaking the home run record
  9. The Breakfast Club (1985) Anthony Michael Hall and his essay, the characters from HS, that it takes place in Saturday detention, for its music, Mess with the bull, get the horns.
  10. Back to the Future (1985) the car, friendship with Doc, Christopher Lloyd’s delivery, music Back in Time by Hughey Lewis
  11. Honorable mentions: When Harry Met Sally (1989) Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (1987) Weird Science (1985) The Empire Strikes Back (1980) Big (1988) Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989) Caddyshack (1980) Lethal Weapon (1987) Terminator (1984) Stand by Me (1986) Sixteen Candles (1984) Major League (1989) Rain Man (1988) Rocky IV (1985)

80s movies I haven’t seen but maybe should:

  1. Midnight Run (1988) Robert Dinero, bounty hunter, funny
  2. Blood Simple (1984) Coen Brothers, Texas, husband calls his wife when she’s cheating.
  3. Stop Making Sense (1984) Talking Heads doc
  4. Broadcast News (1987)

2nd Segment: Caitlin Clark

What draws people to Caitlin Clark?

  1. Lots of bombs while playing for a good team.
  2. Consistently delivered on the biggest of stages
  3. We’ve had time to know her. (my daughter mentions her TikToks)

How do we think it goes in the WNBA for Caitlin Clark?

  1. What kind of player will Clark be in the WNBA? The shooting seems like it will translate, BUT is she going to be able to get these shots off? It goes poorly if there’s quite a few players that can lock her up and bigs who switch and can guard her. I think she’s mostly going to be able to keep doing what she’s been doing. The vision will translate. Her DEFENSE seems like it will be a big question.
  2. Did you watch the WNBA last season? Will Clark increase your viewing? Could anything else? May 14 the season begins. June commissioner’s cup. Break for the olympics. Final in October. 40 game season. League Pass “donation.”
  3. Click here for WNBA Broadcast Schedule. ABC, ESPNs, Amazon
  4. Want to try and points / assists prediction for Clark? I’m going 17 points and 6 assists.

Anything from the Clark appearance on SNL on Weekend Update?

3rd Segment: Universal Studios Orlando via Daytona Beach Staying at Hard Rock Hotels.

  1. Traditional stop for grapefruit and orange juice.
  2. Hard Rock Daytona and beach report.
  3. What do we like about Universal Orlando? Start with where everything is.
  4. Why Hard Rock? What are the choices?
  5. Universal Express.

Top Attractions and some additional discussion points of Universal Studios:

  1. Hagrid Motorcycle Coaster
  2. Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade (the train that connects the two places / parks)
  3. Islands of Adventure Worlds: Marvel, Toons such as Popeye and Dudley Doo Right, Skull Island a good Kong ride, Jurassic Park didn’t ride the VelociCoaster Ride yes to River Ride, Hogsmeade, kind of an empty Lost Continent, Seuss Landing.
  4. Universal Studio Worlds: New York, Hogsmeade London, Springfield / Simpsons
  5. Didn’t go to Volcano Bay this time.
  6. Escape from Gringotts (right up there with the Disney Star Wars Stuff – coaster + screens
  7. Revenge of the Mummy
  8. Hulk in Islands and Rip Ride Rocket in Studios
  9. Jurassic River Ride + two more wet rides
  10. Express Pass ($125 per person) What was my Disney option?

Anne, it was great to talk with you.

Thank you for joining us for this episode!