Alex Harden - WNBA

[boyshocker]

Box score doesn't show it but she also had some very nice defensive plays. Very solid performance and fun the watch, very grateful the Royals got rained out or I probably wouldn't have watched as much as I did.

[1972Shocker]

Box score doesn't show it but she also had some very nice defensive plays. Very solid performance and fun the watch, very grateful the Royals got rained out or I probably wouldn't have watched as much as I did.

From what I hear one of the main reasons Alex made the team and is getting minutes is because of her outstanding defensive abilities. I thought the only real weakness in her game was her long-range shooting so it was good to see she hit both of her trey attempts. If that part of her game comes around then you really do have an all-around gem even at the WNBA level.

Game article.

Rookie guard Alex Harden stepped up with her best game thus far, scoring 10 points and defending with the intensity that persuaded Brondello to entrust her with crucial fourth-quarter minutes Sunday.

And a quote by the Mercury's head coach:

“Alex Harden, she is our defensive stopper, she locked down Augustus and Moore when she was on her and that is what she’s capable of,” Brondello said about Harden. “She just moves her feet and has the physical presence.”

[1972Shocker]

Postgame Report: #MercVsLynx, June 14, 2015

Hear from Sandy, Alex and DB on the Mercury’s 81-66 victory over the Lynx.

http://mercury.wnba.com/video/postgame-report-mercvslynx-june-14-2015/

Very brief couple of questions for Alex at the 1 minute mark.

[1972Shocker]

http://mercury.wnba.com/news/3-things-we-learned-from-mercvslynx/

The Mercury’s Defense, Led by Rookie Alex Harden
If she hasn’t already, Mercury rookie Alex Harden should quickly become a fan-favorite of the X-Factor.

Off the court, she’s quiet, kind and rather shy. On it, however, she plays as hard as anyone in the league — especially on the defensive end of the floor.

Her impact has already been felt this season, as evidenced by her game-saving block against the Stars to open the season. Sunday, however, Harden had the difficult job of guarding three All-Stars at various points in Sunday’s game: Maya Moore, Seimone Augustus and Lindsay Whalen. With help from her teammates, they forced the trio into 17-of-42 shooting (just over 40 percent).

As a team, the Lynx shot just 36 percent from the floor (24-of-67) and zero percent (0-for-9) from the three-point line. Phoenix also forced 16 turnovers.

[1972Shocker]

[ShockdaWorld]

Just in case anybody hasn't seen yet, Alex's Phoenix Mercury team is getting ready to tip off ESPN2.

[1972Shocker]

Just in case anybody hasn't seen yet, Alex's Phoenix Mercury team is getting ready to tip off ESPN2.

Brittany Griner was back in the lineup for the 1st time this year for the Mercury and played 31 minutes in their 71-56 loss to Minnesota. That definitely cut into Alex's playing time as she only played 9 minutes.

Also Alex had a tough shooting night in the Mercury's previous game, a 76-71 loss to San Antonio, as she was 1-9 from the field in 15 minutes of play with only 1 of those attempts being a 3 pointer. However, she did have 2 assists, 3 steals and a blocked shot in that game.

With Griner back it may well be that Alex minutes will be diminished going forward.



With Griner back it may well be tough for Alex to get as many minute as she has previously.

[ShockdaWorld]

Brittany Griner was back in the lineup for the 1st time this year for the Mercury and played 31 minutes in their 71-56 loss to Minnesota. That definitely cut into Alex's playing time as she only played 9 minutes.

Also Alex had a tough shooting night in the Mercury's previous game, a 76-71 loss to San Antonio, as she was 1-9 from the field in 15 minutes of play with only 1 of those attempts being a 3 pointer. However, she did have 2 assists, 3 steals and a blocked shot in that game.

With Griner back it may well be that Alex minutes will be diminished going forward.



With Griner back it may well be tough for Alex to get as many minute as she has previously.

I agree that having Griner back will cut minutes, but in this case, it also didn't help that Alex picked up two fouls within just her first couple of minutes on the floor.

[1972Shocker]

I agree that having Griner back will cut minutes, but in this case, it also didn't help that Alex picked up two fouls within just her first couple of minutes on the floor.

Could be although you get 6 fouls in the WNBA. Alex certainly knows how to play with foul trouble as she rarely came out of games at WSU regardless of her fouls situation. Of course, a lot of that was coaching philosophy. HCJA rarely would remove a player in the 1st half after only 2 fouls. OTOH HCGM of the Shocker men almost always removes a player for the remainder of the 1st half after two fouls.

Clearly, however, when you take 31 minutes of playing time out of a 200 minutes pool that time is going to come from somewhere and as a rookie reserve Alex will no doubt be affected.

I think more than foul trouble last night was that Phoenix was having trouble scoring the ball and they look at Alex as more of a defensive player and not one they can turn to for offense (especially coming off of a 1-9 shooting performance the previous game). Minnesota did a god job making it tough on Griner and quite frankly the rest of the Mercury starters were not very good shooting 11-37 collectively for the game.

[1972Shocker]

After getting only 9 minutes in a 71-56 loss to Minnesota Alex played 18 minutes in the Mercury's 85-78 win over San Antonio and 17 minutes in the Mercury's 86-55 blowout of the Tulsa Shock yesterday. In the Tulsa game Alex scored 7 points on 3 of 6 shooting and added 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals to her line.

Hopefully, this is a sign that she has regained the confidence of her coach.

[The Mad Hatter]

After getting only 9 minutes in a 71-56 loss to Minnesota Alex played 18 minutes in the Mercury's 85-78 win over San Antonio and 17 minutes in the Mercury's 86-55 blowout of the Tulsa Shock yesterday. In the Tulsa game Alex scored 7 points on 3 of 6 shooting and added 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals to her line.

Hopefully, this is a sign that she has regained the confidence of her coach.

It may never have been a sign of lessened confidence by her coach as much as a rotation pattern that was thrown off by Griner's return and the coach readjusting to how to get the optimal rotations. There doesn't need to be even any intent to reduce a players minutes when lineup options change, especially early on, and the fact that with time the minutes are increasing suggests that drop in playing time was not intentional and is being corrected for.

[1972Shocker]

It may never have been a sign of lessened confidence by her coach as much as a rotation pattern that was thrown off by Griner's return and the coach readjusting to how to get the optimal rotations. There doesn't need to be even any intent to reduce a players minutes when lineup options change, especially early on, and the fact that with time the minutes are increasing suggests that drop in playing time was not intentional and is being corrected for.

Yes, but she did come off a 1-9 shooting performance in the game prior to Griner's return. Whether or not that had any influence on the her minutes the following game is hard to know for sure but it was at least a factor that was fresh in the Coach's mind.

However, your point is a very good one.

It was interesting that in Griner's first game, the 56-71 loss to Minnesota, where Alex played sparingly is that Maya Moore really got it going.

All-in-all Alex is having a very solid rookie year so far. I think Phoenix is a good place for Alex because it's a team that values defense.

Here is the recap of the 86-55 win over Tulsa.

[1972Shocker]

Sully with a report on Alex's WNBA play to date:

http://www.kansas.com/sports/college/wichita-state/paul-suellentrop/article27667582.html

[oldtimewomen's hoopcoach]

Sully with a report on Alex's WNBA play to date:

http://www.kansas.com/sports/college...e27667582.html

Great Shocker! How unfortunate, she is not promoting WSU. I'm guessing because of her less than stellar experience at WSU. I've seen her play in the WNBA, and read the quotes of her WNBA coach who wants her to cut loose and be more offensive. In my opinion, she needs to cut loose, not a HCJA robot. Kelsey could go on to play for $ I heard, but just rumor, she is soured on hoops. Sad. And one reason I don't walk at Koch.

[flyingMoose]

Alex has dropped off the face of the earth in Phoenix. DNP-CD is what I typically see lately when I check a box score. Injured players coming back? Not generating enough offense when she plays? Wearing down from both the college season and the pro season? Someone has a better guess than me.