power ratings July 11

My power rating as of now. 

I am certainly NOT the be-all and end-all in WNBA hoops....many fine handicappers here and the quality of people in the WNBA is, in my opinion the highest of any of the covers' forums.  I like writing down my thoughts as it crystallizes things and helps me with my handicapping.

This is to stimulate discussion and thought into this betting arena....there will be teams and rankings that you will disagree with, that is almost a certainty.  A different opinion from yours should not be considered  a personal attack on what you hold as your relality.

1)  Seattle 94   I don't know if I make them the most likely team to win the title this year, as I am not convinced this team is built to win in the playoffs, but right now they are the best team.  Because Jewel Lloyd seems to disapear for huge stretches of time and Brianna I don't know how good she is in crunch time, I am a bit uneasy with this team.  Their new big has been a lifesaver for them and Sue Bird makes playing on this team a joy if you like to put the ball in the basket.

2)  Lynx  93  They are coming back,....Maya Moore is playing much better.  Their inside game is not as dominant as it was, but this team loves to win and they have lunchpail types that do the dirty work to win games.  The rest of the league is better and they have come off a championship winning season hangover.  They are dangerous.

3)  Sparks 93  Candace Parker is up and down and the rest of the team differs to her.  Alana Beard is a rotweiler on defense and it makes the Sparks dangerous that she can lock down on  a Sue Bird, Jewell Lloyd or Maya Moore if the situation demands it.  The other guards for them can be great or team wreckers depending on the day.

4)  Dream 92  They just destroyed the Mystics, and maybe I have this team too high.  But, they are sooo impressive sometimes, big, athletic, good and willing defenders, the top rated defensive team in the league....Angel is the BIG wildcard for this team.   I wouldn't play her at all, I'd cut her, and when she goes into crybaby mode she sulks and she hurts the rest of the team, A LOT.  Super-talented, she is the DeMarcus Cousins of the W, I wonder what her teammates think about playing with her.  I'd give the team to Hayes and Sykes as when things go bad for them, they try harder, not less so.  This team could beat some teams that are seeded higher in the playoffs, if they even make the playoffs as with the Aces it is not out of the realm of possibility that Las Vegas catches and passes them.

5)  Wings  91   They are young and put forth huge efforts...they do dumb things like a young team will....but Skylar goes at the bucket A LOT which I love,...make the officials call fouls and then she shoots a ton of free throws.  More players should do what she does.  They seem to shoot lots of three, which you'll have to live and die with.

6)  Mystics  90   I don't like this team much and of course they just got their butts handed to them.  Kristi Tolliver is pretty fun to watch, but I don't think they play enough defense and or rebound to match their abilities.   They play pretty ball and sometimes you have to win ugly, which I don't know if they're capable of.

7)  Sun 90    Their coach plays too many players and the wrong ones.....sit Banham, Stricklen and Laney down, put Jonquel Jones out at the three point line and let Thomas and  Ogwumike work in the paint.  I liked Miller for a long time, as he gets his players to play hard and to share the ball, but it is far easier to get a bad team to average than taking an average team to championship  level.  Now that Alyssa  is back they can be dangerous,........pay someone a lot of money to teach Thomas how to shoot, like me.

8)  Mercury 89   Like a few others here, I don't think they'll do much the rest of the way....it's a toss up between the Mercury and Dream of who the biggest Jeckyl and Hyde team is in the W.

9)  Aces 89   They are coming on, as the Bill Laimbeer factor is taking effect.  Lovely now to have this team getting points, you're reasonably sure that they'll outwork and out-defense their opponents, Kelsey Plum has gone from below average to an average guard now....I would think the Moriah Jefferson would get some of her minutes as she gets back in the groove.  A'Ja is probably already the best big in the W.  They are not very athletic besides her, but they do what teams with good coaches do...they overachieve.

10)  Sky 87  This team has some serious talent, but can't be depended on.  Coaching is an issue, they can be fun to watch.  I'd expect that if they retain the coach (which if I am the GM, she's gone after this year) that they'll part ways with Vandersloot and Quigley within the next year.

11)  Liberty 87  What a difference a year makes....Kia Stokes should not  be in the league, they don't play defense or play with intensity this year.  They'll have to find a coach.

12)  86  Fever    Young team with talent....I don't see how Pokey Chapman keeps getting pro coaching jobs.

im high on the dream now that they have bentley and got rid of that slowpoke clarendon.  maybe not as high as you but i can see them make anice run the rest of the way.  sun got outchoached by katie smith yesterday down the stretch.  lmao.  i caan see another first game exit again.  if they even make the playoffs.  

Thanks for the feedback guys, lovin' it.

I have a futures play on Seattle at 16.667 to 1 to win the title, bought after they destroyed LA in Los Angeles by 35.

My sportsbook is offering me a 2 to 1 payday to cash out right now.  They do go on the road for a long road trip coming up, but my inclination is to see if they get number 1 or 2 seed...if that eventuates the odds of them winning it will shorten and my book's offer will improve.

I have another title  future on the Sun, but they are, as Ricky said, more likely to miss the playoffs than win the title.