The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Sun ready to battle Aces in semifinals
Alyssa Thomas is the prototypical Curt Miller player, and to understand why is to understand how Thomas is wired.
She hates to come off the floor. Not even two bum shoulders that require surgery have slowed her.
“Alyssa Thomas is literally our engine, our energy,” head coach Curt Miller said.
Only four WNBA players averaged more minutes during the regular season than the 29-year old Thomas (32.8), and she’s only logged more work during the first two rounds of the playoffs — wins over Chicago and Los Angeles.
Thomas embodies what Miller looks for in players, especially veterans, because they generally set the tone for the rest of the roster. To him, intangibles are just as important as statistics.
“We have veterans that, their calling card is playing hard,” Miller said. “Jasmine Thomas has played herself into an upperechelon point guard in this league. Briann January’s effort and toughness at the defensive end has allowed her to have an unbelievably successful career. DeWanna Bonner lived in the shadows (with the Phoenix Mercury) of some of the greatest players to ever play, but it’s her energy, her motor, her ability to stay healthy through the years.”
“We’re drawn to energy,” he continued. “We were drawn to Courtney Williams’ energy in the past, Chiney Ogwumike’s energy in the past. We love high-motor players. I’ve been fortunate to have a lot of high-motor players come through our franchise.”
In many ways, the Las Vegas Aces — whom Connecticut will face in the best-of-five semifinals in Florida — is of the same mold. They rebound, they defend, and they play hard — really, really hard. It’s no wonder they’re coached by former Detroit Piston “Bad Boy” Bill Laimbeer.
“They’re the benchmark for toughness in the bubble,” Miller said.
The Aces shared the WNBA’s best record (18-4) with Seattle, earning a double-bye and a six