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6TH_man · Joined: 05 Apr 2005 Posts: 26 Location: Phoenix

Here are my wacked out pre-season picks for how things will turn out in the league this year:

In the East...
(1) Washington - Alana Beard has already showed flashes of why she will be the league MVP someday and this year, she's got some nice back up and a coach that knows how to get to the playoffs. A lot of people are hatin' on this team right now but they'll be crying later when the Mystics finally do what their fans have been waiting for them to do all along.

(2) Charlotte - Top to bottom, this team is the most talent-packed unit in the East (Helen Darling AND Tangela Smith off-season pick ups? Niiiice) and if Dawn Staley doesn't make a bid for a ring of her own this year, she never will. If they can gel just right down the stretch like Connecticut did last year, the Sting should be real contenders.

(3) Connecticut - Getting Large Marge may have been the answer to this team's prayers (especially Taj who will love being back at the 4) but I had my doubts about the Sun because of who they lost in the off-season, the unstoppable gnat known as Debbie Black. It looks like Jamie Carey will be able to fill that role quite nicely though.

(4) Indiana - It's not just the Catch show anymore. The Fever have some amazing young talent that will only get better as the season goes along. All they need to do is nail down that pesky consistancy problem they've had the past few years but other than that, this team is good to go.

(5) Detroit - Ask anyone, they'll tell you that the Shock are an awesome team with awesome players BUT they are faced with some of the same problems they had last year, namely their spotty backcourt. If Tweety or Chandi Jones ever wake up though, they could easily return to the top.

(6) New York - Still the scrappiest team in the land, the Liberty are also an aging team with a so-so bench. I think Loree Moore will be a good floor general for this team, eventually. Watch out for Ann Wauters though, she is truly awesome when she's healthy.

And the West...

(1) Seattle - Instead of moaning about how the Storm lost Sheri, Tully and Kamila (although that last one will sting, a lot), how 'bout remembering that they still have Sue, Betty and Lauren? Any GM would give their eye teeth for that trio. And this just in, Suzi Batkovic has game.

(2) Phoenix - With the dynamic, young personnel they have now, the Mercury have the potential to be a dynasty team sometime really soon. If Maria Stepanova shows up later this summer, "soon" will become "now".

(3) San Antonio - Now I know what you're thinking, he must be nuts. But look again at that scrappy and talented mix of vets and kids, look at their team-building, defense and fundamentals-first coach and then check their not-so-tough schedule. This is NOT a team you want to turn your back on.

(4) Sacramento - The Monarchs got just what they needed in the off-season, an influx of youth who aren't afraid to run and gun. Watch for Nicole Powell and Kristin Haynie to make a lot of noise off the bench and with Kara Lawson sliding over to the 2, it should be showtime from beyond the arc, finally. Oh, and btw, Yo can still play this game.

(5) Minnesota - The last thing you'd expect from a McConnell-Serio run team is weakness at point guard but that's what's happened for the Lynx with the retirement of Theresa Edwards and trade-loss of Helen Darling. Amber Jacobs and Kristi Harrower need to step up big time or it's gonna be a long season for this team.

(6) Houston - No one questions what this team is still capable of talent wise but say it with me now everyone, who is the Comets point guard? Until they answer this question and it doesn't look like that's going to happen this season either, the Comets will not return to their former glory.

(7) Los Angeles - Every year, thousands of fragile-ego'd folks flock to L.A. to make it big and change their lives in doing so. But those big dreams usually come with a steep price tag. The "acquisition" of Chamique Holdsclaw is the second half of "Mulholland Drive"-in-waiting for her and the Sparks, doesn't anyone see that?

CamrnCrz1974 · Joined: 16 Jun 2003 Posts: 1689 Location: Central Phoenix

Not looking good, Sixth Man. Then again, San Antonio started 3-1 last year before the team's collapse.

6TH_man · Joined: 05 Apr 2005 Posts: 26 Location: Phoenix

Kendra Wecker getting hurt right off the bat sure doesn't help either. But I'm still confident that Coach Hughes can get everyone on the same page like he did in Cleveland.

CamrnCrz1974 · Joined: 16 Jun 2003 Posts: 1689 Location: Central Phoenix

I was thinking more about the LA and Houston picks...

Thats okay...I had Charlotte third in my preseason picks.

6TH_man · Joined: 05 Apr 2005 Posts: 26 Location: Phoenix

That's okay, I was projecting LA's collapse around the time they have that long road trip later in the season or whenever Mique has one of her annual 'mystery illnesses', whichever comes first. :)