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Dunkin' Dan

The 2005 season is finally upon us :)
Phoenix came painfully close in 2004 to its first post-season appearance since 2000, and the journey begins today to take the next step.

Finally this year we have been able to reduce our number of weaknesses to a manageable enough level to address them properly, and for the first time in ages it seems that we progress into a new season with some stability & continuity within the team & coaching staff. I think that is important.

Tonight as we tackle the Monarchs we are handicapped by the absence of two key players - Penny Taylor & Kamila Vodichkova, so you would have to think the odds are against us.
It's tough to have a season opener like this in front of the home fans, but it is game 1 and I guess anything can happen.

Obviously our scoring hopes rest squarely in the hands of Anna & Diana, and it will be up to players like Plenette & Gwen to step up right from the start against DeMya & Yo, and prove that they are genuine players in this league. We need significant contributions from players outside of our backcourt to make a game of it.
A larger-than-normal amount of responsibility will also fall onto the inexperienced Wright & Snell tonight as they try to match it with a rejuvenated Nicole Powell.

Challenges galore for the Mercury. So... can we do it?

mb · Posted: Sat May 21, 2005 7:28 am Post subject:

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/mercury/articles/0521mercury0521.html

There is mention of Plenette having a hamstring problem...every player must step up tonight...and for the first month of the season for that matter.

Hopefully a sellout crowd will be encouraging.

caune · Joined: 12 Jun 2002 Posts: 1564 Location: Phoenix

Any volunteers to tape tonights game (KAZ TZ) so I can send it to our far away fans?

Keegan · Joined: 13 Jun 2002 Posts: 977

Keeping Yo and Brunson off the boards will be a big problem.

On the plus side, Sac is a streaky team and I don't think their defense is built to stop our style of game (they're better at shutting down teams with a strong interior presence). Of course, we actually have to make our shots to have a chance at winning.

Dunkin' Dan · Posted: Sat May 21, 2005 7:13 pm Post subject:

Plenette in street clothes?

Oh man... *not* what we needed :(

Dunkin' Dan · Posted: Sat May 21, 2005 8:03 pm Post subject:

Half time: Sacramento leads 42-33

X-factor: Monarchs are 6/9 from 3 point range.

A lot of fouls called early, but it seems to have settled later into the half. Phoenix hanging tough on the boards.
Only 8 field goals for us that half... the rest came from the charity stripe.
Monarchs playing very efficiently at the moment, which tells me that our defence isn't up to scratch (which is hardly surprising at the early stage of the season, and with 3/5 of our starting 5 missing)

Dunkin' Dan · Posted: Sat May 21, 2005 9:19 pm Post subject:

Well, it's always disappointing to lose a game, especially at home.
But put in perspective this one is nothing to get too depressed about.

Some positives:
- The team that hit the floor was a shadow of what will be out there most nights, so we still have a lot up our sleeves
- A-Rob showed a lot inside and finished as the game's leading rebounder
- DT & Anna did their respective things, and avoided foul trouble
- Snell came to life down the stretch with some nice plays
- The Mercury generally hung around after Sac got out to their lead, and fought it out right to the end. I'm sure a few players will gain some extra belief after that effort
- Keegan's predicted scoreline was right on the money :)

Final score: Sac 77, Phx 72

doubleDfan · Joined: 01 May 2004 Posts: 225

Yes...I officially love Snell...The team played pretty well, and they were very shortchanged without Penny and Kamila.. I think Phoenix is going to be a great team once those two get back.

Mercurymaniac · Joined: 04 Aug 2002 Posts: 1197 Location: Scottsdale

Caune, I will get you copies of the game.

A few quick thoughts. This was a game we should have won even without Kamilla, Penny and Plenette. We were definitely lacking energy and so was the crowd. Lots of one on one play and many mental errors. We trotted down the court for our fastbreaks and seemed a little disinterested.

Kind of disappointing for a home opener. Instead of feeding off the Suns frenzy, we looked flat and even a little bored, IMHO.

SportsFan48 · Joined: 12 Jun 2002 Posts: 1138

maniac, I think your assessment is correct. I thought we came out rather flat and the crowd never really seemed to get into it. I don't know if it was the different starting line-up or what, we just didn't seem ready to play.

But I do believe the Mercury should walk away from this game with some positive things to think about. We really out played Sacramento in every cateogory except field goal percentage. We take our % up two points and we will running away.

I thought we played aggressive and that showed by our trips to the line.

Anna and Dee were solid as our "tandum" point guards. Some of their shots were forced but I think part of that was to take advantage of the new rules. I really believe we will be fine without a backup pg. The outcome of this game surely wouldn't have changed with a backup point guard.

KHarris, I know it will make you and other Lisa fans happy to know that she had a very solid game. Other than blowing an uncontested layup, her minutes were great. She didn't shoot much but played smart and impacted the game at both ends of the court. I have always admired her defensive game, but she did some things tonight at the offensive end to draw fouls and help get offensive rebounds that were a step up from her game as I remember it.

kharris · Joined: 24 Jun 2002 Posts: 172 Location: East Tennessee

Indeed I was pleased with Lisa's play, SportsFan. :) From my vantage point in front of the TV, it seemed that she held her own just fine out there. I was honestly a bit surprised that she played as many minutes as she did, and I agree with your assessment that she used those minutes to do the small but smart things that can help this team.

I suppose it will be interesting to see what happens with Lisa once PT and KV arrive, but after last night, I think she proved that she can serve a valuable reserve role for this squad.

doubleDfan · Joined: 01 May 2004 Posts: 225

I was impressed with ARob as well..she definitely has improved, a lot, since last year.

PA71 · Joined: 29 Aug 2004 Posts: 28

Hello all again
Just a few things that you all have not pointed out. First, it seemed that the Sac fans out numbered the Merc fans. We sat in an area that I was afraid of yelling for our team for fear of being jumped. The Sac fans were a scary group. And we are not that young any more to want to get in a schuffle. Second, no one noticed that D is not in shape? She was sucking wind before the end of the 1st half. Now is not the time to be out of shape. The season is to short to lose even one game. The team has to be ready NOW, not in a month. Third, and you Anna fans will hate this, she needs to not be such a ball hog. The old saying, there is no I in team applies to her. She doesn't follow set plays and disrupts the rythum of the team. D is getting frustrated with Anna, because D is the floor leader and Anna doesn't want to go along with the program. The team doesn't need that kind of dissention. Fourth. KV has been off since April 24th, and Seth was dumb again and agreed that KV didn't have to show until June 1. Well that's just great. That's what hurt the Merc last year, was that Boba came late, because she was still playing Euro league and she had to wait to get 3 different visas to get out of her country. Then Seth didn't send the correct papers for her to get the visas not to mention he sent them late. Then Agler wouldn't play her and by then it was to late we had lost games we shouldn't have and the ladies played catch up all summer. Back to KV, do you think she has been working out like she should? No. So she will be using the time here to get in shape and again the team will be playing catch up all summer. The Merc needs to sign a post that will be here at the beginning of the season. Because the team CAN"T afford to lose to teams they should beat because the biggest part of the team (pardon the pun) is not there. Fifth,and last, you are all happy about that, if the politics could go away. But that won't happen in any of our life times.
Sounds like we don't love the Merc, but we do. maybe to much. That's why it hurts so much to see D angry and frustrated. Well we will all see what happens this year. I'm looking forward to playoffs. See ya.

cbibat · Joined: 14 Jun 2002 Posts: 232

the game was like an ill-fitting suit - didn't look good or bad, just didn't feel right.

I disagree that Anna is a ball-hog - last night it seemed like both Diana and Anna got frustrated. In the first half, shots were clanging like a bell choir; secondly, no one else was participating. It seemed that in the second half both of them said '*#%*#*** with this' and got more aggressive. Was the Monarch's defense 'that' good last night? D attempted 18 shots, Anna 16. Anna got to the line 10 times, D was there 7. The next highest shot attempts were by Snell and Angelina at 6. It also seems like Graf was moving people in and out to get some life on the court in the first half. A-Rob was a pleasant surprise, Jackson some what disappointing. Looking at the line up I believe we have only 2 starters from last year even on the court, it was evident. Looks like we get to start the typical Mercury 'task' of developing team chemistry all over again.

SuziQ · Joined: 17 Apr 2004 Posts: 288 Location: Phoenix

I disagree about the Sac fans. I sit right behind the opponents' bench and was surrounded by them. They were all very nice to me, even after I bought a Merc flag at halftime to counter-act their flags, and yelled in their ears the entire time. A couple of them even gave me their names and numbers with invitations to visit for a game there. I thought they were some of the friendliest, good-sport other-team fans we've seen there just about ever. Maybe you were sitting near the ill-tempered few.

Wanna talk about scary? Sharks fans are hoodlums. I feel like I need to wear Kevlar when they're around.

MercuryBoFan · Joined: 29 Aug 2004 Posts: 258 Location: Glendale

One of the frustrating things about being a Mercury Fan is the fact that they can never get all of their players together for the whole season. I understand these ladies play oversea's etc but the Seth and the whole organization need to realize that this is only a 32 game season.

Who wants to play catch up all summer ? I sure the hell don't !!!

Sure its fun if we are running towards the playoffs.

Just like last year ... with that dumb Olympic Break ... I don't care what anybody says but that right killed the Mercury !!!

Can we please get some FULL TIME players that are going to be with the team the whole year from START TO FINISH. Building contenders is about the chance of being with eachother and building chemistry .. just like the SUNS have !!!!

I still think this team is going to be playoff bound this year but its just so FRUSTRATING not having everyone on board for the whole year.

Do you remember when Cheryl Miller was never in camp etc on time because of her other obligations ?.. that too hurt in ways

MercuryBoFan · Joined: 29 Aug 2004 Posts: 258 Location: Glendale

The problem with PHX fans is that they only want to support their teams when they are winning. Even tho there was about 10,000 fans in attendance it was pretty boring to attend the game. I mean for God's Sake I almost fell asleep !!!!

Grant it ... Sacramento gave their fans more to cheer about but I agree that the Sacramento fans were more into the game then the Mercury fans were and the Mecury were the home team !!!

I know the Mercury were lacking energy also but the fans showing up for the game these days are far from being the XFACTOR. The XFACTOR fans are the ones that showed up from the early years of the Mercury.

Those were the true fans.

Advice from those who attend the games. Get into the games. Support the Mercury. Get excited. If not, then just stay home !!!

Keegan · Joined: 13 Jun 2002 Posts: 977

MercuryBoFan wrote: One of the frustrating things about being a Mercury Fan is the fact that they can never get all of their players together for the whole season. I understand these ladies play oversea's etc but the Seth and the whole organization need to realize that this is only a 32 game season.

34 games actually.

This is the way things are and all teams suffer from it. Until the WNBA has better pay than Europe, this is the way things will continue to be.

As for unexcited fans, I don't really care. Just as long as people come and pay for their tickets, they can sit there like stones if they want to. This doesn't mean I don't want fans to cheer but I'm not going to ask silent fans to stay at home for a league that really needs butts on seats.

caune · Joined: 12 Jun 2002 Posts: 1564 Location: Phoenix

hmm, my section, 101, was so loud we actually drove out a couple of newbies (sorry but if you want quiet go to the freakin' library :twisted: )

SuziQ · Joined: 17 Apr 2004 Posts: 288 Location: Phoenix

I agree with Keegan - I just want a full house. People buying tickets is the most important thing, and the thing that can lead to better pay and solve the European play issue.

1carol · Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Posts: 1050 Location: Phoenix AZ

Is everyone forgetting Nicole Powell? You know.... that local girl who happens to play for the Monarchs? (she says sarcastically :twisted: ). Methinks she has a lot of friends & relatives that live here. I do believe the larger than usual Sacramento contingent at our game is the Nicole Powell Fan Club. When Nicole came with Stanford's basketball team to play against ASU, there were a lot more Stanford fans there also. They must plan far in advance of the games to get most of their seats together behind the visitor's bench.
I'm glad she's getting her chance to play this year instead of warming Charlotte's bench (except when she plays against us). The trade has obviously been good for her.

SuziQ · Joined: 17 Apr 2004 Posts: 288 Location: Phoenix

The Sac fans I talked to were there as part of a package the team put together for them. They stayed at the Ritz, too! But we get a bigger discount from the Team Shop than they do (our 20% vs. their 10%).

I hope Ms. Powell had lots of family and friends there, though. I am really happy she's w/ Sac so we can see her play more, and so she can actually play more. Why does it seem like Charlotte doesn't like to play their draft picks (isn't McCarville only averaging 14 mpg?)? Granted, not everyone's as ready for the W level as our Diana, but neither one of them are slouches, either.

aml10 · Joined: 09 Jul 2004 Posts: 323 Location: iowa

speaking of mccarville, she wasn't even dressed for the sting game against phx. this is definitely a slower year for rookies!

UCThreeD · Joined: 16 Jun 2004 Posts: 46 Location: Brockton, MA

aml10 wrote: speaking of mccarville, she wasn't even dressed for the sting game against phx. this is definitely a slower year for rookies!

McCarville hurt her lower back in practice Friday and is questionable for Charlotte's next game against the Sparks.