Gotnext Women's Basketball Boards

librarygeek · Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 176 Location: Central Phx

Okay, I'll start this one and we'll see if the newbie has any luck.

Our team needs some serious love! As fans, that's really the only thing we can do so let's show them some love this Saturday.

And I have a special assignment for Timmsy, the original spark plug of this team, : Girl, get up on that scorer's table! It's time to rally the troops!

librarygeek · Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 176 Location: Central Phx

Hey, can we stop posting to the "season's over" topic? I mean no disrespect, MercuryBoFan, but I don't want that to be the first thing I see on this board.

mranderso · Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2005 10:00 am Post subject:

We're back in town, no games until Saturday, chance to regroup.

Sun, on the road. Lost in Seattle. Have to play Sacramento, still
perfect at home, on Friday.

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

Wasn't it just a few years ago that everyone had completely written off a team that started with an abysmal 1-10 record, only to go on a monster run all the way to the WNBA Championships? Let us learn the lessons from the 2001 Charlotte Sting when talking about the Merc for the rest of this season. The fat lady hasn't even started her vocal warm ups yet.

Hoopslady · Joined: 13 May 2004 Posts: 127 Location: Illinois

oh I remember those 1-10 Sting, and I didn't give up on them to turn around their season then. The amasing part of that season was they won at the end of the regular season and luckily most of their games were against the eastern conf teams ahead of them so they gained ground fast and they also had several of those games on the road.
Since there are alot of home games remaining for the Merc they have it easier so just play the games and lets see what happens.
I am still looking forward to the July 29 game when the ladies take revenge on those Lynx.

Keegan · Joined: 13 Jun 2002 Posts: 977

Not sure which thread I should put this in but maybe Graffy should consider putting Penny onto IR for a bit of rest. If we're to make a late season charge, we'll need her at peak form and it sounds like she's a bit rundown atm.

kitkat310 · Joined: 20 Jun 2005 Posts: 303

yeah, but that is pretty much like giving the other teams wins..at least in most of the losses, the other team had to work to get a win..And, by the time Penny gets put back in the lineup, Diana will need to be on IR..

AngelSong · Joined: 27 Apr 2004 Posts: 32

Well, it was going well... Why is it that everything fell apart after Plenette fouled out? Maybe she does more on defense than people give her credit for?

kitkat310 · Joined: 20 Jun 2005 Posts: 303

It wasn't the fact that Plennette fouled out..usually there are a couple minutes every game where the Merc just lets teams have as much points as they want....it just so happened to be with four minutes left in this game...

Also, For Gods sake..ARob comes off the bench before Lisa..heck, she should be starting instead of Plennette (move Kamilla to the 4)

Keegan · Joined: 13 Jun 2002 Posts: 977

AngelSong wrote: Well, it was going well... Why is it that everything fell apart after Plenette fouled out? Maybe she does more on defense than people give her credit for?

The Merc generally falls apart in the second half this year.

Plenette's D simply isn't good.

Rebounding and free throws lost us the game. We have to be more aggressive on offense.

I'm not sure where Anna's shot has gone but I'd seriously consider starting Shereka over her.

Penny on IR still looks like a good idea.

MercuryBoFan · Joined: 29 Aug 2004 Posts: 241 Location: Glendale

Starting this whole damn season sounds like a better idea to me. Next year, this talented team needs to be together from day one. All these late arrivals are pathetic.

I respect the fact that these ladies have other obligations but how is chemistry supposed to be created when everyone seems to come when they please ?

Coach Graf needs to do something about these second half collaspes. Almost all of the recent losses have resulted in in second half collaspes.

I hope the Mercury can use this time off ( Next Game 7-2-05 ) to regroup and get energized because finally after 13 games it seems like our full team is HERE :shock: .

I don't mean to be negative but any loyal Mercury fan has to be frustrated like myself and at times even to themselves feel like the end is near if the Mercury don't get their act together any loyal fan who hasn't felt frustrated or secretly said damn this season could be over is LYING.

Finally, its a 32 game season, not 82 !!!! Not much room for error !

caune · Joined: 12 Jun 2002 Posts: 1560 Location: Phoenix

Well Bo, unless you've got the bucks to pay these ladies to stay, they will continue to play overseas because their careers are short they have to earn as much as they can 'cause once they retire they are back to the bottom of the ladder in the job market.

Those refs last night were so frustrating, 40 FREE THROWS????
The game doesn't flow, it's like chinese water torture :twisted:

On a good note, Freaky Rek was fantastic, let's hope that translates to more playing time!

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

The enormous disparity in free throws was the key, IMHO. Yes, we got whipped on the boards, but that happened last year and we still could win. 40 vs 19?!?!?!?!?!?! I'm doing the numbers from memory, so cut me slack if I'm wrong - but DAMN!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our FG % was finally almost respectable. Anna struggles still, but Ms. Wright did the right thing and played like you all advised - slash and burn. And Maria in another mini-skirt was there - lots of positives last night. So why did it seem like we could never get those final fouls called on Sales, but KV and PT only need step on the floor and they get hit w/ bad calls.

I have 3 friends who refuse to go to the games anymore because of the officiating. And games like this will never help me convince them they're wrong. It'll never keep me away, but am I the only one who thinks the awful calls are killing the game, in the entire league? Or that the Mercury in particular seem to always get the soiled end of the stick?

caune · Joined: 12 Jun 2002 Posts: 1560 Location: Phoenix

Suzi, I actually heard a man in the crowd after his first game say he'd never come back because of the officials. And my husband gave up years ago, it was way to frustrating and the thoughts of violence against refs were way too common, so better to stay away :?

IF the league wants to get more fans this issue should be top of the list!

Hoopslady · Joined: 13 May 2004 Posts: 127 Location: Illinois

when I was out last September I heard several people say they wouldn't be back this year if the officiating wasn't improved. I happened to be at the Detroit game when that whole awful episode happened. The real ones to blame for that crowd action were the ones with the whistles and they did their best to entice it all.

Maybe in the off season this will be addressed by the league?

I agree with MS CAUNE

sunsetinaz · Joined: 28 May 2003 Posts: 6 Location: Phoenix

Defense seems to be working until we poop out near the end of the second half.
The refs are inconsistant at best, :roll: but we have to remember - they are inconsistant with every team - not just the Mercury. And we and they are trying to get used to the new rules. And, yes, I still think the refs need glasses and to decide what the priorities as far as enforcing rules go. The is zero excuse for what happened in Seattle - the game was out of control.
This game against the Suns was not much better. Defining when the pic is set or not needs to be clearer.
Our shooting went from 81% to under 45%. :oops: What is that all about? :?:
General comments: Our defense is stronger overall, :) but we still need to work at keeping someone under the basket who doesn't just watch the ball. We also need to assume since our percentages are still low that we need to keep someone under our own basket to get our rebounds instead of letting the opponent have the gimme.
It is wonderful that DT is hitting her shots again, but she needs support of other team members being in double figures. SW did a great job in the 2nd half, but too little too late.
Passing is important, but how about passing a little less and shooting a little more. It seems that we are not as confident with our shooting as a team as we need to be.
We have some great talent on our team :!: :!: :!: We have capable coaches :!: But we don't have consistancy in shooting, passing, or regrouping soon enough.
We really love you, Mercs. We feel your frustration! But we are not giving up on you :!: :!: :!:
People are saying it will take a miracle.
We say it will take practice, co-ordination, hard work, a few laughs, courage and heart. We believe you have that. :D We are behind you!
DON'T GIVE UP!!!
Thanks for listening!

MercuryBoFan · Joined: 29 Aug 2004 Posts: 241 Location: Glendale

I understand that they make money $$$ sometimes more than they do here but unless the Mercury gets a team together that stays together then we are never going to be a real contender.

Lets just hope the Mercury can turn it around .. they have a golden opportunity but we will see.

caune · Joined: 12 Jun 2002 Posts: 1560 Location: Phoenix

No Bo it isn't sometime, it's everytime. A 40,000.00 dollar player here (role type player) doubles her salary in Europe, where as a player like Yo who make 89,000.00 here can make Half a Million, tax free. There is no good way to stop it and it effects most teams, Seattles Sue Bird was late to camp and Lozz could have been if she weren't rehabbing.

The good news is Donna Oreander is trying to work with the euro leagues on scheduleing, whether they listen or not is another story.

SportsFan48 · Joined: 12 Jun 2002 Posts: 1126

I wasn't able to see the game and was disappointed when I saw we lost. I reviewed the box score and the play-by-play. Seems like we still have the same old problems but I am really optimistic and here are some of my reasons:

We have an entire team now and a week to practice together before our next game. I thing we need to keep in mind that even though Penny and Kamila were here earlier, they really have not had much "practice" time with the team.

We have a chance to work some offensive plays. Hopefully we will figure out a way to get some interior plays and get our perimeter players open for some better shots. I would love to see this team do more pick and roll.

We are going to start playing more at home. I really feel like this schedule has been a huge contributor to our record. I have said this before and I guess I will say it again.....this is one of the most difficult professional leagues to get a road win. ANY team.....even those considered the most elite can get blown out on any given night.

I am sure I have other reasons to be optimistic, but I just got home after 11 hours on the road and my brain is fryed.

I will add this comment...to BoFan. Quite often you do come across as very negative and not very opimistic which is frustrating. I don't really think that is your intent and am willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. Your assessment:

Quote: unless the Mercury gets a team together that stays together then we are never going to be a real contender.

is right on. That is one reason I was against making too many off season changes. I think making major player changes or coaching changes this season will do nothing to help our current situation (unless we were to somehow replace Plenette with LJ). I definitely feel your frustration, just guess I am still a little more optimistic.

mb · Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2005 10:26 pm Post subject:

Once again, well said sportsfan.

We'd be having two-a days this week if I was coaching!