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1carol · Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Posts: 1049 Location: Phoenix AZ

We lost with cam & mercurymaniac sooo I feel obligated :roll: to OFFICIALLY start this game thread for Detroit @ Phoenix

We absolutely must start out gunning and follow through like we did with Sacramento. Make Detroit play our game

Stop the TOs and make our FTs

Maria needs to be under the basket more. We have outside shooters.
Detroit killed us July 31 with 34pts in the paint to our 12. They also made 38 Rbds to our 19.

Get Detroit in foul trouble - we know they play rough enough :evil:

Our Mercury can win this game. They just have to rememer the way they played Sacramento and get their confidence up

Dunkin' Dan · Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2005 6:08 am Post subject:

We just have to play like we played 'em last time in the first half. Then play 'em the same way in the second half.
Simple.
Phoenix by 16 :)

kitkat310 · Joined: 20 Jun 2005 Posts: 303

It might also help if Diana Penny and Kamilla don't foul out..:) (And don't be suprised to see the officials "show Diana whose the boss" tonight either, after her comments..)

Once again rebounding is key. That's why the Mercury won against Sac. Detroit is a big post team, and the Mercury need to get the rebounds..

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

If Lisa is going to play, she needs to do more than she did in the games other than Houston. Against Detroit, she played 20 minutes...and had 1 rebound and 2 points. That many minutes requires more to show up in the box score. And she wasn't focused defensively on one player, as she was in the Houston game.

But most importantly, Carrie Graf needs to use Niele Ivey. Why bother having a backup point guard if you aren't going to play her? Let Shereka backup the wing and let her slash...she was famous for her slashing and getting to the line in college, and Carrie has taken her out of her element by putting her at PG. With Niele, it isn't necessary anymore.

andypanda · Joined: 12 Jun 2003 Posts: 354 Location: Santa Fe, NM

Wow! I get to agree with Cam, too!

Please, more Niele Ivey, less Lisa, and Coach, if it looks like a blowout *victory*, how about some court time for Sandora Irvin, whom some of you diehard fans may remember from this spring's draft?

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

More Ivey at the point! I kept wondering on Sunday night why she wasn't playing and on Friday night why Shereka wasn't getting more time.

I wonder if Carrie forgets she has a bench, cuz the sub patterns are weird to say the least.

mranderso · Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2005 1:36 pm Post subject:

Mercurymaniac wrote: cuz the sub patterns are weird to say the least.

Funny, Charlie Turner Thorne says the same thing on the radio broadcast. :lol:

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

It kind of funny, if CTT says that, but she doesn't forget anyone!

I didn't understand her line changes initially, but it worked out that tournament time everyone was ready to play, okay they weren't all used to playing together, but they had PT in critical minutes during the season.

The paper said that Sandora only played 31 minutes this year, not good for a #3 draft pick. Look at Nicole Powell this year. Hopefully we won't trade Sandora.

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

There is no excuse for Carrie not to play Niele Ivey and Sandora Irvin. We needed Irvin in the last game against Detroit. 6-0 Lisa Harrison cannot defend 6-6 Kara Braxton, 6-5 Ruth Riley, or 6-3 Cheryl Ford.

kjg · Joined: 20 Feb 2004 Posts: 83 Location: NE Wisconsin

Cam's right. We need to see some playing time from Ivey, Ashley, & Irvin. Lisa had a couple of great games but cannot do it against the Detroit front court. Also, we cannot afford to have three of our starters in foul trouble, particularly DT, PT, and KV, or any three starters for that matter. Let's go Mercury and give Maria a great send off with a victory tonight!

Sun Devil Mercury Fan · Joined: 13 Jul 2002 Posts: 154 Location: Phoenix, Arizona

CamrnCrz1974 wrote: There is no excuse for Carrie not to play Niele Ivey and Sandora Irvin. We needed Irvin in the last game against Detroit. 6-0 Lisa Harrison cannot defend 6-6 Kara Braxton, 6-5 Ruth Riley, or 6-3 Cheryl Ford.

I totally agree, Cam. (Hi Sweetie Darling!) Why aren't we playing Irvin more? Everytime she has subbed in, she's done well.

Let's give her more time and the opportunity to get some experience!

Go Mercury!

SDMF

Keegan · Joined: 13 Jun 2002 Posts: 977

We won with Diana going scoreless :shock:

Kamila was clutch down the stretch. Great sendoff performance by Maria and we're really going to miss her mid-range jumpers, floor game and shot altering abilities :cry: Hope to see you back next year, Espionage Barbie.

kitkat310 · Joined: 20 Jun 2005 Posts: 303

Hah..I so called it (about the refs showing Diana why she shouldn't talk bad about them..although with June reffing, Diana was going to get into foul trouble..)

Now off to Houston. If Arob plays as well as she did tonight, and Kamilla and Diana stay out of foul trouble (doubtful, I know..) then the Mercury can steal a win on the road.

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

kitkat310 wrote: Hah..I so called it (about the refs showing Diana why she shouldn't talk bad about them..although with June reffing, Diana was going to get into foul trouble..)

Now off to Houston. If Arob plays as well as she did tonight, and Kamilla and Diana stay out of foul trouble (doubtful, I know..) then the Mercury can steal a win on the road.

When Diana was in college, I never believed the "June has it in for her" theory. Now, however, after nearly two years in the pros, my opinion has changed. June does not like her...neither do most of the refs...bastards.

kitkat310 · Joined: 20 Jun 2005 Posts: 303

LOL, I thought that June didn't like her after the intentional foul in Diana's sophmore year (the clean block)..and then I knew June didn't like her after Diana practically got elbowed in the neck, and it was an offensive foul on Diana...Although, maybe swearing at them isn't the best idea..

Really, Diana gets fouled a lot, and it's rarely called (at least she did in college, and she does when I see them on t.v.) IMO, the league does need to look at the refs. Yes Diana is physical, but she's hardly more physical than a lot of the other players in the league. I've said this before, Diana and Lauren are the up and coming stars in the league, the refs need to, at least, start giving Diana and Lauren calls that the average player gets. (Lauren isn't usually in foul trouble, but she often gets hacked and hammered at..she's a former MVP, she deserves to get those calls.)

BlznTr33s · Joined: 05 May 2004 Posts: 128 Location: Phoenix, AZ

Not a pretty game, but we came out on top. Detroit's poor shooting kept us in the game. I'm really proud of the Mercury, though, because they played like a team. They made the necessary adjustments for the second half, and A-Rob was on a mission.

The refs SUCK. 'Nuff said.

I told A-Rob that I was a little worried with Maria leaving, and she assured me we'd be alright... I have no doubt in her playing abilities, nor Kamila's, but we're going to end up with a really short rotation for our centers.

Kayte's been practicing with the team, so maybe they'll add some depth to the bench by re-signing her. I just hope Carrie starts utilizing her bench before we face the same problem the Suns did with such a short rotation.

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

It looked like Detroit used the Indiana game as a primer on how to defeat the Merc. Get the posts in trouble, along with DT, continue to play until the action is stopped, force the Merc to use their bench.

The first half they followed it well and rebounded and got a lot of loose balls. The second half the Merc turned up the defense and ground out an ugly win.

Yes the refs SUCKED and I have a feeling they will continue to. I like how in the second half we didn't give up on a play and look for salvation from the officiating crew, we just kept playing. I loved when Ashley deliberately fouled Plenette and wasn't called for anything :shock: , but that was how the game was called. We just kept playing and they called the ball out on us.

I think Maria should get a flak jacket to wear next year, she was taking a beating. Do they have those in Russia? :twisted:

It seems like Penny should be low a pint of blood after each game with the beatings she takes. But she's tough and just gets up and keeps going, maybe she's an energizer bunny in disguise. :)

I was really tickled when Sarver almost popped a blood vessel when Anna was fouled by Katie and no call was made. It was good to see him into the game (the first half, he was MIA the second half :? ) like you saw him at the Suns games. Not the same as Ann and Cathy making the rounds, but good to see the owner present.

SportsFan48 · Joined: 12 Jun 2002 Posts: 1137

I think it says a lot about this team when we can win with NO points from Dee. And kudos to Kamila for coming into the game in the first half with 3 fouls and not getting any more.

Ashley stepped up her game tonight and showed why we may not be as bad as some say we are going to be without Maria. We should be okay as long as our big 4 can stay in the game. I am more worried about Dee and her knee.

BTW, maniac, Sarver was upset because Katie was clearly out of bounds and June was right there (3 feet away) and not seeing it. Speaking of June, I swear, I saw a little smirt when she was able to whistle Dee on a foul. I think she smirked with her entire body.

A couple of friends and I were talking after the game, as friends do. We have a suggestion for Dee. She needs to code all her swear words and base the code off of numbers. Like F U would really be 26. 6 because F is the 6th letter in the alphabet and 20 - U's spot in the ABC's. When she gets called, she could shout out 26 all she wants and nobody is the wiser.....but Dee will know. BTW, tonight she put her shirt over her head when she was called. A smart move, except the uni's are mesh and I think if she said something out loud, it would be heard. As my friend said, "You aren't going to get a T for shouting out a number."

"Hey, June......26." - Harmless.

Speaking of being heard.....what about Timmsy getting a T. Way to go Timmsy.

Detriot shot 4-31 in the second half. How bad is that??

Keegan · Joined: 13 Jun 2002 Posts: 977

I can teach Dee how to swear in a multitude of foreign languages.

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

I like the idea of Dee using numbers instead of words. I know the refs are human (barely) and no one likes to be shown up, it human nature. The Miller triplet is going to get satisfaction where ever, whenever, on a young talent like Dee.

I thought Dee did a good job in the closing minutes distributing the ball when she realized her shot wasn't there tonight. I think when she learns to not antagonize the officials or even go near them, life will get better. Until then, they are going to put her in her place. Maybe she should talk to Penny about how she does it.

kjg · Joined: 20 Feb 2004 Posts: 83 Location: NE Wisconsin

1carol,
Nice job starting this thread and seeing it thru to a win. Now you have to take the lead again for Houston. Some of we Merc fans in the Badger state have been wondering where you have been but figured you were still trying to recover from last Friday's big win over the Monarchs. :lol: Glad to have you back on board. Hope you and the Brigade celebrated sufficiently last night! You've got a reputation to live up to!
I listened to, and followed, the entire game last night. I had a hard time wondering how we were only down by 3 at the half, especially considering how bad we were getting beaten on the boards and were again in foul trouble. Ashley really came through last night and our guards must have done a good job on Detroit's guards. Now, on to Houston and let's get a road win! Now go ahead and start the Houston thread, 1carol.

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

At least Lisa's minutes were minimal, because she cannot defend Detroit's frontline. Now, we will need her against Houston...so she should have plenty of rest.

caune · Joined: 12 Jun 2002 Posts: 1562 Location: Phoenix

Quote: Why aren't we playing Irvin more? Everytime she has subbed in, she's done well.

I don't agree, Sandoras looked OK, but she isn't good at being in the position a post player should be in. She's taken a few deperation jumpers from outside when she clearly should have been in the paint rebounding for someone elses desperation shot. :roll: I hate to say it, but she should be more like Kayte, just go in and hustle and sacrafice her body in the paint, scoring should be the least of her worries!
Don't get me wrong, I think she should get minutes, but not a whole lot, She still has a whole lot to learn

Last nights game, well PP gave us the win at the end :wink: and
Anna's defense on Tweety was excellent :P

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

Quote: Don't get me wrong, I think she should get minutes, but not a whole lot, She still has a whole lot to learn

She has to play to learn!

caune · Joined: 12 Jun 2002 Posts: 1562 Location: Phoenix

Quote: She has to play to learn!
She needed to play to learn last month and the month before, now we are in a play off race, very diferrent scenerio!

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

This is a coaching issue...agreed.

But now, we need Sandora's athleticism and shot-blocking instincts. She has looked very good in practice. Give her 6-8 minutes per game to keep ARob and Vodi fresh.

caune · Joined: 12 Jun 2002 Posts: 1562 Location: Phoenix

I'll agree to 4 minutes each half :wink:

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

Quote: I'll agree to 4 minutes each half

That would be better than the 20 seconds she gets on the jumbotron.