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mb · Posted: Thu May 11, 2006 10:26 pm Post subject: Final Roster/ Starters

A few things to consider:

*this system will be exciting
*traditional spots one through five aren't so important
*lots of substitutions, with minutes available for many players
*who starts not so important

*many similarities to the MNBA PHX Suns

Previous guesses for Final Roster:

Quote: Guards/Wings: Miller, Taurasi, Pondexter, Snell, Williams, Strother
Posts: Vodichkova, Irvin, Rasmussen

Battle for roster spots:
post spot: Lacy, Hall, Stevenson
guard/wing spot: Pettis, Jackson, Smith

Two spots open...at least one will be a post.

Since then:
Hall replaced Bjorklund (noted above), Taylor-Gil will show...just late???

It seems Westhead likes TJ (Chucky), yet Pettis gets the edge?

Guessing Smith is victim to numbers...
the debate looms between Lacy, Hall, and Stevenson.
Gosh, it would nice to see Stevenson play.

Lacy will get my vote for now.

Since I am very bored and truly running on fumes, why not break it down by position?
*Must clear head of insurance regulations and replace with basketball thoughts*

For discussions sake, here goes:

PG: Miller, Pondexter
SG: Taurasi, Pettis (insert quip here)
SF: Snell, Strother, Williams
PF: Vodichkova, Rasmussen
C: Irvin, Lacy

IR: Wright, Stevenson

Cut/Waived?: Smith, Jackson?, Hall?

On the way?: Taylor-Gil

Still many questions, and the right to change answers after Saturday's game is reserved.

Keegan · Joined: 13 Jun 2002 Posts: 977

My guess. I have done the positioning a bit differently to reflect Westhead's system:

PG - Pondexter, T Jackson
wings - Taurasi, Miller (may also see time at point), Snell, Pettis, Williams
Post - Vodichkova, Irvin, Rasmussen, Strother :shock:

IR: Wright, a post (does it really matter? I'll go with... Stevenson)

mb · Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 1:26 am Post subject:

Your take keeps TJ, and cuts Lacy, when compared to mine.

Reluctantly, if Westhead keeps TJ; my hope is that it is for speed and defense, also that she learns to pass or finish.

Even in this system, post defense worries me...no knock on Ann.

Vodichkova and Irvin will have to be solid, and injury free. *key*

Also, switch Miller and Pondexter...Kelly will be playing point.
Yes, Cappie as a wing sounds sillly, yet works in this system...she scored 20 against Minny.

Very anxious to see a box score, and looking forward to Saturday's game.

mandih23 · Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 1:39 am Post subject:

My opinion:

Starters:
Kelly @ PG
Cappie @ SG
Diana @ SG
Kamila @ PF (or C)
Sandora @ C (or PF)

Roster:
Guards: Kelly, Cappie, Diana, Bridget
Guards/Forwards: Belinda, Ann, Angelina
Forwards/Post: Kamila, Sandora, Kristen, Mandissa (for now, though I haven't seen her play.. yet.. fingers crossed for Saturday)

IR: Shereka (we have to keep her on the IR, right??) (If not, insert
Jennifer here)
Penny (assuming she is coming?)

mscfn · Joined: 05 Apr 2006 Posts: 86

"Post - Vodichkova, Irvin, Rasmussen, Strother"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hope not, as mentioned before and has been commented on by others, Ann is NOT a post player!

On a main thought though--this team is looking very good, has tons of firepower, but as mentioned defense may be a work in progress, but defense can be taught?

Hard to say what the lineups will be untill all players arrive, if they are going to?

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

"Hope not, as mentioned before and has been commented on by others, Ann is NOT a post player!"

No, but she's a player, and in this system, that's all that's required :wink:

BBallFan729 · Joined: 15 Apr 2004 Posts: 461 Location: Manchester, CT

I have to say, I don't really like Ann playing in the post. She's not exactly a great defender, she's relatively soft (she can be physical sometimes), and she's a shooter...not a banger. Yes, I do realize that in Paul Ball no one has a defined position, but Ann shouldn't be called upon to defend Ruth Riley, Kara Braxton, etc. It won't work, and it looks bad, imo.

So, anyways, some news:

Quote: May 13
The Phoenix Mercury have waived Amber Hall.

I said this on the RebKell board and I'll say it here...My hope: Crystal Smith makes the team over Tamicha Jackson. I REALLY liked her Thursday. Seems like she had another good game last night.

mb · Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 8:19 pm Post subject:

Very interesting...a partial list of preseason stats with only the folowing players listed: TJ, BS, JL, AW, SI.

http://www.wnba.com/mercury/stats/

************************
Exhibition boxscore (game recap) vs MN:
http://twolvesdata.com/blogs/index.php/a/2006/05/07/phoenix_96_minnesota_90_ot

Preseason boxscore vs DET:
http://www.wnba.com/games/20060511/PHODET/boxscore.html

Preseason boxscore vs CT:
http://www.wnba.com/games/20060513/CONPHO/boxscore.html

Snell has the best assist/turnover ratio on the team. 8)
She just doesn't commit turnovers. :!: :idea:
Maybe we start her at point :wink: :twisted:

Keegan · Joined: 13 Jun 2002 Posts: 977

Who looks better - Lacy or Stevenson?

Snelly has an A/TO of infinity in official preseason games ;)

mandih23 · Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 9:43 pm Post subject:

Keegan wrote: Who looks better - Lacy or Stevenson?

Snelly has an A/TO of infinity in official preseason games ;)

It's hard to say since we have only seen Stevenson once so far.Stevenson seemed streaky last night but maybe she just needed to get back into it, I don't know. At times I was impressed with both but at other times unsure. I remember thinking at one point last night that they both needed to go up stronger with the ball and be stronger coming down with the boards. I thought that Lacy was pretty good on defense last night but I don't recall Stevenson's defense. Looking at the stats I noticed that there was no blocks for Stevenson but I was pretty sure she had a great block at the begining of the game last night? Lacy seemed to be at the right place at the right time alot last night, so she seems to have good timing on defense. I think she was a huge part of us finally picking up our defense, aside from Smith.

mb · Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 10:37 pm Post subject:

Keegan wrote: Who looks better - Lacy or Stevenson?

Snelly has an A/TO of infinity in official preseason games ;)

That is the million dollar question...see next post...

Cam, caune, sportsfan???...anyone care to stick their neck out?

mb · Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 10:44 pm Post subject:

Sportsfan posted to RebKell:
Quote: Keegan wrote:
Quote: I think the high FG% is a sign of the Sun finishing if they can get past the D and our lack of interior D (ala Phoenix 2003). I could be wrong.

Keegan, this is a fairly accurate statement about the game in the first half. There were a lot of points scored in the Sun paint.

I don' t think we really saw a lot of true Paul Ball tonight. While the Mercury were out rebounded 30-8 in the first half, in the second it was 19-15. Shooting percentage was the biggest downfall for the Mercury for most of the game. Still they gave themselves a chance to win at the end. Too much Sales, Douglas, and Taj.

Taj, Douglas, Sales, Phillips, and Summerton played the entire fourth quarter, no substitutions. The Mercury started the quarter with Pettis, Stevenson, Pondexter, Jackson, and Irvin. Gardner came in for Irvin with 7:39 to play and at the 4:45 mark and down by six, the Mercury substituted in Snell, Lacy, Williams, Strother, and Smith. The only other sub was Stevenson for Lacy with 2:04 left.

There were a couple of interesting things that the stats may not show, unless you really paid attention during the game. One was that in the first two quarters, the Mercury played the starting five in the first half and then substituted in 5 fresh players for the second half of each quarter. In the second half, Westhead mixed it up slightly. Stevenson started for Strothers. Smith went down on hard play and was replaced by Cappie. And as mentioned above, Gardner came in for a couple of minutes as did Stevenson towards the end.

On the play where Smith was hurt, she was going for the steal off a rebound and it literally looked like she grabbed all ball and did a 360 landing on her back. She was called for a foul. I thought it should have been a jump ball. It was an all hustle play. She was on a terror. Smith was able to return to the game later.

**************************************************************
Just for torture...the latest predications (differs from prediction :wink: ):

*presumptions:
1)two IR spots...Wright, and KR initially (opens another spot)
2)absolutes: KM, DT, CP, BS, KV, SI, KR (seven)
3)very solid: AW, AS, BP, (now ten, and at least one post=eleven)
4)one spot open?
5)despite TREMENDOUS effort, Smith doesn't make it
6)Coach decides it is better to have three wings, than three PG's
(see position breakdown towards bottom)

Guards/Wings: Miller, Taurasi, Pondexter, Snell, Williams, Strother, Pettis
Posts: Vodichkova, Irvin, Stevenson/Lacy

If Rasmussen were to start the season on IR,
then the question may be: do we keep BOTH of Stevenson and Lacy?
If we do, does that mean TJ misses out?

Battle for roster spots:
post spot: Lacy, Stevenson
guard/wing spot: Jackson
**********************

Breaking it down by position (making cuts is no fun):

PG: Miller, Pondexter, (Jackson?)
SG: Taurasi, Pettis
SF: Snell, Strother, Williams
PF: Vodichkova, Lacy/Stevenson
C: Irvin, Stevenson/Lacy

IR: Wright, Rasmussen?

Cut/Waived?: Gardner-Combs?, Smith? (major bummer),
Lacy or Stevenson (again, bummer), Jackson???

On the way?: Taylor-Gil

It would be nice to know the exact extent of injuries to DT, KM, and specifically KR.

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

I think you are too hung up on positions. There is much more fluidity involved. The emphasis in Paul Ball is more on roles than positions.

mb · Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 9:43 am Post subject:

CamrnCrz1974 wrote: I think you are too hung up on positions. There is much more fluidity involved. The emphasis in Paul Ball is more on roles than positions.

You may be (and likely are) correct (re: positions...bb positions, those of you with gutter minds).

Figured you'd be happy...it helped justify cutting TJ.

Let us see your final prediction...not a response to mine, or an after the fact/general statement.

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

Guards/Wings: Diana Taurasi, Cappie Pondexter, Kelly Miller, Angelina Williams, Belinda Snell, Ann Strother

Posts: Kamila Vodichkova, Sandora Irvin, Kristen Rasmussen, Jennifer Lacy, Mandisa Stevenson

Injured Reserve: Shereka Wright, another guard.

mb · Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 11:28 am Post subject:

*prays Cam is correct*...because it basically means I am close to correct...and it involves the players I think should make it .

Cam keeps both Lacy and Stevenson, at the expense of Pettis (yet has an IR spot available). We in essence, concur.

**********************************************************************************************

Is that who you think it will be, who it should be, or a little of both.

It would be nice to fit Pettis into the mix (with someone on that IR spot).
The question remains...is her leadership and spark worth a roster spot?
...one that would cut post depth (insert snarky comments about exsisting quality of back-up posts).

It will truly interesting when Taylor-Gil arrives.

Hope everyone gets/stays healthy.
Hate to see anyone go.
Despite our constructive :wink: criticism, we appreciate ALL players attempting to make WNBA teams.

mb · Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 11:32 am Post subject:

CamrnCrz1974 wrote: Guards/Wings: Diana Taurasi, Cappie Pondexter, Kelly Miller, Angelina Williams, Belinda Snell, Ann Strother

Posts: Kamila Vodichkova, Sandora Irvin, Kristen Rasmussen, Jennifer Lacy, Mandisa Stevenson

Injured Reserve: Shereka Wright, another guard.

To keep the fans happy...insert Pettis or Smith for "another guard".

mb · Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 11:38 am Post subject:

FWIW, lilman2782 via RebKell:
Quote: (13) Phoenix

PG Cappie Pondexter
SG Diana Taurasi
SF Penny Taylor*
PF Kristen Rasmussen
C Kamila Vodichkova

PG Kelly Miller
SG Bridget Pettis
SF Belinda Snell
PF Ann Strother
C Sandora Irvin

PG Crystal Smith
SF Angelina Williams (IL
PF Mandisa Stevenson (IL)

(* if she shows, if not i think they will keep Tamicha Jackson or pick up someone like Aya Traore)

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

mb wrote: Is that who you think it will be, who it should be, or a little of both.

A little of both.

As much as I love Bridget, leadership and spark don't score points.

Remember when people were justifying why we needed to keep Kayte, because of her heart and hustle? That doesn't score points. She had more fouls than points, btw, as did Ashley Robinson.

But if it is just keeping her in IR and if Penny doesn't show this year (meaning we will have cap room), then we should keep her.

mb · Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 11:57 am Post subject:

Best of luck to, Ashley Robinson, Kayte Christensen, and Adrain Williams.

It will be interesting to see how they fare.

IF making a team was based on attractiveness (both physical and personality), they'd be starters in my book!

aidtcp3 · Joined: 08 May 2006 Posts: 126

I actually think that Bridget Pettis will start at small forward, at least on opening dai. However I don't expect her to play a lot of minutes, because of her age and inability to knock down an outside jumper consistently. I think to try and predict who will be starting, and how many minutes each player will play is so hard, only because in this type of system everyone will be playin in order to keep up the fast pace. What I'm concerned about is the amount of minutes people will play out of position. I was watching the Clippers vs Suns game last night and the commentators kept on bringing up the point of how many mismatches there were on the court because so many players were playing out of position and everything and as a result it led to poor defensive rotations by both teams. So i'm thinkin (i know this has been brought up in another thread but) if Ann is playin the four against a Ruth Riley, or against a Tina Thompson, the team will have no choice but to double team. As a result defensive rotations have to be crisps and players must remember who their guarding and what positions there playing, cuz a player like DT can be defending anyone from a 1-3, Sandora Irvin could be guarding a 3-5. Both have to be extremely alert. Which brings me to my next point/question which is are poor rotations are the root to our rebounding problems?Becuz getting rebounded by nearly double last game was not a good thing. I just feel like we have good individual rebounders on this team, so there must be a reason we keep getting destroyed on the boards.

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

Quote: Becuz getting rebounded by nearly double last game was not a good thing.

CT had all of its starters except its PG, Whalen. We were missing Taurasi, Miller, and Vodichkova. Vodi averaged 7 rebounds per game last year, while Diana was over 4 rebounds per game.

mb · Posted: Tue May 16, 2006 2:34 pm Post subject:

The stats page now includes everyone:
http://www.wnba.com/mercury/stats/

Exhibition boxscore (game recap) vs MN:
http://twolvesdata.com/blogs/index.php/a/2006/05/07/phoenix_96_minnesota_90_ot

mandih23 · Posted: Tue May 16, 2006 6:08 pm Post subject:

[quote="mb"]The stats page now includes everyone:
http://www.wnba.com/mercury/stats/

No DT or Kelly Miller?

mb · Posted: Tue May 16, 2006 6:21 pm Post subject:

[quote="mandih23"] mb wrote: The stats page now includes everyone:
http://www.wnba.com/mercury/stats/

No DT or Kelly Miller?

They did not play in preseason (only the exhibition).

mandih23 · Posted: Tue May 16, 2006 9:14 pm Post subject:

[quote="mb"] mandih23 wrote: mb wrote: The stats page now includes everyone:
http://www.wnba.com/mercury/stats/

No DT or Kelly Miller?

They did not play in preseason (only the exhibition).

DUH- I'm stupid. (No comments needed to that either!!!) :D

SportsFan48 · Joined: 12 Jun 2002 Posts: 1138

My Final Opening Day Roster

Guards/Wings: DT, Snelly, Miller, Pondexter, Strother, [Smith, Pettis, or Jackson]

Posts: KV, Rasmussen, Irvin, Lacy, Stevenson

With Williams and Wright on IR.

First of all, I think you have to keep Lacy and Stevenson. We need additional posts and they are who we have. I liked some things about each one but also saw some things that they need to improve. mb may be right about Lacy being a foul magnet. Stevenson has a tendency to play to far away from the basket for a post player, IMO.

The call between Smith, Jackson, and Pettis is a tough one. While I agree with cam that liking someone doesn't score points, I think that his logic can apply to all three. In other words, none of them are great scorers, IMO.

The reason I start them on the roster and Williams on IR is that I am not convinced that Westhead wants DT or Cappie to be Miller's backup at point and will use whomever he chooses to back up Kelly.

SportsFan48 · Joined: 12 Jun 2002 Posts: 1138

Roster thoughts continued:

When I was doing my roster, I couldn't make up my mind on Smith, Pettis, and Jackson. (I'm just glad I don't have to make the decision.) A lot is going to depend, IMO, on what Westhead wants most from that position.

Here are my thoughts on each one:

Pettis: Bridget can do amazing things with the basketball. She still has a lot of her speed and energy. Her ability to energize a team and the crowd is infectious. You may not even like her, but you'll find yourselve out of your seat cheering when she has it going. She has ooddles of experience and acts as a coach on and off the court. This can be extremely beneficial to a young team. Her weakness is her lack of consistency in scoring.

Smith: What is there not to like about Crystal. She can become a fan favorite very easily because of her all out hustle plays. She never quits and fans love that. Her assists & steals to turnover ratio is better than Jackson & Pettis, but not by much. Seems she does take care of the ball. Her biggest weaknesses is lack of height and lack of experience, something her competition has in droves. Like Jackson, she can make up for her lack of height with speed.

Jackson: Her style of play really is tailor made for this system, because in this system there are very few ill-advised shots. Chucky takes a lot of bad shots, only because she is not a very good shooter. And in other systems she took a lot of ill-advised shots as well. This system takes care of one problem, but it will never correct the problem that she is just not a very good shooter. She has great speed and, IMO, good defensive skills (every player regardless of how good they are can get burned every now and then) but Jackson can be a real pain in the you know what defensively. I just wonder if the fans would ever give her the chance based on past experiences. And I wonder about her ability to lead. This team will have it's share of leadership but when Chucky is on the court is she going to have the respect of her teammates (something the point guard needs, IMO).

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

SportsFan48 wrote: The reason I start them on the roster and Williams on IR is that I am not convinced that Westhead wants DT or Cappie to be Miller's backup at point and will use whomever he chooses to back up Kelly.

No way Williams starts the season on the IR. She will thrive in this system...or at least, she should.

SportsFan48 · Joined: 12 Jun 2002 Posts: 1138

CamrnCrz1974 wrote: SportsFan48 wrote: The reason I start them on the roster and Williams on IR is that I am not convinced that Westhead wants DT or Cappie to be Miller's backup at point and will use whomever he chooses to back up Kelly.

No way Williams starts the season on the IR. She will thrive in this system...or at least, she should.

I agree that Williams should do well in this system but the way I see it, she may be the odd man out. If she doesn't start on IR then Snelly or Strother does.

Someone has to start on IR and by process of elimination, I came up with Williams. We are not going to start with one of our post players on IR so that leaves our wings. DT, Miller, and Pondexter are not going to start on IR.

As I stated before, "the other guard" is slated to be the back up point. I could be very wrong and most likely am, but I am not convinced that Westhead wants to use DT or Cappie as Miller's backup. I think that Westhead would consider "the other guard" as someone who is very capable of running his system as well or he wouldn't have them on the team.

So that leaves Snell, Strother, and Williams. I don't think it will be Snell because the coach seems to like her and she is one who can thrive in this style as well. The choice then is between Strother and Williams. It could go either way, but if I were choosing at the start of the season, I would go with the rookie. More for confidence, etc.

Really the whole thing boils down to what the coach thinks he needs and who he thinks can provide it. That really comes into play when he has players with similar abilities to contribute and then he has to decide which one has more intangible assets.

As you can see I have probably thought about this WAY to much. And I will most likely be very wrong. :cry: I usually have one or two surprises with each roster.

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

See, I would dump both Pettis and Chucky.

Quote: As I stated before, "the other guard" is slated to be the back up point.

You assume the backup point guard would not be a starter at another position. Remember, positions will be more fluid.

hollywood · Joined: 02 May 2006 Posts: 126

for me its

guard/wing: dt, cappie, miller, smith, snell, pettis, williams

post: kv, rasmussen, irvin, stevenson

ir:lacy or strother, wright

when penny comes its simple lacy or strother goes unless either has worked their way of the "ir" then it would be whoever is struggling the most out of snell/pettis/williams but it may be one of those three just because the others have more upside.

mb · Posted: Wed May 17, 2006 2:04 pm Post subject:

mb wrote: CamrnCrz1974 wrote: Guards/Wings: Diana Taurasi, Cappie Pondexter, Kelly Miller, Angelina Williams, Belinda Snell, Ann Strother

Posts: Kamila Vodichkova, Sandora Irvin, Kristen Rasmussen, Jennifer Lacy, Mandisa Stevenson

Injured Reserve: Shereka Wright, another guard.

To keep the fans happy...insert Pettis or Smith for "another guard".

My hunch is to agree with sportsfan, re:
Quote: I am not convinced that Westhead wants DT or Cappie to be Miller's backup at point and will use whomever he chooses to back up Kelly.

Problems:
1)desire to cut TJ (she's okay, her TO's and FG% are not)
2)hope to keep Pettis (who is a SG, or even a SF in this system?, yet not who I want at back-up point)

The line-up given by Cam (with my condition of Pettis or Smith being the "other guard") is my best guess and hope at this time. Also, the it maybe a post, not "other guard" starting on IR.

mb · Posted: Wed May 17, 2006 2:17 pm Post subject:

Just to drive Cam (everyone?) nuts, here's another way to look at it:

Breaking it down by position (making cuts is no fun):

PG: Miller, Smith/Pettis*
SG: Taurasi, Pondexter
SF: Snell, Strother, Williams
PF: Vodichkova, Rasmussen
C: Irvin, Stevenson/Lacy*

IR: Wright, Stevenson/Lacy* or Smith/Pettis*

Cut/Waived?: Gardner, Jackson, Smith/Pettis*

On the way?: Taylor-Gil

*note:both Stevenson and Lacy make the cut,
only one of Smith or Pettis does

mb · Posted: Wed May 17, 2006 5:25 pm Post subject:

Quote: May 17
The Seattle Storm have waived Lindsay Taylor.

May 17
The Phoenix Mercury have waived Andrea Garner.

Gardner? Garner? doesn't really matter.

Assuming nine locks:

G/W: KM,DT,CP,BS,AS,AW
Posts: KV,KR,SI

Two of the following (3 w/IR) will have to be cut: CS,BP,TJ,MS,JL
Bet on the posts staying and guards going.
***edit: see next post...perhaps one post and one guard***

It is not going to be a fun choice...

mb · Posted: Wed May 17, 2006 6:31 pm Post subject:

FWIW, Cappie will not play one minute at point this year...she will be a crucial scoring option, yet not at point.

Also Pettis is not a point.

Therefore:

TJ and Smith battle for back-up point.
Perhaps only one or the other of Stevenson and Lacy make it.
(which may allow Pettis to slip into the roster).

*Having already accepted that Cappie is a SG for now, mb tries to remember that TJ is a pesky defender and 2003 had extenuating factors.*

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

Quote: *Having already accepted that Cappie is a SG for now, mb tries to remember that TJ is a pesky defender and 2003 had extenuating factors.*

She is an overrated defender. Her on ball defense is fine against slow point guards, but she has a lot of problems with bigger, more physical guards.

SportsFan48 · Joined: 12 Jun 2002 Posts: 1138

CamrnCrz1974 wrote: Quote: *Having already accepted that Cappie is a SG for now, mb tries to remember that TJ is a pesky defender and 2003 had extenuating factors.*

She is an overrated defender. Her on ball defense is fine against slow point guards, but she has a lot of problems with bigger, more physical guards.

But she may just end up being OUR overrated defender. :lol:

I have already gone on record to say that one of the three (Smith, Pettis, and Jackson) make the team as backup for Miller at point. And the more I think about it, I believe that player will be Jackson.

[quote="CamrnCrz1974"] Quote: You assume the backup point guard would not be a starter at another position. Remember, positions will be more fluid

I realize that most positions will be more fluid, but it is less likely that it will be the point position. I guess part of my assumption is based on what I have seen in the preseason. What I saw was point guards playing the point. That is why I have repeatedly said I am not convinced that Westhead wants DT or Cappie to be Miller's backup at point. I believe Paul will pick either Jackson or Smith. Jackson has the edge because of experience.

I have another scenario where Williams could stay off the IR. If Westhead considers Strother as a post player, then Williams would stay as a wing and either Lacy or Stevenson are on IR.

mb · Posted: Thu May 18, 2006 12:30 am Post subject:

Are we having fun yet?

Final cuts are due by end of day Friday. With the team travelling to SAC Friday, expect to know by the end of tomorrow (Thursday).

Breaking it down by position (making cuts is no fun):

PG: Miller, Jackson/Smith (likely Jackson)
SG: Taurasi, Pondexter
SF: Snell, Williams
PF: Vodichkova, Rasmussen, Strother**
C: Irvin, Stevenson/Lacy*

IR: Wright, Pettis***

Cut/Waived: Smith/Jackson (likely Smith), Stevenson/Lacy

On the way?: Taylor-Gil

notes: *one of Stevenson or Lacy makes the cut
**Strother (slotted at SF versus PF, BP fits better now)
***Pettis (BP listed at SF vs SG, with AS at PF vs SF)

***Second IR spot is anybodies guess

mb · Posted: Thu May 18, 2006 12:34 am Post subject:

Possible starting line-ups (listed PG,SG,SF,PF,C):

One: KM,DT,BS,KV,SI (my guess)

Two: KM,CP,DT,KV,SI (fans choice)

Three: KM,DT,BS,KR,KV (least likely?)