Gotnext Women's Basketball Boards

gillomfan · Joined: 16 Jun 2002 Posts: 262

Does anybody besides Sportsfan have a couple tickets they could spare for tomorrow's game? I would appreciate it.

mb · Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 5:33 am Post subject:

gillomfan,

The topic heading was editted to maintain consistency. :D

My one extra ticket is awaiting a last second reply from a family member...won't know 'til after a softball tourney game that afternoon. :idea:

Dunkin' Dan · Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 8:26 am Post subject:

Temperature > 100? Check
mb posting projected rosters almost daily? Check
Pre-season results being taken too seriously? Check
Gillomfan looking for free tickets? Check

It's official, folks. A new WNBA season is upon us! :)

mb · Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 8:47 am Post subject:

Dunkin'Dan, get here if you must swim to do so!

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

Better yet, swim here and stay forever 8)

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

Aren't preseason tickets extremely cheap? It isn't like it costs an arm and a leg to go to a game.

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

Aren't preseason tickets extremely cheap? It isn't like it costs an arm and a leg to go to a game.

aidtcp3 · Joined: 08 May 2006 Posts: 126

Does anyone think that K. Miller or DT will play??

dtsnms · Joined: 21 Apr 2006 Posts: 72

Well the Sun waived Jessica Brungo and Katie Cronin today, and have signed Ambrosia Anderson and Brooke Queenan. Plus Margo's expected in.

So we Sun fans have not seen any of those three and only a smattering of Phillips, Mahoney, Loffhagen and Coker. Please keep an eye on them for me! Let me know how they do.

aidtcp3 · Joined: 08 May 2006 Posts: 126

Another question I have is if this injury to Kelly Miller may hurt her chances of being the starting point guard as it has allowed CP23 to shine. I realize in Paul Ball everyone will be getting playing time but I wonder if CP23 is proving to Westhead that she is ready to be a starter. I really like both of their games but at the same time think Cappie is a better scorer than facilitator. When she's in the line up, I really feel that DT, or Kelly should be running the point because they are more comfortable leading the squad.

kitkat310 · Joined: 20 Jun 2005 Posts: 303

Then Cappie shouldn't start, she should come off the bench to give D a rest, or if Penny isn't here, Start at the two, and move D to the three..

But I believe she was drafted, to be the point guard..so that D could move to her actual position.

mscfn · Joined: 05 Apr 2006 Posts: 86

Most info does suggest that Cappie was drafted to play PG and let Diana do more of what she does playing the 2, but the trade for Kelly kind of makes us wonder also about who will do what, as word is she was drafted for a PG position? However Cappie, Kelly and Diana can all play various spots so they can all be starters if thats the plan! Course with this fast paced system players will get tired faster so maybe one wont start leaving one of them fresh to spell another??? Hard to say, but either way Phx is loaded, so thats a good thing!

If the biggest problem this new coach has is figuring out what players to play and when or what postion, then he will have an easy job with the talent this team has, compared to some other coaches and their teams!!

mandih23 · Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 7:29 pm Post subject:

It will be a huge help once everyone gets here also.

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

She was drafted to play point, but she is just a rookie so let's not throw her to the sharks yet :shock:
Let Kelly start, and cappie finish the games :D

SportsFan48 · Joined: 12 Jun 2002 Posts: 1138

In last Sunday's scrimmage, CP didn't play the point much, if at all. If she is a starter, she will have a lot less pressure if she is about to start at the 2.

dts, I will keep an eye out for ya!

mb · Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 7:13 am Post subject:

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/mercury/articles/0513mercnb0513.html

Quote: Taurasi was bothered by pain in her thigh. Miller suffered from a slight strain in a hamstring muscle.

Both could play at 7 tonight in a preseason game against Connecticut at US Airways Center. The Mercury didn't practice Friday.

Quote: "I don't want make too much of a preseason game," Mercury General Manager Seth Sulka said. "But if we can score 80-plus without Diana and Kelly, it's a good indication we'll be able to run coach Westhead's fast-break system."

Quote: En route to Phoenix
Returning forward Kamila Vodichkova, a projected starter, is scheduled to arrive Sunday and will be ready to join the Mercury in practice by Monday, Sulka said.

Vodichkova has been visiting family in the Czech Republic after the conclusion of a pro season in Russia, where she and Taurasi were teammates in Moscow.

Still talking
Sulka said he still is working on details of the expected return of forward Penny Taylor, another projected starter.

Taylor, an Olympic silver medalist and part of the Australian team headed for the World Championships in September, is wrapping up a season in Italy. She is not expected to be with the Mercury for their opener May 20 at Sacramento.

Sulka is trying to make sure that Taylor won't leave the Mercury before their final game. The early departure last year of Russian center Maria Stepanova for her national team's training camp proved to be a disruption.

"A non-negotiable factor is finishing the season," Sulka said.

bold added for emphasis

mb · Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 7:28 am Post subject:

Miller will get the start and majority of minutes at point.

Pondexter will get plenty of minutes...either starting at SG if DT moves to start at SF; or more likely, backing both Miller and DT at PG and SG, respectively. She will be a force on offense!

mb · Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 10:04 am Post subject:

Last seasons scores and such (first found on Game Notes):

http://www.wnba.com/mercury/schedule/2005/

Sun article:

http://www.theday.com/re.aspx?re=a594a1d6-62e7-4901-ac9a-759097c2a1b2

Quote: Taj McWilliams-Franklin, who was due to meet the team at home Monday, is flying back from her home in Italy to meet them in Arizona.

“Italy to Amsterdam to Minneapolis to (Phoenix), which is a good indicator that she wants to be here,” Thibault said. “That's quite an effort.”

Quote: The Sun didn't have a lot of roster space to begin with, making camp even more competitive. Their starting lineup is back — center Margo Dydek, forwards McWilliams-Franklin and Sales and guards Katie Douglas and Lindsay Whalen.

Sixth-man Asjha Jones begins her third season with Connecticut and Erin Phillips, a rookie point guard from Australia, is a sure bet to make the team.

Those seven give the Sun pretty good depth, although they could use a replacement for forward Brooke Wyckoff, who was lost to the Chicago Sky in the expansion draft. Wyckoff was an invaluable defender who was quick enough to match-up with guards and long enough to challenge taller post players. She could also shoot from the perimeter.

McWilliams-Franklin's return gives the Sun 16 players, including the injured Whalen. They must trim that number to 11 by next Friday, but can carry up to two players on the inactive roster. Connecticut said it will keep a 12th player and may have room under the cap for a 13th player once the salaries are prorated.

dtsnms · Joined: 21 Apr 2006 Posts: 72

Damn, mb, you're quick. I was just coming here to post that Taj is supposed to be there tonight. :?

Hey, reading the game notes, anyone else know Mike T was an assistant under Paul Westhead in LA???? :shock:

mb · Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 11:48 am Post subject:

dtsnms wrote: Damn, mb, you're quick. I was just coming here to post that Taj is supposed to be there tonight. :?

Hey, reading the game notes, anyone else know Mike T was an assistant under Paul Westhead in LA???? :shock:

That would be the DET game notes...PHX is "so last year" on the website.

edit: oops, typed DET, meant CT...thanks dtsnms

dtsnms · Joined: 21 Apr 2006 Posts: 72

MB I mean the CT notes for tonight's game...

SportsFan48 · Joined: 12 Jun 2002 Posts: 1138

Does anyone have any thoughts on the game?

Without his starters at 100% or even in camp yet, I think Paul did the best thing he could do, use the game for evaluation. He has some difficult decisions to make this week concerning personel and I think he used the time well last night to give everyone a chance to show what they can do.

I thought it was interesting that he played 5 for half a quarter and then a new 5 the second half for three quarters. The only change he made was switching Ann and Mandi in the first group (Ann started the first half, Mandi the second). He was forced to make a subsition in the 4th when Crystal went down. He also brought in Gardner (where did she come from) and Stevenson for an additional look. Basically, everyone except Gardner got equal time.

We were out rebounded 30-8 in the first half but only 19-15 in the second. We missed a lot of shots in the first half (12-41 for 29%)

It is important to realize that what we saw last night had moments of good Paul Ball but this team still has long way to go.

mandih23 · Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 5:56 pm Post subject:

Well, obviously I was disappointed in the loss; not as much as a fan but mostly for the players who showed a lot of heart and didn't quit on the game. We witnessed a lot of heart, hustle and resiliency from our players last night. Our shots were not falling yet we stuck to the game plan and kept at it until we finally started chipping away and finally put ourselves in a position to get back into the game. In the first half it seemed like the Sun were showing us how to play our own game with the frantic pace but we stuck to our system and came out in the second half and pulled ourselves back into the game. Obviously, we were not at full strength and were missing key players so its really hard to be discouraged by the game at all. Overall, I was pleased with the performance of our team and their hustle (esp. Smith) and I think that Coach Westhead has a tough job in deciding the final roster.