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mb · Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 9:47 am Post subject: Power Rankings

It will be nice to watch the Mercury move up as the season progresses.

http://www.wnba.com/features/powerrankings_060516.html

Too funny...humor is a great thing:

Quote: It would be wrong to pick a team that has never won a real game or even played a meaningful game to finish over New York and Charlotte, but I nearly did it.

Quote: Oh, Mercury how you taunt me with your up-tempo ways. Do I think you will score lots of points? Yes. Do I think Cappie Pondexter is a great addition? Sure. Will you miss Maria Stepanova and Penny Taylor (if she doesn't play in 2006)? Yup. Can you get over the playoff hump without an improved frontcourt? Not likely. Is this your year? I'm thinking not. Do I still love Diana Taurasi? Of course. Will she love me after reading this? Gggggggg.

aidtcp3 · Joined: 08 May 2006 Posts: 126

I respectfully disagree with him, but I can't blame him for his rankings. What Phoenix is attempting to do this season has never been done in WNBA. The frenetic pace, the quick shots are all great and lovely to see, but we all know that defense wins championships. In my opinion we have all thev tools to be a pretty solid defensive team. Sandora is an excellent shot blocker, Kelly Miller is a terrific one on one defender, and Bridget Pettis has a nose for the ball. And for all the slack she takes for it, I think DT is a pretty good defender as well, she just has trouble guarding the short and quick guards of the league like Becky Hammon, but she won't have to worry about doing that this year...... So in all i think that there great perimeter play and better defense will get them over the playoff hump they have been so desperately trying to get over the past couple years

mb · Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 3:17 pm Post subject:

http://fullcourt.scout.com/2/531108.html

http://sports.espn.go.com/wnba/preview2006/news/story?id=2440268

http://sports.espn.go.com/wnba/preview2006/columns/story?columnist=voepel_mechelle&id=2445132

http://boards.rebkell.net/viewtopic.php?t=14668

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

Nancy Lieberman has us picked 9th in her power rankings.

http://sports.espn.go.com/wnba/preview2006/news/story?id=2443068

Quote: Rookie Cappie Pondexter and guard Kelly Miller help make up for some devastating losses in the backcourt (Penny Taylor is taking a year off, and DeForge was traded to Indiana)

:roll:

mb · Posted: Tue May 16, 2006 2:43 pm Post subject:

OMFG!

Let it go Nancy...just cheer for Indy! :roll:

aidtcp3 · Joined: 08 May 2006 Posts: 126

I'm kinda surprised how low this team is being ranked by everyone though. I thought that the media would give this team the benefit of the doubt, especially since the team has missed the playoffs by one game the past two years. I really think we can surprise a lot of people but I haven't seen westhead's system yet. Me personally, I think we would be a good half court team because I truly feel that DT and Cappie can create their own shot at anytime, and are really difficult to defend (i haven't really seen kelly miller play a lot). I also feel that with Kamila that our pick and roll offense in the half court would be great too, becuz she is such a deadly shooter. Anywaiz I hope the fast pace system propels this team to the playoffs this season!!

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

Problem is, our defense is still pretty poor. We allowed every team to score over 80 points, and one team over 90 points. I have seen better defensive moves put on MB by the waitresses at Majerle's than I have this preseason by the Mercury. :shock:

aidtcp3 · Joined: 08 May 2006 Posts: 126

I agree, and disagree.. I realize teams have been putting up a lot of points against us but then again, our starters have played only one game. In that game they held minnesota to like 35 percent shooting or something. I just feel like the problem last year with our defense, especially when Steponova was gone was dribble penetration and the lack of a shot blocker. DT would sometimes be matched with quick guards who'd blow by her, and create open shots for her teammates. As a result the other team would get easy lay ups, and met little resistance at the rim cuz kamila really doesn't have the athleticism to block shots. However is Sandora gets minutes she will be an imposing figure in the middle, and cappie and kelly are pretty good on the ball defenders. Lastly DT's move to the two or three means that she will likely be guarding two's or threes which i think she'll excel at. She's a pretty good shot blocker at her size, and definitely has too much pride to be killed on defense. But then again, Westhead's system really doesn't put emphasis on defense so all of this is a mute point. The philosophy of this system from my point of view is that the other team will score, but we will score more!!!

mb · Posted: Thu May 18, 2006 4:09 pm Post subject:

No offense to our bench posts, yet KV and KR will help SI more than JL or MS.

No easy lay-ups with "Killa" in the middle.