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Keegan · Joined: 13 Jun 2002 Posts: 977

Ok, none of these are going to revolutionise the Mercury, but I think they are more proven commodities and can help the team out more than say, Lacy or Stevenson.

Kayte Christensen - We all know and love Kayte. She hustles and defends and would bring some much needed intensity to the interior game. She also has good experience compared to Lacy and Stevenson.

Donna Loffhagen - She can rebound and she's got a bit of thug in her, which is exactly what we need. Has solid international experience. Being a netballer, she also has a shot of sorts, but she's primarily there to smack people around.

mb · Posted: Sun May 21, 2006 12:40 am Post subject:

re: Kayte (or any post, for that matter)...if they can rebound and defend, I don't care if they have more fouls than points at the end of the game.

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

mb wrote: re: Kayte (or any post, for that matter)...if they can rebound and defend, I don't care if they have more fouls than points at the end of the game.

Fouling isn't defense. And fouling gives up points to the other team.

Loffhagen was unimpressive in the exhibition game.

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

defense does sometimes lead to fouls, and fouls sometimes leads to points for the other team. Therefore I agree somewhat with Cam.

But if the post play I saw yesterday is what the fans will see the rest of the season, it is going to be a very long one. I did not see much hustle yesterday. I do agree with Keegan, lets get some hustle back.

Gil · Joined: 25 Jun 2002 Posts: 84

The post player that did not dress for the game would have helped provide some hustle at the very least don't you think?

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

Gil wrote: The post player that did not dress for the game would have helped provide some hustle at the very least don't you think?

Exactly.

hollywood · Joined: 02 May 2006 Posts: 126

I'd agree with both of you about irvin but at the same time the coaches are at every practice there is obviously something they see that we're not aware of and at the same time she didn't exactly improve last season.

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

It's true that we don't see the practices so there really might be something about Sandora that we don't know. Hard to say. But she looked really solid in the Lynx scrimmage. I remember some good hustle and 4 or 5 blocks, which we could have used last night. Some defense would have been better than no defense, IMO.

She didn't improve last season because Graf didn't play her. But not because she can't play. Graf was under the gun last year to make the playoffs or else. I suspect she went with players she thought she could count on (although I question some of her decisions) rather than go with the raw talent that needed more coaching. When Maria showed up, I think Sandora was forgotten. I've got nothing truly substantial to back this up - just what I observed from watching the team - and the coach - last season.

mandih23 · Posted: Sun May 21, 2006 3:26 pm Post subject:

librarygeek wrote: It's true that we don't see the practices so there really might be something about Sandora that we don't know.

Maybe but if its so bad that she is put on the IL then I would think we would have tried to trade her by now and get some one else or waived her (we don't seem to hesitate to do either)?

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

I saw Irvin play a lot in college. I saw her in that scrimmage against Minnesota. And then I see her on the inactive list. Those three things don't make sense to me. We are left to conclude something happened in practice.

hollywood · Joined: 02 May 2006 Posts: 126

come on where are your sources...sorry i couldn't resist i was just picking.

mandih23 · Posted: Sun May 21, 2006 4:46 pm Post subject:

CamrnCrz1974 wrote: I saw Irvin play a lot in college. I saw her in that scrimmage against Minnesota. And then I see her on the inactive list. Those three things don't make sense to me. We are left to conclude something happened in practice.

Well, whatever happened or happens in practice needs to be fixed asap because we need Irvin on the floor in games.

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

hollywood wrote: come on where are your sources...sorry i couldn't resist i was just picking.

Rita Williams looked great in last year's first practice, but didn't make the team. Besides, practice cannot simulate game situations, IMHO.

Maybe we all should check out a practice.

mandih23 · Posted: Sun May 21, 2006 7:29 pm Post subject:

CamrnCrz1974 wrote:
Maybe we all should check out a practice.

Hey- thats sounds good to me! :D

mscfn · Joined: 05 Apr 2006 Posts: 86

Does the Mercury have open practices, as some teams do for publicity etc, but most practices are closed?

Also, about this practice thing, I know lots of coaches make game time decisions based on how practices go! However--I am not a believer that practice is a good determining factor for actual game time, as players can practice great, but then not play well, or the opposite, but that is how coaches determine alot of player lineups--good or bad??

Next game coming against Seattle, hopefully the Merc will look better, for longer? Tough schedule right out of the gate!