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Tezza · Joined: 13 Jun 2002 Posts: 27

Today's (24 February) Canberra Times was full of articles about the Caps' Grand Final victory, but only two of them have been posted. There was a bit in the unposted articles that would be of interest to Mercury fans.

The Times' lead front page article had a picture of about eight smiling (and perhaps even sober) players piled up at a party at Lucille Bailie's house. I can give you a link to the article, but the unposted picture is better:

http://canberra.yourguide.com.au/detail.asp?class=news&subclass=local&story_id=211249&category=General+News&m=2&y=2003

There is also an article about Graffy's plans for the Caps for next year. It's not hard to tell that a priority is to have more than two functioning posts:

http://canberra.yourguide.com.au/detail.asp?class=sport&subclass=local&category=general%20sport&story_id=211251&y=2003&m=2

In an unposted article, Graffy discusses a new role to "unlock the potential" of Kristen Veal. What she has in mind is to switch Vealy to shooting guard, and Mercury fans might want to consider whether this is something Graffy would experiment with during the coming WNBA season.

Dunkin' Dan · Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2003 8:37 pm Post subject:

Seems like a mighty strange concept given that Vealy's best assets are her ball handling, court vision and passing!

I don't know if a shooting guard with an inconsistant shot is what the Merc are looking for right now (although I guess we've had 6 years of it, so why not another one right? :wink: )

Keegan · Joined: 13 Jun 2002 Posts: 977

Unlocking the potential of Veal - having a good coach would be the first step. Vealy ain't going to get any better under Tom.

Vealy is a natural born point guard IMHO. When she's in that creative zone, you can see it.

As for being a 2 guard, I'll reiterate - 2/16 in the grand final, some of them open. Veal works best when she's weaving her magic to help others. I'd love to see her scoring return but her specialty is creating.

Dunkin' Dan · Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2003 11:56 pm Post subject:

It hasn't healped Veal's cause that for most of the season she's had Abrams at the 2 (a solid shooter when left alone, but hardly a creator), and Hannett at the 3 ("scoring? what's scoring?")

Surely when Graf sees Veal at the helm of a more talented team (i.e. the Mercury), she will re-think this 'stunt'
I guess in the WNBL, when you have LJ on your team, you can get away with these kind of experiments, but as long as Veal averages 30% from outside I can't see her making a career as a 2 guard, and nor should she have to!

She's a better shooter than what we've seen lately, but it's never going to be her forte.

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

Oh sure, let's have Veal at the two so she can join that Mercury tradition of being a 2 that can't shoot :roll:
I think she needs coaching, confidence and teammates who can catch a tough pass and she will be fine.

mb · Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2003 4:12 pm Post subject:

My worry regarding Vealy is not her ability to regain her shot, it is her ability to regain her speed (what speed she had, anyway).

She can hit the three with consistency.

Yes, I'd love the Mercury to have a superstar scoring SG or SF. It is not in our near future.

Actually, I can envision the Mercury using her some at the two spot. It would simply be a case where two point guards are on the court at the same time. With the pressure defense, more quickness may be needed at the one, and Vealy's height can help at the two.

It is not set in stone that a team must have specific players at positions one through five. You have posts and guards...a combo two/three or wing can fit either catagory. At times teams go with three gaurd line-ups.

Maher gives me moments of pause, yet I trust Graffy enough to give her the benefit of the doubt. Guess we'll have to wait and see.

Tezza · Joined: 13 Jun 2002 Posts: 27

A good Australian prospect for the SG/SF position is Belinda Snell of the Sydney Flame. She can be a read dead-eye, but thankfully she wasn't in the recent Grand Final. Graffy probably can tell Mercury management a few things about Snelly.

SportsFan48 · Joined: 12 Jun 2002 Posts: 1137

The following link was taken from the official WNBA site:

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,6012472%255E23769,00.html

The article is primarially about LJ, but there is a comment at the end referring to the injuries the team had experienced. The one that got my attention is the Kristen was having dizzy spells. Does anyone have any insight to what that is about and how serious this might be?

Dunkin' Dan · Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2003 6:08 am Post subject:

Nothing to worry about - Kristen has just been working hard on her spin moves
:P

(j/k)

Keegan · Joined: 13 Jun 2002 Posts: 977

Yipes at the dizzy spells.

Poor Vealy. She's become an injury magnet.

Dunkin' Dan · Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2003 6:39 am Post subject:

Hopefully it's just that inner-ear condition that's been going around, and will pass before too long.
Vealy certainly has copped her fair share though, yeah.

Tezza · Joined: 13 Jun 2002 Posts: 27

According to an article in the Canberra Times a couple of days before the Grand Final, a few players had not been able to attend practice for one reason or another. Vealy was mentioned in the context of having a day off on the Monday before the big event. There was no indication of anything more serious than a minor flu episode.

gia · Guest

What's the story on Holly Grima? I just read this article saying she's the next "Lauren Jackson"............?

http://www.examiner.com.au/story.asp?id=165438

Dunkin' Dan · Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2003 11:36 am Post subject:

Grima is a centre who has just completed her final season with the AIS (the same program that produces 95% of the top Aussie players)
A year ago she was already in the Opals team, but really that's where the LJ comparisons should end.

Hollie is an excellent prospect in that she's a decent shooter and good rebounder. She also hustles really hard for a girl her size. But she has nowhere near the versatility of LJ. Much more of a traditional centre (not hugely nimble on her feet)

This season she started spectacularly, but then of course quickly became the focus of every opponent, drawing constant double-teams. Unfortunately the rest of her young team were unable to take the pressure off her, so it ended up being a tough season.
Still, she finished 8th in the league in scoring, and 2nd - behind LJ - in rebounding. But then again, this is a league without a lot of big players.

Anyway, keep an eye on her over the next couple of years. She's definitely a player to watch, and will be the Opals starting centre pretty soon I would think.

Keegan · Guest Joined: 13 Jun 2002 Posts: 977

I concur with DD. I think Grima would make a nice complement to LJ and she could be a very solid WNBA player.

And why does she want to join Canberra for?! Sydney is a much nicer city and we need a pure post ;)

Oh well, I won't complain too much if we manage to sign Kelly Wilson (heard a few rumours about that).

r8er · Guest Joined: 01 Mar 2003 Posts: 2

Keegan wrote: I concur with DD. I think Grima would make a nice complement to LJ and she could be a very solid WNBA player.

And why does she want to join Canberra for?! Sydney is a much nicer city and we need a pure post ;)

Oh well, I won't complain too much if we manage to sign Kelly Wilson (heard a few rumours about that).

:lol: exactly ... does Canberra just want to become totally absolutely dominant!? :)

:D about the Kelly Wilson rumour -- Wilson would be a very welcome addition! 8)

Tezza · Guest Joined: 13 Jun 2002 Posts: 27

The Caps aren't at all dominant. They have a serious post problem, with no depth. The only sub went out with a knee injury a few weeks before the finals, and that's one of the reasons why Loz and Luce were getting in so much playing time.

The post problem receives attention at the bottom of this recent article:
http://canberra.yourguide.com.au/detail.asp?story_id=211251&y=2003&m=2&class=Sport&subclass=Local&category=General+Sport&class_id=8

Graffy has certainly let it be known that she would like Hollie Grima on the team next year: according to a recent Canberra Times article her bait is that it's better to practice daily with Lauren Jackson than to play against her only three times in a season. Grima (rhymes with rhymer) hails from Tasmania, which means there is no local team for her to join. Like Lauren Jackson a few years ago, she can pick any club without turning her back on her local origin. She may be a future WNBA player, but it won't be for a few years because she no has to start building up her minimum of two years "pro" eligibility.

r8er · Guest Joined: 01 Mar 2003 Posts: 2

they might have a few gaps in their roster - not that it stops them anyway! - but 3 championships in 4 years is pretty dominant imo!

Dunkin' Dan · Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2003 12:56 am Post subject:

Yeah I was going to say the same thing.
Lauren Jackson + Lucille Bailie does not = serious post problem!!
(have you looked at the roster of Bulleen or Dandenong lately? Apparently not)
What it does equal is the ability to fill the roster with whoever else you like & still make the playoffs every time.

Quote: Graffy has certainly let it be known that she would like Hollie Grima on the team next year

*Every* coach in this league would love to have Hollie on their team next year!

Quote: her bait is that it's better to practice daily with Lauren Jackson than to play against her only three times in a season

I'd probably take that approach too, if I was making a statement for the papers. Privately of course I'd be saying to her that "our club actually has the ability to pay players, plus if you join us you will be in the grand final next season" :wink:

Keegan · Guest Joined: 13 Jun 2002 Posts: 977

Actually I believe the years at the AIS counts towards playing 2 years in a pro league. Not sure though.

And that Kelly Wilson rumour looks to be getting more solid. If she is a Flame next season, then all we need is a post :D Pleeeeeeeeeeeeease Hollie *evil grin*

Tezza · Guest Joined: 13 Jun 2002 Posts: 27

On the topic of 19-year old Hollie Grima, there's a major article in today's (4 March) Canberra Times. With picture, it takes up the top half of the inside back page of the sports section. Unfortunately, the Times is laggard in posting its articles, so it's not up yet. For WNBL fans, it's worth keeping a lookout for.

The gist of the article is that Hollie's agent is talking with most WNBL teams and hopes to have an announcement by the end of the week. Before she goes off to Europe or the US, she wants to make the Opals team next Olympic year and be part of a WBNBL championship team.

Dunkin' Dan · Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2003 4:46 am Post subject:

Quote: she wants to make the Opals team next Olympic year and be part of a WNBL championship team.

Damn, I guess that rules out Perth then
:P