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

Seeing as how I am a Duke graduate and I am moving back to Phoenix at the end of June, I want Alana in a Mercury uniform. However, with attendance sliding, Taurasi might have the edge in that department.

Taurasi's strengths: passing/court vision, long-range shooting, being a clutch/go-to player, great hands (can palm a men's basketball)

Beard's strengths: left-handed, defense, slashing/dribble penetration, mid-range game, great arms (76" wingspan, for a player who is 5-11)

Taurasi's weaknesses: defense (average at best) and her lack of athleticism (which she more than compensates for and it just means she will have to adjust to the next level, like she did in college).

Beard's weakness: three-point shooting. Alana shot 38% from three as a sophomore, but only 28% as a junior.

Both are very good ballhandlers who get a lot of assists...Taurasi plays the point more in college, but both will be shooting guards in the WNBA (though Taurasi may see some time at point for a team like Washington). Alana has played the 1, 2, and 3 in college, but mostly the 2 and 3 (she played point at various points during her sophomore year).

Both would be very good for Phoenix, but the Mercury need more than just one of them.

mc · Joined: 20 May 2003 Posts: 13

I would prefer Taurasi if the Mercury get the 1st round pick. She has overall game. If you look at last season, Uconn didn't have too much experience. But with Taurasi as the leader, they won the championship. Beard hasn't been able to be to do that. She's the go to player when they play other teams, but when they played Uconn, I would have to say, Taurasi got the best of her.

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

Individually, I disagree. Beard got the best of Taurasi...and Taurasi was shut down in the second half when Beard guarded her.

What Taurasi did was find her teammates...and other players stepped up. Beard tried to do that, but other players couldn't make shots.

And it is true that UConn had freshmen. But Jessica Moore, Maria Conlon, and Ashley Battle got plenty of minutes over the two previous years because UConn had such big leads, that the starters were pulled. So they had plenty of experience. The freshmen, specifically Strother, were helped in other ways...for example, Strother played USA Basketball with Taurasi, Beard, and Powell, which certainly helped her prepare for the next level. UConn was young, yes...but not as inexperienced as you may think.

gia · Guest

Metcalfe article from today about the Taurasi/Beard possibilities

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/sports/articles/0617mercury0617.html

CamrnCrz1974 · Posted: Sun Jan 04, 2004 12:57 am Post subject:

Beard got the better of Taurasi today...both in the individual matchup and in the team matchup!

andypanda · Posted: Sun Jan 04, 2004 6:07 pm Post subject: The Saturday Stakes

It's a good thing nobody drafts on the basis of one day's performance or I'd be stumping for Lindsey Whalen (a *very* smart player) and Iciss Tillis.

Lieberman says Taurasi is laterally slow? How about slow period? Her greatness comes from many other areas, though, not the least of which is leadership. Versatile? Yep. Smart? Not Whalen-smart, but good enough. If the powers that be insist we opt for Taurasi vs Beard, my worry is Taurasi has peaked already and Beard hasn't, but I'm not sure what's behind Beard's curtain.

DT is one more knee-whack away from turtle-slow, albeit smart turtle slow.

Every year there's some over-hyped player who's the next coming of Jordan or Bird or Magic, and you just never know what you're going to get. I don't think this season's draft is any less of a crap shoot than any other.

rebolpuppy

... I am an American living in Kanada. See, * shows hands * no germs, no beef.

Oooh, Panda, whatzername posted!!! :)

I liked what I saw of Beard yesterday, but DT has numbers. I still like Bird better, but I'm just a kid, right?

Cam, I have a question. Why is Taurasi an answer to the attendance problem and Beard not so much?

Finally, I see the Chicago Blaze traded Anna Louise to Dallas, but I can't find out who bought the Fury franchise. Anybody know?

Happy New Year to all.

CamrnCrz1974

rebolpuppy wrote:
Cam, I have a question. Why is Taurasi an answer to the attendance problem and Beard not so much?

Taurasi has Serena Williams-type exposure on ESPN, something that Beard does not have. The more interesting thing about Diana is that she is not particularly attractive, which is usually a prerequisite for women's athletes (Serena, US women's soccer team, etc.), at least when it comes to exposure and big endorsements. Beard will sell tickets (she gets some exposure on ESPN and men love her athleticism, as she plays more like a stereotypical male collegiate player), but Taurasi will sell more.

I am a Duke grad, and I have said all along that Beard will be the better pro, but Taurasi has the exposure...and the attitude. But Beard will be better, IMHO. And Duke's Monique Currie will be even better.

rebolpuppy · Posted: Sun Jan 04, 2004 9:36 pm Post subject: Thanks, Cam! :)

Thank you for the frank answer.

Yeah, MC *is* an interesting player, I think.

My partner in crime down there seems to agree with you about DT. "Unmarketable" was her word of choice.

Beard's wingspan is pretty impressive. You think she'd be better on D. I like her - Beard's - athleticism, too, which is my beef with DT.

Attitude alone doesn't cut it for me. It's going to be interesting to see how UConn responds to that loss. (My guess is they'll be fine, but I can but hope, right?)

If we think this group is overhyped, wait till Pat Summitt gets that Super Six or whatever stupid name we'll have to endure for that recruiting class with the Naperville chick in it. (Sorry, Naperville, IL, I forgot her name.)

K-Mart · Guest Joined: 18 Apr 2003 Posts: 36 Location: Tulsa

I'm not sure what's up with the Dallas Fury. Nothing much on their website. I guess maybe nothing will be final until this week with the whole situation, so until it is, there's nothing out there to officially be known. They don't even have very many players listed.
I think that in the short term DT will have more marketability than AB. Not necessarily because of her athletic ability, but rather because of who she plays for. Geno's cocky attitude..."we have Diana, and they don't"....makes for good advertising when the sports networks are doing promos. That's what a lot of people see who don't necessarily follow women's BB until March. She is more emotional on the court than AB...so it all adds up to someone who appears to be firey, and has the skills on the court.

CamrnCrz1974 · Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2004 8:57 am Post subject: Re: Thanks, Cam! :)

rebolpuppy wrote: Beard's wingspan is pretty impressive. You think she'd be better on D. I like her - Beard's - athleticism, too, which is my beef with DT.

Are you kidding me with this? You obviously haven't seen Alana AT ALL. Alana is the BEST ON-BALL and OFF-BALL defender in the country

rebolpuppy wrote: If we think this group is overhyped, wait till Pat Summitt gets that Super Six or whatever stupid name we'll have to endure for that recruiting class with the Naperville chick in it. (Sorry, Naperville, IL, I forgot her name.)

You are thinking of Candace Parker from Naperville.

rebolpuppy · Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2004 10:26 am Post subject: Wow!

Ah, so *that's* my problem! I haven't seen Beard play at all. Thanks for clearing that up for me.

Actually, what it might mean, I suggest, is that I've seen her about half a dozen times, all on television. None of those times did she play like one of the best on and off the ball defenders in the country, in my humble opinion.

Unlike you, apparently, I only have my own experience to go on, and I was saying what I think.

Boy, I could save a lot of energy by just not thinking and just listening to you, huh?

You won a *game*, guy, that's all. It's nice, and good for you, "Yay you!", but yours isn't the only opinion in the world and you don't have the right to go around trashing other people's experience and telling me I've obviously never seen Beard play at all. I have. I just disagree with you, and it's not actually the end of the world as you know it, okay?

I'm 17, and out of the loop up here, I'm just doing the best I can. Geez, Duke-man, take a page out of Coach K's book and be a kinder, gentler Duke exemplar, okay?

rebolpuppy · Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2004 10:29 am Post subject: Oh, and thanks! :)

Thanks for "Candace Parker", btw.

The NWBL is parking Tamika Catchings with the Chicago Blaze to help Parker make the hs-college transition.

rebolpuppy · Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2004 10:36 am Post subject: K-Mart?

Thanks for your thoughts on the NWBL.

Yeah, Geno's a bit much with all the rah-rah crap, I think, kind of like he dropped out of the cast of "Grease" and right into his job.

The Panda has apparently heard some scuttlebutt about the Fury ownership, so I'll keep pumping her - from a distance, in an appropriate way - until she buckles under and spews out the gossip. :) (Panda pretends she has a job and works all day. We humor her.)

That Fury roster has been adjusted to show DeForge in Dallas, but not to refect they gave up Greco and the other player whose name escapes me, so they're down to a roster of four. Gotta get Beard down there to play D.

Keegan · Guest Joined: 13 Jun 2002 Posts: 977

I don't have any problems with Beard's D. Far from it.

My only real problem with Beard is her streaky outside shot.

I prefer Beard to Taurasi - Beard's game is more catered for the pros.

Chazster · Guest Joined: 22 Apr 2004 Posts: 5 Location: East Haven Ct

[quote="CamrnCrz1974"]Seeing as how I am a Duke graduate and I am moving back to Phoenix at the end of June, I want Alana in a Mercury uniform. However, with attendance sliding, Taurasi might have the edge in that department.

Taurasi's strengths: passing/court vision, long-range shooting, being a clutch/go-to player, great hands (can palm a men's basketball)

Beard's strengths: left-handed, defense, slashing/dribble penetration, mid-range game, great arms (76" wingspan, for a player who is 5-11)

Taurasi's weaknesses: defense (average at best) and her lack of athleticism (which she more than compensates for and it just means she will have to adjust to the next level, like she did in college).

Beard's weakness: three-point shooting. Alana shot 38% from three as a sophomore, but only 28% as a junior.

Cameroncrzy, thank you for the kind words about Diana. On some other message boards the Duke and Tennessee fans try to destroy her. It was nice to register here and see the second post I look at coming from a Duke fan saying nice things about Dee. Thank you again. :D

CamrnCrz1974 · Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2004 11:18 pm Post subject:

Quote: Cameroncrzy, thank you for the kind words about Diana. On some other message boards the Duke and Tennessee fans try to destroy her. It was nice to register here and see the second post I look at coming from a Duke fan saying nice things about Dee. Thank you again.

Thanks! And tell that to the 15-year old Diana fan posting in the main Mercury forum, who seems to think I am a Diana-hater.

Chazster · Guest Joined: 22 Apr 2004 Posts: 5 Location: East Haven Ct

Thanks! And tell that to the 15-year old Diana fan posting in the main Mercury forum, who seems to think I am a Diana-hater.[/quote]

That's my little bud. She could be the biggest Dee fan. I'm sure she'll be ok with you because the post I read was very fair. Right my young friend?
:lol: 8)

taurasi2156 · Posted: Sun Apr 25, 2004 3:12 pm Post subject:

Chazzy! Wow I was madd late with post. Me the biggest DT fan, where did you ever get that from :wink:

I have a true definition of a "diana hater" and as long as credit is given where credit is due, then everyone is entitled to their opinion

CamrnCrz1974 · Posted: Sun Apr 25, 2004 3:48 pm Post subject:

Funny...Taurasi2156 talks about "credit." I talk about "objective analysis." Big difference.