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eaction83 · Joined: 14 Jun 2002 Posts: 130 Location: Fremont, CA

I know this is starting the thread way early, but this game just got a lot easier. Mystics announced today that Holdsclaw will be out until at least the All-Star break, which means Phoenix will avoid having to face her AGAIN. :D

I hope she comes back healthy and ready to go after the break though--the league doesn't need to have one of its top two or three players sidelined like that. :(

gia · Guest

It's sad to think we need Washington to be without Holdsclaw for the Merc to win but it's probably true ;)

On the other hand, Washington beat Charlotte without her and we all know what happened in Charlotte.

Gaucho_Don · Guest Joined: 12 Jun 2002 Posts: 223

Here we go again :(

OK so why do you sub out Kayte when she is scoring and rebounding and washington is not :?:

eaction83 · Guest Joined: 14 Jun 2002 Posts: 130 Location: Fremont, CA

We are 13 1/2 minutes into the game, and Phoenix has a grand total of 1 assist (courtesy of Gillom). Washington already has 9. That is horrible. :cry:

Gaucho_Don · Guest Joined: 12 Jun 2002 Posts: 223

It gets worse... 20 minutes and still only 1 assist :!:

But just 6 TO's in the first half, 6 fouls and winning points in the paint 20-12... Maybe we fixed some of the problems from last game :?:

Some help for Jen would be nice too... anybody want to step up :?:

Moises gets into a groove where she just runs down and shoots doesn't she :?:

Kayte needs to shoot more... (or get the ball more?) It seems like she shoots most of the time when she touches the ball in the paint, but still only takes 4 shots in the game?

Ohio Gaucho · Guest Joined: 12 Jun 2002 Posts: 65 Location: Salem, OH

We need a full time point guard for a better assist/turnover ratio and offense flow. Rebounding seemed much better tonight, but there were still too many fouls.

Another great game by Grandmama:
JENNIFER GILLOM F 35 10-18 4-5 2-2 3 3 6 2 1 2 3 0 26 :D

A more efficient line for Kayte, 4-4 as she showed her hook twice; she had 3 blocked shots to go with 3 rebounds. She was rewarded with 20 minutes PT on her second start at Center. :D
KAYTE CHRISTENSEN C 20 4-4 0-0 0-0 2 1 3 0 1 0 0 3 8

http://www.wnba.com/games/20020709/PHOWAS/boxscore.html

http://scores.nba.com/games/20020709/PHOWAS/PlayByPlayPrint.html

Beat Houston Thursday! :) (On TV, I believe :D )
Go Mercury!

Bob
UCSB '61

Ohio Gaucho · Guest Joined: 12 Jun 2002 Posts: 65 Location: Salem, OH

First 4:34. Kayte had momentum (and discipline), and then was yanked. :? I hope the Coach watches the game video. Maybe something will be better seen the second time. :idea: Did anyone have DirectTV, or whatever, to watch this?
1st Period
(20:00) Jump Ball Page vs Christensen
(19:29) [PHX] Moises Jump Shot: Missed
(19:2_) [WWA] Bullett Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
(19:17) [WWA 2-0] Bullett Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Miller (1 AST)
(18:55) [PHX] Gillom Turnover: Out of Bounds (1 TO)
(18:39) [WWA] Page Jump Shot: Missed Block: Christensen (1 BLK)
(18:37) [WWA] Page Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)
(18:35) [WWA 4-0] Page Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS)
(18:16) [PHX 2-4] Grubin Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Gillom (1 AST)
(18:04) [PHX] Grubin Foul: Personal (1 PF)
(17:46) [WWA] Page Layup Shot: Missed Block: Christensen (2 BLK)
(17:42) [WWA] Page Rebound (Off:2 Def:0)
(17:41) [WWA 6-2] Page Layup Shot: Made (4 PTS)
(17:22) [PHX] Grubin Jump Shot: Missed
(17:20) [WWA] Miller Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
(17:11) [WWA] Jones Jump Shot: Missed
(17:10) [PHX] Harrison Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
(16:55) [WWA] Bullett Foul: Personal (1 PF)
(16:43) [PHX] Harrison Jump Shot: Missed
(16:41) [WWA] Jones Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
(16:29) [WWA] Page Layup Shot: Missed
(16:27) [WWA] Miller Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)
(16:09) [WWA 8-2] Bullett Jump Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Miller (2 AST)
(15:42) [PHX] Gillom Jump Shot: Missed Block: Bullett (1 BLK)
(15:40) [WWA] Jones Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
(15:3_) [WWA] Jones Turnover: Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal: Harrison (1 ST)
(15:26) [WWA] Page Foul: Personal (1 PF)
(15:26) Timeout: Official
(15:26) [PHX] Christensen Substitution replaced by Williams

Gaucho_Don · Guest Joined: 12 Jun 2002 Posts: 223

I didn't see too much wrong with the first substitution... other than the blocks, which Page rebounded and scored on each time, Kayte was goose-eggs everywhere. Why not sub her out?

I did feel the second substitution of Kayte was unwarranted...

(7:21) [PHX] Christensen Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)
(7:20) [PHX 12-27] Christensen Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS)
(7:00) [WWA] Luz Jump Shot: Missed
(6:58) [WWA] Walseth Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)
(6:57) [WWA] Walseth Jump Shot: Missed
(6:55) [PHX] Williams Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
(6:46) [PHX 14-27] Christensen Hook Shot: Made (4 PTS)
(6:33) [WWA] Walseth Jump Shot: Missed
(6:31) [PHX] Williams Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)
(6:31) [WWA] Jones Foul: Loose Ball (1 PF)
(6:31) Timeout: Official
(6:31) [PHX] Christensen Substitution replaced by Bonfiglio

Kayte scores the games last 4 points so you replace her :?:

It seemed like Jen and Kayte(when she was in) dominated in the paint, I just wish Kayte would shoot more. Overall Kayte had a good line, but not overly impressive (2nd best on the team, but just because everyone underperformed)

Mat H · Guest Joined: 24 Jun 2002 Posts: 168 Location: Glendale AZ

Where are the vets? Harison and GG have to become a threat every night. Gillom is a bad woman, but she can't do it herself and expect to win. Every night someone new steps up. We can't win until we have more consistency from the vets.Side note: Mercury, just shoot the ball :x

SportsFan48 · Guest Joined: 12 Jun 2002 Posts: 1126

This is really tough. Winning on the road is difficult in the WNBA, but I thought we would at least get a couple. We are not out of contention. Teams of the past dug holes deeper than this and still pulled it out.

This team has an opportunity to show the world what they are made of. They should look for the positives (there are some) and hold their heads high. As fans, we spend a lot of time in speculation about what we see as the answers. I can only imagine what the players and coaching staff are doing.

mb - liked your rant and rave under the NY thread. However, you left out the most important issue to be addressed by management.

Rent a charter plane and fill it with Mercury fans for the Utah game on Saturday.

(I can use the fancy tools too!!)

capsman · Guest Joined: 14 Jun 2002 Posts: 31

Veal needs to find a team that recognizes her talent. I can't believe I'm saying this but I'm scared that Sharp is worse than Cooper!!
Man, what does Vealy have to do to not get bullshit minutes!!! :( :(

Mat H · Guest Joined: 24 Jun 2002 Posts: 168 Location: Glendale AZ

Sharp worse than Cooper? Nah! With Cooper we were 6-4, and with Sharp were 0-...6. Oh :oops:
At least some fans are happy right.

kr · Guest Joined: 23 Jun 2002 Posts: 63 Location: Denver

Another game with disjointed and erratic play from Moises. Why Sharp doesn't put Vealy on the court for more than two minutes is beyond me....

gia · Guest

Ohio Gaucho wrote: We need a full time point guard for a better assist/turnover ratio and offense flow.
We have one. Her name is Kristen Veal and the sooner they realize that the better off we're all going to be. Last season Cooper screwed with her confidence. Let's not go too much further down that road this season.

At some point the players on this team are going to have to give Jen the respect she deserves. It's very unfair of them to let her put it all out there in a losing efforts night after night. If I was Jen I'd be PO'd!!

Kayte was 4-4 and played solid. I would much much much rather have her in there than Williams. I thought Bonfiglio did a nice job at PG given the fact that she is NOT a PG either. Saunders made the most of her minutes and needs more. If we're not going to play Tuvic, then IR her and get Barnes or SOMEBODY in there who is not afraid to get physical.

Looking at last season........we were 7-12 (I think) at the halfway mark. There's a good chance that is where we'll be at the same point this season. The killer road trip was late July, early August in 2001. We have that behind us now in 2002. See:
http://www.wnba.com/mercury/schedule/results_2001.html

The second half of this season we're looking at a softer schedule as far as teams go....Detroit, Sac, Minn.....though it opens with Houston and ends with LA.

Finally.......we were calling for Cooper to go bye-bye even with a winning record. It was never about winning or losing. It was about respect.

caune · Guest Joined: 12 Jun 2002 Posts: 1560 Location: Phoenix

HMMMM, it gets curiouser and curiouser!
Veal needs to play, yeah she made a few mistakes, but no more then anyone else...... Simon, Vealy can't find another team in the WNBA, she's here till they decide she should go somewhere else, and as a fan, we hope she doesn't go anywhere but onto the court more often :!: btw, wheres my darn t-shirt????

Kayte needs to play at the end! I would much rather see hustle mistakes from Kayet as opposed to the stupid mistake Adrian seems to make

Now, as much as I respect Jenn, I must say, she needs to pass a tad more when she is so tired. There were a couple of times in the last 10 minutes where she played one and one and lost the ball doing it, passing is a virture :wink:

That game last night was actually painfull to watch at times, it made my head hurt :( They tried so hard at times, and were so slow at others. I think the All Star break (Minus Jenn who should be at the game if the coaches have a clue) the rest of the team needs to do an intensive defenseive camp! Call in all those NBA players they got hanging around the Suns offices (oops, thats right, they don't play defense either;) How about hiring a "special assistant" for defense and rebounding?
Offense will come from good defense and at this point ours really sucks :!: :!: :!:

mb · Posted: Wed Jul 10, 2002 10:44 am Post subject:

Perhaps my bold faced rant from the other thread needs reposted here.

Moises surprisingly only had one turnover, yet Jaynetta had 3 and Bonfiglio 4.

PLEASE give Veal more minutes at point guard.

Some interesting facts:

When Gillom is high scorer, the team is 2-6.

When Gillom scores over 16 points, the team is 2-6.

While Adrain has 81 FGA in 426 minutes, Moises has 91 FGA in 348 minutes.

Tracy Reid has 80 FGA in 260 minutes.

Kayte has the best FG% at 58.5%, Lisa is at 50%.

Moises is the worst at 35.2%.

Our posts other than Gillom must take more shots. We need point guards who can get them the ball, perhaps through better offensive sets.

On the road trip:

Moises 10 of 33 for 30.3%.

Cristensen 12 of 17 for 70.6%.

Williams 10-23 for 43.8%.

Who should take more shots? Who should take less shots?

Gaucho_Don · Guest Joined: 12 Jun 2002 Posts: 223

Kayte would be 3rd in FG% in the WNBA, if she had more shots. Since I'm travelling tomorrow night, I'm hoping my hotel room will have ESPN2 so I can watch the game.

Does anyone know if it is a lack of getting the ball to the posts (the guards fault) or a lack of positioning and or aggressiveness shooting once the ball has been received in thepost (the posts fault) that is causing the low number of shots? Or a combination of both?

Regardless Moises needs to be benched anytime she comes down the court and shoots without passing to someone first. If your shooting 35% you better be taking all your shoots from behind the arc :!: and no "point" guard should have more than twice as many shots as assists.

mb · Posted: Wed Jul 10, 2002 11:49 am Post subject:

In games that we've scored 70 or less we are 1-7.

We've scored 70 or more in 6 of 7 wins.

Comments from game notes on the Mercury homepage:

Quote: Orlando: 14-5 run to close the game, 32-22 rebounding edge, 17 fast break points.

Miami: PHX did not score a FG over a 5:49 span to close the first half. The starting unit for PHX shot a combined 26.3% and grabbed only nine rebounds.

Charlotte: 41-23 rebounding advantage, Mercury failed to score over last 4:02.

Hopefully we can get improved interior rebounding, scoring and defense.

Go Mercury!

gia · Guest

mb wrote: When Gillom is high scorer, the team is 2-6.

When Gillom scores over 16 points, the team is 2-6.
All this says is that with JUST Gillom scoring they can't win....but we all knew that ;)

Looks like she was left out of the All Star Game :(
http://wnba.com/allstar2002/reserves_020710.html

kr · Guest Joined: 23 Jun 2002 Posts: 63 Location: Denver

Gee, are we surprised that 30% of the West team come from LA???

mb · Posted: Wed Jul 10, 2002 12:25 pm Post subject:

Jen Gillom deserved to be an All Star reserve. Her scoring over 16 per game is not a problem with me...just hope her teammates step it up.

Gaucho_Don · Guest Joined: 12 Jun 2002 Posts: 223

I agree Jen deserved to be an allstar - so who would you replace with her?

gia · Guest

Jen is doing as well as Mabika in just about all categories so in the case of all things being equal, the nod should have gone to the retiring vet out of respect.

caune · Guest Joined: 12 Jun 2002 Posts: 1560 Location: Phoenix

Boy oh boy, how do they get off leaving Jenn off the team? There isn't a player in all the west playing better then she is at the moment, and her stats are better then most of the reserves they did name. It would have been a nice nod to one of the nicest and most respected players in the league...is it a mercury thing? The voting coaches have dissed our players before, hmmmm :roll:

kr · Guest Joined: 23 Jun 2002 Posts: 63 Location: Denver

Looks to me like it's another example of favoritism -- based more on "star quality" than on skill. Or, maybe the WBNA "front office" applied some pressure. Or maybe it was all predetermined. Example: There recently was a "Name the Team" contest here in Denver for John Elway's new arena football franchise. Though it probably was coincidence that the voters also chose it, turns out the winning name had been copyrighted weeks before the voting even began!!!!!!!

SportsFan48 · Guest Joined: 12 Jun 2002 Posts: 1126

I think they must base their All-Star votes on rebounds. (tongue in cheek) See the thread I started on this subject for my true thoughts.

I have to agree that Veal should be getting more minutes. She is our starting point guard for the future. And it is a future that I think is bright.

I agree that criticism concerning other posts needing to get more involved in our offense with one exception, Princess Lisa. Even though there were some games when in seemed, statistically, that Lisa was out of the game I would like to remind you of the important role she played defensively in those games. It is very difficult to elevate your offensive game when you have a strong defensive responsibility. Very few players in any league can do both well. (MJ is the one who comes to mind as one who could, but there aren't any like him.) When a strong offensive player has to focus on defense, they usually lose some of their offensive game. The fact that Lisa has elevated her offensive game this season is a testiment of her hard work and, I think, determination to help this team with leadership. Lisa's defense, in a way, acts as an offensive tool in that she usually limits her defensive assignment to well below their scoring averages. But her defense is not going to be effective if other players allow their defensive assignments to score above their averages.

Jennifer and Lisa are definitely our most consistent players and have the best all round game, defensively and offensively. If the rest of the team could help Jennifer with the scoring and Lisa with the defense we would win more games.