Post your thoughts: SAC/SASS 7/20
- Thread starter mdme
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Actaully I thik we played okay overall...
The first quarter... Excellent.
2nd Quarter still okay
3rd T.O. but still not the end of the world. Down by 10
4th Tried to keep but too much SASS.
SASS is better than we are. We had to play very well to beat them. And we didn't play well enough.
Ticha got aggressive. Made a couple of 3's even. So can't complain. Haynie was alright but got her shot blocked twice. Over matched on those particular posessions. Yo had a very good first Quarter. Bekkah started. she did okay. Everyone did okay. No one really played badly. Although Nicole was MIA til the 4th quarter. But she busted a 3 on someone.
All and All. Defense could have been better, offense could have been better, SASS was better.
On to LA.
The first quarter... Excellent.
2nd Quarter still okay
3rd T.O. but still not the end of the world. Down by 10
4th Tried to keep but too much SASS.
SASS is better than we are. We had to play very well to beat them. And we didn't play well enough.
Ticha got aggressive. Made a couple of 3's even. So can't complain. Haynie was alright but got her shot blocked twice. Over matched on those particular posessions. Yo had a very good first Quarter. Bekkah started. she did okay. Everyone did okay. No one really played badly. Although Nicole was MIA til the 4th quarter. But she busted a 3 on someone.
All and All. Defense could have been better, offense could have been better, SASS was better.
On to LA.
1st qtr - very well
2nd qtr - awful
3rd qtr - bad
4th qtr - bad
We allowed the Silver Stars to shoot over 50%. We shot 44%. Silver Stars outrebounded us by 4.
Yo had 9 pts in 1st half...none in 2nd half.
Ticha had 11 pts, but Powell only had 7.
Kara had 16 pts, but 15 of those were in 1st half.
I could go on and on, but..........ugh!!!
2nd qtr - awful
3rd qtr - bad
4th qtr - bad
We allowed the Silver Stars to shoot over 50%. We shot 44%. Silver Stars outrebounded us by 4.
Yo had 9 pts in 1st half...none in 2nd half.
Ticha had 11 pts, but Powell only had 7.
Kara had 16 pts, but 15 of those were in 1st half.
I could go on and on, but..........ugh!!!
Not very good!!!
Defensively, this team has taken a step back. Our peremeter defense was absolutely atrocious. San Antonio shot 11-16 from 3. I keep hearing that they need to get back to defense, and I wish that were true. Because of a variety of reasons (age, injury and just the evolution of the league offensively) "The White Line Defense" has officially been caught up to.
To me, if this team is to hang in during the regular season, they are going to find a way to get easy baskets. Then depend on that vaunted Defense in the playoffs.
On the radio side after the game, Koz hinted that maybe a trade could cure some of the ills. Particularly a big player. Interesting.
Defensively, this team has taken a step back. Our peremeter defense was absolutely atrocious. San Antonio shot 11-16 from 3. I keep hearing that they need to get back to defense, and I wish that were true. Because of a variety of reasons (age, injury and just the evolution of the league offensively) "The White Line Defense" has officially been caught up to.
To me, if this team is to hang in during the regular season, they are going to find a way to get easy baskets. Then depend on that vaunted Defense in the playoffs.
On the radio side after the game, Koz hinted that maybe a trade could cure some of the ills. Particularly a big player. Interesting.
Trade huh???
Well I would love to trade for a post player...
Who is out there??? And who are we giving up to get them? And who are they gonna play for? Wouldn't that put us in the same position we were in with Frolich. Not knowing the defense? Having to learn the plays? I think we should have trade for another post player long ago.
I think we will get in, but we are gonna have to get a far sight better all around to make noise in the Play-offs. I like what they tried to do. If I didn't know better I would swear that Jen-nay actaully read our thread.
It looks like they tried to make adjustments. Ticha tried to attack the bucket. They tried not to get into the 20 Pass Possession Offense. We still ran the shot clock down, but they looked like they were making adjustments. Nicole was MIA for a good portion of the game. And Then she realized. OHhh I ned to get the ball and be aggressive, and she was. And it worked. Defense??? CANNOT EXPLAIN IT. Offense Stalled, Defense broke down.
Maybe the best thing to do is... Correct stuff like we are doing. Keep on improving, hope we can survive til it all comes together. We did look like we were correcting things. We couldn't stop SASS from hitting shots. That was a problem. Huge problem. But if we could have hit some it may not have been that bad. I wouldn't call it awful cause SASS really is better than we are.
We can be in denial about it if we want to but they are. They are more complete, they do little things better than we do and they are healthier. Not bagging on Nicole but we are not gonna win with 7 pt efforts from her. She didn't play bad, but we won't win if we do not get big efforts from her.
Kara was off the hook in the first half. She was 6-8 from the field... had 15 pts in the first half. Not sure what she ended up with. But it is a bad day when Helen Darling is hitting jumpers on you.
Well I would love to trade for a post player...
Who is out there??? And who are we giving up to get them? And who are they gonna play for? Wouldn't that put us in the same position we were in with Frolich. Not knowing the defense? Having to learn the plays? I think we should have trade for another post player long ago.
I think we will get in, but we are gonna have to get a far sight better all around to make noise in the Play-offs. I like what they tried to do. If I didn't know better I would swear that Jen-nay actaully read our thread.
It looks like they tried to make adjustments. Ticha tried to attack the bucket. They tried not to get into the 20 Pass Possession Offense. We still ran the shot clock down, but they looked like they were making adjustments. Nicole was MIA for a good portion of the game. And Then she realized. OHhh I ned to get the ball and be aggressive, and she was. And it worked. Defense??? CANNOT EXPLAIN IT. Offense Stalled, Defense broke down.
Maybe the best thing to do is... Correct stuff like we are doing. Keep on improving, hope we can survive til it all comes together. We did look like we were correcting things. We couldn't stop SASS from hitting shots. That was a problem. Huge problem. But if we could have hit some it may not have been that bad. I wouldn't call it awful cause SASS really is better than we are.
We can be in denial about it if we want to but they are. They are more complete, they do little things better than we do and they are healthier. Not bagging on Nicole but we are not gonna win with 7 pt efforts from her. She didn't play bad, but we won't win if we do not get big efforts from her.
Kara was off the hook in the first half. She was 6-8 from the field... had 15 pts in the first half. Not sure what she ended up with. But it is a bad day when Helen Darling is hitting jumpers on you.
I missed most of the first quarter, it sounded as though they played well. The bodysnatching apparently started earlier than usual and they did not play nearly as well the rest of the game.
I'm with Sirius. I made the comment to someone that our starting front line can't run at all right now and our starting center simply makes cameos after the 3rd quarter. We don't have the depth to sustain a formidable post presence for 40 minutes in the least. I hope the hinting has some legs to it (pun not really intended but I'll take it) and if it doesn't cost us a first round pick, but maybe one of our 30 third rounders or a bag of practice balls, bring her in. Who is out there on a roster right now being under utilized that they'd give her up to a contending team?
White line is only going to be as good as its ability to not give up points in the paint. Giving up shots out on the perimeter is fine and actually is what the white line defense is designed to give up. But if they also are giving up a lot of shots in the paint, that's where the defense is getting eaten alive. They can't stop penetration and they can't rebound or defend the paint NEARLY as well as they have in the previous years.
I'm going to give this one an "ugh" too. They couldn't defend enough in the 2nd half to give themselves any chance of closing the gap.
I'm with Sirius. I made the comment to someone that our starting front line can't run at all right now and our starting center simply makes cameos after the 3rd quarter. We don't have the depth to sustain a formidable post presence for 40 minutes in the least. I hope the hinting has some legs to it (pun not really intended but I'll take it) and if it doesn't cost us a first round pick, but maybe one of our 30 third rounders or a bag of practice balls, bring her in. Who is out there on a roster right now being under utilized that they'd give her up to a contending team?
White line is only going to be as good as its ability to not give up points in the paint. Giving up shots out on the perimeter is fine and actually is what the white line defense is designed to give up. But if they also are giving up a lot of shots in the paint, that's where the defense is getting eaten alive. They can't stop penetration and they can't rebound or defend the paint NEARLY as well as they have in the previous years.
I'm going to give this one an "ugh" too. They couldn't defend enough in the 2nd half to give themselves any chance of closing the gap.
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Well at least Phoenix lost, Seattle lost, so not much damage done. But it is crucial that we beat LA on Tuesday, Indiana on Thursday morning and Minnesota. WIN YOUR NEXT THREE HOME GAMES, and maybe all is forgiven. But I will say this...the Monarchs have zero quality wins (teams over .500) on the road this season, 0-4 (versus Detroit, New York, Phoenix and San Antonio)
As far as a trade, you figure nobody would trade for Yo right now. The only untouchables on this team is Powell, Brunson, Lawson and Robinson. I would not put it pass John Whisnant to make a trade. Though he is a WNBA person, he thinks like an NBA guy, and the NBA is all about adjustments with personnel.
As far as a trade, you figure nobody would trade for Yo right now. The only untouchables on this team is Powell, Brunson, Lawson and Robinson. I would not put it pass John Whisnant to make a trade. Though he is a WNBA person, he thinks like an NBA guy, and the NBA is all about adjustments with personnel.
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Maybe Im the only one that feels this way, but I dont think that its our defense thats hurting us. Offense is our main dissappearing act (read that: weakness). Everytime I watch/listen to a game, I prepare myself for the inevitable offensive stall the M's ALWAYS go thru...and this is no matter how well they're shooting.
Tonight, I think that the monarchs actually did a good job with their transition defense. But you cannot win a game with flashes of sharp shooting. Consistency throughout is key. Towards the end there, we were back in it, but SA matched us shot for shot.
We're also very limited in our inside/post game. Dont get me wrong, I like what Im seeing from Adrian, and who doesnt love what Brunson's doing for us this season? BUT i believe Yo needs to contribute more. I hate coming down on the veteran, but we need her.
Tonight, I think that the monarchs actually did a good job with their transition defense. But you cannot win a game with flashes of sharp shooting. Consistency throughout is key. Towards the end there, we were back in it, but SA matched us shot for shot.
We're also very limited in our inside/post game. Dont get me wrong, I like what Im seeing from Adrian, and who doesnt love what Brunson's doing for us this season? BUT i believe Yo needs to contribute more. I hate coming down on the veteran, but we need her.
Hmmm
The plot thickens....
While I appreciate Whiz's moxy regarding wheeling and dealing, this team does not do change well. As I mentioned before, if it takes so long for players to adjust to the White line, a trade doesn't help us this year. It may help for next year in terms of Dumping salaries. But i don't think we are in that situation either.
I say again, Who would we trade for? And who would we part with to get them. I can't see teams Doing back flips to give us post players for Fro and Kim Smith. We seem to need all the rest of our wings. So as Whiz said at halftime, unless Lauren Jackson or Diana Taurasi become available I don't think there is gonna be a whole lot of change.
Then again who knows
The plot thickens....
While I appreciate Whiz's moxy regarding wheeling and dealing, this team does not do change well. As I mentioned before, if it takes so long for players to adjust to the White line, a trade doesn't help us this year. It may help for next year in terms of Dumping salaries. But i don't think we are in that situation either.
I say again, Who would we trade for? And who would we part with to get them. I can't see teams Doing back flips to give us post players for Fro and Kim Smith. We seem to need all the rest of our wings. So as Whiz said at halftime, unless Lauren Jackson or Diana Taurasi become available I don't think there is gonna be a whole lot of change.
Then again who knows
I remember us lamenting about this team being unable to beat teams above .500 on the road last year and they were finally able to turn that around...near the playoffs.
I agree, all is forgiven if they are able to win out at home this week. One thing they've got to start doing is taking advantage of chances to get movement in the standings and control their own destiny.
They don't do change well, but they also don't have much choice. This is the Brunson we're going to have the rest of the way, this is the Yo we're going to have the rest of the way. The last two years, they've been able reinsert DeMya into the lineup and get an infusion. Unless she has incredible regenerative powers - that's not happening this year. We are reduced to playing Williams heavier minutes and Powell out of position in order to have post presence. If he gets somebody to trade him body for Frohlich, the brothers should give him a raise on the spot and the opposing GM should be fired. If he gets anybody to give him a body for Smith, that's raise worthy too. If he trades for a Tillis or somebody equally as marginal or otherwise was available as a free agent, I'm concerned that we're desperate.
If I could cherry pick, I'd take Tot for a stretch run. Nobody else would would float my boat should be available without overbuying
I agree, all is forgiven if they are able to win out at home this week. One thing they've got to start doing is taking advantage of chances to get movement in the standings and control their own destiny.
They don't do change well, but they also don't have much choice. This is the Brunson we're going to have the rest of the way, this is the Yo we're going to have the rest of the way. The last two years, they've been able reinsert DeMya into the lineup and get an infusion. Unless she has incredible regenerative powers - that's not happening this year. We are reduced to playing Williams heavier minutes and Powell out of position in order to have post presence. If he gets somebody to trade him body for Frohlich, the brothers should give him a raise on the spot and the opposing GM should be fired. If he gets anybody to give him a body for Smith, that's raise worthy too. If he trades for a Tillis or somebody equally as marginal or otherwise was available as a free agent, I'm concerned that we're desperate.
If I could cherry pick, I'd take Tot for a stretch run. Nobody else would would float my boat should be available without overbuying
Bring ''Tot'' back...I like it. If for anything some toughness & swagger.
I don't even want to think about trading ''YO'' she needs to retire in SacTown Purple.
We still need to take care of the basics...free throws, make the easy shots, & stop turning the ball over. We have to capture that defensive tenacity that made the Monarchs champs.
San Antonio may be better, but we could have beat them. Our key players have to carry the scoring load. I just don't see that killer instinct.
I agree...we are in a must win at home phase.
Maybe a players only meeting?
I don't even want to think about trading ''YO'' she needs to retire in SacTown Purple.
We still need to take care of the basics...free throws, make the easy shots, & stop turning the ball over. We have to capture that defensive tenacity that made the Monarchs champs.
San Antonio may be better, but we could have beat them. Our key players have to carry the scoring load. I just don't see that killer instinct.
I agree...we are in a must win at home phase.
Maybe a players only meeting?
This really got me wondering just how many of those "close" games we would have won if Demya was able to play this season. Than again, we were really on our "A" game during those early games right after her injury. We need to get back to our old form....quick!
Aside from Lawson, where's our bench been lately?
Aside from Lawson, where's our bench been lately?
Can't say that I agree with your assessment of who the untouchables are. No way does Whiz trade Yo--he had to work hard to get her back for one more year--or Ticha. One only has to watch during a game to see how much Jenny relies on our veteran point guard. Coach spends alot of time talking with Ticha during a game, and not just when she is out on the floor. I do not see Whiz making any trades that will make his new coach unhappy. To mix up the roster any further by trading out the starting point guard is not gonna happen. Period.
I agree that Brunson, Powell, and Lawson are untouchables. As, I believe, is Chelsea. He would not have given up the draft pick he did to get her back & then trade her. (Except for Taurasi , but even she is not having the stellar year we are use to.)
I do not believe Robinson is an untouchable--much as I like her. Good limited minutes, great potential, great growth from last season, but untouchable? Honestly, I would see him trading Sho before Atkinson.
Whiz said pre-game that we need help with the bigs, but I agree with everyone else--who is available? While Tot is an interesting choice, I do not see Houston giving her up. They are finally starting to win, and Tot has been a solid contributor to that turn-around. Who might be available that would really help the frontline that would also fit in the salary cap?
I agree that Brunson, Powell, and Lawson are untouchables. As, I believe, is Chelsea. He would not have given up the draft pick he did to get her back & then trade her. (Except for Taurasi , but even she is not having the stellar year we are use to.)
I do not believe Robinson is an untouchable--much as I like her. Good limited minutes, great potential, great growth from last season, but untouchable? Honestly, I would see him trading Sho before Atkinson.
Whiz said pre-game that we need help with the bigs, but I agree with everyone else--who is available? While Tot is an interesting choice, I do not see Houston giving her up. They are finally starting to win, and Tot has been a solid contributor to that turn-around. Who might be available that would really help the frontline that would also fit in the salary cap?
At this stage in the season, if he's trading someone who is part of the rotation we're WAY too desperate. If he's trading our first round pick next year we're way too desperate. We have 400 3rd round picks (give or take 
) and that's about as far as I'll go.
Houston's been winning, but their GM would have to weigh how much of a chance they have to make the playoffs presently, otherwise they are holding onto players who may not be in their future plans and are taking up a roster slot next season when they may have a lottery pick headed their way. If Tot only signed for a year then it might be in their best interest to get something for her before she walks or you decide to not bring her back. Tot may be hurt, she hasn't made their box score the last two games. If she's not dressing/playing because of injury - then I officially withdraw my cherrypicking wishlist idea. How about Barb Farris?
) and that's about as far as I'll go. Houston's been winning, but their GM would have to weigh how much of a chance they have to make the playoffs presently, otherwise they are holding onto players who may not be in their future plans and are taking up a roster slot next season when they may have a lottery pick headed their way. If Tot only signed for a year then it might be in their best interest to get something for her before she walks or you decide to not bring her back. Tot may be hurt, she hasn't made their box score the last two games. If she's not dressing/playing because of injury - then I officially withdraw my cherrypicking wishlist idea.
How about Barb Farris?1. De Mya being gone for the season, "eats up" one of our bench players since that "player" now starts. (Bek)
2. Fro virtually has not received any playing time at all (even if we could've used her size to spell some of the posts)
That leaves Kara/Scho/Adrian/Haynie/Tangy as our bench.
Note that since Yo has not been "Yo", Adrian is almost not a bench player anymore. With the exception of Kara, the rest of the bench has had inconsistent minutes to be meaningfully productive. I think our bench has proven itself in the past and we should give them a little more. Maybe the starters need a little rest too since they are quite banged up. I notice that the more desperate JB gets the more she rides the starters (read OT games). Not saying this will solve our woes, just maybe something to think about and help.
2. Fro virtually has not received any playing time at all (even if we could've used her size to spell some of the posts)
That leaves Kara/Scho/Adrian/Haynie/Tangy as our bench.
Note that since Yo has not been "Yo", Adrian is almost not a bench player anymore. With the exception of Kara, the rest of the bench has had inconsistent minutes to be meaningfully productive. I think our bench has proven itself in the past and we should give them a little more. Maybe the starters need a little rest too since they are quite banged up. I notice that the more desperate JB gets the more she rides the starters (read OT games). Not saying this will solve our woes, just maybe something to think about and help.
Barb Farris
I liked the Idea of Farris before she went to New York. I really thought she could add something to our bench. So If we can swing getting Farris then bring her on.
She is big and tough, and scrap with the best of them.
As for Frolich... In the limited minutes I have seen, she looked okay. I haven't seen her get burned that bad. Certainly not as bad as Adrian. (And I love me some Adrian). Plus the few times she has been out there she had banged around and called for the ball down low. She actually can help our zone offense with the Elbow jump shot. And she is a skilled passer. Guess I am missing what defensive lapses others have seen about her. At this point I would throw everything I had on the court. IMO we need post help, throw a post player out there. She should if nothing else be eating rest minutes for Starter.
And I say again... If she ain't gonna play there was no reason to cut Brit.
I liked the Idea of Farris before she went to New York. I really thought she could add something to our bench. So If we can swing getting Farris then bring her on.
She is big and tough, and scrap with the best of them.
As for Frolich... In the limited minutes I have seen, she looked okay. I haven't seen her get burned that bad. Certainly not as bad as Adrian. (And I love me some Adrian). Plus the few times she has been out there she had banged around and called for the ball down low. She actually can help our zone offense with the Elbow jump shot. And she is a skilled passer. Guess I am missing what defensive lapses others have seen about her. At this point I would throw everything I had on the court. IMO we need post help, throw a post player out there. She should if nothing else be eating rest minutes for Starter.
And I say again... If she ain't gonna play there was no reason to cut Brit.