I guess Phoenix will be in a transition only after one championship.
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/mercury/articles/0927mercury0928.html
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/mercury/articles/0927mercury0928.html
(Non-Monarchs) Paul Westhead Leaves Phoenix Mercury for Seattle Sonics
- Thread starter Purple Reign
- Start date
On the other hand, next year (2008) will be an Olympics year. In the last Summer Olympics (2004), there was no actual WNBA All-Star game. Instead, it was a collection of WNBA stars against the USA Basketball National Team (who also happened to be WNBA players). The game took place at the Radio City Music Hall.
Anne Donovan is coaching the U.S. National Team.
Will we see another similar set-up next year? If so, then the coaches in a game like that will be Donovan and whoever PHX hires as their coach.
Anne Donovan is coaching the U.S. National Team.
Will we see another similar set-up next year? If so, then the coaches in a game like that will be Donovan and whoever PHX hires as their coach.
Again, why would they change the rule they implemented this year? The rule as Orender explained, was devised to create another way to select the allstar coach since she didn't feel the honor should not automatically go to the newly hired head coach. This is the same scenario, unless I'm missing something.
If they hiatus for the Olympic break, I'm very cool with them not having a game - although I suspected that the only reason they had that game in 2004 was so the players involved either by virtue of making a national team or being on the W-Select team still got their bonus money. Team USA needs someone to scrimmage against so I suppose the game does have some value.
If they hiatus for the Olympic break, I'm very cool with them not having a game - although I suspected that the only reason they had that game in 2004 was so the players involved either by virtue of making a national team or being on the W-Select team still got their bonus money. Team USA needs someone to scrimmage against so I suppose the game does have some value.
As I expected, the SuperSonics are experimenting with Westhead's fast-break offense in the pre-season:
http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/story/178844.html
Westhead brings running game to Sonics
The News Tribune
Published: October 14th, 2007 01:00 AM
INDIANAPOLIS – At 68, he’s the oldest coach on the Seattle SuperSonics staff, and probably the most accomplished.
Paul Westhead has won an NBA title (with the 1980 Los Angeles Lakers) and a WNBA title (2007 Phoenix Mercury) as a head coach.
Serving as P.J. Carlesimo’s top assistant in Seattle, Westhead brings 30 years of college and pro coaching experience. He is known for setting a breakneck tempo, an approach he has brought to the Sonics.
In Seattle’s first three exhibition games, it has averaged an eight-point advantage in fastbreak points.
“So far, so good,” Westhead said before Seattle’s 97-87 loss to Indiana on Saturday. “But it’s an ongoing process and it’s nothing that you automatically get in two weeks of training camp.”
Westhead used his system with success during his stint at Loyola Marymount, leading that team to three consecutive NCAA tournament appearances – including a trip to the round of eight in 1990.
More recently, Westhead helped the Mercury win the WNBA title, with his team averaging a league-record 87.1 points a game.
Westhead said the key is a collective buy-in from the team to run – no matter the situation.
“Are you willing to run as hard as you can enough times for it to work?” Westhead said. “That really is the moment of truth for anybody who proposes they are going to be a fastbreak team.
“Am I committed enough to push through when I’m feeling tired? And if the individual is willing to push through, it helps the others. And if one or two or three people back down, then the others pull back and say, ‘What’s the point?’ So it’s about the individual, but ultimately it’s a collective energy.”
Eric D. Williams: 253-597-8437
eric.williams@thenewstribune.com
blogs.thenewstribune.com/sonics
http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/story/178844.html
Westhead brings running game to Sonics
The News Tribune
Published: October 14th, 2007 01:00 AM
INDIANAPOLIS – At 68, he’s the oldest coach on the Seattle SuperSonics staff, and probably the most accomplished.
Paul Westhead has won an NBA title (with the 1980 Los Angeles Lakers) and a WNBA title (2007 Phoenix Mercury) as a head coach.
Serving as P.J. Carlesimo’s top assistant in Seattle, Westhead brings 30 years of college and pro coaching experience. He is known for setting a breakneck tempo, an approach he has brought to the Sonics.
In Seattle’s first three exhibition games, it has averaged an eight-point advantage in fastbreak points.
“So far, so good,” Westhead said before Seattle’s 97-87 loss to Indiana on Saturday. “But it’s an ongoing process and it’s nothing that you automatically get in two weeks of training camp.”
Westhead used his system with success during his stint at Loyola Marymount, leading that team to three consecutive NCAA tournament appearances – including a trip to the round of eight in 1990.
More recently, Westhead helped the Mercury win the WNBA title, with his team averaging a league-record 87.1 points a game.
Westhead said the key is a collective buy-in from the team to run – no matter the situation.
“Are you willing to run as hard as you can enough times for it to work?” Westhead said. “That really is the moment of truth for anybody who proposes they are going to be a fastbreak team.
“Am I committed enough to push through when I’m feeling tired? And if the individual is willing to push through, it helps the others. And if one or two or three people back down, then the others pull back and say, ‘What’s the point?’ So it’s about the individual, but ultimately it’s a collective energy.”
Eric D. Williams: 253-597-8437
eric.williams@thenewstribune.com
blogs.thenewstribune.com/sonics