Impressive in the first win...

[Luv13fan]

Well I have to give credit where credit is due.

M's bounce back to win big at home. Sho looked solid. Kara ran a solid PG. Chelsea didn't get totally ambushed. And the Posts looked really good. Especially Harper and DeMya.
Nicole did her best impression of an sniper, and Maiga was Maiga-licious.

And Courtney is looking a little leaner, and a little more mobile.

All and all a pretty good effort for the Ladies in White.

Congrats on the first win of the season...

 

[Den-Den]

Fantastic DEFENSE Monarchs! And when the defense is good, the scoring always follows for us. 90 points!!! What a GREAT game so early in the season. Did not expect it.

I actually thought Chelsea did a great job at point--I actually felt more comfortable when she brought the ball up court than I did with Kara. It was nice to have both Kara & Nicole hitting shots, and DeMya looked great--glimpses of her old self.

Good ball movement, and I can't remember when we had so few turnovers!!!

Everyone played great TEAM BALL, and they actually shot the ball. Outstanding rebounding, especially offensively.

I am in shock...

 

[Purple Reign]

I am in shock...

I don't know why This is a good basketball team. I understand it is just one win, and they probably will go down to Phoenix tonight and get their heads handed to them. But I have advocated that from 1 to 11 including Robinson and Newton, this team can win. It is going to take a minute to get everybody healthy and defined in their roles to a level of comfort in order to consistently win. It has been like this every year since Whisnant has been here and 2009 is not going to be any different.

As far as last night:

DeMya Walker looked like the old DeMya Walker. Energetic, active, PRODUCTIVE!!!

Laura Harper in my opinion has earned the starting center position for 2009. She may play good at home and lousy on the road, but she is the best post player offensively and defensively that we have at this moment.

I did not think Chelsea was all that comfortable at the point. In the first half into early in the third quarter, Phoenix jumped Chelsea and Lawson with half court traps every time Sacramento got into position to run the half-court offense. However once Taurasi got her fourth foul and Phoenix began to play zone, that is when things began to open up for the point guard position. I hope Ticha gets back soon!!!

Maiga Ba, Robinson and Powell I thought were the players of the game. A combined 13 of 27 (48 percent), 38 points, 11 rebounds, 1 TURNOVER.

Overall defensively in containing Taurasi and Pondexter was huge. The defensive energy was outstanding. Everytime it looked like Phoenix was going to make a run, Sacramento turned up the heat and stretched it out.

 

[RDub21]

I actually thought Chelsea did a great job at point--I actually felt more comfortable when she brought the ball up court than I did with Kara. It was nice to have both Kara & Nicole hitting shots, and DeMya looked great--glimpses of her old self.

Have to disagree about Chelsea at point. The offense stalled when she ran point, which isn't out of the ordinary for us. She basically dribbled the ball with her back to the defender for 8 seconds and waited for others to move. Her ballhandling skills are not good and I'm surprised that Johnson and Swanier didn't pick her every time down the floor. She wasn't horrible, but "great" is a HUGE stretch. It came down to Kara and Nicole being the shooters we need them to be and the posts players getting some much needed scoring production. DeMya played well and it was nice to see CP3 get more minutes also.

 

[Luv13fan]

I don't know why This is a good basketball team. I understand it is just one win, and they probably will go down to Phoenix tonight and get their heads handed to them. But I have advocated that from 1 to 11 including Robinson and Newton, this team can win. It is going to take a minute to get everybody healthy and defined in their roles to a level of comfort in order to consistently win. It has been like this every year since Whisnant has been here and 2009 is not going to be any different.

Well you answered your own question now didn't you???

No one is saying that these are not good athletes. And Jenny is a pretty decent coach.
I would go as far as to say she is a good coach, except that she has never been given to opportunity to come into the season fully loaded. What I would really like to see is how Coach Jenny would evaluate and coach a ball club when she had everyone relatively healthy, from camp to the all-star break. Relatively is the key term here.
We know she is a very good motivator. She certainly has a future in infomercials if this coaching thing doesn't work out. Watch out Billy Mays. But she has always been hampered by injuries or some other whatnot.

So you have posed the real question...
Why the Crap does it take so long for M's teams to define their roles and comfort levels. We have players on this team that have been here for 4 and 5 years now. We pride ourselves on defense and continuity. You know the whole keeping the core together thing we got going here. Begrudgingly bringing new talent in, other than the draft.
So Injuries or not, Peoples roles should be defined.

I guess this is where I find the most frustration. I know this team has talented. There always seems to be an excuse why this organization is not reaching its potential. We seem excited and content by backing into the play-offs and eventually losing to teams that are more balanced than we are.
It is just ONE win, We are not Good yet.
If we can put a few consistent efforts like last night game together. Then I will say we are good. And I would be okay if we lost as long as we put forth the effort we put forth last night.

I am encouraged tho.
I am liking the progression of DeMya. She will strengthen our Bench in the post. I am very happy with Sho. She seems to have stepped up her progress. So has Harper. I am actually pleased with the edge I saw from Powell. She almost had a little attitude in her shot last night. I liked what Kara did at the Point. Played within herself, didn't try to do too much and picked and chose her moments to score.

I will feel better when Bekkah can give more minutes. But I would rather have her come along slower than for her to have a set-back mid season. And Courtney doesn't look bad at all. Mid-season should a good time for Miss Paris.

Everyone else is probably what they are gonna be.

 

[HoopMatron]

For me the difference was that the team finally has a multi-facted offense. They can go perimter, and they can drive the lane and they can back-door it. They had plays last night we haven't seen in the last two years, since before Yo left.

I think Jenny has finally created a playbook with offense as important as defense. There were pick-and-rolls, drives, etc. No wonder the fouls called were so lopsided -- the 'Narchs were getting in there and mixing it up on offense. The Merc were depending on their perimeter game.

And speaking of defense, that was a great effort last night. To shut down Taurasi completely in the first half and then Pondexter completely in the second half was nothing short of miraculous.

Also, it is good to see increased minutes for DeMya, Courtney and Kara. Now let's bring Bekky along and things will really heat up.

All that being said, they need to be able to continue the intensity. That's the hard part, and really hard on back-to-back situations. But hopefully getting a great win under their belts will energize them

Here's hoping tonight is a carbon copy of last night!

GO MONARCHS!!!

HoopMaton

 

[Den-Den]

Have to disagree about Chelsea at point. The offense stalled when she ran point, which isn't out of the ordinary for us. She basically dribbled the ball with her back to the defender for 8 seconds and waited for others to move. Her ballhandling skills are not good and I'm surprised that Johnson and Swanier didn't pick her every time down the floor. She wasn't horrible, but "great" is a HUGE stretch. It came down to Kara and Nicole being the shooters we need them to be and the posts players getting some much needed scoring production. DeMya played well and it was nice to see CP3 get more minutes also.

I couldn't diagree more--as per the Monarchs website, the Monarchs were +23 when Chelsea was on the floor, and -1 when Kara was. Kara had almost as many turnovers as assists (4 assists/3 to), while Chelsea had 3 assists and no turnovers. I think that is pretty darn good, and will happily take anyone at point who has zero turnovers! I think both did a tremendous job stepping up, and helping keep the turnovers to an incredible low of 8!!! Don't get me wrong--I will be doing a happy dance when Ticha is back. NO ONE IS TICHA!!! In case you don't know by now--it's all about the point guard for me

 

[RDub21]

I couldn't diagree more--as per the Monarchs website, the Monarchs were +23 when Chelsea was on the floor, and -1 when Kara was. Kara had almost as many turnovers as assists (4 assists/3 to), while Chelsea had 3 assists and no turnovers. I think that is pretty darn good, and will happily take anyone at point who has zero turnovers! I think both did a tremendous job stepping up, and helping keep the turnovers to an incredible low of 8!!! Don't get me wrong--I will be doing a happy dance when Ticha is back. NO ONE IS TICHA!!! In case you don't know by now--it's all about the point guard for me

We'll have to agree to disagree .