[IND/DET] A hard knock life

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Talk about adding injury to insult to injury...

If Catchings doesn't take this jump ball, is she allowed to come back?

 

[Monty'sBiggestFan]

I don't know about the rule, I'd want to say yes she can come back. But seeing as since I've stepped back into the room with the television and dont see her on the floor I'd guess its a moot point anyway.

C'MON INDY...GET YOUR HEADS TOGETHER PLEASE!!! YOU CAN PLAY WITHOUT HER...GIVE HER A CHANCE AT MORE GAMES...

(I say optimistically)

 

[Monty'sBiggestFan]

I am officially 3:27 away from being done with the WNBA for the year....unless the Fever pull a miraculous comeback...

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Yeah... I don't see it.

But, since I don't have any issue with the Mercury, I'll be rooting for them against Detroit. I'm of the opinions that their fans, and Tan Smith, deserve it, even if no one else on the team does in particular...

 

[Monty'sBiggestFan]

The "mature sports fan" gene apparently missed me...I don't have the capacity to want to see anybody win.

And "see" is a term I use loosely, I may hear second hand how the Finals play out.

 

[6th]

I very much dislike Detroit (especially Katie Smith and Bill Laimbeer). I very much dislike Diana (I can do no wrong) Taurasi. I don't give a rat's butt who wins, but I will be happy that one of them has to lose. I will, however, be happy for Tangela if she wins one. I always thought it was a shame that we finally won after she was gone. No, I am not a mature sports fan, but an emotional one. It's my right.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

I don't know that I consider myself a "mature" sports fan; I guess, when it comes down to it, I just don't feel that strongly about any team in the WNBA other than the Monarchs... I mainly became a WNBA fan because I'm a basketball junkie, and any basketball, at any level, beats the hell out of anything that ain't basketball. I don't think there are any players in the league that I actively root against, with the possible exception of Margo Dydek, and that's mostly because it really annoys me that someone who could (and should, in my opinion) be the most dominant player in the WNBA is so damned passive. And, I guess I don't like Nykesha Sales, either, mostly because I still have hard feelings over that stunt she pulled at UConn to break that record...

 

[Monty'sBiggestFan]

See, I have no problem with Sales for that...her coach set that up not her, and he I do hate. Completely agree on Dydek, although I don't root against her...and don't necessarily hate her, I hate every single second she is on the floor being passive and insigificant. AND also hate her even more when she's being benched for not being effective. How a player her size can marginalize herself so much is beyond me.

I don't have a problem so much with Taurasi, she talks the talk and walks it. I just don't want to live with how much the league will hitch its wagons to her should she have a ring. The same league that seems to forget Yolanda Griffith even plays in it. Still very very bitter after she dominated the awards her first year in the league, the league could not bring itself to hype her.... once....

 

[Purple Reign]

I loathe Phoenix, but I despise Laimbeer and Detroit and want to see them lose in a worst way. But what I am happy about is Phoenix and Detroit should be a very, very entertaining series. A contrast of two styles, a lot of star power, which is good for the "W". Phoenix is going to run the living snot out of Ford, Braxton and Feenstra. And I am a firm believer you can't beat up what you can not catch.

Mercury in 4.

 

[NothinButHoops]

I'm rollin with the hope of a new Wnba Champion...
Very dissapointed in the Fever loss.
Like me some Tweety & Cash the rest can go down the road to loss.
I can hardly stand The Mercury, but I'm with 6th, get a ring Tangela.
It's nice to be wanted, sorta reminds me of Powelle coming to Sac. & becoming a champion when The Sting gave up on her.
I will watch ...do I care...not much

 

[StevenHW]

I sorta agree with the Margo Dydek comments, even though I don't "root against" her. But I really don't know why, despite her obvious size advantage, she isn't --- pardon the pun --- a "bigger" factor in any game she plays. Sure, she gets those blocked shots. But every time I see her on TV, she moves sluggishly, like she's in slow motion. She gets outhustled by smaller players. I realize that she's had back problems during this season. But at her age, 34 or 35 next year, I doubt her playing style will change.

Does anyone still remember Margo getting balls stolen and passes picked by Ticha and Yo during the 2005 WNBA Finals? I'm starting to think that Margo's play (or lack of same) is the biggest reason why the CT Sun lost to the Monarchs in '05.

Does anyone has an explanation why she is one of the more passive (maybe THE most passive) player in the league? Is it because she's so accustomed to European league play, where it's probably not as fast-paced as the WNBA is? Anyone has possible theories?

IMHO, the only reason why Dydek is still in the WNBA is because she is 7' 2". If she was 6' 2", I highly doubt she would be playing for any WNBA team. If she's not back in 2008, I would not miss her at all. In fact, good riddance!

If there was a player that I "root against"...there's always Lisa Leslie! (Even though she didn't play this past season.)

 

[Monty'sBiggestFan]

IDoes anyone still remember Margo getting balls stolen and passes picked by Ticha and Yo during the 2005 WNBA Finals? I'm starting to think that Margo's play (or lack of same) is the biggest reason why the CT Sun lost to the Monarchs in '05.

C'mon Steven, get with the program...we alllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll know that the biggest reason why the Monarchs won in 2005 was because Lindsay Whalen wasn't healthy... Margo Dydek's play or lack thereof was further down the excuse list, 37 spots above the "the Monarchs were the better team" excuse.

 

[6th]

C'mon Steven, get with the program...we alllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll know that the biggest reason why the Monarchs won in 2005 was because Lindsay Whalen wasn't healthy... Margo Dydek's play or lack thereof was further down the excuse list, 37 spots above the "the Monarchs were the better team" excuse.

Oh, I heard that "the Monarchs were the better team" excuse did not even make the list.

 

[Monty'sBiggestFan]

No, that made the list....that was on the 2nd page and apparently was the only excuse on that page and most people never saw it since it wasn't stapled to page one. Either that, or it was only distributed locally....

 

[Kstat]

I loathe Phoenix, but I despise Laimbeer and Detroit and want to see them lose in a worst way. But what I am happy about is Phoenix and Detroit should be a very, very entertaining series. A contrast of two styles, a lot of star power, which is good for the "W". Phoenix is going to run the living snot out of Ford, Braxton and Feenstra. And I am a firm believer you can't beat up what you can not catch.

Mercury in 4.

"you can't beat up what you can't catch?"

Have you ever seen Deanna Nolan?

We beat Phoenix twice this year, the second time by 30 points. We set a franchise record by dropping 111 points on them.

Not saying they don't have a chance, but wow...

I'm a firm believer in this: You also can't run unless you can rebound the ball.

 

[uncommonclay]

I would love to see Tangela Smith get a ring ...

even if it's not as a Monarch ...

Hey, we're FANatics --- no need to pretend to be "mature", or objective ...

 

[Purple Reign]

"you can't beat up what you can't catch?"

Have you ever seen Deanna Nolan?

We beat Phoenix twice this year, the second time by 30 points. We set a franchise record by dropping 111 points on them.

Not saying they don't have a chance, but wow...

I'm a firm believer in this: You also can't run unless you can rebound the ball.

I assume that you are a Shock fan . I do agree that rebounding could present a problem. But it has not been a problem against the two teams they have already played that were better rebounding teams. I know Detroit is a whole 'nother level, but this is not the same Detroit team of last year (which lost twice to Phoenix) or even the regular season. Feenstra at 6'8" is a bigger slower version of Ruth Riley. Alot of height, and not much production. Braxton is Braxton, nothing more to say. Cheryl Ford is injured and hurt. This series comes down to Nolan, Smith and Pearson containing the perimeter. This is all about defense for Detroit. If they defend Phoenix well they win. But nobody has been able to do that yet.

 

[Luv13fan]

damn... Damn... DAMN!!!!!

Man... Out of all the Finals match-up this was the one I least wanted to see.

So I am very much like MBF... I have Checked out of the WNBA Play-off Hotel.

I am not mature. Anyone who knows me Knows I am not mature. I have no intention of trying to be mature. Being mature is for mature people and Dangit that just ain't me.

I resent Phoenix.
I have resented them since they Got the UNO (The Number #1 Pick in the Draft) for the 2nd time in 3 years. There have been a whole list of convient things that have bounced Phoenix way far too many times.
Conspiracy Therorist? Maybe...
Resentful WNBA Fan... absolutely. Screw em...
(However in the UnGodly event that they actually Win the title... Yes I will be Happy For Tangie. Anyone who suffered under miserable Rule of Trudi Lacey Deserves a Ring. I guess that applies to Mazzante also.)

If there is any balance or justice in the world, Detroit will Smash Phoenix. Which is what I resent most of all. The fact that I would prefer to see Detroit go Back to Back, rather than a new Champ is so disheartening to me.

This whole thing makes me sick.

I am a Bad sport, I don't like this and I am Pouting.

With that being said...

This is a game of Wills. Nothing complex about this. If Phoenix is allowed to get out and run... They Win.
If Detroit is allow to pount the boards, they win.

The key for anyone playing Phoenix is not to fall in love with their game. That is when they kill you. You can't get into a 3 pt shoot out with them. Whether you are hot or not, whether they are cold or not. You can't do it.

To beat them, you have to POUND the Basketball Inside. And they know that. That is why they sit in a Zone. And in some cases pack the zone. They want you to fall in love with that 3. Cause the second you start missing it, you are dead.

Which is what makes Detroit interesting. They actually have the Size to Attack the Zone from the middle. I mean all they have to do is get decent shot up and they should have a lot of rebounding opportunities. Plus be able to get Taylor and/or DT in foul trouble.

Somebody Let me know how it turns out... I'm gonna go Do Laundry for the week.

 

[Airfoil]

I don't know that I consider myself a "mature" sports fan; I guess, when it comes down to it, I just don't feel that strongly about any team in the WNBA other than the Monarchs... I mainly became a WNBA fan because I'm a basketball junkie, and any basketball, at any level, beats the hell out of anything that ain't basketball. I don't think there are any players in the league that I actively root against, with the possible exception of Margo Dydek, and that's mostly because it really annoys me that someone who could (and should, in my opinion) be the most dominant player in the WNBA is so damned passive. And, I guess I don't like Nykesha Sales, either, mostly because I still have hard feelings over that stunt she pulled at UConn to break that record...

Ha! This is almost exactly how I feel, with the exception of the Sales thing.

I think this should be an entertaining series and I can't wait to see how it plays out. I'm really curious to see how this Phoenix team will respond to being in the finals. They seem to be firing on all cylinders, but will they have the required intensity level to handle Detroit? This series has the potential to be a classic...

Oh, and I'll be rooting for Phoenix.

 

[VF21]

"you can't beat up what you can't catch?"

Have you ever seen Deanna Nolan?

We beat Phoenix twice this year, the second time by 30 points. We set a franchise record by dropping 111 points on them.

Not saying they don't have a chance, but wow...

I'm a firm believer in this: You also can't run unless you can rebound the ball.

So are you really a Shock fan, Kstat? Or are you just a Pistons fan who happens to be rooting for the Shock now that they're in the finals? I ask solely because I've never seen you post any kind of comments in a WNBA-related thread before.

 

[uncommonclay]

Cheering for Phoenix too ...

Oh, and I'll be rooting for Phoenix.

As much as Taurasi's arrogance rubs me the wrong way ... the Shock's arrogant thuggery rubs me way even wronger, yuck! ... I don't want them to go to 3X WNBA title holder status ... I want the M's to be able to tie them next year at 2X ...

I would have liked Indiana - and Catch - to knock off DET already, but it didn't happen ...

Plus, I like An Meyers, but grew tired of her announcing, (blah, bla, blah, Lisa Leslie this, Lisa Leslie that ...) now I can cheer for her again as a GM ...

I hope I don't have to watch, or listen live on the computer again ... !

 

[Kstat]

jeez...some of you guys are bitter over 2006....

 

[Kstat]

So are you really a Shock fan, Kstat? Or are you just a Pistons fan who happens to be rooting for the Shock now that they're in the finals? I ask solely because I've never seen you post any kind of comments in a WNBA-related thread before.

I've been a shock fan since Laimbeer took over in 2003. It was the equivalent to when the Pistons did away with the teal in 2002. I love the fact he turned the otherwise-prissy world of women's basketball upside-down and added some physical machismo to it. Now teams like Connecticut can't finesse their way through a season with soft players without being knocked on their butts.

Th Lieberman-Clown days with Jennifer Azzi were utterly terrible. They both killed any chance of the WNBA creating fans in Detroit during the early years. The team was ready to move to San Antonio before Laimbeer saved it.

 

[Luv13fan]

jeez...some of you guys are bitter over 2006....

You Bet....

But I can at least say that Detroit hung tough and earned it. Or WE gave it away. I am bitter because we lost. I thought we should have been back to back champs. And in many ways, this should show us how precious it is to take advantage of opportunities when we have them. Cause nothing is promised.

Detroit is smug. They are rough, and they are very much the embodiment of their coach. Some say borderline Dirty. Does Bill Whine??? Ohhh Yeah. Is he a brute??? No doubt. He does make for a great antagonist.
But I can say this... Nobody gives this team anything. They take it. They have a goal and they do whateva they have to do to achieve their goal. Bill is also a great salesman. He is sold on his talent, and his system and he sells his players. I can at least respect that about them.

Doesn't make me any less Bitter tho

 

[Purple Reign]

jeez...some of you guys are bitter over 2006....

I can't stand Detroit because of Bill Laimbeer alone, even more than us "handing" them a title last season. His arrogant pompous *** has rubbed off onto a group of dignified women. He is straight up manipulating those ladies, because he knows that crap would not fly in the NBA. Sure they are winning, but they have sold their athletic soul to "Satan" in order to do so.

I saw a piece on Real Sports on HBO about the Shock, and they talked with Ford, Nolan and I believe Pierson and you can tell that they hate that guy but they are too classy to say it. Laimbeer wants to control the game from the sideline and the press conference room and manipulate everybody that stands in his way. Why? Because he believes that he is bigger than the WNBA.

I'm sorry I hope that Phoenix smacks Detroit all up and down the court, and I will be very disappointed if it doesn't go down like that. Because it's karma baby.......God said, "whatsoever a man sews, that shall he also reap", and i hope it is time to reap for one Bill Laimbeer.






(do I sound bitter enough )

 

[Kstat]

But I can say this... Nobody gives this team anything. They take it. They have a goal and they do whateva they have to do to achieve their goal. Bill is also a great salesman. He is sold on his talent, and his system and he sells his players. I can at least respect that about them.

That's really all you have to respect.

I'm not saying they are a likable group of girls, Laimbeer learned long ago the only people you need the approval of is your hometown.

And yeah, they're well aware the rest of the WNBA hates them because they don't play skirt-ball. That's what gets them motivated to come out every night and crush the opponent.