Kara over Ticha at PG???

[Purple Reign]

I really liked what Kara did over the last two games.

12.0 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 6.5 APG, 9-9 FT and only 4 total turnovers averaging 36 mpg.

Those are solid, solid numbers from your floor general that I think could be sustained with more playing time. Not only the numbers, but...
the composure
the leadership
the stamina
the offensive threat
the penatration to the basket
and the not spetacular but solid defense.

I know now is not the time to be controversial heading into the playoffs, but my eyes were open for what can be in 2005, if Coach/GM "Whiz" would take a huge risk/gamble and go with Kara as the starting PG next year over arguably the franchise's most popular player.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Feh; as I recall, people were singing the same song at the end of last season... Personally, I think that, if the first eighteen or so games of this season taught us anything, it's that Kara isn't quite ready to start yet; she's too streaky as a shooter, and she's not reliable as a floor leader.

 

[6th]

Feh; as I recall, people were singing the same song at the end of last season... Personally, I think that, if the first eighteen or so games of this season taught us anything, it's that Kara isn't quite ready to start yet; she's too streaky as a shooter, and she's not reliable as a floor leader.

I agree with Slim. I liked Kara a lot last year, but this year I have spent too much time being frustrated by the way she played. She is not ready.

 

[Monty'sBiggestFan]

She looked better Sunday than I've seen her look running the team. I feel better about her running the team for 5-10 minutes a game than I have this season. Ticha still sees the floor better, still runs the team better. We need Lawson lighting up from the perimeter more than we need her starting over Ticha in the playoffs.

If I had to give Ticha up to get another scorer at the SG or SF position next season? I might feel more comfortable doing it if the Lawson we saw on Sunday is the one who would run the point here 2005. Lawson was outstanding Sunday night. Mendiola is a little taller than Lawson (she might be the same listed size as Ticha) - I'm intrigued at the potential there because I think we need to have a taller guard somewhere to take on Teasley, Bird and Taurasi in the West.

I'm ready for Whiz to make some bold moves next year to make this team stronger on the wing. This team should not have to work as hard as it did to score at the guard spot as it did this year. The defense was marginal there this year too. I see the comparison Whiz makes with this team and the Pistons, I get that and all, but I think he can get a team that can score consistently at the guard spot AND have a solid bench to go with a solid front line. Everybody else in the west upgraded there - even LA improved with the play they got from Macchi at the 2 guard when she sent Dixon to the bench.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

When Campbell was healthy, the defense was a little better than "marginal." As far as trading Penichero for a shooter/scorer? Only if we couldn't get rid of Walker first. I think that DeMaya probably still has enough trade value to ship her off; I'd like to see a Walker/Ferdinand trade (actually, I'd really like to see a Walker/Nolan trade, but I don't imagine that's likely to happen), with Maïga inserted into the starting SF spot for defensive purposes.

 

[slugking50]

Heyyyy... Leave Ticha alone. The ide of trading Ticha is crazy talk. Im sure theres another way to improve other then that aweful idea....lol

 

[DWalkfan22]

Heyyyy... Leave Ticha alone. The ide of trading Ticha is crazy talk. Im sure theres another way to improve other then that aweful that.lol

ditto, but include DeMya in the sentence, that's a lil harsh to wanna trade her just cuz she playin a few bad games. If she leaves y'all are goin to miss her, cuz not only is she a good basketball player, shes also a great person.

 

[Purple Reign]

If I had to give Ticha up to get another scorer at the SG or SF position next season? I might feel more comfortable doing it if the Lawson we saw on Sunday is the one who would run the point here 2005.

I agree with that 100 percent. If "Whiz" could trade Ticha and receive another offensive threat, and allow Lawson to man the point, I would feel totally comfortable with that. This is for 2005. I am not suggesting that Lawson should start in the playoffs. I do believe that without a scoring, slashing, TP in the playoffs, the Monarchs are doomed.

 

[hoopsfan]

"I do believe that without a scoring, slashing, TP in the playoffs, the Monarchs are doomed."

Then it looks like you believe the Monarchs are doomed. She hasn't been much of a scorer or slasher this season.

 

[RDub21]

I'd like to see a Walker/Ferdinand trade

What type of injury did Marie have this season? Don't you think that San Antonio would want more than DeMya straight up in a trade for her?

 

[ReinadelosReys]

I heard Kara the other day (yesterday) I think on the radio and she that he natural position is PG. That she has played it her whole life, it was just in her last years in college she was called upon to score, and when she was drafted, she was called upon to play SG and only some back-up PG.

Walker-Ferdinand?....Though, my trade bait has usually been Anderson, I'd do that in a heart beat and keep Anderson for the future. I think I like the look of in a maybe 2 or 3 seasons a front line with Anderson and Brunson as the anchors.

 

[Purple Reign]

I heard Kara the other day (yesterday) I think on the radio and she that he natural position is PG. That she has played it her whole life, it was just in her last years in college she was called upon to score, and when she was drafted, she was called upon to play SG and only some back-up PG.

http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/v-print/story/10842375p-11760155c.html

Penicheiro won't miss opener



By Debbie Arrington -- Bee Staff Writer - (Published September 23, 2004)

Sore toe or not, Ticha Penicheiro definitely will play Friday when the Monarchs host the Los Angeles Sparks in their first-round opener.



"This is the playoffs; no way am I sitting out," the Monarchs' point guard said after practicing Wednesday.



Penicheiro missed Sunday's regular-season finale - the only time she's been absent from the starting lineup all year - after spraining her left foot while going for a rebound Saturday night in the Monarchs' playoff-clinching victory over the Houston Comets.



"It was one of those freaky kind of things," she said. "Instead of rolling my ankle, I rolled my big toe and part of my foot. It still hurts, but as long as I can withstand the pain, I'll play."



With 1,442 assists, Penicheiro ranks as the WNBA's all-time leader. But for the first time since she joined the Monarchs in 1998, she didn't end the season with the league's highest assist average, ending a string of six consecutive years at the top. Penicheiro (4.9) finished fourth. Los Angeles' Nikki Teasley (6.1), who will be playing opposite Penicheiro on Friday, took the title.



This season, Penicheiro became a more confident shooter, averaging six points a game. That includes a career-high 23 three-pointers while shooting 33.8 percent from long range.



"Ticha's been playing better than any time since I've been here," coach John Whisenant said. "She and Yolanda Griffith are the leaders on this team, and they've been playing like it."



As he has all season, Whisenant can count on Kara Lawson for help at the point when Penicheiro needs a rest. Lawson subbed for Penicheiro in Sunday's 72-63 victory over the playoff-bound Minnesota Lynx and had one of the best games of her two-year career with 17 points and eight assists.



"But she had to play almost the entire game," Whisenant said of Lawson's 37-minute stint. "She hardly got a breather. We really need both Ticha and Kara."



One of Sacramento's best outside shooters with 51 three-pointers, Lawson averages 8.6 points a game, third-best on the team behind Griffith (14.5) and Tangela Smith (11.2).



Lawson, who started nine games at shooting guard this season, said she feels most comfortable at point, a position she played four years at women's college basketball powerhouse Tennessee.



"It's actually harder for me to play (shooting guard)," Lawson said. "I've been playing point almost my whole life."

 

[Purple Reign]

I think that the more playing time Kara receives at the point the more comfortable she feels, the more consistant she becomes. This is not a let's run Ticha out of Sacramento sentiment (even though I do have my own opinions about her that I will keep to myself). I just feel that Kara Lawson next year will be a third year professional, who is ready to start right now. She is a natural point guard, she is a scoring point guard. She is a point guard who can distribute the ball yet at the same time can create and hit her own shot. And Ticha can get you something in return that can truely help your squad. If Whisnant keeps her, I am down with that. But I think the Monarchs can improve alot if they went with Lawson in 2005.

 

[Monty'sBiggestFan]

Ferdinand dislocated a shoulder or an elbow, I can't remember which, I just know it was not a pretty sight for those who saw it happen. I'm not sure if San Ant. would trade her straight up, that was a hard team to figure out this year and they are even harder to figure out now that Dee Brown is gone.

They made the single most goofy trade of the season so who knows if they'd move Ferdinand for Anderson, Smith or Walker. Before she got hurt, Ferdinand was not playing typical Ferdinand type basketball - which may or may not be related to Brown. She should be their centerpiece and if they can get PeeWee to have a solid PeeWee type season next year they've got as formidable a lineup as Phoenix does. Which I think is why I was so stunned that they went as south as they did. Johnson, Ferdinand and Thomas is pretty darn solid. If Goody does retire, they've got a hole at the 4....(they can shift Thomas down to the 3 or leave Thomas as their PF and draft a Jacqueline Batteast,Monique Curry or Tan White to play a SF spot) or they can make a run at Chamique(if she is on the outs or is a FA).

I'm not ready to run Ticha out of town either, I am however much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much more open to the idea of parting with some folks I used to consider untouchable before if it makes this team as formidable as it should be with the talent it has.

 

[Purple Reign]

I am however much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much more open to the idea of parting with some folks I used to consider untouchable before if it makes this team as formidable as it should be with the talent it has.

Would that be Ticha? I do agree with that. For too long, we here in Sacramento have been so attached to the hip to certain players, I think to the detrement to the team. Hedo Turkoglu and Scot Pollard comes to mind. Also Jason Williams. I think moving Ticha would be an absolute positive, IF AND ONLY IF we could get the SF this team has been looking for since the beginning of its existance.

 

[Monty'sBiggestFan]

I would say that is Ticha OR Tangela for me. The first domino to put in place at the end of the season is inking Yo for two more years - her contract ends when the Monarchs season ends. I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that there will be some interest in her outside of Sacramento. (Some limb huh? ) If they re-sign Yo, I'm very comfortable saying good bye to Tangela, with Brunson waiting in the wings. (A Brunson who can use the backboard more that is - where did her mid/outside range go????). They seem to be enamored with DeMya to the point that the offense flows through her towards Yo. I'd give Yo Tangela's money for two years. Campbell and Bolton can come back for a final year and share the minutes as ball hawk. Ticha, I still have a hard time moving, because I think she also is the best defensive point guard in the league (although that distinction may be challenged by Beard in the not too distant future). But if Washington offered me Chamique for her straight up I'd do that deal and not blink.

Mendiola's gotta get some minutes next year. She shot 50% from the floor in college, in the minutes she's gotten in the W, she still is shooting 50%. We've got more depth at the 1 (conceivably) than we've ever had. And that we can slide her and Lawson to the 2? We aren't going to be hurting next year. We just need a solid scorer at the 3. If Maiga develops a 3pt shot, that'll be gravy. She already is perfecting her mid range.

 

[Purple Reign]

To me Kara just seems more comfortable with the ball in her hands. That is why I would be reuctant to slide her to the two. But if you don't move Ticha, than whatever it takes to get her on the floor in the starting lineup. As far as parting with Tangela. That would be more difficult than parting with Ticha. She plays with heart and does not make many mistakes. Brunson's time will definately come. She is a player!!