Ditto on what Slim said...Bekkah's on the bench because of depth reasons and because she hasn't played herself off it yet. I seem to recall her having a starting job last year and it turning into an Erin Buescher MIP and DeMya's accelerated return. She should see more minutes, but no reason to be miffed that she's not starting.
I'm going to suggest grading across the course of the weekend instead of based on one game. What stood out for me in the preseason game I had visual on was that Haynie looked better than she did last season on both ends of the floor. Ticha I thought for someone who rolled off a plane from Russia (doubt it was a direct flight too) got in one practice and then hit the rotation, she wasn't that bad. The turnovers from her and Haynie I thought had more to do with introducing new people (in Ticha's case it was HER and OTHER new people
) into the mix. I don't believe Williams practiced when she got to Sacramento, she sat in Seattle for precautionary reasons. So while Saturday's practice was a reunion of sorts, it also was a "how do we fit into this offense" workshop.
Powell had a fantastic game in limited minutes on Friday, so her overall grade should get a bump. I join the disappointment that the "I'd rather pass the ball than shoot" Powell reared her head, overall she was cool.
LaTangela, the dribbling was a weird problem. Sorta like Bekkah's ability to hit point blank shots after opening day. It got to the point that I was kinda hoping she wouldn't have to touch the ball for a while or if she did have to touch it that she wouldn't have to dribble it. But coach got to her quickly before she could get down, and I give coach tremendous kudos for that. I guess I'm basing my INC grade on her on her torching us in the game we played in Indy last season and from what I saw of her as a collegian. We had no answer for her or Tan White that day. I believe it may have been a day we didn't even have to contend with Catchings and still had a rough time. With the Lady Tarheels- that team the last 4 or so years was built to run, defend, rebound, run, defend, and perhaps I'll add run to that list. LaTangela essentially unselfishly did the dirty work on that team. LaTangela is a defender who you perhaps will also get some scoring from too, sorta like Chelsea circa 2005. LaTangela had 4pts 3rebs and a steal in 11minutes (3 turnovers) against Seattle. If you reduce the turnovers next week, I'm kinda cool with those numbers for now.
Kim Smith...she looked better in the open practice. If you want to compare effectiveness, Smith was part of the group on the floor when the Monarchs made their final run at Phx in the 4th, she was subbed out when they had reduced the deficit to 3. She still doesn't do anything to make you notice her, but she doesn't really hurt you when she's in the game most of the time, and I thought during the charge the Monarchs made to take over that game on Sunday, she grabbed an important rebound. Her numbers in the Phx game were similar to Robinson's and Wells, except both of them scored and Smith didn't have a turnover. The difference was that Smith was on the floor during the drive to overtake Phx. Since she wasn't scoring, I'm guessing she was defensively effective.
Somebody's going to join Brittney on the bench in street clothes out of the Smith and Atkinson duo (I have a hard time thinking a guard will sit). So they'll get an opportunity to improve rotating on and off the practice squad.
All in all, I walked away from ARCO on Sunday giddy as all get out because the game was exciting, the game allowed coach to actually "coach" a close tight game instead of the 4th quarter Seattle shooting practice the game on Friday became. And I DEFINITELY could see a marked improvement from the team from half to half and their executive defensively and offensively got better by about the middle of the 3rd q. Had they gotten blown out, I might be wringing my hands a lil bit more than I am. They've got
a lotta work to do between now and Saturday, but I at least saw that they could figure out how to put some things together quickly, hopefully they can build on that.
