I totally agree with you JD. Taurasi is becoming more thug-like and she does constantly whine to the refs. She hammered Chelsea early in the game, which I thought should have been a flagrant. And she was not happy with Chelsea's constant hand in her face. She still got her shots though. Her jawing with Kara towards the end was just stupid. Kara was also talking to the ref during her free throws. I'm hoping the league will review the tape. That kind of play is totally uncalled for. And their letting that kind of play continue is dangerous to all players.
Here's the Bee article:
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/13465436p-14306422c.html
Monarchs continue to run hot
They equal the best record in the WNBA, but Kara Lawson is hurt late in the game.
By Debbie Arrington -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Wednesday, August 24, Story appeared in Sports section, Page C1
Another night produced another milestone for the playoff-bound Monarchs. But with the gain came one more troublesome injury.
In their final home game of the regular season, the Monarchs turned back the Phoenix Mercury 76-70 on Tuesday night at Arco Arena. The victory tied Western Conference champion Sacramento with the East-leading Connecticut Sun for the best record in the WNBA at 24-8.
But in the closing five seconds, Monarchs guard Kara Lawson suffered a freak injury to her left shoulder that will sideline her for the team's final two road games and maybe more.
"We just hope to get her back for the playoffs," Monarchs coach John Whisenant said.
Lawson, who scored 11 points, felt her shoulder pop while she was guarding Diana Taurasi and crumbled to the court in pain. After examination, team doctors termed Lawson's injury a sublexation - not a dislocation, as first feared.
The setback put a damper on an otherwise happy Fan Appreciation Night. In another spectacular performance, Yolanda Griffith notched her seventh double double of the season with 25 points and 10 rebounds. To chants of "MVP" from the Arco crowd of 8,932, the All-Star center thanked the fans for doing their part in helping the Monarchs to a league-best 15-2 home record - a first for the franchise.
"It's a great feeling," she said of the accomplishment. "When we saw Connecticut was losing, we knew we couldn't slack."
Phoenix (16-16) made it tough with four players in double figures, topped by Taurasi's 19 points. But on defense, the Monarchs forced Taurasi into a career-high nine turnovers - tying the worst performance by any WNBA player this year.
"Credit Sacramento," Phoenix coach Carrie Graf said. "Their pressure defense is a trademark."
In the race for the league's best overall record, the Indiana Fever did the Monarchs a favor by beating the Sun 69-63 in Connecticut - the Sun's third loss at home this season. Connecticut finishes its schedule by hosting the 15-17 Washington Mystics on Friday, then traveling to cellar-dweller Charlotte (5-27) on Saturday. That may seem easy, but both the Mystics and Sting won Tuesday.
Connecticut holds the tiebreaker over Sacramento, so the Monarchs need to win out while hoping the Mystics or Sting can pull an upset to clinch the best overall record and home-court advantage in a potential championship finals meeting.
In the West, the Los Angeles Sparks stayed in the playoff hunt with a 74-63 win over the Minnesota Lynx. The Sparks are now tied with Phoenix for fourth and the last playoff berth, but the Mercury holds the tiebreaker.
Needing a combination of two wins and/or L.A. losses to clinch a postseason berth, the Mercury decided to save one of its key starters for its final home game Thursday against the Houston Comets. Forward Penny Taylor, who averages 13.6 points, stayed in Phoenix to nurse a bruised left calf. Lisa Harrison, who came out of retirement for the Mercury earlier this summer, started in Taylor's absence.
"I think Phoenix is against the wall," Monarchs guard Ticha Penicheiro said. "They're trying to make the playoffs and we already have that. We still hope to get the best record in the league."
As MBF said, when Dr Eric Heiden (in the background) comes running onto the court, it's not a good thing.
I'm sure the Taurasi fans are saying shes just a tough player. Well, tough and dirty are two different things. Her attitude of arrogance and holier-than-thou are not good for this league.
