Monarchs @LA--game time thread

[Monty'sBiggestFan]

yuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck....it looked bad on TV, I didn't realize it was as bad in the stat book. If none of the guards are going to get hot then we can't for damn sure let Mabika go off.

 

[Still JD]

You're right, Rein. Edna was the only bright spot in the back court and Tan was the only bright spot in the front court. Looking at the glass-half-full they certainly have room to improve!

On a positive note, they did out rebound the Sparks40-34, 19 of those offensive.

 

[6th]

yeah. they certainly had a heeby jeeby look to them today. I'm going to try to avoid the box score, but I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that the Ms will not shoot as poorly as they did today on Tuesday, and somebody who does not play a forward/center position will score. Ticha, if you want to pull out one of your rare 10-15 pt games - go right ahead.

Well, MBF, since I have to check the box score in order to get results for the prediction game, I will just say this:

Monarchs, you can not beat the Sparks (or anyone else for that matter) by shooting 27% from the field and 63% from the FT line. Blech!!

Okay, my plan for game 3...all the suggestions in the other (game 2) thread plus:

1. Make your dang FT's. Anything less than 80% is unacceptable, particularly in the playoffs.

2. Do not let someone get hot from behind the arc. If Mabika starts hitting 3's then put someone on her that will stick like glue. She should never be left alone. Same goes for anyone who gets the hot hand.

3. Someone clothesline that b****, Dixon. Her showoff antics are embarassing. Get her out of there any way you have to. I admit it. I hate her much worse than any other Spark player....yes, that includes LL.

4. Focus...Focus...Focus

 

[ReinadelosReys]

Lots of room for improvemnt...but also keep in mind that they still had a very good chance to win. I guess we can take some solace in that.

 

[Still JD]

I didn't have the heart to listen to the post-game. I think what is most disheartening is that the Monarchs really had them back on their heels in Game #1. This game LA's back was against the wall and it was a perfect time to knock them off. Now they have their confidence/cockiness back and they are at home. The Monarchs really have to get their heads back in the game for Tuesday.

And 6th, amen to your list, especially #3 - Lisa is smug, but Dixon's a thug.

 

[6th]

Lots of room for improvemnt...but also keep in mind that they still had a very good chance to win. I guess we can take some solace in that.

Solace? Solace? Only when the Sacramento Monarchs blast the dang Sparks right out of the Staple center...and the playoffs.

 

[Monty'sBiggestFan]

27% from the field???????????? No wonder............... The FT $#%$# has got to stop. Period. There is no two ways about it. They did not have a problem Friday night with that.

I thought Brunson laid into Dixon, or at least got the best pick anybody's set on her in purple and black.

I'm not sure we can stop Mabika. And it looks like we really can't do anything with Christi Thomas now either. They've figured out what to do with Leslie (whether they can keep that up one more game remains to be seen).

Did their bench outscore our bench today?

 

[ReinadelosReys]

My keys to winning game 3:

1.Score more points than LA....It works in a lot of ways. Playing defense, making them play defesnse, not allowing them fast breaks, not allowing them to run out thus not allowing you to set up your defense.

2. Play with heart...no matter what happened.

3. Play with poise.

4. Channel all that anger/fustration/hurt/disappointment of losing the last couple of years into 40 min of true Monarch basketball.

5. No matter what, make us proud.

 

[ReinadelosReys]

Oh and if I hear one more announcer talk about "mental toughness" or getting over the hump, I am going to scream.

 

[ReinadelosReys]

27% from the field???????????? No wonder............... The FT $#%$# has got to stop. Period. There is no two ways about it. They did not have a problem Friday night with that.

I thought Brunson laid into Dixon, or at least got the best pick anybody's set on her in purple and black.

I'm not sure we can stop Mabika. And it looks like we really can't do anything with Christi Thomas now either. They've figured out what to do with Leslie (whether they can keep that up one more game remains to be seen).

Did their bench outscore our bench today?

What? Our bench played? ...no offense Brunson

 

[Still JD]

Did their bench outscore our bench today?

Our bench outscored them 9-7, BUT...since their bench is only Hodges, Whitmore and T-Spoon that is pretty embarrassing. Also, their bench was 3/6 and ours was 2/15. I'm getting more depressed the more I look at this.

 

[Monty'sBiggestFan]

I'm going along with you Rein, I didn't see the poise today that I saw on Friday.

If the guards don't show up we're sunk. I don't see how we beat them with another set of numbers like the ones the guards put up today. And I thought they could have been more involved than they were on Friday.

Make their FTs and shoot above 35%, and get contributions from everybody and scoring lead by the forwards - they send the Sparks packing. Anything less is same ol same ol.

The Sparks I don't think showed any swagger today. They looked like a team with its back against the wall and they were glad to have won. I'm interested to see how it goes on Tuesday and what their quotes are after today's game.

 

[Monty'sBiggestFan]

Sorry to have made you look at that JD....but it was that very disparity that made me ask because I couldn't think of anybody who came off the bench who scored but maybe Brunson and a shot by Lawson. So I kinda was surprised to see that we did in fact out score them.

That can't happen on Tuesday either. The bench needs to exert itself offensively and take full advantage of that. I would hope the post game quotes from the visiting lockerroom have something to do with "our shots just didn't fall today, we can't shoot this crappy Tuesday" or "we can't play as disjointed on Tuesday" "we had a chance and blew it, we aren't going to be denied on Tuesday"

 

[Still JD]

Actually I'm glad I looked MBF. And I hoped each Monarch looked and looked and looked. I have to agree with 6th about attitude. The Monarchs should take nothing positive out of this game and come out Tuesday with intensity, purpose and a little focused anger. They could have won. They should have won. They didn't. Now they have an opportunity (once again) to prove that they are worthy of what they are capable of.

 

[Monty'sBiggestFan]

Ooooooh no, they don't get off that easy.. ... They should be made to also watch from the point in the game where they had the Sparks in serious foul trouble and they were getting to the FT only to split pairs of FTs AND from the point in the game where they had climbed all the way back to within 1 of the Sparks and then resorted to doing dumb stuff instead of trying to do what they were capable of doing.

one last chance to grab some respect around the league. Go for the throat on Tuesday!!! Any bets as to whether or not the Sparks will distribute pregame flyers announcing ticket sales for the WCF?

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

I'm still trying to figure about what the hell happened; this game was ours to lose with four minutes left... which, of course, means that we had to lose it... four shots at the lead, and we give up an 18-5 run to close out the game? Three of their players with 5 fouls and five minutes to play, and we can't get one of them out? How did we go from playing so well to so horribly in the span of five minutes?

 

[slugking50]

: looks at his broken remote in pieces :



AHH So close but yet so far..........

We were this close[] UGH.... Well The Sparks were supposed to win this one anyway.....