Monarchs/Sparks Game #2 pregame comments

6th

6th

Homer Fan Since 1985
#1
#1
Okay, lets get this started in advance of Game 2. What do the Monarchs need to do to knock the dang Sparks out?

DIE SPARKS SCUM!!!


P.S. Someone please start a game-time thread for Sunday's game in case members want to gather here. The chat room will not be available on Sunday due to technical difficulties. Our dear Variant, who provides our channel, will be working on the problem and will hopefully get our channel up and running again soon.

P.P.S. I will probably miss the game here, but will catch it at my mom's house (meaning I will probably not be online til after the game).
 
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Monty'sBiggestFan

Monty'sBiggestFan

Starter
#2
#2
MBF's keys to winning game 2 (and/or the series)

(1) Stay relentless on the boards. - Somebody needs to seal off Christie Thomas, she was getting waaaaaaaaaaaay too many putbacks early. They certainly don't need to let Leslie near a rebound either. Make their guards do the bulk of the rebounding.

(2) Continue to communicate defensively. Kara said their goal was to not give up easy baskets. They did a heckuva job at that last night. They need to make the Sparks work and to not let them run in transition. If they do try to run, the M's need to continue to do what they did last night and do a heckuva job on their transition defense. Keep talking and helping each other on defense.

(3) Tighten up your half court execution. Somebody other than a foward needs to be ready, willing and able to shoot the damn ball inside 10 seconds on the shot clock. They only had 2 REALLY bad offensive half court possessions last night where they absolutely looked unable to read the defense and get the ball into somebody's hands who would shoot it. Since I don't think LA will hover around a shooting percentage of under 30% for a long stretch of the next game(s) the M's need to make the most of their possessions. Take care of the damn ball, and shoot it when you have a damn open shot and you've worked the ball around to get it. Don't get sloppy, don't get tentative.

(4) Keep up their poise, energy and intensity. That's the one thing they did not do last year in the WCF game 2. And things are going to get weird down south (if you catch my cynical drift) so they are going to need to play through A LOT of crap to get to where they want to be.

(5) Keep DeMya focused and harness her abundance of energy. #22, do what you are capable of doing, don't force things. You were magnificent last night - continue to play smarter and focused.

(6) Now that they've found the REAL Tangela Smith, somebody keep an eye on her so she does not disappear.

(7)Bench needs to continue to score and contribute. Continue to bring the defensive energy and intensity and all, but y'all also need to start finding your offense again. You are our X-factor in this series. The Sparks can't counter with anything remotely close to the M's bench. To advance, the bench needs to come strong and hard and with some points. (Side Memo to Chantelle Anderson: Girl, you are going to have to dig down DEEP and find some remnants of the game you used to have against your old SEC foe Christie Thomas - do NOT let her school you like you used to school her any more this series...do you hear me?!?!?!?)

(8) Bring it.....play like a team that has no intention of losing two straight

(9) Bring it.....play like a team that wants it more than LA

(10) Bring it...play like a team that has higher aspirations than winning game 1.
 
6th

6th

Homer Fan Since 1985
#3
#3
Dang, MBF, did you leave any comments for anyone else? ;) As usual, you have covered the bases.

#1. Absolutely agreed. The biggest key to winning the series.

#2. Good defense will hinder L.A. (read...LL) and keep them out of their game. Play your defense smart. Ticky-tack foul calls are possible/probable in L.A.

#3. Execution from EVERYONE is necessary.

#4. Could not agree more.

#5. Yes. DeMya, focus on your game, not on revenge against Leslie (even if she deserves it).

#6. Keep getting the ball to Tangela (as well as Yo).

#7. Our bench is crucial. We can keep our starters legs fresh (unlike L.A.) because we have the bench to win. Everyone needs to step up when called upon. Focus. Focus. Focus.

#8 - #10. Yes!!! Bring it....like the Champions you want to be.
 
Monty'sBiggestFan

Monty'sBiggestFan

Starter
#4
#4
I've got the game face on baby!! If I don't find something to occupy my attention for the next several hours I may come up with another list of things they better do to wrap this damn thing up.
 
Purple Reign

Purple Reign

Starter
#5
#5
Monty'sBiggestFan said:
MBF's keys to winning game 2 (and/or the series)


(2) Continue to communicate defensively. Kara said their goal was to not give up easy baskets. They did a heckuva job at that last night. They need to make the Sparks work and to not let them run in transition. If they do try to run, the M's need to continue to do what they did last night and do a heckuva job on their transition defense. Keep talking and helping each other on defense.

(4) Keep up their poise, energy and intensity. That's the one thing they did not do last year in the WCF game 2. And things are going to get weird down south (if you catch my cynical drift) so they are going to need to play through A LOT of crap to get to where they want to be.

(5) Keep DeMya focused and harness her abundance of energy. #22, do what you are capable of doing, don't force things. You were magnificent last night - continue to play smarter and focused. Did you see how she looked like she was going to die last night :D I was rolling in the aisles. She is such a drama queen.



(7)Bench needs to continue to score and contribute. Continue to bring the defensive energy and intensity and all, but y'all also need to start finding your offense again. You are our X-factor in this series. The Sparks can't counter with anything remotely close to the M's bench. To advance, the bench needs to come strong and hard and with some points. (Side Memo to Chantelle Anderson: Girl, you are going to have to dig down DEEP and find some remnants of the game you used to have against your old SEC foe Christie Thomas - do NOT let her school you like you used to school her any more this series...do you hear me?!?!?!?)
Click to expand...
I agree with mostly those three. Here are mine.


#11 - Ticha has to keep Nikki Teasley in front of her, and do not let her shoot over the top. Ticha's defensive intensity is huge for tommorrow. You know Teasley is going to get out and run.

#12 - Stay mentally focused in the first 5 minutes of the game. The Sparks are going to come out like gang busters. Do not get down on yourself if you fall behind early.

#13 - USE YOUR FOULS!!! outside of the post. You have 25 fouls between Yo, Tang, Walker, brunson, Anderson. Do not give Leslie easy buckets in the post. Meet her at the free throw line (i.e. vlade versus Shaq). Do not allow her to get deep in the block and front everytime down. Make her shoot jump shots.

#14 - Give Edna, Kara and Ruthie the green light to shoot, shoot, shoot. And everybody else pound the boards. If we miss early remember we are the best offensive rebounding team in the league, and LA knows it. They struggle keeping the Monarchs off of the glass. Leslie is always bringing it up.
 
HoopMatron

HoopMatron

Bench
#6
#6
#15 -- use the strength of the Monarchs' bench against the weakness of the Sparks' bench. There are only three players in uniform on the LA bench, and one of them is T-Spoon, who can't go for major minutes. Ticha blew past her last night. Attack the basket and get Thomas and Leslie in foul trouble early. Then go after Whitmore.

#16 -- to repeat: keep your composure and remember your objective. The Sparks are going to try to defeat you mentally, as well as physically. Don't let them.

GO MONARCHS!!!!!

HoopMatron
 
Monty'sBiggestFan

Monty'sBiggestFan

Starter
#8
#8
Man, I would LOVE it if the M's went out to hack Leslie all game. If they are going to get weird ticky-tack calls anyway (cynical Sally Bell or June Corteau alert) you may as well direct them with some purpose. Chantelle Anderson should have no other purpose than to hack the crap out of Thomas and Leslie. I saw the script with Yo and Tangela in foul trouble (see: game 3 of the 2001 WCF), that was ugly.

If they can keep Teasley distract that would be cool too. I think we've done relatively well letting Mabika go off, that double overtime shoulda have been in the W column for the Monarchs. Gawd I hope that game registered in their memory banks and they play smart basketball AND contained basketball in a close tight game, and that they remember they CAN come back late come back late from a deficit. No freak show half court shots at the end of the first half too.

Geeeez.....is it game time yet??!??!!??!??!?!?!?!?!?
 
slugking50

slugking50

All-Star
#9
#9
lol I was thinking of something to add but everybody pretty much covered all the bases. so.....



Narchs extinguish the Sparks!!!!!!


Lets finish them!!!!!!!
 
nancgo

nancgo

Bench
#11
#11
We know the refs will be calling more thngs against the Monarchs, and as was mentioned before, they need to focus on an intense, positive game. The Monarchs also need to remember they are one of only two teams that have won at Staples, soo.......


Staple the Sparks!!!!!!!
 
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