Monarchs vs Mercury comments
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Well, it sounded like the Monarchs dominated the 2nd half. They went from a 1 pt lead at half-time to a final score of 73-61.
Once again, it was a team effort. Leader in assists was off the bench, Chelsea with 4. And, the leader in steals was off the bench, Erin with 3.
The team defense is really coming through. It seems that the M's are doing a great job shutting down the opponents best player. Tonight, Taurasi had only 13 pts, and was forced into 7 T.O.'s. Penny Taylor had a great game, but I will take that. One player cannot beat the M's.
Okay, the Sacramento Monarchs are now 6-1. I am greedy. Let's go down to L.A. tomorrow night and kick some Sparks booty. 7-1 has a very nice ring to it. And, to think that 1 loss was by only 1 pt.
I really like what the Monarchs are doing. They are exuding confidence and it looks great!!
Once again, it was a team effort. Leader in assists was off the bench, Chelsea with 4. And, the leader in steals was off the bench, Erin with 3.
The team defense is really coming through. It seems that the M's are doing a great job shutting down the opponents best player. Tonight, Taurasi had only 13 pts, and was forced into 7 T.O.'s. Penny Taylor had a great game, but I will take that. One player cannot beat the M's.
Okay, the Sacramento Monarchs are now 6-1. I am greedy. Let's go down to L.A. tomorrow night and kick some Sparks booty. 7-1 has a very nice ring to it. And, to think that 1 loss was by only 1 pt.
I really like what the Monarchs are doing. They are exuding confidence and it looks great!!
For some reason I am still surprised that the M's are winning. I don't think I should be, but I am still taken back a bit at the record, the defense, heck, the offense! It sets us up for one heck of a season or a great fall. I have renewed basketball optimism , so what a ride this is setting out to be!
, so what a ride this is setting out to be! 
The T on DeMya was totally her fault, from what I could tell.....She had just been fouled under the Monarchs basket, and they called it. She started jawing at the refs, and they called the T. She should have just kept her mouth shut. She had a few teammates talking her down and away from the refs.....Granted she did get mugged, but it was near the end of the game and it was really unnecessary. It really irritates me when the players continually whine to the refs after the call is made, and keep at it. C'mon just play, they're not going to change their minds......The same thing happened to Taurasi.....Chelsea was playing great defense on her, and she kept whining to the refs, and they finally got tired of it and T'd her up....
A few more comments.....Let's see how many open 3's Penny Taylor can hit....Oh my goodness....no one was guarding her!!!! DeMya slacked off of her, and Nicole worked on her a little. Let's hear it for Chelsea! She's the reason Taurasi had a lower than usual scoring night. And boy did she complain to the refs all night about it. Ticha made a couple of shots!!!! wahoo! Yo was Yo....The bench came in and did a great job of getting this team back into the game. Erin, Tanty, Rebecca, Kristin, Miao....They brought in a LOT of hustle. It was great to see that....We know we have a deep bench so the starters can get a breather. Nicole didn't seem to really be much of a threat....She had alot of open looks, but wouldn't take the shot. As did Chelsea, but I'll take her defense any time. And, I'm not so sure Kara would've been able to stay on Taurasi like Chelsea did. But I suspect Whiz would've put Ticha on Taurasi and Kara on DeForge.
Anyway, very exciting, and the usual weird officiating. Also, A Greg Ostertag sighting.....They had him sign a basketball, then he threw it up into the stands....His little girl was very shy, and hid behind him when he showed her the jumbotron....it was very cute.....
Anyway, very exciting, and the usual weird officiating. Also, A Greg Ostertag sighting.....They had him sign a basketball, then he threw it up into the stands....His little girl was very shy, and hid behind him when he showed her the jumbotron....it was very cute.....
This was a weird looking game. As I suspected, I continue to be very glad there was no Penny Taylor or Plenette Pierson in our first meeting. Considering we were giving up the farm to Taurasi and DeForge, giving up additional points to those two could have sunk us that game.
The defense is downright nasty when it wants to be. Just nasty. I thought that Carrie Graf helped us out by keeping Lisa Harrison on the floor as long as she did in the 2nd half. That allowed Whiz to take Powell off Taylor and let her guard Harrison and put DeMya and any other better defender off the bench on Taylor. That defensive switch eventually cooled Taylor down. Powell's night was very weird too, it almost looked like she did not want to shoot the ball tonight until she got the two or three clean looks that she got.
Haynie again got the gold star for hustle play. The dive to the floor to rip the ball away from a Mercury player AND pass it off to a streaking Buescher was brilliant and brought the house down. Major props to the bench, coach needed them tonight and they responded with a great game from each and every one of them.
Whiz even looked to have gotten up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. He was in full rant mode for most of the game. Didn't surprise me that he would get a T tonight. I believe it was the 2nd time out he called early in the first half, he was giving coach T an earful about something that did not appear to be happening right on the defensive end of the floor and he nearly spent the entire timeout in a very one-sided animated "conversation" with him before he went to talk to the team. Once he got over to talk to the team, he started laying into them too. But it appeared he got whatever point it was he was vehemently trying to make across because they played considerably better after that time out.
I saw this highlighted in another thread, but I was very happy to see Ruthie in the house tonight and to have her agree to sign on with the front office. It was nice to see the team get a chance to catch up with her after the post game huddle/t-shirt throw.
Great start, get the W in LA and let's get back to business at ARCO!!
The defense is downright nasty when it wants to be. Just nasty. I thought that Carrie Graf helped us out by keeping Lisa Harrison on the floor as long as she did in the 2nd half. That allowed Whiz to take Powell off Taylor and let her guard Harrison and put DeMya and any other better defender off the bench on Taylor. That defensive switch eventually cooled Taylor down. Powell's night was very weird too, it almost looked like she did not want to shoot the ball tonight until she got the two or three clean looks that she got.
Haynie again got the gold star for hustle play. The dive to the floor to rip the ball away from a Mercury player AND pass it off to a streaking Buescher was brilliant and brought the house down. Major props to the bench, coach needed them tonight and they responded with a great game from each and every one of them.
Whiz even looked to have gotten up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. He was in full rant mode for most of the game. Didn't surprise me that he would get a T tonight. I believe it was the 2nd time out he called early in the first half, he was giving coach T an earful about something that did not appear to be happening right on the defensive end of the floor and he nearly spent the entire timeout in a very one-sided animated "conversation" with him before he went to talk to the team. Once he got over to talk to the team, he started laying into them too. But it appeared he got whatever point it was he was vehemently trying to make across because they played considerably better after that time out.
I saw this highlighted in another thread, but I was very happy to see Ruthie in the house tonight and to have her agree to sign on with the front office. It was nice to see the team get a chance to catch up with her after the post game huddle/t-shirt throw.
Great start, get the W in LA and let's get back to business at ARCO!!
Your right DeMya came out semi swinging after being fouled. That had to be one of the hardest games to watch. Too many terrible calls, especially the charges. Pierson must have flopped 4 times. On the positive side...We WON! C. Newton did a fantastic job on Taurasi...she frustrated her all night. I like the way Coach changed up the direction, Monarchs on offense on the Mercury side in the 2nd half.
Overall a great night for the fans. Ruthie was there....some tears , lots of applause & love for our long time Monarch!! L.A on Sat.!!
Overall a great night for the fans. Ruthie was there....some tears , lots of applause & love for our long time Monarch!! L.A on Sat.!!
That was a very tough, physical game. I thought the crowd might get a technical when the refs erred on the over-and-back call, which the replay clearly showed was wrong. Luckily, Phoenix wasn't able to turn that into any points.
The main thing that bothers me about the game was that the Monarchs reverted to the 2004 style of play -- all inside with no perimeter play. C'mon ladies! Taking those shots from outside will open up the inside game. Nicole, don't make us all start thinking about that former Stanford player who wouldn't shoot.
That said, there is not a better bench in the WNBA. This team is so deep, and all the players seem to acknowledge their role and accept it. I'm sure knowing that the minutes are going to be spread around well helps. And the rookies are terrific! I can't remember a second-round draft pick stepping it up like Chelsea has. The praise for her defensive game was NOT an understatement -- the woman can shut down Taurasi, even getting into her head.
One of my seatmates remarked that Ticha has stepped up her game this year. I agree with that. There isn't a remarkable increase to her shooting, but she's more confident, she takes the shot on the drive instead of passing it off a bit more often, and she has worked on that troublesome free throw shooting. Way to go, Ticha! The lack of assists last night was due to the major emphasis on inside shooting, where assists don't happen.
I loved that Ruthie was there, that she is going to be part of the team and that right after the game and the hand-slapping with the other team (in which Taurasi did not participate), the players ran over and hugged and kissed Ruthie and dragged her onto the court. If ever a jersey needed to be retired, #6 should be it, and sometime this season.
I've got my fingers crossed for tonight's game. LA has had several days off to regroup from their last two losses. The Monarchs just need to get into the shooting groove, and continue to excel defensively.
Is it 7:30 yet? GO MONARCHS!!!!!
HoopMatron
The main thing that bothers me about the game was that the Monarchs reverted to the 2004 style of play -- all inside with no perimeter play. C'mon ladies! Taking those shots from outside will open up the inside game. Nicole, don't make us all start thinking about that former Stanford player who wouldn't shoot.
That said, there is not a better bench in the WNBA. This team is so deep, and all the players seem to acknowledge their role and accept it. I'm sure knowing that the minutes are going to be spread around well helps. And the rookies are terrific! I can't remember a second-round draft pick stepping it up like Chelsea has. The praise for her defensive game was NOT an understatement -- the woman can shut down Taurasi, even getting into her head.
One of my seatmates remarked that Ticha has stepped up her game this year. I agree with that. There isn't a remarkable increase to her shooting, but she's more confident, she takes the shot on the drive instead of passing it off a bit more often, and she has worked on that troublesome free throw shooting. Way to go, Ticha! The lack of assists last night was due to the major emphasis on inside shooting, where assists don't happen.
I loved that Ruthie was there, that she is going to be part of the team and that right after the game and the hand-slapping with the other team (in which Taurasi did not participate), the players ran over and hugged and kissed Ruthie and dragged her onto the court. If ever a jersey needed to be retired, #6 should be it, and sometime this season.
I've got my fingers crossed for tonight's game. LA has had several days off to regroup from their last two losses. The Monarchs just need to get into the shooting groove, and continue to excel defensively.
Is it 7:30 yet? GO MONARCHS!!!!!
HoopMatron
TO's have been an issue for the Monarchs this season. Maybe because of so many new players. Assists have been down the last couple of games, I think. The Monarchs are getting enough on offense, but it sure doesn't look pretty or smooth some of the time. The first half last night was tough to watch. On the other hand, when they put their mind to it (after C Whiz laid into them) their defense is a wonder to behold. They remind me of the Pistons.
Sui Feifei got hurt in the preseason and hasn't been able to play yet. I haven't heard any recent word on a timetable for her to get in the game.
Maio's defense seems to get better every game. I like her hustle and effort out there. She didn't seem to want to take a shot last night. I know her shots, especially her 3-pointer, haven't be falling for her. That must be hard for her, considering how good her shooting was in China. I suspect its a matter of confidence and getting comfortable out there.
On the whole, tho, I really like this team.
Diana Taurasi is a great player, but she argued every single call. Not just calls against here, but calls against her teammates. At one point near the end, I was so tired of it I just hollered "SHUT UP Diana!"
Chelsea is a fabulous defender. Diana got 13 points and most of those were at the very end of the game.
I must say I had a bad few moments when Yo went down. Whew!
And yes, major props to Ticha on her improved free-throw shooting.
Sui Feifei got hurt in the preseason and hasn't been able to play yet. I haven't heard any recent word on a timetable for her to get in the game.
Maio's defense seems to get better every game. I like her hustle and effort out there. She didn't seem to want to take a shot last night. I know her shots, especially her 3-pointer, haven't be falling for her. That must be hard for her, considering how good her shooting was in China. I suspect its a matter of confidence and getting comfortable out there.
On the whole, tho, I really like this team.
Diana Taurasi is a great player, but she argued every single call. Not just calls against here, but calls against her teammates. At one point near the end, I was so tired of it I just hollered "SHUT UP Diana!"
Chelsea is a fabulous defender. Diana got 13 points and most of those were at the very end of the game.
I must say I had a bad few moments when Yo went down. Whew!
And yes, major props to Ticha on her improved free-throw shooting.
R
I just love reading this board and I'm so happy to hear all the positive talk about Chelsea Newton. I'm from New Jersey and have watched Chelsea play all her 4 years at Rutgers. She was always the heart and soul of the team. We actually have an award named after her. We awarded it to her the first year and this year we awarded it to another player and we will continue to do so in Chelsea's name. Our club is called The Cagers Club. We are the support group for the team. Chelsea is really shining out there in sunny California. It's so wonderful how all you fans have just taken her in. It's makes all of us RU/Chelsea fans feel so great to see how well she is doing and that what we always knew about our Chelsea, everyone else is now getting to see. I didn't get to see any of last nights game, and to her holding down DT to 13 points, awesome. GO MONARCHS. Beat the Sparks tonight!!!
It was a great game. Nice defense. Our Troop went for the Monarchs overnight dance party. They got to see a great game. The girls were completely into it, sounded like a Kings game in our section! More people at the arena then I've seen at a game before, looks like the popularity is gaining. They also showed a picture of the girls on the screen! The girls after the game got Ruthie's autograph. They also got to learn dance steps from the Hip Hop Crew and The RCDs, had a karaoke dance lounge and at the end got to watch Princess Diaries 2 on the large screen. The all had a great time.
