Purple Reign's Keys to WCF Victory over L.A. Sparks

[Purple Reign]

NEUTRALIZE 2 of 3 - JOHNSON, MBEKA, LESLIE
2 of the big 3 for L.A. Temeka Johnson, Mwadi Mbeka and Lisa Leslie. Preferably Mbeka and Johnson. I am not including Chamique "Cold"-slaw as one of the three because she is playing injured and she is the most inconsistant of the four. She quite possibly could neutralize herself.

TICHA TO THE RESCUE
T.P. must remain aggressive, which I do not think will be a problem against Johnson who is all of 5'3".

T.P. must square up and shoot
T.P. must drive the lane
T.P. grab rebounds
You get the message. She is the absolute key to our success.

LAWSON AND POWELL MUST BE ON POINT
Three points that is. They have to consistantly open up the floor with timely, deadly three point shots.

YO, REBECCA, ERIN and DE-"MOMMA" MUST DEFENSIVELY CONTROL THE PAINT
It is no secret that the Sparks outside of Mbeka have very little outside threat. on top of that the Sparks are only shooting 72 percent from the line in the playoffs compared to 74 percent for the season. Therefore the Monarchs must patrol the paint with reckless abandonment and use the 24 fouls that they have to send messages, to bump bodies and make Lisa Leslie (67.5 percent free throw shooter) earn her points from the free throw line.

 

[Luv13fan]

TIP CHECK


NEUTRALIZE 2 of 3 - JOHNSON, MBEKA, LESLIE
2 of the big 3 for L.A. Temeka Johnson, Mwadi Mbeka and Lisa Leslie. Preferably Mbeka and Johnson. I am not including Chamique "Cold"-slaw as one of the three because she is playing injured and she is the most inconsistant of the four. She quite possibly could neutralize herself.
Agreed

TICHA TO THE RESCUE
T.P. must remain aggressive, which I do not think will be a problem against Johnson who is all of 5'3".

T.P. must square up and shoot Agreed
T.P. must drive the lane Agreed
T.P. grab rebounds Agreed

You get the message. She is the absolute key to our success.
Nah don't think she is Key But it Damn sure would help.


LAWSON AND POWELL MUST BE ON POINT
Three points that is. They have to consistantly open up the floor with timely, deadly three point shots. Agreed
Doesn't have to be Three's but holes in the zone must be exploited. Stretch that bad boy out.

YO, REBECCA, ERIN and DE-"MOMMA" MUST DEFENSIVELY CONTROL THE PAINT
It is no secret that the Sparks outside of Mbeka have very little outside threat. on top of that the Sparks are only shooting 72 percent from the line in the playoffs compared to 74 percent for the season. Therefore the Monarchs must patrol the paint with reckless abandonment and use the 24 fouls that they have to send messages, to bump bodies and make Lisa Leslie (67.5 percent free throw shooter) earn her points from the free throw line.

Agreed Agreed and AMEN

Monarchs 2006
We Run This
***Chew***​

 

[nancgo]

Yes to all of the above, but especially Mabika.....she seems to always go off on the Monarchs. I hadn't really watched Tameka Johnson before, and I liked her....She had some nice moves, so Ticha, Sho, and Kara better watch her big time.....

 

[Purple Reign]

Game 1 Analysis

NEUTRALIZE 2 of 3 - JOHNSON, MBEKA, LESLIE
2 of the big 3 for L.A. Temeka Johnson, Mwadi Mbeka and Lisa Leslie. Preferably Mbeka and Johnson. I am not including Chamique "Cold"-slaw as one of the three because she is playing injured and she is the most inconsistant of the four. She quite possibly could neutralize herself.

TICHA TO THE RESCUE
T.P. must remain aggressive, which I do not think will be a problem against Johnson who is all of 5'3".

T.P. must square up and shoot
T.P. must drive the lane
T.P. grab rebounds
You get the message. She is the absolute key to our success.

LAWSON AND POWELL MUST BE ON POINT
Three points that is. They have to consistantly open up the floor with timely, deadly three point shots.


YO, REBECCA, ERIN and DE-"MOMMA" MUST DEFENSIVELY CONTROL THE PAINT
It is no secret that the Sparks outside of Mbeka have very little outside threat. on top of that the Sparks are only shooting 72 percent from the line in the playoffs compared to 74 percent for the season. Therefore the Monarchs must patrol the paint with reckless abandonment and use the 24 fouls that they have to send messages, to bump bodies and make Lisa Leslie (67.5 percent free throw shooter) earn her points from the free throw line.

NEUTRALIZE 2 of 3 - JOHNSON, MBEKA, LESLIE
GAME 1 - 12-26 FG, 7-8 FT, 37 Total Points - NO
This has to improve. Mbeka once again tormented the Monarchs from the 3 point line. Temeka Johnson for three quarters controlled tempo and created turnovers. 37 points is way too high. More defensive production from maiga-ba and Haynie is a must


TICHA TO THE RESCUE
GAME 1 - 5 shots, 3 turnovers, 2 steals, 7 big rebounds and the game tying three to tie game with a little more than a minute remaining - YES, but....

...we need more. Ticha made the biggest shot of the night with a 3 point bomb to tie the game with a minute remaining. Ticha must continue to put pressure on that Spaks defense and don't allow them to sag in the paint.

LAWSON AND POWELL MUST BE ON POINT
GAME 1: LAWSON/POWELL - 5 of 14 from three - YES
Even though Powell did not show up until late, she and Kara remained a constant outside threat. The Sparks never played either of them or Ticha honestly which created wide open outside shots.

YO, REBECCA, ERIN and DE-"MOMMA" MUST DEFENSIVELY CONTROL THE PAINT
GAME 1: #'s 33, 32, 7, 21.. - NO
1. A COMBINED 15 REBOUNDS (13 FROM WALKER AND GRIFFITH)
2. A COMBINED 7 FOULS
3. A COMBINED 0 BLOCKED SHOTS
4. A COMBINED 4 STEALS (3 FROM YO)
Some good (containing Leslie and holding her to 3-13 shooting), and some bad (allowing dribble penetration by Johnson and a combined 6-8 shooting from Page and Christi Thomas)

 

[Wuster]

STOP Leslie and Mbeka.

Go Monarchs!

 

[MamaBristow]

Mabika was insane last night. It's not like she wasn't well defended, Ticha was in her face... and Mwadi still drained them. My hat is off to her, she played a damn good game.

With that said, can we get Mwadi a cheeseburger before she leaves Sacramento?

 

[StevenHW]

After the game, Luv13fan was wondering out loud why wasn't Scholanda Dorrell not used often enough. Yeah, what's up with that?

 

[shayneashley05]

After the game, Luv13fan was wondering out loud why wasn't Scholand Dorrell not used often enough. Yeah, what's up with that?

You know I was wondering the same thing. She had that steal, and she did only have 3 points...but still.

 

[StevenHW]

And "Scho-time" was there only three minutes! Maybe if she had been out on the court earlier (and more often), perhaps the Monarchs would've had an easier time?

 

[NothinButHoops]

I agree, her speed can be an asset. She has great instincts. She usaually can finish plays as well. Give her some minutes & see what happens.