Statement Game

[Luv13fan]

Now that I have had a well deserved vacation and all is back to normal in my world time to get to Business.

I think it is time for the Monarchs to have a Statement game. I thought that the Seattle game was that game. But IMO the Monarchs will tell us what type of team they are going to be with the game they play against Houston tomorrow.

Anyone else think that the Houston game is a statement game???

 

[Monty'sBiggestFan]

What the hell are you doing taking a vacation midseason???? (I ask as if I didn't vacation during the first round of the playoffs

They need to win the game tomorrow, not sure I'd call it a statement game - that statement needed to be made at home 3 or so weeks ago. They do however need to assert themselves against the other title contending teams in this conference and this week is a good week to start to do that.

 

[NothinButHoops]

Agree a road win is just what the team needs to gain that missing swagger, Mojo...what ever you want to call it...Monarchs Lets Do It!!!!
Swoopes may miss the game again, they haven't played well without her.

 

[Luv13fan]

I Know

What the hell are you doing taking a vacation midseason???? (I ask as if I didn't vacation during the first round of the playoffs

They need to win the game tomorrow, not sure I'd call it a statement game - that statement needed to be made at home 3 or so weeks ago. They do however need to assert themselves against the other title contending teams in this conference and this week is a good week to start to do that.

I know...

Who the Hell Schedules a Wedding in the Middle of the Basketball Season?
It was a once in a life time experience, so what are you gonna do?

BIG Props to the Hotel Bellagio.
They were fantastic. I would encourage anyone who visit Vegas to stay there.

Anywho I am back now.
And Nicole can start contributing to the offense again.
She just doesn't play right unless I am getting on her nerves.

Well I will be back... Rested, refreshed and running My Mouth.

 

[StevenHW]

Luv13fan asked:

Anyone else think that the Houston game is a statement game???

If last night against Houston was a "statement game", then it does not look good for the M's this season.

I am still not ready to throw in the towel yet, of course, but they will have to play a lot better soon. I'm hoping that DeMya starts playing --- and she might for this coming Saturday --- and the team starts to jell.

But we are approaching the half-way mark in the season. And after taking a look at the Monarch's schedule from July and onward, it gets much harder: 7 home games and 12 road games in the remainder of the regular season. A steeper hill to climb.

 

[Monty'sBiggestFan]

They actually seemed to have improved IMO with last night's game compared to other games they had played this season (with the exception of the home wins against Phx and Sea - and even in those games I didn't think they had played as well as they could have). They shot lousy and still hung around. They did a better job rebounding, definitely did a better job defensively. They put the pedal down to the floor in the 4th and actually tied a game and put themselves in position to win it instead of digging the big hole and expending a lot of energy to get close only to lose it. (They saved that for the overtime session ).

If they continue to struggle offensively for much longer, then yea I think they're in trouble. But until Kara, Rebekkah and Nicole find consistent strokes again this offense may struggle. Going on the road may actually help the team and their schedule may actually get more consistent than it had been too.

So all of this was just a long way to say I actually was encouraged by their game last night even tho they lost. They win the remainder of the games they have this week and on this home stand, they are sitting in a good spot. But they have to win both the games they have coming up this weekend.

 

[Luv13fan]

As usual I agree MBF

I was a little miffed right after the game but I am actually very encouraged by the effort I saw in last nights game.

They didn't have that deer in the Headlights look on their face. They could have won this game. And for the first time in a long time I didn't feel like they were outclassed against a quality opponent.

I was in my coaching chat room Late last night, and a few things came up that was interesting.

The return of DeMya is actaully pivital to the Monarchs at this point. While Yo is still a great player, it was the quickness of Walker that allow Yo to do her thing. We have been ragging on the ineffectiveness of Brunson, but DeMya is actually the player that has been forcing the Double Downs on the Post.

She is also capible of hitting that shot at the top of the Key.
More important DeMya demands the basketball and Will shoot.
That alone will make a difference.

Perhaps that is more true than we all realized. Not to mention her ability to guard the Swoopes like players. Yes we miss Chelsea. But we miss that person who can guard the 3-5 players even more.

As for making a statement... I thought this was a must win game for them. I am changing my mind. I don't believe in Moral victories but if there was one this was it.

I thought that the Monarchs could have again went for a 2-1 at the end of regulation so the ball was in their hands at the end of the game. And their shooting could be better.

Overall... Marked improvement. And they are on course.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

They actually seemed to have improved IMO with last night's game compared to other games they had played this season (with the exception of the home wins against Phx and Sea - and even in those games I didn't think they had played as well as they could have). They shot lousy and still hung around. They did a better job rebounding, definitely did a better job defensively. They put the pedal down to the floor in the 4th and actually tied a game and put themselves in position to win it instead of digging the big hole and expending a lot of energy to get close only to lose it. (They saved that for the overtime session ).

Overtime counts, too.

The Monarchs didn't lose the game because of the offense; it was lousy, but it was good enough. The Monarchs lost because they quit in overtime, allowed the Comets to shoot 5-6 in the overtime period, and got outrebounded 5-4. But, let me break down those rebounding numbers even further: the Monarchs missed five field goals and a free throw in the overtime period, and didn't get a single offensive rebound (they were "credited" with two, but neither were legitimate; in both cases, they were the result of a Comets player tipping the ball out of bounds, which "officially" counts as a rebound).

Defensive field goal percentage is generally accepted as the most reliable and accurate indicator of defensive intensity and prowess. The Monarchs are allowing teams to shoot 45.4% against them, which is third-worst in the league. They've only held three opponents below 45%, and have allowed three opponents to shoot above 50%.

Offense is not the problem.

 

[Monty'sBiggestFan]

I thought we all were in agreement that the defense is not where it was last year. That we are missing two key components of it, and Yo's ability to move is limited has been a given. Offense is also a problem. I sat at a few games the last couple of weeks where I would have given anything to see the Monarchs shoot 30% They hovered a good portion of some games under 20% from the floor with open looks galore. I especially can't forget the mental image of the layupmiss-a-thon that was the San Antonio debacle.

If they had shot the ball better in regulation especially during the times when nobody on the Comets seemed to want to score - we're not worried about what happened in OT.

The Monarchs got jumped in OT. I actually don't remember them scoring much there either. They could have defended their butts off in OT but if they aren't scoring it doesn't much matter.
I didn't say they were the top defensive team in the league. I merely said they were better than they had been. The effort last night was worlds better than the defensive efforts I'd seen at ARCO recently. I was tongue in cheekly referring to the fact that they lapsed in OT like they had been lapsing at the end of games in which they try to make runs. Also built in to the cheekiness I posted above is why I thought their intensity let down.

Trust me, I'm painfully aware of the realities behind the stats you give and have sat through the ugliness. But 3/5ths of our starting line up can't figure out how to make the ball go through the basket and that's a huge problem too. The team will tell you they are trying to figure out what's going on with their defense. Luv13 speaks to why they miss DeMya on both sides of the ball. And well, we've discussed Newton ad nauseum.