Purple Reign
Starter
Let me be one of the first to formally thank the Sacramento Monarchs for another Summer of basketball and thrilling entertainment that is my personal bridge from the NBA in the Spring to the NFL in the Fall back into the NBA in the Winter.
Although this season did not work out as well as we all would have liked, I believe that we all became aware this season that this team has to begin to move into a new era of Monarchs Basketball. From the GM to the Coach to the Broadcasters and the fans, we all have officially closed a six year chapter of championship calliber basketball:
1 WNBA Title - 2005
2 Western Conference Titles - 2005, 2006
4 Western Conference Finals Appearances - 2003-06
6 post season appearances - 2003-08
21-14 post season record form 2003-08
Now we begin a new era of the unknown. But I am going to be a part of the ride as long as possible in order to see the fruits of the labor, and hope that the fruit taste as good as it used to be.
Here is some post season awards and analysis:
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER – Nicole Powell
Nicole had an outstanding season. A season where I feel she has established herself as the cornerstone of the franchise. I know that that is a lot to put on her shoulders, but I think she deserves it and she for the first time with her play relishes the challenge. Nicole posted career highs in twelve separate statistical categories. She was the team’s go to player down the stretch of many games, and at times was the team’s best rebounder. She arguably had the most complete season in the history of the Sacramento Monarchs.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Rebekkah Brunson
In a bad defensive season for Sacramento, Brunson because of her late season play earns this honor. Brunson led the team in steals, rebounding and block shots. And though her numbers do not compare with the league’s leaders, she was in my mind the best defender on this squad for her intensity and execution alone.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR – Courtney Paris
This award is a no brainer due to Courtney being the only rookie on the team, but she gets the mention just due to some games that she really stood out on.
MOST INSPIRATIONAL PLAYER – Ticha Penicheiro
Though she did not have a good season statitstically, she continues to play with passion, heart and with no excuse in spite of injury and age. It is clear to me that Ticha has lost a step, but she plays with so much heart and love for the Monarchs; she leaves it all out on the floor every single game.
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER – Hamchetou Maiga Ba
Looking at Maiga Ba’s numbers from 2009 in Sac compared to 2007 and 08 in Houston, she had a down season. But this mention is comparing her from 2006 (her last season in Sac) to 2009, and the numbers improve. But it is not the numbers it is the offensive confidence, the energy, the leadership. All of that has improved drastically since her first stint here. So much so, I say Maiga goes into 2010 as the starting 2 guard, unless she is unseated by a dynamic rookie. Maiga started all 34 games in ’07 and 22 games in ’08. And the minute Whisnant placed her into the line up late this season, I think she got even better.
GAME OF THE YEAR (road) – Phoenix 115, Sacto 104 (ot) at Phoenix, June 14th
Monarchs down by 16 with 8 minutes remaining, and down by 10 with a little less than 3 minutes remaining. Monarchs go on a 10-2 run capped off by a Kara Lawson 3 to tie the game with 20 seconds remaining. Although the Monarchs could not hold on in OT, the 219 combined total points were the third highest in WNBA history.
GAME OF THE YEAR (home) – Sacramento 101, San Antonio 93 (ot)
Another game, the Monarchs had to claw and scratch their way back into a game that I had left them for dead. Becky Hammon and Sophia Young combined for 67 points. The Monarchs played their best first quarter of the season, their best overtime of the season (7-0 run to start OT), and basically stunk in quarters 2, 3 and 4. But they clutched up and played a total team game led by Powell’s 21 points.
OPPONENT OF THE YEAR – Becky Hammon, San Antonio
Four games, 25.5 pts per game (27, 39, 11, 26) including 15- 3 point shots made. She torched Sacramento for 3 out of 4 games, and every shot she made seemed to be huge. I do not know how she does what she does, but she does it, and does it well against Sacramento.
INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR – Rebekkah Brunson vs Connecticut – 9/1/09
32 points, 13 rebounds, 13-18 shooting, 2 blocks. Rebekkah on this night was incredible. She had an outstanding final 13 games of the season scoring in double figures in all 13 games and posting 4 double doubles. But this night she was special. Leaping, running, defending. It was a great night for Brunson, and was a message to the rest of the league that she is still a force to be reckoned with.
STATISTIC OF THE YEAR
Nicole Powell hitting 94 of 96 free throws including 54 of 54 at Arco Arena.
ROSTER FOR 2010 (1 to 10 on possibility of return, 10 being best)
Nicole Powell (10) – She ain’t going no where; team’s best player
Rebekkah Brunson (9) – She ain’t either unless there is an “offer that you can’t refuse”
Hamchetou Maiga Ba (8) – Does everything JW asks; will return
Sholanda Robinson (7) – Good energy bench player; if up to me, she comes back
Courtney Paris (7) – Way too early to give up on but is NOT a lock to start in 2010, especially if Tina Charles is the ’10 draft pick
Ticha Penichiero (6) – Will come back, but will have to compete for starting point guard
Kara Lawson (6) – Will come back, but in her normal off the bench 2 guard role
DeMya Walker (5) – 50/50 Should be allowed to come back ONLY to compete for a roster spot.
Laura Harper (3) – Should be traded; there is a market for her particularly on East Coast (Chicago, New York, Detroit)
Kristen Haynie (2) – Should return ONLY if Ticha is starting or gone and there is no other backup alternative for a point guard.
Chelsea Newton (1) – Should not return; whether she does or not up to JW.
Although this season did not work out as well as we all would have liked, I believe that we all became aware this season that this team has to begin to move into a new era of Monarchs Basketball. From the GM to the Coach to the Broadcasters and the fans, we all have officially closed a six year chapter of championship calliber basketball:
1 WNBA Title - 2005
2 Western Conference Titles - 2005, 2006
4 Western Conference Finals Appearances - 2003-06
6 post season appearances - 2003-08
21-14 post season record form 2003-08
Now we begin a new era of the unknown. But I am going to be a part of the ride as long as possible in order to see the fruits of the labor, and hope that the fruit taste as good as it used to be.
Here is some post season awards and analysis:
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER – Nicole Powell
Nicole had an outstanding season. A season where I feel she has established herself as the cornerstone of the franchise. I know that that is a lot to put on her shoulders, but I think she deserves it and she for the first time with her play relishes the challenge. Nicole posted career highs in twelve separate statistical categories. She was the team’s go to player down the stretch of many games, and at times was the team’s best rebounder. She arguably had the most complete season in the history of the Sacramento Monarchs.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Rebekkah Brunson
In a bad defensive season for Sacramento, Brunson because of her late season play earns this honor. Brunson led the team in steals, rebounding and block shots. And though her numbers do not compare with the league’s leaders, she was in my mind the best defender on this squad for her intensity and execution alone.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR – Courtney Paris
This award is a no brainer due to Courtney being the only rookie on the team, but she gets the mention just due to some games that she really stood out on.
MOST INSPIRATIONAL PLAYER – Ticha Penicheiro
Though she did not have a good season statitstically, she continues to play with passion, heart and with no excuse in spite of injury and age. It is clear to me that Ticha has lost a step, but she plays with so much heart and love for the Monarchs; she leaves it all out on the floor every single game.
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER – Hamchetou Maiga Ba
Looking at Maiga Ba’s numbers from 2009 in Sac compared to 2007 and 08 in Houston, she had a down season. But this mention is comparing her from 2006 (her last season in Sac) to 2009, and the numbers improve. But it is not the numbers it is the offensive confidence, the energy, the leadership. All of that has improved drastically since her first stint here. So much so, I say Maiga goes into 2010 as the starting 2 guard, unless she is unseated by a dynamic rookie. Maiga started all 34 games in ’07 and 22 games in ’08. And the minute Whisnant placed her into the line up late this season, I think she got even better.
GAME OF THE YEAR (road) – Phoenix 115, Sacto 104 (ot) at Phoenix, June 14th
Monarchs down by 16 with 8 minutes remaining, and down by 10 with a little less than 3 minutes remaining. Monarchs go on a 10-2 run capped off by a Kara Lawson 3 to tie the game with 20 seconds remaining. Although the Monarchs could not hold on in OT, the 219 combined total points were the third highest in WNBA history.
GAME OF THE YEAR (home) – Sacramento 101, San Antonio 93 (ot)
Another game, the Monarchs had to claw and scratch their way back into a game that I had left them for dead. Becky Hammon and Sophia Young combined for 67 points. The Monarchs played their best first quarter of the season, their best overtime of the season (7-0 run to start OT), and basically stunk in quarters 2, 3 and 4. But they clutched up and played a total team game led by Powell’s 21 points.
OPPONENT OF THE YEAR – Becky Hammon, San Antonio
Four games, 25.5 pts per game (27, 39, 11, 26) including 15- 3 point shots made. She torched Sacramento for 3 out of 4 games, and every shot she made seemed to be huge. I do not know how she does what she does, but she does it, and does it well against Sacramento.
INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR – Rebekkah Brunson vs Connecticut – 9/1/09
32 points, 13 rebounds, 13-18 shooting, 2 blocks. Rebekkah on this night was incredible. She had an outstanding final 13 games of the season scoring in double figures in all 13 games and posting 4 double doubles. But this night she was special. Leaping, running, defending. It was a great night for Brunson, and was a message to the rest of the league that she is still a force to be reckoned with.
STATISTIC OF THE YEAR
Nicole Powell hitting 94 of 96 free throws including 54 of 54 at Arco Arena.
ROSTER FOR 2010 (1 to 10 on possibility of return, 10 being best)
Nicole Powell (10) – She ain’t going no where; team’s best player
Rebekkah Brunson (9) – She ain’t either unless there is an “offer that you can’t refuse”
Hamchetou Maiga Ba (8) – Does everything JW asks; will return
Sholanda Robinson (7) – Good energy bench player; if up to me, she comes back
Courtney Paris (7) – Way too early to give up on but is NOT a lock to start in 2010, especially if Tina Charles is the ’10 draft pick
Ticha Penichiero (6) – Will come back, but will have to compete for starting point guard
Kara Lawson (6) – Will come back, but in her normal off the bench 2 guard role
DeMya Walker (5) – 50/50 Should be allowed to come back ONLY to compete for a roster spot.
Laura Harper (3) – Should be traded; there is a market for her particularly on East Coast (Chicago, New York, Detroit)
Kristen Haynie (2) – Should return ONLY if Ticha is starting or gone and there is no other backup alternative for a point guard.
Chelsea Newton (1) – Should not return; whether she does or not up to JW.
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