What is Wrong with the Monarchs

[Purple Reign]

After last night's game, I came to the realization that this year is going to be a grind. And if the Monarchs have any chance in repeating, we are not going to see it come to realization until the last 1/3 to 1/4 of the season and into the playoffs.

But as of right now, June 15 why do you think the Monarchs are only 4-4?

My personal opinion is their post defense is not what it once was. I saw Michelle Snow just camp around the basket and dominate last night. There is no presence between Griffith and Brunson and that has to change. I have been somewhat disappointed in the play of Rebekkah Brunson. I was for sure that she was going to be an All Sar this season. Now I am counting the days that DeMya Walker returns.

 

[Luv13fan]

We Miss DeMya




The Michelle Snow situation was interesting. She played very well and was in the right places at the right time.

I think we are coming down on Brunson a bit hard. We are struggling and she seems to be the easy scapegoat. Rebekkah had some high expectations to live up to. It is frustrating that she is not delivering Offensively but it is not as bad as all that.
We do need more from her though.

Erin seems to be having a breakout year, which certainly helps us in the paint. But post defense could be better.
Maiga has played fairly well but she is somewhat out of position. Nicole has played more post than she did last year.

Kara is not necessarily under performing. However, Nicole and Kara have not Lit it up either. Not the way they can.

How about the underperforming of the Rookies?
There are a multitude of reasons why things are a struggle,

I would say the Bulls eye is an issue but no-one really considered us the team to beat to begin with. We just happen to be the team that won.
Anyway…

Missing DeMya seems to be the consensus issue.

We miss her Offense
We miss her Defense
And we definitely miss her Swagger.

Maybe I am being optimistic, but I think with the return of DeMya, The team gets it balance back.

 

[cometsluv4play]

1 Bullseye Factor
2 DeMya Walker
3 Chelsea Newton

we could have survived one of these blows, but not all three at one time and the reality of these three blows is starting to break down the illusions that they could be overcome with simple draft picks and a year's more experience. Chelsea Newton was a above average defender coming out of college, now we see what average looks like. the season is not nearly over and we are still the champs until someone knocks us out, GO MONARCHS!!!

 

[cometsluv4play]

btw, nothing is wrong with the Monarchs, one loss-regular season-forgetaboutit-done NEXT!

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

btw, nothing is wrong with the Monarchs, one loss-regular season-forgetaboutit-done NEXT!

It's not one loss, it's four. Two of the losses were blowouts, one of the losses was a blowout in the fourth quarter, and the fourth loss became a blowout after the fourth quarter.

To say that nothing is wrong is to have tunnel vision... Then again, since you're a Comets fan first, mister 4play, perhaps you *don't* think that something is wrong with the Monarchs losing to your Comets twice in less than a month... But I sure do.

 

[Monty'sBiggestFan]

I agree that the criticism of Brunson has been a little harsh. She’s obviously struggling but she’s not alone in that. Lawson still isn’t Lawson and Powell hasn’t been consistently Powell. That’s 3/5ths of the startling lineup. We have the 2nd most productive bench in the league and that’s a pretty solid reason why we’ve been able to grind out to a .500 record thus far. The blow outs? We were neither scoring nor defending. That’s been pretty simple. Does one lead to the other? Probably because if they aren’t defending, they aren’t getting the easy baskets in transition. Without DeMya and an absent offensive Brunson – there is no dominance in the paint now either. But still they’re .500 and still in or tied for 3rd in the conference. They’ve played 8 games of a 34 game schedule – I don’t think it’s a Pollyanna-ish to believe that this team may not gel until the final 4th of the regular season. If they can continue to tread water until they find their collective self – they’ll be fine. If somebody were running away with the conference right now I’d be worried, and quite frankly if they were where they usually had been until they shocked us last year, and that is at the bottom of the conference and us worrying about why they aren’t playing to their potential, I’ll take that right now watching how difficult it is for them to score. Fundamental breakdowns of the defense maybe can’t be fixed – but this team just is struggling to get shots to drop. Not to get shots, to get the shots they are getting to fall. Their shots fall, maybe they win last night, and certainly they would have beaten San Antonio at home. I’m not worried yet, actually strike that. I’m not as worried as I was after they got their lunch handed to them twice at home and once on the road. (I still count the San Antonio game as a blow out because it sure felt like one longer than it felt competitive). They just also gotta stop dropping games in conference.

 

[Carole]

We set the standard last year and the whole league has met the challenge. We need to come up with more than just a good defense. Even San Antonio has improved immensely. We need new stuff to stay competitive. I think it's on Coach, not necessarily due to the distractions, just that he did't realize that everyone else had our number. Every team now has better defense than they had last year.

 

[NothinButHoops]

Win SATvs SEATTLE & SUN...VS LA...Then we are talking about a different team. Two very important conference games. We need to start making plays, & get back to defending the way we did last season. Our rebounding has been good. We just need everyone to step up on the offensive end & make plays...no doubt we have the talent.

off the subject ...anyone catch Marcos Breton's article in the Bee today?
He's ticked off that the Monarchs game will be televised live & US Soccer will be on tape delay....oh well, not everyone watches World Cup...the same as, not everyone watches the WNBA.
I will be at the Monarchs game & will miss team USA Soccer, I care that they win, but I am a bigger fan of the WNBA than Soccer.

 

[cometsluv4play]

It's not one loss, it's four. Two of the losses were blowouts, one of the losses was a blowout in the fourth quarter, and the fourth loss became a blowout after the fourth quarter.

To say that nothing is wrong is to have tunnel vision... Then again, since you're a Comets fan first, mister 4play, perhaps you *don't* think that something is wrong with the Monarchs losing to your Comets twice in less than a month... But I sure do.

I sincerely respect and understand your point Slim. the Comets got blown out in our season opener and had our fanbase reeling from the get go while I was enjoying a 105 win in Sacramento. also a week and half ago we lost a road game in Minnasota where the Comets just quit in the second half. the Comets havent' had a Coaching debaucle like the Monarchs but most fans are not fans of Van Chancelor and his decesion to cut Kayte Christenson whom has now signed with PHX has caused a bit on unrest among the fans as well as the team too.

I do have tunnul vision when it comes to my personal favorites and everyone knows my loyolties lie with Houston first and then Sacramento and my second post to which you refer was an attempt to be postive after my first post was a little negative breaking down the problems as I saw them and my limited knowledge via MBF. i'm sure you know i do not mean to make light of the Monarchs situation, as you may have felt with that post. i asure you that was not the case. both my teams have thier individual struggles and they are different and real, but i still believe that both will overcome them and its just too early in the season to say the Monarchs are broken or something is wrong with them. Coach Whiz drafted the players he could and this is what we got and there is a period of adjustment at this time and we are just going to have to wait and see how this all plays out in a month or so, but its far too early in the season to be so gloomy imho.