Thanks to a monster game from Nakia Sanford, and exceptional free throw shooting by the entire team, the Mystics managed to hold on tonight for an overtime victory over the last place Minnesota Lynx, 91-83. This was one of those nights when no one's shot except Kia's seemed to be falling. Kia shot an incredible 66.7% from the floor, tying her career high of 25 points. She also added 10 boards for a double-double. Collectively, the rest of the Mystics shot a sub-par 29.5% from the floor. Fortunately, they got to take 41 (!!) free throws, and made 36 of them, a phenomenal 87.8%. (The Lynx, by contrast, went to the free throw line only 17 times.) The Mystics are heading into the All Star break on a 2-game winning streak.
And speaking of overtime . . . No doubt the good karma that the Mystics had in the extra period came from someone who herself has had great success in overtime -- none other than the Terps' Marissa Coleman, who was in the house tonight along with her USA Basketball Pan American Games team, which is practicing in D.C. before heading to Rio for the Games later this month.
Good luck to Coach Staley, Marissa, and the entire USA team in Rio!
And good luck to Alana and DeLisha in Sunday's All Star Game, to Laurie Koehn, who will be competing in the Three Point Shootout, and to Nikki Teasley, who will be competing in the Dribble, Dish, and Swish skills contest prior to the ASG. We can't wait!
Photo Credits: DC BasketCases
posted by BasketCases @ 11:55 PM
7 comments
7 Comments:
OK - we got a win and Nakia was a one woman wrecking crew inside, but (always a but); I think at times we got too concerned with the erratic officiating - waiting to see if a call would be made, instead of getting back on defense.
WNBA officials are just a sensitive and wacky bunch but you still can't get so involved with them. And by the way, what were some of those technicals called on the Mystics? (Well Nakia did deserve hers!!)
I'm happy we got the W, but we're still widely inconsistent throughout games. I'm also still seeing no intensity on the boards. Is it too much to ask to actually go after the rebound instead of just watching it fall to the floor? We may be able to get away with that against the Minnesota's of the world, but definitely NOT the Detroits, Seattles and Indianas.
Also, to the BasketCases... I saw it when you got shooed away when you were taking a picture of the Lynx huddle during a time-out. It happened right in front of me.
Agreed -- we need much more agressive rebounding. Maybe they can remember to practice that, if they aren't too tired or stressed out.
One thing I couldn't understand is why the Mystics decided to go away from Sanford in the fourth quarter when she was having a monster game. The Mystics managed to foul Ress out of the game, they have Olde one foul away from being out of the game and instead of continuing to get the ball inside they put the ball in the hands of Beard (which isn't a bad choice most of the time) who wasn't having a great game. Then the Mystics stood around and watched as Beard dribbled the ball around winding the shot clock down and then missing the shot. To me it seemed like the Mystics were attempting to hold onto the game instead of continuing to play for the win.
Regardless, that was probably the best I've ever seen Sanford play, I've been waiting for that since about her second year in the league. I hope she and the Mystics can continue to play smart and aggressive basketball.
Oh, I wanted to say that I agree about the refs but you're being too kind, they are neither sensitive or wacky...I believe they are mostly stupid. The refs in this league continue to make calls they are not in place to make.
As for Sanford's technical, from what I could tell she was gesturing to the ref to watch the replay because she made the wrong call...that's when she got the technical. BTW, Sanford was correct the ref made the wrong call.
Despite the horrendous refs I do agree that the team needs to try to stay focused on the game and to not let the refs get under their skin.
Nakia "Butter Fingers" Sanford was an absolute BEAST last night. If she could learn to channel that into every game, fans would stop crying for an upgrade at the #5 spot.
Tree almost blew it by trying to hold the ball. Trying to sit on a small lead with over a minute left hardly ever works. You just negate the momentum that got you to the lead in the first place. Play to win, don't play not to lose.
Do you all realize that Nikki T has missed only **ONE** free throw all season? She's leading the league in FT% with something like 97.2%
REBOUND, dammit, REBOUND!! Basic basketball: Follow your shot, box out the opponent! It makes me crazy that they do a decent job on the defensive boards but NOTHING offesively. When they DO manage to play the O-Boards they score. How much more motivation do you need to repeat that?! Aaaghhhhh!!
Thought Kia was amazing last night, as well -- so I don't only rag on them!
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