Expect Great Good Fair Mediocre Crap . . . and you wouldn't have been disappointed by the "game" between the Mystics and the Silver Stars tonight, which resulted in a San Antonio"victory" over Washington, 63-52. The final score may suggest that these two teams waged an intense defensive battle, but don't be fooled. If truth be told, this was one of those games that neither team deserved to win, a game that was just painful to listen to.

Newest Mystic, Crystal Smith, started at the point for Washington and immediately reeled off 7 quick points, putting the Mystics up 7-2 in the early going. The Mystics stretched their lead to 12 and then . . . well, nothing. They scored 23 points in the first quarter, then only 12 in the second and only 11 in the third, but amazingly at the end of three, they were still only trailing by 1 point!

And as bad as the second and third periods were, as exercises in futility go, those two quarters paled in comparison with the fourth. Turnover, turnover, foul, turnover, shot clock violation, turnover, turnover . . . and then finally about 5 minutes into the period, the Mystics took a shot! It didn't go in, but at least they took one. Meanwhile, the Silver Stars scored a few baskets, attempted to match the Mystics' ineptness with several turnovers of their own . . . but failed. The Silver Stars outscored the Mystics in the final period 16-6, to remain undefeated at home this season, while the Mystics remain winless on the road.

Becky Hammon (who happens to be the subject of another interesting article today by our favorite sportswriter, ESPN.com's Mechelle Voepel) led all scorers with 20 points. The only Mystics in double figures were Alana Beard (13 pts) and Crystal Smith (10 pts). The Mystics committed 22 turnovers in their losing effort, but the Silver Stars turned the ball over 26 times! However, Washington compensated for those extra 4 TOs by missing 40 of their 60 field goal attempts.

Great basketball? Hardly.