Bail Out!
At halftime of tonight's game, many Mystics fans bailed out of the Phone Booth, heading for the exits and heading for home. After suffering through two quarters in which Washington scored 8 and 6 points, respectively, and committed 16 turnovers, who could blame them? It was simply one of the worst halves of basketball the fans (including the BasketCases) had ever seen! At the end of two quarters, the Fever led by 15 points, though they only managed to score 29 points. We doubt there was a single Mystics fan in attendance who "believed" the home team had any chance of catching them.
Which just goes to show you that sometimes it's a good thing to be dead wrong. Because fortunately for those of us who stayed, the Mystics regrouped in the locker room and came out and played a respectable second half, scoring 36 points and finishing with 50. Fifty points doesn't usually win WNBA games, but tonight, it wasn't just some fans who bailed out; no, the Fever bailed out the Mystics by posting an embarrassing half of their own -- scoring only 19 points in the second 20 minutes, for a total of 48 points. When the final buzzer sounded, the Mystics had opened the second half of their 2008 WNBA season with a win over an almost-certain playoff team, 50-48.
To be sure, some of Indiana's woes were due to the Mystics' defense, but frankly, tonight's was probably the worst game the BasketCases have ever seen the Fever play. All in all, it was a really ugly game, but a win is a win and we'll take one any way we can!
Taj McWilliams-Franklin led all scorers with 20 (she was the only Mystics player in double figures), but her contributions went far beyond her points. Taj truly kept the Mystics in the game, rallying them with her energy and veteran leadership on the court, leadership the Mystics can't seem to find anywhere else. The BasketCases give Taj a big shout out. She made "believers" out of us!
Next up for the Mystics is a road game on Friday against the defending Eastern Conference Champions, the Detroit Shock. Somehow we think the Mystics will need more than 50 points to win that game . . . but, who knows, we would've said the same thing before witnessing tonight's Lucky 50!
* * * * * * *
The Charm Factor: Two Bunnies (out of a possible 5). The National Anthem was well-sung by Wilbert Hall (albeit without pace), and halftime was a performance by another children's dance group, who, once again, couldn't live up to the Mystics' own Mayhem. Again, a somewhat ho-hum fan experience.
posted by BasketCases @ 11:03 PM
12 comments
12 Comments:
Wilbert was the worst-dressed anthem singer I have ever seen, including Roseanne. He deserved a Bunny take-away.
As for the game, what the heck is Tree doing? In that final time-out, the only play he could think of was to stand around and let the clock run out? At least he seemed more engaged than usual.
How long, Ted, how long??
How long
Dear Anonymous:
LOL about Wilbert's attire. He looked as though he'd just stepped off the beach, and BC Judith definitely wanted to take a deduction for that, but BC Eileen is just too generous!!
-- The BCs
Yeah, the singer's attire was pretty bad. My friend and I actually toyed with leaving, so I'm glad we stayed. But, I have to say, while we won, I'm still not happy. While "a win is a win is a win," last night's "victory" hides the fact that we're a stunningly flawed team. I don't know if you read the Post today, but Alana Beard was crying in the locker room at halftime, begging her teammates to play with more of a sense of urgency. I also noticed that Comcast SportsNet interviewed Linda Hargrove at halftime. I would have LOVED to hear what she had to say. NOT!
Let me also add that Alana's halftime rant shows me that some of the players aren't in denial and that they still care. To me, that's a little encouraging. But, I still have to see it on the court. We have Detroit next. If they crap the sheets up there like we did in the first half last night, the little "come-to-Jesus" meeting is not going to help. Come through with the goods, ladies. You're MUCH better than this and your fans expect -- and as Alana says "deserves" -- more.
Love Taj! Alana should have been crying about her shooting... some of her shots were so off (she ended up 4/15 (0/5 3 pt). People around me were frustrated with Nakia's missed free throws (again). First half officiating -I wonder if the chants of "new refs" from both sides of the arena could be heard on TV?
Why didn't Laurie get in? Why were Bernice and Kendra in street clothes?
Darn! We got there late and didn't see the anthem singer. Anyone have pictures of him they can share? Please cut Alana a break, 121. Anyone can have an off night and AB has pulled many a game into the "W" column through sheer will power. I don't know how much more she can do (or Taj either for that matter) Love Taj! The people in my section were also frustrated by Nakia's missed free throws. Why didn't Tree leave Lang in for heaven's sake? She can make a free throw.
Thanks to Taj and the Fevers messed up... a "win is a win".
Alana needed to play the whole game like she played in the second half.In the game against SA, she woke up in the second half, also. This was the same habit which she had when she was playing at Duke.
How many games can a team win with it star players scoring less than a dozen points?
If anyone is interested, I got a picture of the guy who sang the national anthem in his, ahem, "casual" wear. Basketcases, be on the lookout!
If anyone is interested, I got a picture of the guy who sang the national anthem in his, ahem, "casual" wear. Basketcases, be on the lookout!
Hey there! Sorry to be chiming in a little late, but dude singing the national anthem was a piece of work and soooooooo long. I said...this is the longest National Anthem I've ever heard. Has anyone else noticed that the organization is not spending its money on national anthem singers nor haltime show performances. What's going on with that? I would rather see the lady on the uni-cycle flipping them bowls on her head. Or how can we forget "Quick Change". Now I love that act. They are on you-tube by the way. LOL
Now onto our ladies. Why must they give themselves and us a heart attack every game??? Maybe the speech from our "leaders" will spark a nice run. Detroit or Connecticut. We gotta get one of those. I say we'll be the Sun...but then again Ashja Jones is ballin. Another one, we let get away......daggit!
We love the bowl spinner and Quick Change. But our favorite is Christopher (the one-man Village People). It's pretty clear that unless the franchise finds the budget for acts of this caliber, it'll be hard for them to get past two bunnies.
-- BC
Frisbee dogs, don't forget the frisbee dogs!
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