A Well Deserved RestTonight in Tulsa, the Mystics looked very much like a team playing its 6th game in 10 days, and its second in a row on the road. The Mystics were playing the worst team in the league, the Shock, a team that tipped off tonight having lost their last 9 games, and yet the Mystics struggled to put them away. And while the exhausted Mystics did pull out the win, 69-54, it was hardly one of their best performances.
Overall, the Mystics shot only 39% from the floor, well below their average. (Fortunately, Tulsa shot under 28%.) No player on either team scored 20 points. Mo Currie led the Mystics and all scorers with 17; Lang had 15 (and 9 boards), and Lindsey had 14. That was it for double figure scoring; however Marissa (off the bench) pulled down 10 rebounds (to go along with 6 points and 4 assists -- more assists than the entire Shock team dished out).
It may not have been pretty, but after the grueling schedule of the last couple of weeks, just getting a win was a major accomplishment. And tonight's W was very important: it moved the Mystics to within a half game of first place in the Eastern Conference, behind Atlanta (who lost to Chicago this evening), and it also means the Mystics close out the first half of the season with an impressive record of 12-5.
Thank goodness the team can now look forward to a well deserved rest. With next week's break for the "Stars at the Sun" game, the Mystics won't play again until July 15, when they take on the Liberty at MSG.
Relax . . . then Beat the Liberty!
posted by BasketCases @ 11:08 PM
19 comments
19 Comments:
I love the way Marissa is playing. 10 rebounds, 4 assists. Even if her shot is not on point, she is beginning to do other things. Thursday night her shooting was great, tonight the team's top rebounder. Great job Marissa and great job by the team to pull out the win!
Yes, Marissa looked good out there today. A couple of plays she made I wasn't looking close and thought it was Mo. I also liked Mo and Rissa on the floor together. This is the right time for Marissa to come into her game. 1/2 game out of first halfway through the season...without Alana? Who'd a thunk it?
Of all the players out there, Marissa looked hungriest. Go get 'em.
It looks like Harding will be attending the national team training camp July 8-10 - she's on the roster. Also Lang could very well be named to the WNBA team. So a couple of our stalwarts may not be getting as much rest as they deserve.
I sorta wish that none of the Mystics would play in the all star game. I'd hate for a player to get hurt for such a silly meaningless venture. I don't understand why the WNBA even has it.
Anyway, I hope that the gets and enjoys a well deserved rest.
Regarding the "Stars" game:
We think it's very likely that Lang will be left out.
Since San Antonio's fans did the best job of stuffing the ballot box, frontcourt players Michelle Snow, Sophia Young and (little used bench player) Jayne Appel (along with LJ) are already on the Stars roster.
So it's indeed possible that some deserving players -- including Lang -- will get bumped from the line up.
Frankly, we hope the WNBA comes up with a different method of selecting the All Stars next season.
--BC
Last night's game notwithstanding, can you remember the last time the Mystics were playing as well as they are now? Four straight wins and eight of their last nine to climb back on the edge of first place? Don't tell me the Ewing Theory doesn't exist. Last night was the ultimate trap game and, despite the obvious fatigue, they overcame! This team is growing up before our eyes and I think some exciting things are coming.
"Can you remember the last time the Mystics were playing as well as they are now?"
Yes we can -- 2002. And then Holdsclaw got hurt, missed a bunch of games, and the Mystics went on a 7-game losing streak. After she returned, the team made it to the EC finals.
So let's just hope that all of this year's still healthy Mystics stay that way, and Monroe comes back soon!
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY TO ALL!
-- BC
Jayne appeal and Michele snow? Wow, what a joke and shameful if that happens. Yes, they better come up with a different way if that's the case. I won't watch because that's no all star game.
I'm just thrilled that they won the game and nobody got hurt. With 9 players, this game could have been a recipe for disaster.
How classy is Harding? Making the effort to attend the USA Basketball camp despite being left off the all-star team in what can only be described as a questionable decision.
In other words, it's been a while! WOW! Let me just enjoy this, lest we have another eight-year drought!
Lindsey will be at the USA camp because she is still being considered for the USA World Championship Squad. Geno's player Renee Montgomery currently has the nod but if Lindsey out plays her at camp (pretty likely), they could place Lindsey on the squad over Renee, despite Geno's favoritism. Already half the squad is UConn alum, with a UConn coach. Allowing this to continue will give him a grossly unfair advantage in recruiting, IMHO.
And yes, Lang should be both an All Star and a member of the USA World Championship team. Obviously.
Wasn't Holdsclaw hurt at the All Star game???
"Wasn't Holdsclaw hurt at the All Star game???"
Holdsclaw fractured a finger during the very first All Star game, in 1999.
In 2002, she suffered a high ankle sprain during a game against Portland when DeMya Walker fell on her. Clarifying our comment above, though, the Mystics' 7-game losing streak that season came after Holdsclaw returned from her injury, although our recollection is that she was not at 100%.
-- BC
What break? Maybe there's one in the Mystics' schedule, but the Liberty play the day after this facocta "Stars at the Sun" thing.
(I'm still going, but more because of the people who are going than because of the game.)
Dear R,
Obviously, it's the Mystics' very own All Star break; how clever of them! LOL!
We love "facocta," btw; one of our favorite words.
Have fun at the Reservation, and good luck with Krazy Kops!
-- BC
OK, I missed something. Facocta?
Please include me in the memo next time.
Dear Sue,
"Facocta" is a Yiddish word roughly meaning all screwed up.
Like many Yiddish terms, it's commonly used in conversations in cities like New York. However, in a less urban community, for example, uhmm, Durham...not so much. So it's not surprising you may not be familiar with the term.
--BC
The Mystics have been playing so well lately. Who will I watch for the next 10 days. no sports to watch. :(
RE: facocta
Thanks for the explanation. I have heard it in these less urban southern parts but had never seen it. I'll try to throw it into a conversation and see what happens.
Just kidding.
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