In the Front Door!The Mystics are playoff-bound . . . and there are still three regular season games left to play. How cool is that?
In prior years, on those rare occasions when the Mystics were still in contention for a playoff spot this late in the season, it seemed like we were always waiting for the team to nail down a spot in the final game of the regular season or we were pinning our hopes on other teams losing so the Mystics could sneak in through the back door. But not this year!
Oh no. This afternoon, the short-benched, Alana-less Mystics (picked by many in the preseason to finish last in the East) simply knocked off the WNBA's #1 team, the Seattle Storm, 80-71, at the Phone Booth. An hour later, the Connecticut Sun, who trailed the Mystics by 3 full games in the standings at the start of the day, fell to Indiana. So, with 3 games remaining in the regular season, the Mystics ended the day 4 games ahead of Connecticut. Game. Set. Match. The Mystics are going to the playoffs!!! Woo-hoo!
And make no mistake, this afternoon's match-up was a real game between two playoff-bound teams. The other night at Mohegan when the Storm played the Sun, Lauren Jackson sat out the entire game and the other Seattle starters played very limited minutes. We guess you could say the Sun hit the jackpot that night at the casino, as they grabbed an easy win to stay alive in the playoff race. But today was different. Lauren Jackson, Sue Bird, Swin Cash and all of the Storm's first string played starter minutes. Perhaps Seattle Coach Brian Agler would've rested his starters if his team had built a comfortable lead on Washington. But he didn't (rest them) and they couldn't (build much of a lead). The Mystics just wouldn't concede any ground today to the Western Conference regular season champions. No free pass (like Connecticut got) for Washington . . . and, it didn't matter, because they didn't need one!
The Mystics were down by 4 at the half, but they outscored Seattle 27-17 in the 3rd period to pull ahead and never looked back. Coach Agler contested the game until just under three minutes, when, with Washington leading by 8, he pulled Jackson and Bird.
Monique Currie came up huge for the Mystics today. She led all scorers with 25, nailed 5 of 7 from beyond the arc, hit all 6 of her free throws, and stole the ball 4 times. Lang finished with 15 points, and Lindsey had 13.
The Mystics are not only in the playoffs, but today's win set a franchise record for most wins in a season -- 19 (and counting!). The remaining week of the regular season will be spent jockeying for playoff position and home court advantage, but the four Eastern Conference playoff teams have now been decided: Indy, NY, Washington and Atlanta.
It was a great day to be a Mystics fan at the Phone Booth.
The only sour note came before the tip-off: the National Anthem was sung off key and flat by three women identified as winners of the Miss Chinese American Beauty Pageant. Their rendition of the Anthem was so painful that the players (doing their best to remain respectful) had a really hard time keeping from grimacing or laughing. (We have to assume that singing was not what these three young ladies did for the talent part of their pageant competition.)
But all's well that ends well . . . and today ended very well indeed for the Mystics and their fans. This afternoon was the last game in Washington's three-game homestand. The Mystics head to San Antonio tomorrow to face the Silver Stars on Tuesday, then return for their final home game of the regular season on Friday when the laser-hot New York Liberty (8 wins in a row!) come to town. Don't miss this one: not only is it Fan Appreciation Night, but the Mystics need all the fan support they can get in this big game against the Libs.
Wow. Two years with Angela Talyor in charge; two years with Julie Plank as Head Coach; two years in the playoffs. That's never happened before . . . two consecutive playoff seasons. We don't know about the rest of you Mystics fans, but we're liking this. A lot.
Go Mystics . . . Beat the Silver Stars!
posted by BasketCases @ 10:15 PM
33 comments
33 Comments:
We're in!
They played great today! Way to go Mystics!
What an awesome game! Low turnovers. Everybody scoring - especially Monique. Some massive blocks. And of course, it's not a WNBA game without some ridiculous ref calls.
I was a little concerned when I saw a fan in front of me was plugging up her ears. We're supposed to be loud and rowdy, right? (Of course, without being obnoxious)
Tuesday looks to be a great game. We should be able to beat San Antonio and keep moving up! Go Mystics!!
I brought some pompoms from previous games and gave them to a group of tween girls that showed up in a nearby row. If you were near section 104, you knew how well that worked to get them loud and rowdy!
I'll try to find some more for Friday's game. Since it's camp reunion day, there should be plenty of eager young fans that can help raise our volume.
The funny thing is that I was reading some comments from when Coach Plank was hired and a lot of the fans comments were negative complaining about her lack of head coaching experience. Two straight years in the playoffs. Awesome, baby.
I still can't believe out record without AB. I must confess that is the one thing that still worries me is the lack of a true go-to person at the end of the game. Down by one, last possession of the game, who do you go to? I would probably try and get Katie Smith open, but would like my chances better with AB since she can create off the dribble.
GO MYSTICS!!! Let's get to at least second so we can be at the phone booth.
I must admit that I didn't believe this team could be this successful without AB. I knew what we would get from Lindsey--great play, but Mo's play has truly been a pleasant surprise. Lang has stepped up her game even further to a place I didn't know she had in her--All Star. And Katie Smith really glad we picked her up. Amazing season and I look forward to them bringing it the next 3 games (and they need to keep it up--no let up) and into the playoffs.
Any details regarding aug 19 season ticket holder event?
Re the Aug. 19th STH event, from Angela Taylor's email last week to STHs:
"Washington Mystics Meet the Team / Autograph Session at Lucky Strike Lanes & Lounge, Gallery Place, 701 7th Street NW, 2nd Floor, Washington, DC 20001, Phone: 202.347.1021 on August 19th from 6-8pm. We will have Mystics Specials for food and drink that will be available. Lucky Strike Lanes & Lounge is located in the Gallery Place retail space adjacent to Verizon Center. You can enter Gallery Place from 7th Street or 6th Street. Proceed up the escalators to the second floor and Lucky Strike will be located to your right. We look forward to seeing you there!"
-- BC
If it was anything like the last Lucky Strike event - it was really cool. The whole team was there for autographs, or to hang out with the fans. They were bowling, playing pool, and there was a lot of Mystics stuff to be had - just given out or through a raffle. It was a lot of fun.
And as a go-to person on the team, this game it was Monique, but Katie seems to be the one that can get it done no matter what. She wants this to happen.
I don't think I've ever been as proud of this team as I am now. Can you believe just two seasons ago, we finished at 10-24? And this is a season without Alana! Some really good things are happening here, and I'm thrilled to be along for the ride. Go Mystics!
Katie hit some big shots in the 4th quarter yesterday.
Great game yesterday. I am concerned about some harassment that some Seattle fans from Australia got yesterday. They had the nerve to cheer for Lauren Jackson, and some Mystic fans really got nasty. There people were from the embassy, and were not jeering or anything. A little teasing I can see, but the Mystic fans in from of us just didn't let up. We need every seat in the phone booth full, and a little graciousness goes a long way. If people don't feel comfortable coming to a game, then none of us will be cheering for anyone.
BC< was the email for the VIP ticket holders or for all season ticket holders? I didn't get it and waas wondering what happened?
Great win!
I agreed that we shouldn't be rude to fans of the visiting teams. No one should feel not welcome to the game. We stopped going to NY for the same reason; fans were rude and we felt uncomfortable.
Go Mystics.... Beat SA!
Maybe the singing wasn't perfect, but it was an honor for them to be able to sing at the game and also takes a lot of guts. Let's give them some credit for that at least. No need to be so hateful! You are the ones bringing the sour note to a great game!
I totally disagree with that last statement. The BCs just called it like it was. We ALL honor the National Athem and yes, it takes gust to sing at an event like this but who ever from the Mystics who picked these young ladies should of had them sing first. This area has a lot of talented folks that will perform---other teams actually have try outs and it isn't easy to be picked. The Mystics need to do a better job finding the best to have the honor to sing the National Athem.
I echo the disagreement with a previous statement. I live too far away/am too broke to get to the game in person. I love that the BC's conveyed the 'off' moment before tipoff and agree that with so many awesome voices vying to sing the anthem, they should be more careful about giving away that honor.
After such a great game, I'm not sure I would even have remembered the off key singing, but perhaps it was so far off that it left an idelible mark.
And, as far as a go-to player, the Styx have Mo, Katie and Lindsey who have all taken (and made) late game shots for us. Given Katie's experience, she is choice #1. But Mo and Lindsey can both create a shot or a foul and both are nailing their free throws. I like having three players ready/willing/able and hope this can continue when AB returns tot he lineup.
THANKS DCBC. GO MYSTICS! BEAT THE STARS!
IMO, the difference maker this year is Katie Smith. The Mystics have had good teams (a few times) in the past, but no one would ever say they were tough.
This year, because of Katie, the Mystics are tough. They stay in games they would have lost last year, and most of the time they find a way to win. I shudder to think what the season would have been like without AB if Katie hadn't joined the Mystics.
Certainly Katie has been huge. But without coach Plank we'd be in a very different place. Look at the difference in how Mo and Lang play under her leadership--and look at poor Tulsa. By definition anyone who makes it to the WNBA is a great basketball player (with the possible exception of Marion Jones). But only an exceptional coach can create a cohesive team by building on each player's strengths. Coach Plank could have used the 10-member roster as an excuse for not doing well this year, but instead she figured out a way to make it work.
I am in total agreement about Coach Plank. I think she has done an outstanding job of making the best use of the talent she has available to her on this team. Great game plans and in-game adjustments. I also like that she and her staff work with players to improve their individual development. Not every coach does that. It is also obvious that she has their respect. I've read on some message boards that she is being touted as being Coach of the Year. She has my vote.
Totally agree coach plank deserves slot of praise. Coach of the year, for sure.
Any idea when the home playoffs would happen (esp the first game)? Would the dates differ based on who we play? And more importantly, can they all be at the Verizon Center?
Hoping we win out and get the hone court against new york. I don't think we are overtaking Indy at this point. So the best we can hope for is 2nd place and home court over ny.
"can they all be at the Verizon Center?"
Women of Faith is at VZC Friday night and at least part of Saturday for the first round. The second round would have possible conflicts with wrestling and Lady Gaga!
Women of Faith runs until 5:00 pm on Saturday. The game will probably be in the afternoon anyway, so it sounds like we'll be heading back to the Comcast Center -- unless of course the Styx could move into first place.
Chamique is out for the season with a torn Achilles Tendon. I'm sorry this happened to her. I was watching the game when she went down and even though the news said it was a sprained ankle, I knew that it was the Achilles. Now Styx, just because she is out, do not treat San Antonio like you treated Minnesota....Please!!!
What's the format for the playoffs? Is each round a best of 3 games? I remember it used to be one and done, but for some reason, I think it's different now.
O don't think they treated Minnie lightly, they just had a bad day on the court.
It's best of 3 for the semi-finals and conference finals and then best of 5 for the finals.
I think that somebody from rebkell did the wikipedia entry - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_WNBA_Playoffs
I think they based it on tv dates.
BCs,
Can you encourage the Mystics to advertise Coach Plank for COY? Check out what Seattle did:
http://www.wnba.com/storm/news/agler_coy10.html
Dear Jill,
Whether or not the Mystics decide to adopt a similar Oscar-type campaign, we think Coach Plank's performance speaks for itself. Mechelle Voepel (who isn't on the Storm payroll) calls Coach Plank the "front runner":
http://sports.espn.go.com/wnba/columns/story?columnist=voepel_mechelle&id=5467286
-- BC
I actually hope they don't do that for Plank. I'm not really sure what they were thinking in Seattle, and i'd be surprised if Agler had any knowledge of it. But i'm sure Julie would be perfectly happy to let him have coach of the year - she'll take the ring, thanks.
Her tougher challenge as a coach is going to be next season.
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