It's OverThe Mystics' 2010 season -- the best regular season in franchise history -- came to an abrupt and very disappointing end tonight in Atlanta, as Washington lost to the Dream, 101-77, and was eliminated from the playoffs, 0-2.
Although Washington led by 4 points at the end of the 1st quarter, 21-17, another meltdown in the 2d quarter did them in, as they failed to score for the first 7:15 in the period (yes, not a single point in more than 7 minutes), while the Dream were tearing it up on the offensive end. By halftime, Atlanta was ahead, 50-28, having outscored the Mystics 33-7 in the second period. It was a very painful ten minutes to watch, particularly knowing that, barring a miraculous comeback, it meant the end of the season for the Mystics and their fans. Alas, there were no miracles tonight. By the end of the 3d quarter, the Dream had extended their lead, 75-45. All that was left was for the fat lady to sing. It seemed a very long 10 minutes until she did.
And then it was finally over. As we stated, this was the best regular season in Mystics history. The team broke the 20-win barrier for the first time ever, they set a franchise record with 22 wins, they beat every team in the league at least once, they finished first in the East, and they did it all without Alana Beard. These are no small accomplishments. There was much good in this season, and much good to be taken away from it. For now, though, we are just too sad, especially for the players, to be reflective about it. That will have to come later.
For now, we will simply congratulate the Atlanta Dream, which was the far better team in this playoff series, and wish them good luck as they advance to the Conference finals. We are particularly happy for Mystics alums Marynell Meadors (who got quite a birthday present today) and Coco Miller.
And, most important, we thank the Mystics for this great season. It was exciting, it was fun, it was historic. We won't forget any of that.
Go Mystics!
* * * * * *
Saturday morning update . . . It was not our intention to start looking ahead yet, but we would be remiss if we did not link to Kathy Orton's post-game interview, here, with Katie Smith about whether she will be back next season. The BCs would be very unhappy to see Katie retire (although we could certainly understand why, at the age of 36, she might), and even more unhappy to see her sign with another team, both possibilities she says she's considering.
posted by BasketCases @ 9:50 PM
25 comments
25 Comments:
See you next year, when Alana's back.
Since I have nothing good to say, I won't say anything else.
I kept leaving the room because I was scaring the cat and the partner, but what a horrible game. I kept thinking that maybe Alana would suit up and show them how it's done, but I guess that is for next year.
Maybe it's just me, but it just seemed unsportmanslike how Atlanta kept leaving their starters in and pushing so hard even when it was obvious that there was no way they could lose.
So much for getting to go to one more game. So Liberty versus Dream?
Sigh.
Thanks Mystics! Great regular season, but if people only see the Mystics play during the playoffs, they're going to get the wrong impression!!
If the Mystics are EVER to be successful, they must get a front court with a post player who is a "go to" player with a solid post up game, and an intimidator who can put the fear of God in any opposition player that comes in the land. Sanford and Melvin don't scare or intimidate anyone, Braxton and Pierson were both availavle, but Angela did not get them for the Mystics. Alana will NOT be the difference next year. If Smith comes back,can she use her influence to lure Cheryl Ford, if healthy, and Deanna Nolan to Washington? If not as the Supremes said in '65 "Nothing But Heartaches" For Mystics Fans.
WHAT TEAM WAS THAT IN MYSTICS UNIFORMS???? Too sad to appreciate the season right now-had to turn off the sound on NBA TV...and look away.
I'll DEFINITELY be at the welcome home at National. Can you keep us posted on any flight updates?
As far as we know, the Mystics are scheduled to return to Nat'l Airport on Saturday at 11:19AM on Delta Flight 2638.
-- BC
Worst. Meltdown. Evah.
The only up side was it didn't happen on ESPN narrated by incredibly irritating Rebecca Lobo.
Ugh. Poor kids.
Thanks BCs for focusing on the great season.
Anybody have an explanation for what happened to the Mystics in these two games?
Just last week they beat the Liberty and the Dream very convincingly.
But in these last two games, they looked frightened and lost.
Something is fundementally wrong when the first seed has to play first in the playoffs! Can someone tell me why the Mystics didn't get the Thursday and Saturday games? New York and Indy if they go 3 games won't finish up untilTuesday, whereas the Mystics series would of ended on Sunday. Not making excuses, but.......whats the advantage of finishing first!
One observation I couldn't quite shake...Katie Smith was down the court on defense way before any of the other young Mystics players the majority of the time. We've been lucky to have Katie on the court with us, and not trying to dismiss anything she did but why was she able to get back before those younger players?? Gotta show some energy and drive to win during the playoffs.
Next year!!
Yes, that was painful (and my birthday--double wammy). But I have plenty of positive thoughts.
This was my first year as a STH and I unexpectedly got a promotion this spring with a lot of new responsibility (I knew exactly how General Petraeus felt when asked to take over Afghanistan--so much for the summer vacation).
The Mystics pulled me through.
I became a better manager by watching Julie Plank allow players to make mistakes so they could improve, and by letting others step up when key people weren't available. I learned to mainitain grace under pressure when NO ONE on our team engaged in or responded to the high drama antics seen in players like Angel and Cappi. I learned generosity by watching Katie act more as a mentor and less of the star she is (please, please come back). I learned humility when all the players thanked fans for coming to team signings (as if they had nothing better to do). I learned persistence by watching Mattee continue to steal no matter what the score.
My biggest regreat is that pople who only watch the playoffs didn't see the real Mystics.
I renewed early, but I've contacted my rep to upgrade my seat location for next season.
Laura, what a wonderful, insightful post. The Mystics could have given up before the season ever started-instead they gave us our best season ever. That is character and pride. They won together and they lost together. Life is all about growth and development and how you react to what happens. I look forward to the growth that the organization experiences, building on this season.
I went to the airport to greet the team last Sunday and I would be there again today but I got called in to work.
Thank you Mystics.
Sandra Robinson
Section 112-the Presidential section :)
The answer to "why the Mystics didn't get the Thursday and Saturday games?" is because there is a conflict in schedule at Verizon Center on Saturday Aug 28th. Otherwise they would be playing at the Comcast Center or at the Patriot Center.
Thank you, Mystics for a great regular season!
I am still sad. If I didn't have a conference call this morning, I would go to the airport. I can't even imagine how sad the players are. What a difference 5 days makes.
I can't think about it yet. My granny used to say never to get too excited or too disappointed, but I think I let myself do both just in the last week.
I am still very proud of this team!
I'll publish the season photo tributes for SPM soon -- who should I choose? I think I can only do 2, though I might try to submit 3 and see what happens.
Great season. They surpassed expectations and provided some fun. I do think the need to bring in a real strong post players like a Ford as some one mentioned. That is what the off season is for-to improve your team. Not sure what happened in the playoffs-didn't look like the same team. Well, it is what it is. Again, great season...so great I think my boyfriend and I will buy season tickets.
It was painful to watch last night's game. I am just too sad, especially for the players. It was a great season. Thank you players. Thank you Mystics staff and organization. Sorry for you DC BasketCases. And thank you DC BAsketCases.
I'm sorry to season end this way. I enjoyed the games this season and would have loved to have more games to go to. I feel sad for the team, I know they wanted a win, and felt bad that they couldn't bring it back home to DC. I hope we don't loose Katie, she brings so much to the team. I will also miss seeing all the fans at the game.
I know this is a basketball blog, but I wanted to give a shout out to some other female professional athletes-the Washington Freedom. Several of their players came to Mystics games and we went to their game this past Saturday as they are ending their season trying to make the playoffs. They won and we had a great time at the soccerplex up in Germantown. Beautiful night. Their last home game is Saturday September 11th. It's worth checking out, while we wait for the Lady Terps to begin.
I still can't believe the Mystics season is over. Really. The ending...was just so abrupt. It's kind of depressing. I am sure the players are feeling that way for sure. I also attended the Freedom's soccer game on Sat. Was fun--although I find soccer a bit boring but good to support other female athletes.
Dear Boy and Girls,
We got busy at work today and we weren't checking up on you, and look what happened! Some of you tried to turn our blog into a message board, loaded with hypothetical trades and negative remarks and speculation about some players, comments that strayed too far from the topic of our post.
We have deleted these comments. If you'd like to engage in this sort of "dialogue," there are basketball message boards where you can do so day and night to your heart's content. A primary reason that we started this blog is because we were very tired of all that negativity, wild speculation, etc.
We welcome and enjoy comments from our readers, but please do remember that this is not a message board.
Thanks!
-- BC
Sorry you chose to delete the comments. They weren't entirely negative, but merely offered constructive alternatives to improving the Mystics as a team. The dialogue that ensued was, I thought a healthy discussion conducted on an open forum. I'm just not privy to as many alleged discussion boards for basketball (especially women's) that the moderators of this board are aware of.
Dear RBerry,
We appreciate that you read our blog and that you care, as we do, about the Mystics.
However, this site is a personal blog, not "an open forum." And we are the creators and authors of all the blog posts; we are not, nor do we wish to become, "moderators" of a board.
There are boards established for the exact purpose of allowing you to engage in discussions of all-WNBA and all-Mystics related subjects. Here are a couple you may wish to check out:
The most "lively" in our opinion is RebKell: http://boards.rebkell.net/viewforum.php?f=1
There's also the ESPN WNBA board: http://boards.espn.go.com/boards/mb/mb?sport=wnba&id=general
Hope this information is helpful.
--BC
Thank you BCs. I love your blog. I have gone on Rebkell and definitely get tired of a lot of the nonsense that gets written, as well as the language. I love the Mystics, all of them, and I am so happy about the great season that we had.
I agree (about both the BCs and the Mystics)! BCs, I'm glad you're back, if only briefly for now, and I'm looking forward to when you're able to resume your longer posts.
RBerry, I concur with your comment above- I too didn't find any of the comments negative, just peoples comments. Mine was deleted and all I said was folks don't need to start talking about getting rid of players! :o)
I understand this is not a public "forum" but a personal blog. Probably the best out there.
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