More of the Same
Tonight in New Jersey, the Mystics clawed their way back from a 13-point (24-11) first quarter deficit to take the lead by one point over the New York Liberty with 25 seconds left in the game. But once again, the Mystics could not finish, losing 69-66. Another big night for Crystal Langhorne (25 points), without a win. (Poor Lang.)
The loss drops Washington's record to 5-17, which means the best the Mystics can do this season is finish at .500, but that would require them to win all of their remaining 12 games.
Almost as painful as watching tonight's game on Live Access was listening to the New York announcers. Two hours of our lives we can never get back. (We kept hoping The Big White Whale would surface and put Kym Hampton and Tara Petrolino out of our their misery. No such luck.)
The Mystics return home on Thursday to host the league-leading Minnesota Lynx (who were on the short-end of a 108-79 blow-out in Connecticut tonight) at 7 PM in the Phone Booth. This will be the only opportunity for Mystics fans to see rookie Maya Moore play in person this season. That should make the game more interesting.
posted by BasketCases @ 9:58 PM
21 comments
21 Comments:
Imagine if we had no Lang.... It would be REALLY bad.
Kym Hampton is the worst sports commentator I have ever heard in my lifetime. They can't find anyone better? OMGosh. Terrible.
OK let's swallow our pride and call AT & JP back!
DITTO to 10:11 PM! Think AT is done with the Mystics but not sure JP is. Marianne came back so there may be hope.
Not sure JP could fix what ails. We need Harding back!
Dear Section 100,
When a team loses so many games in the final minutes or final seconds, we have to wonder if there's a failure to adequately prepare, motivate and/or provide the players with a strategy for closing out these games.
From what we've seen, the Mystics players like Lang, Matee and Jaz are giving a 100% effort. We think it's unfair to assign all the blame for these late game failures to the players.
The BCs believe that one thing that separates a really good coach from the pack is that a good coach wins more close (i.e., winnable) games than she loses.
Just our opinion, but we think the Mystics would be winning more of these close games if JP were still on the bench. JP was(is) a good coach.
And, yeah, we agree . . . things would also be looking a lot rosier if Lindsey were still here.
--BC
Glad to see I'm not the only one wondering about the NY commentators. Sheesh! I have to say, the commentary for the Mystics home games is terrific. I've been able to score a few new fans by getting them to watch Live Access first, and they were all impressed with the play by play. Also last night, what was up with the overhead shots? Not really a good idea to go arty when it means you can't see the plays.
BCs are right that these losses wouldn't be mitigated by different players (although a healthy MO and AB would sure help).
Anyone else concerned that the other teams are calling for season ticket renewals but we haven't heard anything?
This team fought it's way back.They took the lead. But because the Liberty then fought back and took the lead, It's the Mystics fault that they lost. My God People. This team has more heart than I have ever seen in a team. I remember a team a few years ago that completely gave up when they got behind. Yes I wish we could win these close games, but despite the won-loss record, I have really enjoyed watching this team over that last few weeks. Give us back 20 seconds throughout the season and we would be 11 and 11. Thanks team for at least trying instead of looking at the record and saying To Hell With It.
I think we have been consistently impressed with the players' efforts and have said so many times here. And yes, there were some Mystic's teams that would fold and appear to give up. We probably were spoiled by the real success we experienced last season and expected to build upon this season.
Yes, I know, life goes on, get over it, that season is done. I no longer have any expectations other than the effort I have seen this frustrating season. Praise to the players and the fans who keep coming back.
You have to blame the coach if the team is losing so many close games. They seem to never do well after the final timeout. The buck always stops at the coach. Now, you can't blame the coach entirely for all of those missed shots though. Our guards missed A LOT of shots last night. If you can't drive to the basket and you are missing your jumpers, your team is in trouble. This to me is Coleman's season in a nutshell. Can't drive to the basket and not shooting jumpers well at all. Mattee--shooting jumpers better but has the ability to drive to the basket and therefore she scores more points if her jump shot is off. This is where Mo will help the Mystics next year at the 3 spot. She can get to the basket if her jumper is off.
I notice that the first and second place teams in the East and West have both a General Manager and a Coach. I don't think our team would be in last place if AT and JP were still around. Does anyone think Sheila would ever admit she made a mistake and call them to come back?
@ Anonymous at 6:39
No, Sheila will not admit any wrongdoing or mistake. It will be labeled as a season when many players got hit by injuries and a year when there was transition to a new system...
Let's hope that we can give Minnesota another loss tomorrow, and Laurel Richie is coming!
Nobody who left is coming back. Those bridges are burnt. People wanted to get away so badly they made significant sacrifices.
Frankly, if Langhorne is willingly in a Mystics uniform next year after being a restricted free agent at the end of this season, that would be a MAJOR success.
Everything in one's life comes back-in one way or another.
I agree about Langhorne. If she is willing to come back after next year, it would be a great success. Wouldn't the Liberty love to have her and she is from New Jersey. I hope the Mystics can improve in a major way next season so we don't lose Lang. How long are you willing to stay on a team where you are carrying so much of the load each and every game. We shall see about Mattee also. Isn't she a restricted free agent next season also? Winners want to be on teams that win.
All that a team has to do to keep a Restricted Free Agent is match an offer made to her by another team. That being the case, we think it's pretty certain Lang will be back next season.
-- BC
BCs--What about the season after next? Would she be an unrestricted free agent?
I think you meant to type "all they have to do to keep the RIGHTS of a Restricted Free Agent under their control is match the offer made by another team."
As Mystics fans well know, the player is under no obligation to sign that contract as long as she's willing to deal with the consequences.
If Langhorne and Ajavon are both RFA's, one can be cored.
Forgot to add that obviously a cored player doesn't have to sign the contract, but again, you guys are all well aware of that.
Yes, you're correct, a RFA's team can keep her "rights" by matching an offer. But in Lang's case, we'd be shocked if she refused to sign and sat out for a summer.
-- BC
But what about the following season after the next, would she be an unrestricted free agent?
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