Sacramento Game

[University Blue]

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Washington is a not a good PG -- especially not a starting PG for a supposed contender. Her size is a liability on defense, perimeter shot is in-consistent, and ball-handling is suspect. I would much rather see Henderson start.

In crucial situations, I would rather have Arcain advance the ball, Lassiter start at SG, Stafford-Odom at SF, Thompson at PF, and Johnson at C.

What was Washington doing guarding Peneicheiro(?)?! Their freakin' offense goes through her and Washington did not have the size or strength to impede her passes or penetration into the lane.

Chancellor needs to spend less time chiding Lassiter and more time considering the mis-matches on defense.

...

In regards to the officiating, they sucked!!!

But despite the club-level officials, the league is catching up to Thompson's frequent claims of being fouled when she hasn't been fouled. Once you develop that reputation, it's going to be hard to get the calls when you've really been fouled.

What I've noticed with the Houston players is that they're afraid of contact (Thompson notwithstanding); except for maybe Arcain, there isn't a reliable ball-handler; no consister perimeter threat; un-clear on the concept of spacing; and no leader in critical situations.

This is not a legitimate contender. If Chancellor and company are expecting the officials to pave the way to a fifth title, Houston is in for a rude awakening.


University (Who's Got Next) Blue

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[Rocket River]

Goodness. . . why didn't all this show
up when we had that nifty little winning
streak?

Oh my bad. . . you only kick someone
when they are down!

Rocket River
pathetic

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[University Blue]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Why didn't all this show up when we had that nifty little winning streak?</font>


I posted the same sentiment at the beginning of the season: hence, the "I've said it before and I'll say it again" part. It was the first nine words of the post -- you might have missed it.


University (You've Got Next) Blue

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[Rocket River]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by University Blue:

I posted the same sentiment at the beginning of the season: hence, the "I've said it before and I'll say it again" part. It was the first nine words of the post -- you might have missed it.


University (You've Got Next) Blue

</font>

You might have missed that COCO is playing
some good ball . . . and that the Comets are
on a hellasious schedule since the storm

Rocket River



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[finalsbound]

I've said it once and I'll say it again:

The WNBA does not want the comets to win a 5th consecutive title.

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The media's Eddie Griffin NBA Draft player profile before he landed in the Rockets hands:

What he does: He was second in the nation in blocked shots and fifth in rebounds as a freshman last season; has good shooting range and even had a triple-double.
Reminds people of: Antawn Jamison
What he would do for his team: He could play either forward spot and runs the floor. He'll give his team a valuble inside scoring threat.

The media's review of the Rocket's draft after they got Eddie Griffin:

I'd give their draft a B. Sure, Griffin was highly touted but his behavior and attitude can be a chemistry wrecker. Needs to bulk up more. Not exactly NBA-ready. Not the best choice for Houston.

It's very sad. The "wonderfully talented prospect" one second, but the moment the media learns he'll be a Houston Rocket, it's criticize-o-rama.

[bcdjad]

After hearing about the Cleveland game and watching last night's game, I have to say that the WNBA absolutely DOES NOT WANT for the Comets to 5-peat. I watched only the second half of last night's game, but I saw at least five fouls that Sacramento committed that weren't called. Referees who are truly professionals CANNOT be that bad --they are giving the games away to the other team on purpose, plain and simple. The argument that referees are human and will make mistakes does not wash either, because there were just too many fouls not called against Sacramento for it to be a coincidence or bad luck. The WNBA got real scared of the Comets winning a fifth straight title even without Cooper and Swoopes when they started with a league-leading 12-2 record. Usually, I don't fall back on the WNBA vs. Houston theory, but anyone who saw the game last night has to know that this is the truth. It is pathetic.

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HOUSTON Rockets forever!!

[ChrisP]

I also don't like to blame losses on officiating, and I don't necessarily buy into the conspiracy theory, but...

The Comets have been absolutely mugged in the last two games (and I don't just mean Thompson) and they weren't calling the fouls. Then, they're calling touch fouls against us on the other end. We get 18 free throws to Sacramento's 30!? Dat ain't right. It sure as hell isn't because they were just more aggressive than us.

Granted, we weren't shooting the ball well in the last two losses, so it's not all on the officials. Still, the referees most definitely impacted the outcome of those games with their calls (or lack thereof). I just hate it when the games aren't decided by the play on the court.

Oh, and U. Blue:
This is not a legitimate contender.

How do you figure? Even with a two game losing streak, we're still second in the league. Cheer up man, IMO things are not as bad as you're making them out to be. Our offense is struggling and needs some work but the defense has been strong.

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[bcdjad]

Chris, I don't know about the Cleveland loss, but the only (ONLY!) reason Sacramento won last night was because of the referees. Forget about Coquese Washington's mistake. With the Comets up by 1 in the last minute of regulation, a Sacramento player tried to lob a pass to Yolanda Smith, and it sailed out of bounds. However, Tina Thompson was called for a foul, yet she barely touched Yolanda, if at all. Then, when the Comets had the ball with the score tied, Tina launches a 3-point try, gets clearly fouled on her arm, yet no foul was called. Houston had 'em, period. And I know this looks like a bunch of whining, but I absolutely guarantee you Sacramento would have said the same thing if the roles had been reversed.

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HOUSTON Rockets forever!!

[Old School]

"The WNBA does not want the comets to win a 5th consecutive title."

Did the WNBA want the Comets to win their 2nd, 3rd and 4th titles? Who cares? The Comets control their own destiny as always.

Old School

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I voted YES!

[ChrisP]

bcdjad: if you can believe it, the Cleveland game was actually much worse! Cleveland was mugging us so bad in the second half that I thought they were going to draw blood before a whistle blew. We had the game in our reach but got literally beaten down at the end.

As for the Sac. game, I know the plays you're talking about very well. I was yelling at the TV after both of them! That call and no-call make it very difficult to dismiss the conspiracy theory because they happened right at the end of the game and the officials handed OT to them (they really handed the game to them but Yo missed the free throw to win). You're right, we had 'em despite all the bad calls leading up to that. Very suspicious.

And yet, if we just make more of our open shots we win anyway and bad officiating becomes a moot point. As Old School points out, Comets control their own destiny.

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[Rocket River]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by ChrisP:
bcdjad: if you can believe it, the Cleveland game was actually much worse! Cleveland was mugging us so bad in the second half that I thought they were going to draw blood before a whistle blew. We had the game in our reach but got literally beaten down at the end.

As for the Sac. game, I know the plays you're talking about very well. I was yelling at the TV after both of them! That call and no-call make it very difficult to dismiss the conspiracy theory because they happened right at the end of the game and the officials handed OT to them (they really handed the game to them but Yo missed the free throw to win). You're right, we had 'em despite all the bad calls leading up to that. Very suspicious.

And yet, if we just make more of our open shots we win anyway and bad officiating becomes a moot point. As Old School points out, Comets control their own destiny.

</font>


Listening to this all I can say
Is that I'm proud of our girls
They keep it close and keep their kool
but
I don't know how long can they continue
taking this type of abuse before they lose
it.
I know I would

Rocket River


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[ChrisP]

I agree RR. I'm impressed with how composed they keep themselves under all conditions. I think that's how they pull out the wins when no one thinks they can.

Still, I've seen the frustration building in Tina's face when she gets hurled to the floor repeatedly with no calls. I keep expecting her to blow up and get ejected or something. You know it's bad when coach Chancellor gets himself ejected for the first time in his WNBA career over this. Somebody's gonna get hurt, dammit!

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