University Blue
08-15-2001, 01:27 PM
Michael Cooper: Still trying to prove himself as a coach. Doesn't hurt that he inherited a team with so much talent. Cooper, a former player and "defensive specialist," is definitely a player's coach. However, because of his in-experience as a coach and un-proven record in preparing for important games, Chancellor will have advantage in preparing Houston for LA. (It's no coincidence that Chancellor used Jackson sparingly in the regular season...only to play her significant minutes in last year's WCF. Cooper must have noted that lesson well. *See "Rhonda Mapp" below.)
Lisa Leslie: What it must be like to watch Tina Thompson win four titles. Leslie has something to prove.
She is strongest in the post and weakest from the perimeter. If she has to put the ball on the court, it's a turn-over waiting to happen. Physical, but not too strong.
Note: Too bad Paulina Tsekova has decided not to return to Houston. She would have been the perfect defense against Leslie.
Delisha Milton: "D-Nasty" came into her own this season. Has a "nasty" turn-around, better-than-Leslie perimeter game, is an aggressive defender, and solid rebounder.
For LA, Milton is paradise (finally) found.
Latasha Byears: I've asked this before and I'll ask again: "What was Sonny Allen thinking?!" :mad: How can you trade Byears to a contender in the same conference?
Byears is a bear on the boards and a very physical and effective player in the post. Someone, Jackson or Stafford-Odom, really needs to block her out. Tiffani Johnson, despite her size, is not strong enough to keep Byears off the boards.
Byears is probably the X-factor for La.
Mwadi Mabika: Very athletic player, but fragile mentally.
It's important for Houston to stay close with LA at the beginning of games...because Mabika has historically been MIA in crucial games/situations. If LA gets off to a comfortable lead, all the pressure will be off Mabika and that jump-shot will start finding the basket.
Note: Interesting constrast of two players: Cynthia Cooper (non-athletic, but effective in crucial situations) vs Mwadi Mabika (athletic, but not effective when the pressure is on)
Tamecka Dixon: Emotional player and fairly athletic.
One question: does she ever go left...and score?
Rhonda Mapp: Cooper did not play Mapp very much in the regular season, but Mapp is an All-Star center and will definitely make more than an appearance in the playoffs -- if not against Houston, then definitely Sacramento.
Note: That's right, I pick Sacramento over Utah.
Mapp is a physical player with a sweet fade-away jumper on the left side of the blocks. At this point, I'm sure Charlotte is kicking themselves for trading Mapp. Charlotte is kicking themselves now, but Cleveland will finish the job in the playoffs.
Note: Houston should also be kicking themselves. If the trade of Wolters, who is currently playing for Sacramento, and Mapp had been approved, it would be Mapp, Thompson, SF, Arcain, PG.
I anticipated the Jackson move (by Chancellor) last year, but I don't see anything Chancellor can do this year. If Houston wants to win this series against LA, it will have to come from Thompson, Arcain, Jackson, and [Name Withheld].
University (Seeing Clearly: Texas State Optical) Blue
Lisa Leslie: What it must be like to watch Tina Thompson win four titles. Leslie has something to prove.
She is strongest in the post and weakest from the perimeter. If she has to put the ball on the court, it's a turn-over waiting to happen. Physical, but not too strong.
Note: Too bad Paulina Tsekova has decided not to return to Houston. She would have been the perfect defense against Leslie.
Delisha Milton: "D-Nasty" came into her own this season. Has a "nasty" turn-around, better-than-Leslie perimeter game, is an aggressive defender, and solid rebounder.
For LA, Milton is paradise (finally) found.
Latasha Byears: I've asked this before and I'll ask again: "What was Sonny Allen thinking?!" :mad: How can you trade Byears to a contender in the same conference?
Byears is a bear on the boards and a very physical and effective player in the post. Someone, Jackson or Stafford-Odom, really needs to block her out. Tiffani Johnson, despite her size, is not strong enough to keep Byears off the boards.
Byears is probably the X-factor for La.
Mwadi Mabika: Very athletic player, but fragile mentally.
It's important for Houston to stay close with LA at the beginning of games...because Mabika has historically been MIA in crucial games/situations. If LA gets off to a comfortable lead, all the pressure will be off Mabika and that jump-shot will start finding the basket.
Note: Interesting constrast of two players: Cynthia Cooper (non-athletic, but effective in crucial situations) vs Mwadi Mabika (athletic, but not effective when the pressure is on)
Tamecka Dixon: Emotional player and fairly athletic.
One question: does she ever go left...and score?
Rhonda Mapp: Cooper did not play Mapp very much in the regular season, but Mapp is an All-Star center and will definitely make more than an appearance in the playoffs -- if not against Houston, then definitely Sacramento.
Note: That's right, I pick Sacramento over Utah.
Mapp is a physical player with a sweet fade-away jumper on the left side of the blocks. At this point, I'm sure Charlotte is kicking themselves for trading Mapp. Charlotte is kicking themselves now, but Cleveland will finish the job in the playoffs.
Note: Houston should also be kicking themselves. If the trade of Wolters, who is currently playing for Sacramento, and Mapp had been approved, it would be Mapp, Thompson, SF, Arcain, PG.
I anticipated the Jackson move (by Chancellor) last year, but I don't see anything Chancellor can do this year. If Houston wants to win this series against LA, it will have to come from Thompson, Arcain, Jackson, and [Name Withheld].
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