houstoncart
04-26-2005, 08:09 AM
Comets seeking quick turnaround
One season out of playoffs is enough for Swoopes and Co.
By W.H. STICKNEY JR.
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle
Sheila Lambert sat on the practice court at Toyota Center, back pressed against one wall as she absorbed the activities associated with Comets media day.
The Baylor product wasn't a part of the annual affair in 2004, though she spent most of the season playing point guard for coach Van Chancellor.
Now, as she glanced around the room Monday, an idea danced into her head, one that would complete a trifecta of pleasant occurrences for the Baylor product within one calendar year.
"Man, I can't even believe it," Lambert said. "My high school team won a championship this year. Of course, Baylor won the NCAA (women's tournament). And I was just thinking, 'Wouldn't it be good if the Houston Comets would win a world championship, just keep it going for me?' "
First things first, however. The Comets are eager to rid themselves of the sting of a 13-win season that saw them miss the WNBA playoffs for the first time, but the immediate aim of Chancellor and his revamped staff of assistants is to guide the players assembled in camp through the preseason.
Sheryl Swoopes, who labored through an uncharacteristic seesaw summer a year ago, is determined to return to the playoffs and end a pain that still lingers.
"I don't even think I've gotten over it," Swoopes said. "For the first year in Comets history for us to not make the playoffs, it was very frustrating. It was like a slap in our face.
"But I kind of feel like the Rockets. I don't think many people expected them to be where they are right now. If there's anything I can do about it, we're definitely making the playoffs this year."
Four players were absent for the second day of workouts. Tina Thompson has several weeks to go before the birth of her first child. Janeth Arcain, Tiffani Johnson and Michelle Snow are completing professional basketball commitments outside the United States.
First-round draft pick Sancho Lyttle of the University of Houston made her presence felt early and often during Tuesday's two-hour workout.
"I think she's just going to get better and better from one day to the next," Chancellor said.
One season out of playoffs is enough for Swoopes and Co.
By W.H. STICKNEY JR.
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle
Sheila Lambert sat on the practice court at Toyota Center, back pressed against one wall as she absorbed the activities associated with Comets media day.
The Baylor product wasn't a part of the annual affair in 2004, though she spent most of the season playing point guard for coach Van Chancellor.
Now, as she glanced around the room Monday, an idea danced into her head, one that would complete a trifecta of pleasant occurrences for the Baylor product within one calendar year.
"Man, I can't even believe it," Lambert said. "My high school team won a championship this year. Of course, Baylor won the NCAA (women's tournament). And I was just thinking, 'Wouldn't it be good if the Houston Comets would win a world championship, just keep it going for me?' "
First things first, however. The Comets are eager to rid themselves of the sting of a 13-win season that saw them miss the WNBA playoffs for the first time, but the immediate aim of Chancellor and his revamped staff of assistants is to guide the players assembled in camp through the preseason.
Sheryl Swoopes, who labored through an uncharacteristic seesaw summer a year ago, is determined to return to the playoffs and end a pain that still lingers.
"I don't even think I've gotten over it," Swoopes said. "For the first year in Comets history for us to not make the playoffs, it was very frustrating. It was like a slap in our face.
"But I kind of feel like the Rockets. I don't think many people expected them to be where they are right now. If there's anything I can do about it, we're definitely making the playoffs this year."
Four players were absent for the second day of workouts. Tina Thompson has several weeks to go before the birth of her first child. Janeth Arcain, Tiffani Johnson and Michelle Snow are completing professional basketball commitments outside the United States.
First-round draft pick Sancho Lyttle of the University of Houston made her presence felt early and often during Tuesday's two-hour workout.
"I think she's just going to get better and better from one day to the next," Chancellor said.