outlaw

ok, here's the first "real" thread for this forum. What do you guys think of the draft?

Van went and picked another European post who may or may not show up. He passed up on the top pure point guard, which was the team's biggest need in my opinion. He did get a nice steal in Andrea Garner in Round 2 however.

I give them a B+ if the Russian shows up, a C+ if she doesn't.

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E.J. Tucker

You have a good point about the point guard, but doesn't it seem he gets players as much for their ability to blend with what he has as for their talent. Hard to second guess him as he has seemed to always have the right player in the right place at the right time.

Glad to see this forum. Living a long way from Houston and only visiting from time to time now, all my enjoyment comes from my satellite's and TV's. The Comets filled a vold at first, but have made me a fan and seldom miss a game now.

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Calvin23

I couldn't believe Van didn't draft Helen Darling at first, since amazingly, she was still available. But I understand why he did what he did now. Tina Thompson and Polina Tzhcova(sp?) are still young. But our reserves, Tammy Jackson and Monica Lamb, are up there in age and struggled with injuries all through last season. And there's no telling if the Russian that was drafted last year will be coming. I think Van is going to play the young people he drafted more during the season, and the vets will be healthy and physicially ready for the playoffs. Jenneth Arcain could play the point. Actually, Van did trade one drafted player for 2 other pgs, so I think we will be OK there.

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No matter how badly the idiots may outmumber you, they're still the idiots.

outlaw

yeah i didn't mean to second guess Van. I just thought it would have been cool to have Darling AND Garner together on the same team.

I think he's afraid of getting a star point guard because people might forget about Kim or something.

ico4498

Three championships in three years ... I think Van will survive a little second guessing. If our first pick actually shows and grabs a few rebounds, I'd rate the draft a C, if not F.

The problem with any more "stars" (guards or otherwise) is they still play the games with one ball. Whatever pieces Van fits around CC, SS and TT will be primarily defensive.

regards

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[This message has been edited by ico4498 (edited April 30, 2000).]

comets979899

i would rate Van's draft picks about a B-.
above average, but not by much. with all due
respect to having the last pick in every
round, not selecting Darling while she was
still availible is not selecting the best
player availible and thus the grade of B-.
however, with that said, the last minute
trade of Coleman for Renee Robinson was
"in a word" genuis. Robinson is young and
like all rookie's will need time to develope
Robinson will likly be a Kim Perrot type
player for when some of the veterans like
Washington,Arcain,and Rizzotti retire. and
she will learn some skills under those
leaders. the russian girl and Gardner
should help give some relief to Tzekova and
Thompson in the post, however will probably
mean Lamb and Jackson will probably not make
the team in camp this year. that's too bad
too, they both deserve better. i personally
wouldn't mind if Jackson were on the injured
list just for security sake.

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Calvin23

I would be very upset if Tammy doesn't make the team this season. If it wasn't for Coop, she would have gotten the Finals MVP last year, she was unbelivable! I think she can still play, but will have limited minutes up until the playoffs. We'll see, though.

On a side note, did you know that Amaya Vlademoro has GAME?? In the little time we saw her play, she was all hustle, and very quick. I would love it if Van could find some minutes for her, or trade her somewhere where she'll get it.

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No matter how badly the idiots may outmumber you, they're still the idiots.

comets979899

i couldn't agree more, but all i know is that
Jackson almost didn't make the team last
season. don't get me wrong, i am a huge fan
of Tammy as well. the thing that most help
her stay on the team last season was that the Z woman did not report to training camp. she's not coming again this season, but we drafted another russian ( her teammate in russia) Chirova and from what most reports are saying she is going to report to camp this season. add Gardner and an 11 player roster and well... you do the math. with the trade of Nicolich to portland for Washington, the starting five will be 1 (Conquese Washington 2(Cynthia Cooper)3(Sheryl Swoopes)4(Tina Thompson)
5(Polina Tzekova) second team is a
little more complecated due to who will be
on the active roster or injured list or
waived all together or traded. i think its
pretty safe to say that Arcain, Valdemoro
will make the team. Arcain plays mostly a
sixth woman position of backing up the one
and two positions when needed Amaya plays
mostly backing up swoopes and sometimes Tina
Wolters was picked up in the exspansion
draft who main use ( and their was little of
it) was backing up Tzekova. Right now we
have Monica Lamb whom i believe is still
having difficulty recovering from her eye
injury last season and Jackson whom plays
both the four and five position. when you
look at it on paper the addition of Chirova
and Gardner at the five and four
respectfully and Valdemoro at the three,
Arcain at the two spot and Rizzotti and
Robinson backing up the point ( and i think
its quite possible that Rizziotti may be
traded during or after camp to make room for
Robinson as primary back up point guard)
there only room for one more active roster
player whom will probably be a post type
player and maybe someone to ride the
injurded list...what do you think, did i
leave anything out? Oh Yeah! Amaya is
awesome and she will diffinantly be seeing
more time this year. i'm without a doubt a
huge Valdemoro fan. we are so lucky she
did not get selected in the exspansion draft

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comets979899

hey,...thinking way ahead in the future, what do you think of moving sheryl to the shooting guard position of cynthia's when she retires. and putting Amaya Valdemoro at the three position in the starting line up. Arcain really deserves it more but she is so effective defencively coming off the bench as a sixth woman. she really gets control of the game when it get a little out of control. what do you all think?...

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outlaw

Apparently Chakirova won't come this season so I think Tammy is safe. She is too popular among the fans to get rid of anyway.

Here's who I see making the roster:
1. Cooper
2. Swoopes
3. Thompson
4. Arcain
5. Tzekova
6. Washington
7. Valdemoro
8. Jackson
9. Garner
10. Davis
11. Lamb

12.(IL) - Robinson or Willenborg

by position:
C: Tzekova/Jackson/Lamb
PF: Thompson/Garner
SF: Swoopes/Arcain
PG: Washington/Valdemoro*
SG: Cooper/Davis

*Amaya's not a true 1 but she's got great handles and passing skills. I see her as a Penicheiro-lite.

Davis is a nice defensive stopper who doesn't need the ball.

dc sports

It was an interesting strategy on their part -- but the reasoning was pretty sound. The Comets deffinitely have a good core -- a core that has more than proven themselves. They aren't too worried about this year.

So, they drafted a player that is likely to be a big advantage to them next year -- that other teams were avoiding. They feel good about the short term -- so they made moves for the long term.

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Stay Cool...

CometsFan

OK... have to agree that I too have been second guessing Van on his draft choices and I was really pushing for Darling with the first pick (I figured the others would still be there in the later rounds anyway).

BUT ... I think over all, not a bad draft. We need solid backups in the low post. Rebounding has always been one of the weakest areas of the overall team game and Van went out and drafted players he feels can help in that area. Also, I think Tina needs someone to come in to spell her from time to time. I know that none of the Big 3 like to come out of the game, but as the season grows longer and the other teams become stronger, we need to be thinking about longevity and the bigger picture of bringing home that 4th championship, so ALL of our stars are going to have to sit a bit more.

I had been hoping to see a true point guard come onto the team, but Janeth Arcain's skills with the ball are getting better and better, plus she can rotate to the 2 to spell Coop. If she has put in any time during the off season to work on her handling skills, then I think the point position will be solid this year.

Personally ... what I worry about most is that Van will insist on a terribly short rotation again this year. Despite picking last in every round in each of the last 3 drafts, the Comets have a fairly nice bench. I'd really like to see Van utilize some of his rather raw talent (like Valdemoro).

Just my thoughts .....


Adria

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comets979899

from the things i read on both WNBA.com and ESPN.com all indications are that Chakirova is going to report to camp tommorrow. ( we'll see ) here's my stab at final roster players and cuts and a few i'm not sure about.

5 position center:
Polina Tzekova
Elen Chakirova

4 power forward:
Tina Thompson
Andrea Garner

3 small forward:
Sheryl Swoopes
Amaya Valdemoro

2 off guard:
Cynthia Cooper
Janeth Arcain

1 point guard:
Conquese Washington
Renee Robinson

11th active roster spot:
either Jennifer Rizziotti ( exsperience )
or Latina Davis ( future )

Injured List:
either Tammy Jackson ( exsperience/veteran )
or Monica Lamb ( youth/ less likly injury )

i have janeth backing up Coop because she does back up Cooper only doesn't usually get that many minutes in doing so, and usually get the bulk of her minutes playing the point when Van wants a bit taller player on some of the taller point guards like T-spoon. this also gives Renee more time to develope. according to Fran Harris, Renee is a Kim Perrot type player in the making and perfect for the Comets and Van's type of player in general. with Conquese and janeth at the point getting a majority of the minutes Renee is our best bet for the future. Amaya has been used mostly for back up for Swoopes and occasionally for Thompson. She's not afraid to bang around in the middle and create havoc. and great spark of the bench. and with two years under Van should be under more control now and recieve her fair share of time on the court.
Elen and Andrea will need time to learn the system, but that shouldn't take too long and they should be very effective at their prospective positions. the next big question mark is our older veterans in Tammy, Monica and Jennifer. i personnally can not make up my mind requarding this issue. Tammy and Monica can both be sufficent post players and both know the system but injuries have plagued both players. and both would be third options assuming Chakirova shows up. at point guard, Rizziotti like Bryce Drew becomes the odd man out. Coach did not play her that offend and when he did it was trash time and you really did not get to see what she may or may not be capible of. i say if Coach is not going to play her trade her for future draft picks as well as some of the other players that may not make the team.
just some thoughts, what do you all think...
let me have if you think i'm wrong. i'm a big boy and can take the critizism. C-YA!

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comets979899

WNBA.com has a complete list of free agents. here are the comets lists:

Nekeshia Henderson G 5' 8"

Dena Head G 160"

Jawann Kelly Gibson G/F 5' 9"

along with draft picks, Abbie Willenborg, Latina Davis and the Monica and Tammy delimia how do you guys see any of these players effecting our projected final roster picks?...

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comets979899

O K i stand corrected!... the houston chronicle is now reporting that both Tzekova and Chakirova may not be showing up for camp today. " don't be surprised if Tzekova doesn't show up today".

the houston comes are officially a donunt as of today with a big gapping hole in the middle.

well here's my amendment to my previous post on projected roster at the center position:

"mojo" Monica Lamb starting center
with Andrea Garner getting most of the minutes backing up Monica and Tina with the ultimate warrior filling in with limited minutes at both the 4 and 5.

comets fans...we have a revolving door at the post,...come on out and lets all give it a try...just kidding ( and furstraited )

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outlaw

I hate these Euros (except for Valdemoro)!!!

I say trade Tzekova, Chakirova and Zassulskaya to Detroit for Astou N'Diyae or to Portland for Alissa Burras. At least they'll be able to contribute this year!

Clutch

comets979899 -- here you go: the thread is right here .... you had it set "Show Topics from last 2 days only" so it wasn't displaying...

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dc sports

Comets979899,

That's kind of funny. Monica Lamb on the injured list because she is less likely to be injured.

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Stay Cool...