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Minnyme -> It aint over yet (7/26/2010 11:10:49 PM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Bruce Johnson
Can we call it one more disappointing season, now?
Did I miss something? Is the regular season over [:-]
It has been disappointing but .... as a STH I do like what this team has put together and were I see them going.
They had/have high expectations & should. They aspire to be a "championship team" and for some reason many expected that out the gates. Consider :
* This is the teams 3rd coach in 3yrs. All 3 coaches on the staff were w/different teams last year. They've had to come together & get to know the players as well. Unlike the past 2 coaches I'm good with this coach. She puts in work. Work that the previous coaches didn't bother with. Her style is more focused then her predecessors, she's a bit tougher too but it's a good thing I think.
* That means all 11 players were playing for a different head coach, learning a new system on both ends of the floor from the year before. As well as a getting used to new teammates.
*Other then the rookie, the 5 starters +2 other primary rotational player missed all or part of training camp. Every wk from the start of camp, to the time Wiggins went down for good in late June, they had to adjust the starting line-up & rotation as people joined the team.
* They started the first 4 gms of the season w/out 3 starters. Brunson played in gm #5 after 2 practices w/the team; Wiggins missed 6 gms; Augustus missed 9. Once Wiggs & 'Mone joined the team, they were complete for all of 4 full gms & 39:52 mins of a 5th gm before losing Wiggins for the season. [:@]
In the mean time the rest of the league has gone on its marry way. In the West 4 of the 6 coaches are 1st yr head coaches. The 2 teams leading the West … the 2 teams that returned the same coaching staffs & most of their core players. They are also the 2 teams that have not been hit hard with injuries let alone lost any key players for the season.
With all the, "Oh Lindsay Whalen is home to lead the team" hype [&o] & all the talk of how the team has "all this talent to win a championship now" talk, I can see how people see the record, laugh & say what a joke. Has it been a less than ideal season thus far, no doubt. But as a long time fan I understand the challenges this team has had to face & it sucks. All that shee shee above is not about making excuses; it’s about them having to deal w/challenges & setbacks every time they turn around.
The team has made some strides since the start of the yr when their preseason gms where played with 'training camp fodder' cuz that's all the coach had to work with. This team has lost its last 3 gms by a total of 7 pts. Simple as make some FTs they win all 3.
Anyway, Anosike is not full strength & I think Whalen has been banged up as well. They play on. And YES this fan likes that we have Whay over Renee Montgomery. Giving up that shot at Tina Charles was was the high ticket price. She's been an outstanding rookie post. Monica Wright is coming along, especially on the defensive end. Playing behind Wiggs would have been cool but she's getting her time in now. Augustus shot seems to be coming along but you can see she's not near 100%.
Ah long winded here [:o] but I believe in this team [sm=buttrock.gif]
Next year I expect the coach to be back. That alone is key to some stability. No new systems but building off of the previous season. We have everyone signed for next season I believe. I hope & pray we don't have to deal w/any more season ending injuries. We have a core of players who are in or yet to approach their prime. A healthier Augustus, Wiggins & Anosike, Whalen, Brunson, Wright, Houston?, Maiga-Ba for extra vet presence & Hornbuckle. We'll see what kind of draft pick(s) we end up with (we have our pick & CT 1st rnd pick)
Right now they have about a 1/3 of the season left to play in the next 4 wks. There are 4 teams fighting for 3 playoff spots so we’ll see how things go.
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