04/19/24
September 29, 2004
The first round of the WNBA playoffs is over : and my picks are still in it. Are they ever: Seattle was the only team to win the first round in two straight, and Connecticut, which just got done swarming all over Washington like a crowd of annoying little bees, is looking stronger with every game. Seattle plays Sacramento and Connecticut plays New York in the semis, and I'm sticking with my original prediction: Seattle and Connecticut will advance, and it will take three games each. Next round starts Friday, schedule here.
posted by lil_brown_bat to basketball at 10:10 PM - 5 comments
Alana was wonderful; Dales-Shuman was brilliant in spots, but the two of them couldn't do it alone, especially after Stacy got into foul trouble early. If it makes you feel better, look at the Storm. It's Sue Bird's third year on the team, and the first year they have a realistic chance to go all the way. Without question, Alana's day will come.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 08:51 AM on September 30, 2004
Yeah, don't worry about the Mystics. When Chamique shut it down, you knew they were finishing the year to just gain experience. Beard is going to be fine, and Dales-Schuman is going to slowly hand the throttle over to her over the next few years. (Actually, I don't mind Stacy as an analyst, so that works out.) My picks are also all still in (of course). (I said I wouldn't be surprised if the Sparks got through. I'm happy they didn't (I like Yolanda Griffith, and I'm glad she's finally getting some glory), but still.) Storm over the Sun in 4 in the final. Loz and Bird will step up and make it rain.
posted by chicobangs at 10:30 AM on September 30, 2004
Stacy irritates me as an analyst; perhaps just a few too many bouts of anti-Duke hostility on her part. Whatever. Chico: just from the box scores (didn't get to see any games, Oxygen is premium around here), the Mystics were a much better team without Chamique. Will be interesting to see what happens when she returns.
posted by tieguy at 05:09 PM on September 30, 2004
Wow, after the game last night... are Sue & Loz confident or what? Not that they don't have a right to be. If the Monarchs lose their perimeter touch for even ten minutes, then all the Storm have to do is keep pressing and this'll be over by halftime tomorrow. Hope Bird's surgery goes well today.
posted by chicobangs at 11:54 AM on October 04, 2004
Yargh. Terrible ending for Alana for a great rookie season. I have to admit I can't bring myself to care one whit about what happens the rest of the season. (And I think she got screwed in rookie of the year, too... I did not see Taurasi leading her team from the bottom of the division to the playoffs.)