And the Last shall be First...At least for 1 night

The Mystics beat the Shock by 1 point. It was the best game of the season so far.


As a fan, when the season of your favorite team has an 0-8 start, it is easy to become a litte discouraged. You support the team but experience as sense of dread as you watch them defeated time and time again. But that is what I love about sports. It only takes one moment (or in this case 51 seconds) to restore your hope and remind you how great it is to me a fan. The Mystics v. Shocks was a game for fans and in many ways a methaphor for the the entire Mystics season.


The first quarter gave us fans a sense of what this team could really do. From the initial Milton-Jones layup followed by 3 solid blocks to the Gillian Goring layup and the Currie Rebound. This was the team that I knew the Mystics could be. But just as my confidence was building it was tested and by the end of the 3rd Qtr the "bad girls" of basketball lead 52-38.


But in sports it's not over til its over. If I were a sports commentator, it would go a little like this.....


With a 1:12 to go, Nikki Blue sinks a jump shot bringing the score to 60-64. The Shock's Deanna Nolan misses a 3 pt jumper that is rebounded by teammate Plenette Pierson, who goes up for the layup that is blocked by D-Nasty herself. With 48 seconds left to go, Currie is sent to the free throw line where she sinks for 2 (Thank GOD, she missed the last two free throws), which brings the score to 62-64. Swin Cash goes for the layup and is shut down by Nakia Sanford but Cash grabs her on rebound but in a bad pass attempt Nikki Blue goes for the steal, races down court passes to AB who lays up for 2 and the score is tied 64-64, 13 seconds to go and AB draws the foul, shoots 1 and the Mystics pull ahead for the first time since the 2nd Qtr. This is the stuff fan dreams are made of, victory is one defensive play away and we all stand to our feet in support. with 1 second left in the game Nolan goes for the jumper but is blocked by Milton-Jones, who seals the Mystics win against the number 1 seeded Shock. This is why America loves sports. Go Mystics!!!!!


On a side note, Tree took my advice (or read the writing on the wall) and replaced TJ with Monique Currie at the 3 position and the Mystics have been winning ever since.


BTW: In case there was any doubt,

Delisha "DNasty" Milton Jones wins my Highlight Award

Both for her solid play with 19 pts, 7 rebounds and 3 block and for her funky dance moves both before the game (Yeah, I peeped you in the tunnel) and after with the Mayheim. You go girl!!! Get your freak on!!!

Thank God for Pheonix

I feel vindicated. We took down Diana Taurasi and the Mercury twice. That is not luck but talent. The Mercury is the #3 ranked team in the west and the 4th best record overall. And what about the scoring... 106-101, this is NBA scoring but shows that the ladies know how to take it to the hole.

This was clearly the AB - D-Nasty show. With top points of 29, 22 respectively, both ladies shot with authority from the field, each throwing down 3 3-point shots apiece. This is what we expect from our potential all-stars. I am so excited by the this game, I am going to resurrect the highlight award.

Drum roll, please.

The highlight award goes to BERNICE MOSBY for putting up the first double - double in here WNBA Career with an impressive 13 rebounds off the pine and 13 points on the board. Hold it down, Bernice. Represent the rookie class.

1 Win, 9 losses....DAMN!!!

I feel like a broken record.... the Mystics have talent but they don't have the wins to back it up. And Friday against the Sparks was another display of talent accompanied by another loss. Hometown girl Monique Currie shot 20 from the bench and continues to demonstrate amazing ability to push into the paint and make plays happen. Three of the five starters , Nakia Sanford, Delisha Milton Jone and Alana Beard, pulled in double digits scoring 17, 15, and 11 respectively. We had a higher free throw percentage and we matched the Sparks in rebounds, but still a Loss.

I am an optimist but there are are few things that need to be done to turn this thing around. Here are few of my suggestions:

1. Put Laurie Koehn into heavier rotation. Laurie is an decent defensive player with superior outside shooting. She needs to be used more strategically.
2. Develop our big centers - Gillian Goring and the new player - to get more power under the rim.
3. Start Monique Currie to establish an early lead and dominance.
4. Coach Tree needs to tap the teams will and desire to win. He has to motivate them and instill a belief that every game is theirs to lose.

Finallly 1 in the Win Column.

For the last few weeks, I have tried to convince anyone who would listen that although the Mystics were 0-8, the team had the talent to be a championship team. Well tonight, the Mystics proved my point by putting the smackdown on the Mercury trouncing them 86-69.

Take A Look Back......

The last 8 games have been a lesson in perseverance unrewarded. In almost every game, the Mystics would come back from 10 points, 15 points or even Tuesday a whopping 21 points and still lose. And the question on fans minds was " How can you rally that hard, put that much heart in the game and still lose?" I think it was a mystery to everyone, including our new coach "Tree" Rollins how to achieve a win. Well tonight the mystery is solved.

Mystics Bring their Game

This game was won just as much by Mercury error as Mystics skill. On the Mercury error, only Diana Taurasi achieved double digit scoring with a whopping 28 points with Cappie Pondexter, one the WNBA leading scorers, posted a paltry 7 points. On the Mystics skill, the scoring problem was finally addressed, thanks in large part to the 61.9 % 3 point percentage with Nikki Teasley hitting a remarkable 3 of 4 3 point shots (usually not her shot.) The 3 point shot also greatly contributed to three players posted double digits, lead by off the bench player, Monique Currie with 25 (a career high), Alana Beard with 19 and Nikki Teasely with 12.

In the end, it was truly a team effort. Finally, the shit just worked. Thank God!!!!

Special Note on Monique Curry

From 3 pts to 4 pts to 12 pts to 25pts, the controversial "Curry/ Melvin" trade, which cost the Mystics a Head Coach and a solid vet, may be finally paying off. Curry is fast emerging as a critical part of this team. In contrast, Tamera James (Happy Birthday, TJ) has gone from 17 pts to 10 pts to 5 pts to 6 pts. Although, Coach Tree has said that he sees Curry as a option to Tamera's number 3 position, if she doesn't continue her push, she will soon be replaced by the controversial Curry in her spot. This would put Nikki and Alana at the 1 and 2 spot, and Monique at the 3 spot. Hmmm. Seems like a plan to me. Let's see how long it takes Coach Tree to catch on.

Love the Mystics, Hate the Record (0-7)

I am a loyal fan. So dispite my disappointment, or frustration. I support the team. I support Coach Tree and the rest of the coaching staff, but most of all I support the players who are working hard to make a team gel that has been racked with change.

Alright, that is the end of the disclaimer. Now the gloves are off.

Where there are solid imporovements on defense, but offense is is the toliet. Last season, the Mystics rarely played a game when scoring fell below 80 points, helped in large part by consistent outside shooting by Alana Beard, Delisha Milton Jones and Laurie Koehn. This year Delisha's outside shot is shakey (last year, here best to date she averaged 14.6 points a game, this year 11.6), at best, and the only way Laurie could have less playing time is if she wearn't on the team. Although, Tamera James is working hard to bring up the slack, scoring 17 against Indiana at Indiana, it is not enough.

So what is the solution. Focus on plays that get you in the paint, work on the outside shot and never forget your defense lessons.