Comets and Starzz

[Bob_Ballew]

How about the play of Natalie Williams in the final game of that series. She had it going throughout the entire game. As much as I wanted to see Houston go up against LA, I am happy that Utah has had the success that they are having.

Sheryl Swoopes is an incredible player, and to be selected again as the MVP after missing a season, WOW!

The WNBA has been fun to watch this season. Any thoughts on who will be in the finals and who will win it all? I sure would like to see Utah beat LA. This championship could easily go to any one of the remaining teams IMO.

[This message has been edited by Zo3157 (edited 08-22-2002).]

[carolann]

Swoopes was Swoopes in the Utah series but it wasn't enough.

It was interesting to me when one of the tv announcers mentioned that Natalie Williams was only Utah's 4th leading scorer this year in the regular season.

I think Utah has as good a starting 5 as anyone in the league but that the lack of a bench will be fatal in this 2 out of 3 series with LA. The Starzz played only 6 players in game 3 against Houston and only 7 in game 2.

I'd like to see a Utah/Washington final. I'll settle for a LA/Washington final. I'll be a little disappointed if it comes down to a New York/Washington final.

[DblT81]

Any conspiracy theories out there that the WNBA really desires an LA/NY (two largest TV markets) finals and they would script the semis to make that happen?

[metromaniac]

Speaking of the Starzz and their rotation---what is the story on Caulfield---I know or read she had a stress fracture---is she out for the duration or is there something else going on? Anybody have any info?

[ISU3PointLand]

Any conspiracy theories out there that the WNBA really desires an LA/NY (two largest TV markets) finals and they would script the semis to make that happen?


The NBA conspire to have the two largest tv markets make it to the final? Nooooooooooooo! (I wish you could hear my sarcasm). I find it highly suspect, considering for the past 11 out of 12 years or something like that, that at least one team from the largest 4 tv markets in the country for the men's NBA (New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston).

The nail in the coffin for me came from when New York made the NBA finals as the #8 seed. They beat the #1, #2 and #4 seeds on their way. It was highly suspect, condsidering they barely made it into the playoffs at all!

Had Sacramento made the NBA finals this year, the ratings would have been even worse than they already were! Their television ratings dictiate how much they can get during broadcast negotiations. Even bumping those number up slightly from the big 4 markets helps the NBA.



[This message has been edited by ISU3PointLand (edited 08-22-2002).]

[swok34]

metro.....they've had her on the injured list FOREVER. She does travel with the team, but doesn't look to get off the IR this season.

The Houston/Utah Game 3 was an awesome game...I think Game 2 was that way also, but I didn't catch the end of that game.

I'm with Carol.........rooting for a Washington/Utah Championship Game. Utah and Washington are BOTH playing very well right now. Glad Natalie Williams has shown up to play in the semi's, she had so much trouble with her shot early in the season. Washington got some rest (and they needed it badly), though their play in Games 1 & 2 looked like the Mystic team of June.

I'm not a huge New York fan, so I would be for anyone against New York.......even LA, though I'll be rooting for the underdogs in Utah and Washington. I don't know that I would even watch a LA/NY final........

so ready for the college season to begin, I'm with whomever said, "let's just skip football"....... http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

[HuskerFan86]

Maybe the most important factor for Utah was Marie Ferdiand. She is so awesome, and she's going to get much better. In addition to her scoring in game 3, she also blanketed Sheryl Swoopes and limited the # of easy shots that Swoopes got (she missed her first 6 shots). Ferdinand also scored the Starzz last 6 points of the game including the crucial free throws that they misssed in Game 2. Marie is ultra athletic and she will be a problem for L.A. as will Natalie Williams and big Margo. I expect Utah to win tonight and then steal one from the Sparks in L.A. The Starzz beating Houston at the Compaq Center w/out a good effort from Adrienne Goodson, their leading scorer, really proved something to me.

[TXSNOS]

Originally posted by DblT81:
Any conspiracy theories out there that the WNBA really desires an LA/NY (two largest TV markets) finals and they would script the semis to make that happen?


I have never gotten the sense while watching WNBA games that "the fix" was on. I haven't watched enough NBA games to have an opinion about those games.

The only time I thought "the fix" was on for a big women's basketball game (and I'm not talking about the obvious minor homecooking that goes on all the time during the regular season) was when UConn played Stanford in the final four the year UConn won its first national championship. At the time, I felt that there was an obvious bias in favor of UConn. It would be interesting to watch that game today and see if I still had the same reaction as I did back then.

TXSNOS

[swok34]

I think if a fix were in place........they would definitely have found a way for Houston and LA to have been in the conference final.....Lisa Leslie and Sheryl Swoopes both told us that is the premier matchup of the the WNBA and the one everyone "wanted"
to see....

I love watching Marieeeeeeeeeee play, I agree huskerfan, she is absolutely incredible, and of course, that's who Caufield is playing behind in the roster.

[Bob_Ballew]

I have seen so little of Danielle Crockrom, that I do not know who she is playing behind and how deep! I have really missed seeing her and Caufield play.

Coach Harvey does not use her bench much at all.

[swok34]

I think she's playing behind either Natalie Williams or Goodson..
and Candy should have involved her bench more earlier....
they got walloped last night...
I think LA's going to take this one tomorrow afternoon and grab an extra day off.

[HuskerFan86]

Is is just me, or do Stacy Stephens and Natalie Williams have a striking resembilence??? In stature, strength, position, and playing ability they seem almost identical. Williams' and Stephens' shooting techniques even look similar. And of course, they're both fun to watch as they dominate the low block.

[TXSNOS]

They do seem to have a similar body type, although Williams is probably somewhat bigger.

I don't know if any of you watch "Big Brother 3" but there is a woman on there named Danielle who has a striking resemblance to Fran Harris.

TXSNOS

[This message has been edited by TXSNOS (edited 08-24-2002).]

[carolann]

Was that me you said the Utah Starzz had as good a starting 5 as anyone in the league? Oops. Only if the LA Sparks are considered in a different league.

[swok34]

Originally posted by carolann:
Was that me you said the Utah Starzz had as good a starting 5 as anyone in the league? Oops. Only if the LA Sparks are considered in a different league.


I think whomever wins the east is no match for the LA Sparks...
and the Sparks win 2 in a row.


[This message has been edited by swok34 (edited 08-24-2002).]

[dem]

Originally posted by HuskerFan86:
Is is just me, or do Stacy Stephens and Natalie Williams have a striking resembilence??? In stature, strength, position, and playing ability they seem almost identical. Williams' and Stephens' shooting techniques even look similar. And of course, they're both fun to watch as they dominate the low block.

Well, there is a resemblance. But seen up close, Natalie Williams is massive and muscular, one of the most powerful women's basketball players in the world. I saw the Starzz play in Minneapolis and Williams made all the other players look positively scrawny by comparison. I remember watching her (on TV) at the Olympics, as two or three Australians would try to gang up on her to grab the ball out of her hands -- not even close. She's listed as 6-2, 210 lbs, and I believe that is accurate. Stephens has a ways to go before she could match up with her in strength and stature.

[40ishHorn]

I'm still depressed that the Comets/Swoopes are out of the finals again!

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