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Season's second half is crunch time
The WNBA All-Star break. What does it really mean to the players? It's crunch time, baby. This is the point in the season when teams suddenly realize they can no longer afford an "off night," because one bad loss now can leave a team sitting home, flipping channels while eight other teams are battling it out in the playoffs.
Eastern ConferenceOrlando Miracle: The Miracle are a perfect example of how quickly things can chance in a 32-game season. A week ago, the Miracle appeared ready to celebrate their first conference championship. But they turned around and lost two games, losing valuable ground to Cleveland and New York, which are on four- and five-game winning streaks, respectively. Hurting the Miracle most right now is their schedule. Orlando plays seven of its last 11 games on the road, including games at Phoenix, Sacramento and Los Angeles. All those teams are in heated playoff races themselves and will be hard to beat on their own courts. Cleveland Rockers: Can a team take a more bizarre rout to the playoffs? First the Rockers lose leading scorer Eva Nemcova to a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament injury. In the meantime, top draft pick Ann Wauters continues to play like the rookie she is, averaging just 4.7 points in 15 minutes a game. So how in the world are the Rockers not only in the playoff hunt, but also for the conference title? First, give a nod to coach Dan Hughes. The Rockers lack the superstar names many teams in the league have, but Hughes is getting the most out of his squad, led by Chasity Melvin's 12.2 points and 5.1 rebounds. Merlakia Jones, Rushia Brown and Mery Andrade have all had good nights as well. Unlike the Miracle, the Rockers have a decent schedule to finish the year. The conference title could very well end up in the rafters of Gund Arena. New York Liberty: New York could be the spoiler for Cleveland and Orlando. The Liberty have won their past five, and Tari Phillips continues to get better and better. Right now, she leads the Liberty with 14.1 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. The Liberty also could get a lift from Crystal Robinson, who is returning from a sprained ankle, and, just maybe, the return of Rebecca Lobo. Lobo is coming off two ACL injuries, and a return date still hasn't been finalized. But just having her back in uniform could give the Liberty a spirited boost. Detroit Shock and Washington Mystics: Who wants the final spot? The Shock are quietly moving into that fourth spot, winning their past two, and play seven of their last 12 games at home. Much of the talk at the All-Star Game was about Washington and what the Mystics will do under the direction of Darrell Walker, who took over the reins after Nancy Darsch resigned. Second-year player Chamique Holdsclaw was the most outspoken player against Darsch, stating that the Mystics would never be a great team under her direction. But Washington didn't do Walker any favors in his debut, letting Charlotte come into its gym and outplay the Mystics for a big win. Holdsclaw and Nikki McCray talked of the "boot camp," Walker had planned for them when they returned from the All-Star Game. It had better be a quick one.
Western ConferenceNow this is actually a race. Los Angeles is half-a-game behind Houston, but has beaten the Comets twice, thereby winning the tie-breaker. Houston has to overcome the distraction surrounding Cynthia Cooper's retirement, but does have the upper hand in the scheduling, playing the Sparks at home on July 29. That game starts a six-game road swing for the Sparks, including back-to-back games against Seattle and Utah. While those two foes are fighting for the conference title, Phoenix, Sacramento and Utah all are in the race for the third and fourth spots. Phoenix Mercury: The Mercury have rallied since losing Michele Timms and Maria Stepanova to season-ending injuries, but it will be interesting to see if they can maintain their strong play with the All-Star break behind them. Phoenix coach Cheryl Miller used the Brandy Reed snub to motivate the Mercury, and she and her teammates could be in for a letdown. Sacramento Monarchs: Speaking of letdowns, the Monarchs are on a big one right now, losing their past three games. Point guard Ticha Penicheiro conceded at the All-Star Game that the Monarchs are "missing something right now." The question is, can they get it back in time? Utah Starzz: The Utah Starzz, the only original team that has never been to the playoffs, would love to send the Monarchs home early. Utah has won the tie-breakers against the Mercury and Monarchs and is on a three-game winning streak, directly related to the return of point guard Jennifer Azzi. Azzi has tied her career high with eight assists in the last two games, and is just the type of leader the Starzz desperately needed on the floor. Minnesota Lynx: Minnesota still could jump back in the race, but the Lynx have lost their last six, and it might be too much to ask of a bunch of rookies to put the Lynx back in the race.
And who gets Lauren Jackson?Another race is taking place at the bottom of the conference standings -- the one for the top draft pick. By all accounts, Jackson, a 6-foot-5 Australian, is expected to be the top pick. WNBA president Val Ackerman has said there won't be a lottery, meaning the team with the worst record will get the the top pick. Right now, Seattle and Charlotte are competing for that spot. As the Storm are an expansion team, it isn't a surprise to see them in the bottom of the Western Conference. But Charlotte? Now there is a team in disarray. Injuries and bad morale have stung the Sting. This is the first year Charlotte won't make the playoffs. Call 2000 a wash.
Cooper making turnoversHouston guard Cynthia Cooper made as many turnovers off the court as the All-Stars did on it (38). Cooper, who announced her retirement on July 3, managed to go from "certainly retiring" to "probably" to "we'll see" all in the span of short interviews time and time again during the All-Star festivities. Cooper said she is definitely retiring, but then said she really hasn't made it official because she has until next May to make it official. Pressed for more, Cooper admitted she feels like she has several more years of basketball in her. The contradictions left interviewers and her teammates wondering what is really going on in the two-time MVP's head. However, Houston coach Van Chancellor is trying to minimize the distraction. "We'll talk about at the end of the season," he said.
A little too much ReedNo one doubted, at least from a public relations' standpoint, that putting Phoenix's Reed on the All-Star lineup was a good move by Ackerman. However, Chancellor seemed to get caught up in the Reed story a little too much, giving in to the crowd and putting her back in the game, then running several plays for her in the final minute. Reed pressed a little too much, finishing 1-for-11. It would have been nice if Chancellor had used the final minute to run a few plays for Minnesota's Katie Smith instead. Smith, who started in place of the injured Cooper, was the only player who didn't score in the game, going 0-for-2.
Around the leaguePhoenix coach Miller joined Phoenix's growing list of injuries. She had arthroscopic surgery on her knee and probably will spend the rest of the season on crutches ... The league has yet to decide where the 2001 All-Star Game will be held, but Ackerman said it probably will return to the Eastern Conference ... Sacramento is using the U.S. Olympic track and field trials as a way to market the Monarchs, bringing in such stars as former college hoops star and current track phenom Marion Jones ... Candace Griffith, the 5-foot-3, 11-year-old daughter of Yolanda Griffith, showed off some of her basketball moves for the All-Stars during practice and even had her own interview requests.
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