| Author | Message | ||
     mustangeng High School Username: mustangeng Post Number: 105 Registered: 06-2007 Rating: N/A |
Quoting Le'Coe W. - "“There’s been a sense of urgency for us" Obviously, now it would be too little too late. But I wonder why the Comets didn't think like Phoenix was thinking after the Olympics break??? | ||
| kg Old Skool Username: kg Post Number: 2128 Registered: 10-2006 Rating: N/A |
Post-Game Quotes for Houston Comets at Phoenix Mercury – September 7, 2008, 6:00 p.m. at US Airways Center Comets Head Coach Karleen Thompson On the game “Phoenix came out and they played with a sense of urgency. I thought we came out intense in the first half and we started to settle for jumpers – and that’s what their defense is made for – they’d rather you shoot jumpers and they run off the misses and the rebounds. We settled for jump shots and weren’t attacking the basket and going inside like we wanted to. (We also) gave up too many second-chance points and opportunities to score and not boxing out. You can’t do that against a team that is so great offensively.” On the drop off of offense in the second quarter “It was just having a hard time finding the basket. I think we probably scored in the fourth minute of the second quarter – but the whole game we gave up too many points in each quarter. We just didn’t come out and do what we planned to do. We just kind of allowed them to have their way with us. They’re an aggressive team and when you have leaders like Diana (Taurasi) and Cappie (Pondexter) and unsung heroes like (Kelly) Miller and (Kelly) Mazzante – they’re deep and they all came in with a hunger to win and they did everything it took to get it and came out with the win.” On the focus for the rest of the season “Our focus is to continue to fight and win some games – that’s where our focus is. We’re not going to lay down, that’s definitely not going to happen, but we’re going to fight and try to right the ship.” Houston Comets forward Tina Thompson (13 points, 7 rebounds) On the drop off of offense in the second quarter “I think the first half was pretty solid for us, but they make shots and they’re a team that never goes away. We didn’t stick to our game plan in the second half and just kind of allowed them to be in their comfort zone. When you have shooters like Diana (Taurasi), Kelly (Mazzante) and Cappie (Pondexter), it’s really hard to stop them once they get going.” On the team’s focus for the remainder of the season “Same as usual – go out and win games. We just haven’t met the challenge up to this point, but of course we want to finish strong.” Houston Comets center Michelle Snow (14 points, 4 rebounds) On the drop off of offense in the second quarter “With this team, we’re not really concerned about offense. It’s OK if you only score 14 points if you can hold your opponent to less than 14. I think our biggest thing was we came out great offensively, but we have to execute our defensive philosophy for 40 minutes.” On the team’s focus for the remainder of the season “We just have to play hard every game. We have to play hard for 40 minutes – that’s our philosophy for every game and that’s never going to change.” Phoenix Mercury Head Coach Corey Gaines On the game “We take one game at a time and each game is different. With Houston we knew they had Tina (Thompson) and would try to crash the boards on us. I just subbed the bigs in and out and they all did their jobs, one by one in different ways, but they all did their jobs.” On Diana Taurasi and Cappie Pondexter “What happens is you have Cappie and Dee attacking – they’re going to play hard and they play with their heart. They’re playing hard and with such intensity levels that everybody is following along.” On the bench “Brooke (Smith) is doing a great job and Le’Coe (Willingham) is doing a great job – they’re coming in and playing hard and doing the little things. Brooke’s stuff might not show up on the stat sheet, but she’s stunning. She’s blocking out, she’s getting the rebound, she’s getting her hand on the pass, she’s in the right spot and those are the things that make it easier for everyone else.” Phoenix Mercury forward Le’Coe Willingham (16 points, 7 rebounds) On the sense of urgency “There’s been a sense of urgency for us, we have to try and win out from here on out. After that San Antonio game we all came together and figured out what we could do individually and collectively to make this a better situation for all of us. And right now everyone is contributing huge. It’s been really big because we’re getting it from everyone. And right now, it’s not just coming together, but we’re getting it done defensively too.” On being more aggressive “We’re trying to take the ball in there and take advantage of our quickness and take easy shots and get on the free throw line. When you have everyone contributing it becomes and easier game and you start enjoying it again when you have wins like this. It’s a huge confidence (boost) for us right now and a great time for us to go on this road swing having a home stand like we just had.” Phoenix Mercury Guard Kelly Miller (11 points, 9 rebounds) On keeping a rhythm when being out of the game “I could kind of see what was going on out there and that helped a little bit so that I was ready when I got out there. The game was very important to us and I wanted it bad and I wanted to help us win it anyway I could.” On the confidence level going into the road trip “I think we feel pretty confident, we’re a pretty good road team in the past and we’re looking forward to the challenge. We’re looser now and we’re playing well together.” "Baby, if I don't love you, grits ain't groceries; eggs ain't poultry; and Mona Lisa was a man." | ||
| kg Old Skool Username: kg Post Number: 2127 Registered: 10-2006 Rating: N/A |
NOTES - Mistie Williams set a new career high in points with a team-high 17, including 8-of-12 field goals. - Sancho Lyttle did not travel with the team after suffering a concussion and fracture to her right eye bone vs. Los Angeles (9/6). - The Comets now hold a 0-6 record for back-to-back games during the 2008 season. - With the loss tonight, Houston returns to a 0-5 streak – the same record that began their 2008 season. - The Mercury’s Diana Taurasi set a WNBA record for free throws made in one half with 15 made free throws tonight, breaking Tina Thompson’s previous record set on June 11, 2007. Taurasi set a Mercury franchise record and a Comets opponent record for most free throws made in a single game (17), surpassing Cappie Pondexter’s 15 free throws made on June 14 vs. Detroit. "Baby, if I don't love you, grits ain't groceries; eggs ain't poultry; and Mona Lisa was a man." |
