Welcome to the WNBA, Tulsa! Minnesota Lynx @ Tulsa Shock season opener
by Jessica Lantz on May 15, 2010 7:00 PM EDT
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This will be tonight's game thread, as I will be reporting live from the BOK. Please also see our 2010 WNBA Opening Day Thread and our Atlanta vs. San Antonio preview.
Who: Minnesota Lynx @ Tulsa Shock
What: Inaugural game of the Tulsa Shock and opener in the 2010 season
Where: BOK Center - downtown Tulsa, Oklahoma
When: 7:00 p.m., central standard time
TV:
- The game will be locally televised on the Cox Channel.
- Watch online via WNBA Live Access.
- NBA TV: http://www.nba.com/nbatv/index.html
The Story: Will it work?
Head coach Nolan Richardson is bringing his system of forty minutes of hell to a new arena. After coaching in various levels of men's basketball and seeing success with his style, today marks a series of firsts for the storied coach. His debut in the WNBA, his first regular season action as a coach of women, and not just women, but professional basketball players.
Many analysts and fans of the game seem to think that his hellish system will not work in the WNBA, with some pegging the Shock for last place in not only the Western Conference, but the league.
"I think he better have a conversation with Rick Pitino because 40 minutes of hell didn’t work with the Boston Celtics," said Texas A&M University coach Gary Blair in a Here’s the difference in the pros: the men are playing a seven month season, the girls are going to Europe to make their real money. And they are not into pressin’ full court for the whole ballgame. You’re playing 34 games, plus playoffs, in a three month period whereas college we’re playing in a five month period. And the wear and tear on your body, I think kids would break down if you did it for the long haul. I’m sure it will be tweaked – like I used to press all the time too, but I don’t press full blast all the time. I think you just gotta tweak it and I’m sure Nolan’s smart enough to figure out what’s gonna work for him and he doesn’t need my advice but he might wanna listen to Pitino.
But some of his fellow coaches are not so fast to dismiss this new face and different style.
In the preseason conference call for the WNBA, Richardson's newest colleagues weighed in on his ability to achieve success. Corey Gaines, head coach of the defending champion Phoenix Mercury, who has also been pegged as and embraces his niche as a system coach commented, "I have a lot of respect for Richardson, him being another system type of coach".
Mike Thibault of the Connecticut Sun, who participated in a draft day trade with the Shock, remarked on Tulsa's athleticism. "They all have upside . . . they're all good athletes," he said. This Richardson-created roster "should be able to play the way that he wants to play".
Indiana Fever head coach Lin Dunn also pointed out the team's athletic makeup and said she was "curious if he feels that he's got enough depth to play, what is it - forty minutes of hell - night after night, back to back, traveling all over America. Because if he does, we better watch out."
And the Shock's first opponent, the Minnesota Lynx's Cheryl Reeve, sounds confident that it can work. "[I] absolutely believe that the system can work, whether it's male or female," Reeve said. When Richardson gets the right team around him, "there's no question, it's going to be successful."
Reeve remarked, "it's really going to be interesting".
Yes it is. Tonight we'll see just how interesting it can get.
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NBA TV is be broadcasting the game as well.
http://www.nba.com/nbatv/index.html
Loud City Resident - Barring trade, I see this happening:
21: Kevin Seraphin, 26: Paul George, 32: Jerome Jordan. 51: Dwayne Collins
Concerning Bron, Bosh, and Boozer. I could care less.
Look at me.
“is be” I’m special.
Loud City Resident - Barring trade, I see this happening:
21: Kevin Seraphin, 26: Paul George, 32: Jerome Jordan. 51: Dwayne Collins
Concerning Bron, Bosh, and Boozer. I could care less.
You're obviously just excited for the start of the WNBA season.
We forgive you, sir. ;)
SwishAppeal.com, women's basketball...covered SBN-style... twitter: @qmccall3
Early scene is reminiscint of...
…an OKC Thunder playoff game. Every seat (including press row) is draped with a Shock yellow t—shirt.
and now daddydai is not the only misspeller on the thread. ha.
by Jessica Lantz on May 15, 2010 7:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Starting lineups...
For the Lynx:
C-F Nicky Anosike, F Charde Houston, G Hamchetou Maiga-Ba, G Lindsay Whalen, G-F Monica Wright
For the Shock:
G Shanna Crossley, G Scholanda Robinson, G Alexis Hornbuckle, F Plenette Pierson, F-C Kara Braxton
Officials: Byron Jarrett, Amy Bonner, Lamont SImpson
And we lose the opening tip.
Could it be like the Thunder – who seemed to never get the tip? Already got a charge called against the Lynx…
Plenette Pierson with the 1st Shock points
Seems fitting the ‘team leader’ starts off the season’s scoring
Wow. This is a energetic game. Too bad the Shock is not converting.
Loud City Resident - Barring trade, I see this happening:
21: Kevin Seraphin, 26: Paul George, 32: Jerome Jordan. 51: Dwayne Collins
Concerning Bron, Bosh, and Boozer. I could care less.
Missing easy shots early
Perhaps a bit of nerves? Of course, 7 turnovers do not help their cause…
by Jessica Lantz on May 15, 2010 8:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Nolan and his coral colored jacket
is NOT happy with the calls thus far. And he is giving Lamont Simpson an earful.
1/4 th of the 40 minutes of hell over
…and the Lynx are up 22-12. Key reasons would be the 8 Shock 1st quarter turnovers and a 25.0% field goal percentage in the first quarter. But as expected, all of Richardson’s 11 players have been in the game for at least 2 minutes.
Preseason advantages for Shock were...
…points in the paint (which they are currently losing 22-12) and rebounds (which they are currently losing 18-17). Now shooting 23.1 percent from the field and just 66.7 from the line. Not a way to get back in this 32-18 game.
How are those Minn turnovers coming?
SwishAppeal.com, women's basketball...covered SBN-style... twitter: @qmccall3
Minn 8 TO's
are from on ball pressure and a few picked pockets…
The Shock’s 10 TO’s are primarily from crazy sloppy/wild play…
by Jessica Lantz on May 15, 2010 8:52 PM EDT up reply actions
Yes. They called it a sellout.
…but I think that is a bit of an overstatement. However the folks who are here are loud and energetic – even though the home team has been trailing from the start.
by Jessica Lantz on May 15, 2010 8:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Country music commercial during Tulsa game
Perfect :)
SwishAppeal.com, women's basketball...covered SBN-style... twitter: @qmccall3
Nolan's leading minute-getter with 11...
Playing very solid defense, 2-for-4 from the field. You can tell Richardson is a major fan of hers, for sure.
by Jessica Lantz on May 15, 2010 8:57 PM EDT up reply actions
You shoulda pumped her more!
We knew she was the bomb!
SwishAppeal.com, women's basketball...covered SBN-style... twitter: @qmccall3
This is exactly the type of game that I think the Shock want..
Sloppy.. grudge match
SwishAppeal.com, women's basketball...covered SBN-style... twitter: @qmccall3
That and the ads don't contribute to breaking down Okla stereotypes very well...
;)
SwishAppeal.com, women's basketball...covered SBN-style... twitter: @qmccall3
They're from North Carolina apparently
And what are the ads??
by Jessica Lantz on May 15, 2010 9:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh...
Comparing getting a college education to a slice of pie and stuff like that.. lol
SwishAppeal.com, women's basketball...covered SBN-style... twitter: @qmccall3
A taste of the crowd...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6DTtDFkSeo
From during team intros…rookies A.T. & Marion Jones definitely got the most applause.
Kara Braxton having some troubles...
She had three first half turnovers, already has another in the first 30 seconds of the third and is missing FTs like nobody’s business. The folks behind me are disappointed that she isn’t taking shots from under the basket.
...well that...
…and she’s not converting the looks she is getting…
SwishAppeal.com, women's basketball...covered SBN-style... twitter: @qmccall3
Lacy is taking it over
Going to the rim, running the floor, all that jazz. No wonder Richardson likes her, huh?
Wow... how many people in your videos mentioned Lacy as underrated or impressive?
SwishAppeal.com, women's basketball...covered SBN-style... twitter: @qmccall3
More than one, that's for sure
She’s earning her paycheck today.
by Jessica Lantz on May 15, 2010 9:27 PM EDT up reply actions
She's been a surprise
Never expected to see her play a minute in the WNBA.
I guess Europe isn’t a bad place to hone one’s skills after all.
by just checkin on May 15, 2010 9:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Lacy has been impressing since day 1
She has been playing exactly how Richardson needs players to play. She herself says she thrives in this system – running, gunning, playing tight defense. Aside from just impressing the coaching staff, Lacy was named as underrated by more than one of her Shock teammates before the season began.
by Jessica Lantz on May 15, 2010 9:47 PM EDT up reply actions
just checkin: Did you watch her in Europe at all?
SwishAppeal.com, women's basketball...covered SBN-style... twitter: @qmccall3
Just once
Against rather weak competition, so it was hard to gauge just how good she really was/is. I tend to believe she found the right system for her skill set and is thriving—at least for now. She wouldn’t have been successful under Laimbeer.
Hopefully this puts to rest the “Latta should’ve been on the team” talk. It’s clear to me that Lacy is a much better fit (bigger, stronger, more wiling to pass).
by just checkin on May 15, 2010 10:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Why no Marion Jones?
…well, or not much anyway? Have they shown her or mentioned why she isn’t playing much? Just 2:31 in the first 20 minutes.
Was going to ask you...
???
SwishAppeal.com, women's basketball...covered SBN-style... twitter: @qmccall3
Maybe she was in with the unit that got down big?
SwishAppeal.com, women's basketball...covered SBN-style... twitter: @qmccall3
Lynx just can't miss right now
Good news is Tulsa has raised their FG percentage to not quite 42. Bad news is Minnesota is shooting 45.3%
by Jessica Lantz on May 15, 2010 9:39 PM EDT up reply actions
What I like to see...
Vivian Friesen still following her training camp teammates:
http://twitter.com/Veezy2G/status/14069726028
This is about what I'd expect from the Shock...
They’re executing defensively, but their offense is behind their defense – it’s part of the cost of implementing a system like this one in a protracted pre-season.
SwishAppeal.com, women's basketball...covered SBN-style... twitter: @qmccall3
Can you really blame awful shots on the defensive system?
Flat out missing shots cannot be all due to Richardson’s system.
by Jessica Lantz on May 15, 2010 9:49 PM EDT up reply actions
No...
Not saying that – but that the sloppy passing, mistimed cuts, etc is just a result of emphasizing defense and running two-a-days in a short training camp…
SwishAppeal.com, women's basketball...covered SBN-style... twitter: @qmccall3
In other words...
You have to figure part of it is about the time allocated to working on offense during a short period of time.
SwishAppeal.com, women's basketball...covered SBN-style... twitter: @qmccall3
Sherri Coale get's quite the ovation
Signing lots of little girls’ tshirts…I think that’s a good sign for the health of women’s basketball in this area, at all levels.
They're giving her props for reviving wbb in Oklahoma...
SwishAppeal.com, women's basketball...covered SBN-style... twitter: @qmccall3
She is an Okie through and through.
Played HS & college ball here, started coaching at an area high school and then went straight to OU where she’s obviously done quite well for herself and the Sooner program.
by Jessica Lantz on May 15, 2010 9:55 PM EDT up reply actions
I'd say so - for a first game
and a team with relatively low expectations
SwishAppeal.com, women's basketball...covered SBN-style... twitter: @qmccall3
Crossley
I see why Tulsa coaches chose Crossley as their breakout player… much better passer than I’ve seen in her WNBA career
SwishAppeal.com, women's basketball...covered SBN-style... twitter: @qmccall3
Yep.
Mixing in those no looks too. Very solid passing…surprised she only has one assist actually.
by Jessica Lantz on May 15, 2010 10:00 PM EDT up reply actions
She's had at least 2 that I've seen where teammates blew an open shot...
SwishAppeal.com, women's basketball...covered SBN-style... twitter: @qmccall3
by Nate Parham on May 15, 2010 10:01 PM EDT up reply actions
You look at Tulsa right now..
…and they have a great “supporting cast”.
They clearly miss the big guns like Ford, Nolan, and Smith…
This is a solid game against a very, very good basketball team… nothing to be ashamed of…
SwishAppeal.com, women's basketball...covered SBN-style... twitter: @qmccall3
too bad moral victories don’t count, eh?
by Jessica Lantz on May 15, 2010 10:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, but they're making progress..
SwishAppeal.com, women's basketball...covered SBN-style... twitter: @qmccall3
by Nate Parham on May 15, 2010 10:09 PM EDT up reply actions
The fact that they've played this badly and stayed in the game says a lot about their defense...
That’s “working”
They just don’t have a whole lot of efficient scorers it seems….
SwishAppeal.com, women's basketball...covered SBN-style... twitter: @qmccall3
by Nate Parham on May 15, 2010 10:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Even 'layup' is laying eggs...
Crossley is 5-for-14. Eeek.
by Jessica Lantz on May 15, 2010 10:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Hey you Thunder fans...
…if you like the timeout entertainment, the tshirt blaster, the music and atmosphere of the Thunder, I suggest you make the drive to Tulsa to take in a game. Almost identical promotions, etc.
Crowd still in it...
…I have to say the fact that the crowd is sticking around and stying involved is a good sign. Tulsa hasn’t been able to score or get a lead for the entire game, but the fans don’t seem to mind. Reminds me a bit of the 20-something win 2009 OKC Thunder team and crowds…
Props to Tulsa
It takes major guts to come back from a double-digit deficit and really challenge a team that will likely make the playoffs.
Two much improved players
Chante Black and Rashanda McCants.
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