Two Games for Saturday, September 10 on NBA TV: Four Teams Play With Nothing to Gain in the Standings

by thewiz06 on Sep 10, 2011 8:06 PM EDT

Four teams play tonight in two games, but unfortunately, none of these four teams are Eastern Conference teams that are in the playoff race. In fact, three of the teams playing tonight will not play in the post season. Meanwhile, here is a very mundane preview and my take on these games.

Game 1: Washington Mystics (6-27) at San Antonio Silver Stars (16-16)

TV: NBA TV at 8 PM Eastern, 7 PM Central

Previews:

WNBA.com
Washington Mystics

What is at stake:

For the Stars, even though they are guaranteed to be the 4th seed in the West no matter what happens. Last year, though they made the playoffs as the third seed, they were a pathetic 14-20. Right now, the Stars are given a gift for their last two games, as they play the Mystics tonight AND the Shock tomorrow, though it's on the road. Great opportunity to finish the season over .500, and if I were Dan Hughes, I definitely would like to be 18-16 to close out the year. They don't start the playoffs until next Friday, so this push is worth it to me.

For the Mystics, the players and the coaches would like to finish the season on the right foot. Today actually isn't the last event for the team this season, because there is a season ticket holder appreciation event on Monday evening for season ticket holders that renewed for 2012, so it would be so much nicer for the Mystics to win this last game and kick off Monday's event with something positive to talk about.

Game 2: Chicago Sky (14-18) at LA Sparks (14-19)

TV: NBA TV at 10:30 Eastern, 7:30 PM Pacific

Previews:

WNBA.com
Chicago Sky

What is at stake:

For the Sky, this is the first of a two game road trip in the West. Though they won't be in the playoffs this year, it is still an opportunity for the team to go for a franchise best regular season record, and a chance for Sylvia Fowles to go head to head against two of the best low post players in the Western Conference, starting tonight with Candace Parker. Also, even though the Sky won't be able to alter the playoff picture for anyone else, this is still an opportunity for them to end the season on a good note, and a great opportunity for Fowles to continue her otherwise MVP-caliber play.

For the Sparks, this is their season finale. They certainly would like to finish it with a win, even if they are lottery bound. Given that this is a home game, it is doubly important that the fans can leave with their heads held up high, unlike what we saw in Washington this past Sunday on "Fan Appreciation Night."

*****

Feel free to post comments on these games (if you're still interested from these mundane previews), whether it's on this site, the mobile site, or on the SB Nation iPhone app.

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"...there is a season ticket holder appreciation event on Monday evening for season ticket holders that renewed for 2012..."

I would love to see stories about why people decided to renew after the disaster over the last year.

I can imagine a number of reasons, but I wonder if any theme is recurrent.

Nice work on the thread.

Twitter: @NateP_SBN.

by Nate Parham on Sep 10, 2011 8:33 PM EDT reply actions

i was one of those fools

for me it was because I have made friends with folks who sit around me, we like talking about many things during the games, and there is just this thing I cannot say in words. Meeting with other sth’s in non-mystics events just doesn’t feel the same. I also get to see a number of meaningful games against some of the best basketball players in the world, some of whom will be mystics….

I also had a Shirley temple and then renewed. I forgot that it was the monumental sports drink….. but for sth’s who renew and use the tix for personal reasons, this will be why, and it is not just because of the team. This goes for wizards, caps, skins, Nate, o’s, dc united, almost any team with a dedicated group of fans.

by thewiz06 on Sep 10, 2011 8:47 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

You make the thread and go away and Was is up 22-15

That’s the real key for them winning…?

Twitter: @NateP_SBN.

by Nate Parham on Sep 10, 2011 8:34 PM EDT reply actions

maybe it is motivation to at least give the fans something nice to talk about nonday

by thewiz06 on Sep 10, 2011 8:37 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Danielle Adams goes down with 9:08 in the 2nd quarter

Holding her right ankle, slow to get up.

Wow…

Let’s hope she sprang up during this commercial.

Twitter: @NateP_SBN.

by Nate Parham on Sep 10, 2011 8:36 PM EDT reply actions

she lost her rookie of the yr award against dc

by thewiz06 on Sep 10, 2011 8:38 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

She's fine.

Twitter: @NateP_SBN.

by Nate Parham on Sep 10, 2011 8:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Danielle Robinson...

….is still faster than you. All. Of. You.

by Shannon Cotterell on Sep 10, 2011 8:53 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

She's not faster than Denard Robinson.

But she’s probably close.

Twitter: @NateP_SBN.

by Nate Parham on Sep 10, 2011 9:02 PM EDT up reply actions

At my Dad's house

We are switching between U.S. Open, college football, and the WNBA game, so my commentary is going to be sporadic.

by Shannon Cotterell on Sep 10, 2011 8:59 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Hey Wiz, did you see my response the other night?

It was Phoenix then, and it's Phoenix now. Storm, you know what you gotta do!

by WaveOcean on Sep 10, 2011 9:12 PM EDT reply actions

yes

by thewiz06 on Sep 10, 2011 9:57 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

what do you think?

It was Phoenix then, and it's Phoenix now. Storm, you know what you gotta do!

by WaveOcean on Sep 10, 2011 10:50 PM EDT up reply actions

here

1. Atlanta fell to the 4th seed because of a last minute surge by Washington and New York, but was otherwise the best team in their conference for most of the season. Phoenix was not.

I’ll give you that. I’ll add the Mystics ended the season as well as anyone and were without Beard all season too fwiw.

2. The Storm are defending champions. Washington was not. Plus, the Storm beat the Mercury last year. That gives you confidence and experience. Washington did not have that.

Agree with Seattle and Phoenix. Washington had confidence going into the playoffs though. After a six game winning streak AND beating the team they were gonna play in the 1st round to finish the season should be good reason for a lot of confidence. The Dream were just as experienced as DC in playoff experience too more or less which was not much.

3. The Dream shocked the Mystics by completely changing their lineup. That will not happen here. These two teams know each other all too well by now.

True. Generally speaking, teams just continue doing what made them successful in the playoffs, but not ATL last year.

4. The Storm have Key Arena. The Mystics do not.

I guess you mean home court advantage and Seattle had great homecourt advantage. Last year, the Mystics were tied with two other teams (NY and IND) for best homecourt adv in the east with a 13-4 record. That is still great, and the Mystics were probably in as good of a position to beat Seattle on the road as anyone last year. So close, yet so far in that one.

And of course, the Bullets won a ship at the arena now known as Key!