I know all the Liberty fans are disappointed with last night's outcome losing to Atlanta. I could nit-pick and say they should have done this or done that, but the fact is they lost to a very good Atlanta Dream team. More importantly, New York came a long way this year so the future is looking very bright in the big city.
At the beginning of the year they were barely a .500 team and really struggled finding their identity with so many new pieces, but by the time August came around they were playing better than anyone. Next year they'll be even better. If there was ever a question how good Cappie Pondexter was- then she answered every critic with resounding performance after resounding performance. She is lethal with the ball in her hands with a quick pull-up jumper, impossible to stop fade-away, and is arguably one of the most creative shot makers in the league. To add to her offensive arsenal she is one of the best defenders in the league and a great leader on the court. As long as she's in a Liberty uniform they will remain a contender for the title.
This offseason will be an important one for the Liberty. Replacing Anne Donovan will be the biggest priority. The good thing is that the front office has known of Donovan's departure for some time now and should already have a short list of candidates for the job.
This off-season, I'd like to see Kalana Greene really improve her offensive and game management skills. Her athleticism and defense could be a big asset next year so here's to hoping she's ready to make the move and contend for a starting position. Essence Carson stepped up big during the playoffs after a relatively quiet regular season. She created shots, made big plays, and was much better on defense than a flat-footed Nicole Powell. Powell had an up and down season. When she was playing well in August the Liberty were near unbeatable-that's how much of a difference she can make. Unfortunately, her contributions have to be more than just standing in the corner making 3's. Leilani Mitchell earned her most improved player, but went quiet in the playoffs. She stopped looking for her shots, but you cannot take away what she meant to this team. Plenette Pierson brought a lot of toughness to the inside game, but her shot selection needs to improve. I'd like to see her draw a double-team and dish the ball than get stuffed. McCarville really improved with her conditioning and Liberty fans will be left wondering what would have been in the playoffs with a healthy McCarville.
The Liberty have a solid core, a bona-fide super star, and will be the team to beat in the East next season.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
The Torch Report: Liberty vs. Dream
The Liberty head to Atlanta to face off against the Dream with their backs against the wall. In Sunday's game they were dominated on the boards and on the free throw line. Atlanta's DeSouza and Little waxed the glass with 24 rebounds-almost equaling the total for the Liberty (28). Atlanta also picked up 15 offensive rebounds with a lot of those turning into second-chance points. Despite having near equal foul totals the Dream shot 31 free-throws to just 14 for New York. In a close game where each possession counts giving up too many offensive rebounds and losing the battle at the free throw line proved too much for the Liberty to overcome.
For tonight's game expect it to be a fierce and physical game. Atlanta will look to remain perfect in the playoffs and close out the series on their home court. New York is the better team, but everyone needs to step it up tonight and get contributions from the bench and starters alike. Cappie is carrying the team and finally got some offensive help from Nicole Powell and Plenette Pierson, but the bench that was so impressive in Round 1 vs. Indiana went silent at MSG on Sunday. Look for Essence Carson to pick it up tonight and be the key to bringing the series back to New York.
For tonight's game expect it to be a fierce and physical game. Atlanta will look to remain perfect in the playoffs and close out the series on their home court. New York is the better team, but everyone needs to step it up tonight and get contributions from the bench and starters alike. Cappie is carrying the team and finally got some offensive help from Nicole Powell and Plenette Pierson, but the bench that was so impressive in Round 1 vs. Indiana went silent at MSG on Sunday. Look for Essence Carson to pick it up tonight and be the key to bringing the series back to New York.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Knicks Decide Price for Fernandez Too High
According to a report coming from ESPN, Donnie Walsh has vetoed a trade that would have sent newly acquired Anthony Randolph to Indiana and an Indiana first round pick to Portland with Rudy Fernandez joining the Knicks. I can only imagine who, if anyone, the Pacers would have given up as part of the deal to either Portland or the Knicks - recently arrested Lance Stephenson perhaps (I will admit to some sense of disappointment when the Knicks passed up the chance to draft Brooklyn native Stephenson in the 2nd round of this year's draft)?
A good move on Walsh's end not pulling the trade trigger - Randolph has a ton of upside and potential this season to contribute as a Knick and/or be a key piece of a trade that could bring in an elite player to compliment Stoudemire. Fernandez was looking to improve his stock while playing for Spain at the World Championships, but despite flashes of spectacular play has yet to do so. As time moves on, Portland will want something for Fernandez and their asking price may go down, or they could potentially waive the disgruntled guard. Knicks fans fall asleep to dream about 'Melo or Chris Paul at MSG. At this point, I'm more than happy for the Knicks to pass on roster moves that don't move the franchise in that direction.
A good move on Walsh's end not pulling the trade trigger - Randolph has a ton of upside and potential this season to contribute as a Knick and/or be a key piece of a trade that could bring in an elite player to compliment Stoudemire. Fernandez was looking to improve his stock while playing for Spain at the World Championships, but despite flashes of spectacular play has yet to do so. As time moves on, Portland will want something for Fernandez and their asking price may go down, or they could potentially waive the disgruntled guard. Knicks fans fall asleep to dream about 'Melo or Chris Paul at MSG. At this point, I'm more than happy for the Knicks to pass on roster moves that don't move the franchise in that direction.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Liberty in the Playoffs
Wednesday night's game with Indiana was a hard fought, physical, at times sloppy..er, i mean scrappy game for the Liberty. They were down a starter, down 3 refs, and trailed most of the game, but when it mattered most they found a way to create turnovers, get stops, and put points on the board. It wasn't pretty, but it was pretty damn special to be in the Garden that night and witness this team gut out a victory.
I will say the officiating was horrible and one-sided. The refs were in love with Katie Douglas who acted her way through the game padding her stat line along the way. Ironically, it was Lin Dunn who complained about the officiating. Was Tameka fouled with less than 10 seconds-maybe. There was definitely contact to the body, but no worse than a no call on Cappie a few minutes prior when she got hit by 3 Fever defenders so call it awash.
Now the Liberty will face the Atlanta Dream for the Eastern Conference Championship beginning on Sunday in New York. The Dream destroyed Washington and showed their early season form as opposed to their end of season slump. This team is one of the best defending teams and led the conference in points per game. High octane offense, smothering defense will give the Liberty plenty of problems.
The Liberty squeaked by the Fever and relied too heavily on Cappie to come up big, which she did time after time. Taj has to start knocking down shots from inside and do a better job of hitting the boards especially if McCarville is out with an injured ankle. The Liberty also need more from Nicole Powell. She was benched in the second half of Game 3 and it was the right call. Her anemic offense and invisible defense has been a constant liability. Fortunately, Essence Carson has stepped up and been reliable off the bench. I think she's earned a starting spot the rest of the way- the margin of error is so slim in the postseason you need to stick with who's hot. Surprisingly, our poor 3-point shooting has yet to catch up with us, but Mitchell and Powell both need to pick to start knocking down shots beyond the arc to open up the rest of the floor.
Our bench (Kia, Essence, and Plenette) have all come up huge. We're going to need them now more than ever. This team knows how to win. Now it's time to get it done.
I will say the officiating was horrible and one-sided. The refs were in love with Katie Douglas who acted her way through the game padding her stat line along the way. Ironically, it was Lin Dunn who complained about the officiating. Was Tameka fouled with less than 10 seconds-maybe. There was definitely contact to the body, but no worse than a no call on Cappie a few minutes prior when she got hit by 3 Fever defenders so call it awash.
Now the Liberty will face the Atlanta Dream for the Eastern Conference Championship beginning on Sunday in New York. The Dream destroyed Washington and showed their early season form as opposed to their end of season slump. This team is one of the best defending teams and led the conference in points per game. High octane offense, smothering defense will give the Liberty plenty of problems.
The Liberty squeaked by the Fever and relied too heavily on Cappie to come up big, which she did time after time. Taj has to start knocking down shots from inside and do a better job of hitting the boards especially if McCarville is out with an injured ankle. The Liberty also need more from Nicole Powell. She was benched in the second half of Game 3 and it was the right call. Her anemic offense and invisible defense has been a constant liability. Fortunately, Essence Carson has stepped up and been reliable off the bench. I think she's earned a starting spot the rest of the way- the margin of error is so slim in the postseason you need to stick with who's hot. Surprisingly, our poor 3-point shooting has yet to catch up with us, but Mitchell and Powell both need to pick to start knocking down shots beyond the arc to open up the rest of the floor.
Our bench (Kia, Essence, and Plenette) have all come up huge. We're going to need them now more than ever. This team knows how to win. Now it's time to get it done.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Fantasy Favorites
A few musings and predictions for your upcoming fantasy drafts...
Aaron Rogers is the only QB that is worth drafting in the first round (think after pick 9).
Larry Fitzgerald is the best receiver in the league who will never get the ball as long as Matt Leinart is QB. Careful here with picking him.
LT and Shonn Greene will produce like Stewart and Williams with Carolina. Saying it now-if LT stays healthy he gets 1000 yards this season. No particular reason, call it a hunch...
Bye week stacking-an interesting idea. Basically you draft a lot of guys who all have bye weeks the same week and essentially forfeit that one game, but then have a stacked line up the rest of the year. Never tried it, but this year I might.
Handcuffing-why on earth would you draft a running back who you thought was going to get injured just so you can waste a pick later in the draft on his back up. I have never understood this philosophy. Yes, everyone will say what about Michael Turner last year with Jason Snelling. My response: unless you're a mind reader why do you want to waste even a late round pick on a bench player. Waiver wires exist for a reason.
Ray Rice. Better year than Chris Johnson.
Some good rookies and 2nd year studs will be on a lot of teams.
Defense/kicker = your last 2 picks.
Jermichael Finley leads all TEs this year.
Be patient and value oriented. Just because everyone in your draft gets TE happy in the 4th round doesn't mean you should too or QB happy in the second round. Patience can pay off big time.
Questions, comments, complaints? hit me up.
Aaron Rogers is the only QB that is worth drafting in the first round (think after pick 9).
Larry Fitzgerald is the best receiver in the league who will never get the ball as long as Matt Leinart is QB. Careful here with picking him.
LT and Shonn Greene will produce like Stewart and Williams with Carolina. Saying it now-if LT stays healthy he gets 1000 yards this season. No particular reason, call it a hunch...
Bye week stacking-an interesting idea. Basically you draft a lot of guys who all have bye weeks the same week and essentially forfeit that one game, but then have a stacked line up the rest of the year. Never tried it, but this year I might.
Handcuffing-why on earth would you draft a running back who you thought was going to get injured just so you can waste a pick later in the draft on his back up. I have never understood this philosophy. Yes, everyone will say what about Michael Turner last year with Jason Snelling. My response: unless you're a mind reader why do you want to waste even a late round pick on a bench player. Waiver wires exist for a reason.
Ray Rice. Better year than Chris Johnson.
Some good rookies and 2nd year studs will be on a lot of teams.
Defense/kicker = your last 2 picks.
Jermichael Finley leads all TEs this year.
Be patient and value oriented. Just because everyone in your draft gets TE happy in the 4th round doesn't mean you should too or QB happy in the second round. Patience can pay off big time.
Questions, comments, complaints? hit me up.
Friday, August 20, 2010
The Torch Report: Champions?
So when I last wrote about the Liberty they had won 5 of 6 and we're in the hunt for the playoffs. A lot has changed since then and for the better. The month of August has seen this team come together and they are playing better than anyone in the league winning their last 10 games and tied for first place with Indiana. In fact, if the finals were tomorrow I'd take them over Seattle head to head in a 5 game series-that's how good they are playing.
What's the difference? They are no longer a 1 woman team. Nicole Powell has finally gotten comfortable in her new digs and is shooting 59% from the floor and a whopping 56% from behind the arc. When she is on they are near unbeatable. Taj has been a steady force in the paint and the veteran has put up double digits points in 4 of 5 games. McCarville is shooting 49%, which is her best month since May. Although she's not averaging as many points, she's taking better shots and is dishing out 3 assists and grabbing 6 boards a game. All positive and productive. Leilani Mitchell is quietly putting together a career season. There were doubts going into the season if she could be a starter in this league, but she's been beyond impressive. She's been solid on defense and a stud on offense. When the Liberty need a big shot she always seems to be able to knock it down. They are also getting key minutes from the bench with Pierson, Carson, and Greene that's letting the starters keep their minutes down as the Liberty play 4 games in 6 days.
Cappie continues to have a MVP type season. She's a team player who has made everyone around her play at a higher level. Her desire to win a championship is contagious and her leadership is setting the tone for this team. They are peaking at the right time, but still have 2 key games left on the schedule with a tough road game against Washington tonight.
The Liberty are set to make a deep run in the playoffs-possibly playing for a Championship. They have a playoff veteran led team with players and a coach who have won championships, which could be the X-factor that could bring New York their first championship.
What's the difference? They are no longer a 1 woman team. Nicole Powell has finally gotten comfortable in her new digs and is shooting 59% from the floor and a whopping 56% from behind the arc. When she is on they are near unbeatable. Taj has been a steady force in the paint and the veteran has put up double digits points in 4 of 5 games. McCarville is shooting 49%, which is her best month since May. Although she's not averaging as many points, she's taking better shots and is dishing out 3 assists and grabbing 6 boards a game. All positive and productive. Leilani Mitchell is quietly putting together a career season. There were doubts going into the season if she could be a starter in this league, but she's been beyond impressive. She's been solid on defense and a stud on offense. When the Liberty need a big shot she always seems to be able to knock it down. They are also getting key minutes from the bench with Pierson, Carson, and Greene that's letting the starters keep their minutes down as the Liberty play 4 games in 6 days.
Cappie continues to have a MVP type season. She's a team player who has made everyone around her play at a higher level. Her desire to win a championship is contagious and her leadership is setting the tone for this team. They are peaking at the right time, but still have 2 key games left on the schedule with a tough road game against Washington tonight.
The Liberty are set to make a deep run in the playoffs-possibly playing for a Championship. They have a playoff veteran led team with players and a coach who have won championships, which could be the X-factor that could bring New York their first championship.
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