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Behind The Scoreboard
By Claude Vinson WNBA overlooked Although
the fire-breathing dragon (LeBron’s free agency) continues to spout
flames from all nostrils, pro basketball from another camp is beginning
to grab a little attention. The WNBA is well into the second half of
its season and heading rapidly to the playoffs. If
one has been paying due diligence to some of the blogs surrounding the
ladies’ camp, then one knows that the now 12 teams which comprise the
WNBA are being overlooked. This is not attributable to the girls in any
shape or fashion. They are still turning out some pretty exciting games. There
have been a few changes which have implications for the entire league.
Perhaps the most notable is the trimming of player rosters to 11 from
13 active members. Teams can still carry two players in an “inactive”
status. Just what this means is still somewhat of a mystery. Are these
players able to sit on the bench in civilian attire or must they have a
presence only away from the court? I am sure that an explanation of
the true role will follow later. By way of
jogging your memory, the Phoenix Mercury won the championship last
season. Apparently, their fete at the White House by President Obama
didn’t necessarily translate to a very productive follow-on season. As
of Sunday, the Mercury was in second place in the West and their .455
(10-12) had them nine and a half games behind the Seattle Storm’s .905
(19-2). Verily, the Storm is the only team out West that is playing
above .500. And they are the only team, come “H-E-double hockey sticks
or high water,” which has locked up a playoff berth. The weather is not bad (yet) way out West but the teams have found tough sledding going against the Storm. The
East has begun to really pique the interest of all fans. The Atlanta
Dream, who ruled things for weeks, found themselves uprooted by
Washington and then the Mystics had their come-uppance at the hands and
shots of the Indiana Fever. The Mystics’ Monique Currie said recently
Washington’s main goal was to return to the playoffs again this season.
The Eastern teams are pretty close together with all teams at or above
.500. The Chicago Sky is at the bottom with a 12-12. There
were exciting games on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. The Mercury
and Minnesota Lynx had to settle their differences in a double
overtime. The Merc, led by Diana Taurasi, won out 127-124. Taurasi
leads the league with a 23.8 PPG. The New York
Liberty and Atlanta decided their tilt in the last minutes of the
fourth quarter with the Dream coming away with the 82-75 victory. With the time and games yet remaining, there is still time for another great shake-up in the East.
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