Washington Mystics head coach Tree Rollins compared his team’s position to that of a drafting race car: Not leading at the moment, but trailing close behind and poised to slingshot past the cars in front over the final laps.
“The problem is getting in the right drafting position to make it work,” said Rollins, who called Washington’s loss at Indiana on earlier this week “probably the worst game from top to bottom we’ve played all year.”
The Mystics’ postseason hopes haven’t been extinguished, but they may very well hinge on home games this weekend against the two teams they’re battling for the fourth and final playoff spot in the WNBA’s Eastern Conference, New York and Chicago.
“If we want to have any hopes of getting to the playoffs, we’ve got to get our work done before this West Coast swing,” said DeLisha Milton-Jones.
Washington departs Tuesday for a four-game swing. If the last major road tripof the season (the final regular season game is at Connecticut) were a final exam, the Mystics wouldn’t appear to have the credits to earn a 2007 diploma.
“The execution of our sets is not what it should be at this time of the year,” said Rollins. “The other thing is, I’m trying to find the right combinations just for that night.”
Zone defenses also have taken their toll on the Mystics’ shooting, with the team’s overall field goal percentage and that of its top three returning starters all down from 2006.
“I think everyone just everyone needs to go into the gym,” said Milton-Jones. “Get a few more reps to get more comfortable, become more confident and let it be second nature when they’re out there on the court. It needs to not be a thing of them thinking about the shot so much or wanting it to go in so bad that they end up causing themselves more harm than good.”
New York Liberty (10-15) at Mystics (10-15)
» When: Tonight, 7
» Where: Verizon Center
» TV: NBA TV
» Radio: WWRC 1260 AM
