Its Fun at the SUN Again!

[psconn]

Great effort, great win for the Sun. Dream jumped out early then the Sun reeled them in and ended up winning large on an other-worldly shooting night.

Another terrific game from Kelsey Bone (81% on 9 for 11), sharing the leading scorer title with... Shekinna Stricklen [!?!?] (78% including 4 for 6 from 3). Jazzy Jasmine Thomas right behind with 17 (60% including 3 for 3 from 3 pt land) and 5 assists .

Alyssa Thomas was the 4th in double figures with 10 and had countless hustle plays on offense and defense to help the cause.

The team shot 53% (9 for 17) from 3 pt land [!?!?] Are you serious?

Chelsea Gray showed flashes of what we all hope is the future with 2 jaw-dropping pass plays (Alyssa owes her a beer for blowing the layup at the receiving end of one of those passes. Looked like SHOW TIME!

I don't know how long this is gonna last, but for right now, the fun is back at the Mohegan Sun after some years in the wilderness.
...and this makes 3 in a row against the two teams picked to lead the conference.

Just a passing "what if" thought... add Hightower, Griffin and Ogumike...

 

[psconn]

Oh, Triad... I looked at the T-shirts and saw only one displayed with a player number. Believe it or not it was Renee Montgomery's #21. I did not have time to wait in line and ask what else they had, but I will. I haven't for gotten our newest Sun fan.

 

[lanieer]

I keep doing the "what if", but this team has been enjoyable to watch. Their aggressive and they seem to be playing with a chip on their shoulder. Again I sooooooo wish that Chiney was playing with this group.

 

[DaddyChoc]

great recap... Chelsea is good. Bone was good, could have had more if she didn't fumble the ball a few times. Jasmine and Stricklin knocked down huge shots. Tiffany was ok... Angel got boo'ed every time she touched the ball.

I caught a tshirt and a mini ball... first time catching anything, but twice. Today was a good day

 

[psconn]

I just replayed the first half. Chelsea made 3 great passes... 6:20 no-look to Bone was a thing of beauty, 4:21 another look-off to Bone but it faked Kelsey out also, and 3:05 a long bounce pass to Alyssa for a missed layup ... also a thing of beauty. They will get used to Chelsea and click a lot more often. The last time we had a guard that could see the court like Chelsea can was probably Lindsey Whelan.

 

[psconn]

DiMauro on the new-look Sun.
http://www.theday.com/sports-columns/20150614/sun-finally-taking-on-the-look-donovan-has-envisioned

More.
http://www.norwichbulletin.com/arti...Start=1&_suid=1434339856537030823342101781514

Haven't heard from the haters in a while...

 

[triaddukefan]

DiMauro on the new-look Sun.
http://www.theday.com/sports-columns/20150614/sun-finally-taking-on-the-look-donovan-has-envisioned

More.
http://www.norwichbulletin.com/arti...Start=1&_suid=1434339856537030823342101781514
...

Thanks.... two great articles

Haven't heard from the haters in a while...

They will be back after the Sun lose 2 games in a row

 

[lanieer]

Great articles. Great breakdown of the trades and how they stole Bentley , Jasmine Thomas and Chelsea Gray.

 

[Beemer]

I just replayed the first half. Chelsea made 3 great passes... 6:20 no-look to Bone was a thing of beauty, 4:21 another look-off to Bone but it faked Kelsey out also, and 3:05 a long bounce pass to Alyssa for a missed layup ... also a thing of beauty. They will get used to Chelsea and click a lot more often. The last time we had a guard that could see the court like Chelsea can was probably Lindsey Whelan.

Gray's passing was just absolutely sick. Like you said once her teammates get used to her we'll see a lot more great plays. She's already got great chemistry with Bone.

 

[Beemer]

Thanks.... two great articles



They will be back after the Sun lose 2 games in a row

You know it.

Meanwhile I'm very happy for Anne Donovan. She's had a very tough two years but things are finally turning around.

 

[mr006]

It's early still... but take whatever you can get...

Just remember the ultimate test is still to do what Coach T never did, which is win it all. Otherwise, it's no better than a wash, in the end. We'll see.

 

[psconn]

It's early still... but take whatever you can get...
Just remember the ultimate test is still to do what Coach T never did, which is win it all. Otherwise, it's no better than a wash, in the end. We'll see.

 

[hoophuskee]

I expect The SUN to "fade." Hope they don't. And I think the Coach - I think the game has passed her bye. I thought Coach T was/is a very, very good coach thus I don't trust the GM. I hope Ct Sun do well and I hope they prove me wrong to an extent. - OFC getting the 4th spot in playoffs and losing in 1st round isn't ideal which is why I said "to an extent." AM I one of those haters who believes if they fade that I was right?

Anyways I'm not that confident with all I said above. Much more confident about UCONN next year that this basketball team management etc. Maybe he coach and GM are awesome. _ Though I doubt it.

 

[DaddyChoc]

I just replayed the first half. Chelsea made 3 great passes... 6:20 no-look to Bone was a thing of beauty, 4:21 another look-off to Bone but it faked Kelsey out also, and 3:05 a long bounce pass to Alyssa for a missed layup ... also a thing of beauty. They will get used to Chelsea and click a lot more often. The last time we had a guard that could see the court like Chelsea can was probably Lindsey Whelan.

Bone did have 6 turnovers... geesh, thats 12 more points

 

[lanieer]

I expect The SUN to "fade." Hope they don't. And I think the Coach - I think the game has passed her bye. I thought Coach T was/is a very, very good coach thus I don't trust the GM. I hope Ct Sun do well and I hope they prove me wrong to an extent. - OFC getting the 4th spot in playoffs and losing in 1st round isn't ideal which is why I said "to an extent." AM I one of those haters who believes if they fade that I was right?

Anyways I'm not that confident with all I said above. Much more confident about UCONN next year that this basketball team management etc. Maybe he coach and GM are awesome. _ Though I doubt it.

Not sure that at 53 the game has passed Anne Donovan by. I think she was given players that loved Mike Thibault and were loyal to him when she came here. When he was given the pink slip from the GM ,because many fans were also getting frustrated that we would never win the big ones, several players wanted to leave. Donovan has been able to build her own team in a way and so far I like what I see. Their are a group of young, aggressive enthusiastic players that want to be here and so far are a joy to watch. As long as they can play like that at home and win those games it might just be a fun season. Also the comments made by Kelsey Bone about her coach made me happy that there is positive feedback from her players.

 

[Waquoit]

Haven't heard from the haters in a while...

Congrats on having 3 wins. You might enjoy this article about a player the coach badmouthed and smeared after she was out of town.

 

[psconn]

Thanks.... two great articles



They will be back after the Sun lose 2 games in a row

Guess I should have taken the "under" on that prediction.

 

[AstarIsBorn31]

Lets see how the road games go.. Seattle tonight available on Live Access, Friday vs Phoenix on Live Access, then Sunday vs LA on WTNH.. Predictions?

 

[triaddukefan]

Congrats on having 3 wins. You might enjoy this article about a player the coach badmouthed and smeared after she was out of town.

Thats very noble of her.... and she deserves praise. Not sure what it has to do with the Sun's performance this year so far.

 

[triaddukefan]

Lets see how the road games go.. Seattle tonight available on Live Access, Friday vs Phoenix on Live Access, then Sunday vs LA on WTNH.. Predictions?

I predict they will beat Seattle.... lose to PHX... and beat LA if the other O sister isnt player.

 

[mr006]

Thats very noble of her.... and she deserves praise. Not sure what it has to do with the Sun's performance this year so far.

It has to do with it being less fun rooting for them with the coach they have, thus the "haters"... she's made it easy to be one. When you behave that way, you'd better be an improvement, which (as I said before) means winning a WNBA championship for the Sun, nothing less.

But for those still rooting them on, I feel good for you. It's been a rough two years, that's for sure...

 

[triaddukefan]

It has to do with it being less fun rooting for them with the coach they have, thus the "haters"... she's made it easy to be one. When you behave that way, you'd better be an improvement, which (as I said before) means winning a WNBA championship for the Sun, nothing less.
..

I was thinking the other day that there are similarities in being a SUN fan, and being a fan of Duke WCBB..... and your post is a good example of a similarity

 

[Beemer]

It has to do with it being less fun rooting for them with the coach they have, thus the "haters"... she's made it easy to be one. When you behave that way, you'd better be an improvement, which (as I said before) means winning a WNBA championship for the Sun, nothing less.

But for those still rooting them on, I feel good for you. It's been a rough two years, that's for sure...

Yup it was Anne Donovan's fault that some now former Sun players went into a snit because their failure to win a championship cost their coach his job. IMO instead of taking a good hard look at themselves for the part they played in Mike Thibault's firing they undermined Donovan's efforts from the start and as far as I am concerned Donovan, Sienko & the Sun owed them zero respect or courtesy when they left. She wasn't the reason the Sun fired Thibault. The Sun fired him because he didn't lead the team to a title and at least 50% of that responsibility lay with the players as it always does.

 

[mr006]

Yup it was Anne Donovan's fault that some now former Sun players went into a snit because their failure to win a championship cost their coach his job. IMO instead of taking a good hard look at themselves for the part they played in Mike Thibault's firing they undermined Donovan's efforts from the start and as far as I am concerned Donovan, Sienko & the Sun owed them zero respect or courtesy when they left. She wasn't the reason the Sun fired Thibault. The Sun fired him because he didn't lead the team to a title and at least 50% of that responsibility lay with the players as it always does.

Given how Anne has behaved, how do we know she didn't start it? At the very least, she could have taken the high road, so she would be as guilty as the players, if not more. Maybe she came in with the "new sheriff in town" attitude? Yeah, the players loved Coach T, but I would hope and expect (especially the UConn grads) that they would understand that's how it goes sometimes, and eventually just move on and try to win whoever the coach - which makes me think that Anne did nothing to calm the situation, and very likely aggrevated it. Maybe I'm naive, and no, I don't know what happens in practices, just trying to interpret as best I can.

 

[DishNSwish]

Given how Anne has behaved, how do we know she didn't start it? At the very least, she could have taken the high road, so she would be as guilty as the players, if not more. Maybe she came in with the "new sheriff in town" attitude? Yeah, the players loved Coach T, but I would hope and expect (especially the UConn grads) that they would understand that's how it goes sometimes, and eventually just move on and try to win whoever the coach - which makes me think that Anne did nothing to calm the situation, and very likely aggrevated it. Maybe I'm naive, and no, I don't know what happens in practices, just trying to interpret as best I can.

The only issue that Anne created was the hard work, all the time, in practice. I do mean that in a negative sense. There are times you need to ease up in a league like the W, with vets that play year round, and she struggled with that is my understanding from players involved. As an aside, I heard that many times about Lin Dunn too, and she's beloved because of her personality, while Anne is more introverted unless you know her.

Listen to this week's Dishin & Swishin; she knows and trusts me (somewhat, I'd guess) and tends to open up and show more personality than she does in general.