While Katie's out of town, Post reporter Steve Yanda filed this report from the Mystics' practice on Monday:

Much like George Harrison (the solo-artist version, not the lead-guitarist-of-The-Beatles version), Mystics coach Tree Rollins can't get a certain something off his mind these days. As Harrison once sang:

"Can't stop thinking about you.
Can't stop thinking about you.
It's no good living without you.
I can't stop thinking about you."

The only difference for Rollins is that he would very much prefer to be living without the ailment that currently plagues his squad -- turnovers. They're seemingly everywhere these days for the District's WNBA bunch. The Mystics recorded 22 during Friday's road win over Chicago. Then they turned in 17 at Monday's practice (They're keeping track of such things now). At several points during the workout, Rollins and his assistants implored the players to stop being careless with the ball, to make better decisions, to know where they want the ball to go before they release it from their possessions, to stop giving the other team opportunities ... you get the point.

After the workout ended, Rollins and a few players philosophized as to why they can't seem to hold onto the ball.

"It comes down to being focused," Alana Beard said. Very true.

"We have to be more careful with our passes and more conscious of who we're passing it to," Nikki Blue stated. Another valid point.

"I don't know what's causing it," Rollins concluded. Also a good ... wait, what? Rollins said the key will be to keep drilling. Over and over and over and over again. He couldn't put a finger on why his team is struggling to recognize opportune moments to pass and why it can't seem to refrain from passing otherwise. Part of it may be a group of young point guards not yet mature enough to understand how to milk the shot clock for all its worth. Part of it may just be a string of bad luck. We may get a glimpse at how much that drilling has helped out tomorrow night at Houston.

In other news ... Blue and Rollins concurred that her ankle is doing much better and that she will continue to start and see a rise in her minutes so long as she suffers no setbacks ... Expect to see a lot of pick-and-rolls tomorrow night. Rollins said he believes the Comets are susceptible to such ploys because they don't show well off of screens ... The Mystics' forwards were practicing an over-the-top entry pass into the post Monday. It didn't go so well ... Monday was Rollins' 53rd birthday.

By Margaret McElligott  |  June 17, 2008; 3:07 PM ET
Share This:  E-Mail | Technorati | Del.icio.us | Digg | Stumble Previous: Where Are They Now? Vicky Bullett Edition
Next: Mystics Beat Houston for Two in a Row

The comments to this entry are closed.