Sports Talk: Change of Pace Produces Wins

LESS THAN A MONTH ago, conversations about the Washington Mystics often focused on coach Richie Adubato's complex offensive system and the 40-something sets his players needed to know. After Adubato's sudden resignation two weeks ago, the Mystics' offensive philosophy has apparently become much simpler: run, gun and attack the basket.

If nothing else, interim Mystics coach Tree Rollins' system promises fans attending Friday night's game against the L.A. Sparks an exciting, up-tempo brand of basketball — and, after an emotional first win for the 1-8 Mystics on Wednesday, there's now evidence that it might provide victories, too.

"We pushed the ball the way we've been wanting to," Rollins said. "The players executed the game plan 100 percent."

Rollins again used 11 players and gave his starters plenty of rest on Wednesday to promote a near-frenetic game and wear the opposition out. The aggressive, fast break-oriented brand of basketball suits the young, quick and somewhat undersized Mystics — and small forward Monique Currie, in particular.

Currie, a District native who the Mystics acquired via a trade three weeks ago, scored a career-best 25 points in the win and went 13-for-14 from the free throw line.

Of course, all the apt strategies on earth won't produce victories if your team can't shoot. On Wednesday, D.C. shot more than 40 percent for only the third time all year.

"That's been our biggest problem — our shooting percentage from the field," Rollins said. "We've shown that we can compete. Now we've got to keep it going."

Written by Express contributor Tim Follos
Photo by Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post