Rec’ing on…Phoenix WNBA Repeat?

While I’m still basking in the glow of the long-awaited WNBA Finals win by the Phoenix Mercury, I can’t help but reflect on the fact that my joy has been muted by the reality of how a repeat seems less than likely at this point than with past champions.

The white elephant of the Finals was the fact that head coach Paul Westhead has been

While I’m still basking in the glow of the long-awaited WNBA Finals win by the Phoenix Mercury, I can’t help but reflect on the fact that my joy has been muted by the reality of how a repeat seems less than likely at this point than with past champions.

The white elephant of the Finals was the fact that head coach Paul Westhead has been in talks with new head coach (and long-time friend) P.J. Carlesimo to sign on as an assistant with the Sonics in the WNBA’s brother league.  As one of the perks of winning a championship is the dream of winning a repeat championship, I can’t help but feel cheated with the spectre of this being the last season of "Paul-Ball" in the Valley of the Sun.

One of the nasty realities of NBA-pedigreed head coaches in the WNBA is that they seem to think that greener pastures await them in the NBA.  Michael Cooper left.  It’s no secret that Bill Laimbeer wants a coaching spot with the men’s league.  Personally, I think that if you find your niche with the WNBA (those two coaches plus Westhead all having won championships) then you’re a fool to jump ship for any reasons other than needing the money or an out-and-out head coaching position.  I truly believe that there are situations where it’s better to be a big fish in a small pond.  Coop learned that lesson the hard way, and now he’s back with the Sparks.  I don’t think Westhead is going to find a more eager collection of converts to his system than he’s found with the Mercury.  History has shown that it fails more often than it succeeds, and the requirement is that the players BELIEVE.  He’s got that now, and to squander that would be criminal.

Still, even if Westhead stays, next season will be difficult for the Mercury, or whoever the 2007 champion could have been.  The Beijing Olympics are going to screw with the WNBA in a similar degree that the Athens games did.  If you recall, the members of the Australian National Team went AWOL from the league for the 2004 season — all except Lauren Jackson and Penny Taylor, whose spots on their national team were assured.  And it wasn’t just Australia, but the members of many other international teams had to make the decision between WNBA or Olympics.  When you combine these no-shows with the disruption to the season the Games cause, well you simply create a situation where it’s difficult for a top team to maintain the season-long momentum necessary to win a title.

Though no schedule has yet been released, let’s assume it will be something like 2004, with the season interrupted so that National Team members from the various countries can leave for the 2-3 weeks necessary for Olympic participation.  For the Mercury, that means that they will lose Taurasi, Pondexter, Taylor, and Snell (and possibly others, depending on trades).  With the rest of the team back home practicing without their stars, it’s the middle-tier teams, the ones losing no one or maybe one person, who get to practice as a unit for almost a month, that gains an advantage — an advantage in rest, an advantage in preparation, and an advantage in the continuity of team chemistry.  In the face of this sort of disruption, the task of repeating as champions is daunting (kudos to Seattle for winning the championship, despite the stress).

Let’s look at scenarios.  If Westhead stays…well, this becomes less of an issue.  Perhaps the Olympic disruption can be weathered.  I do think that Taurasi is going to have to take some time off to rest her body, though.  I still think she’s close to burn-out, and a month or two off could be the best thing for her.  I think the same applies to Penny.  These two players have been playing continuously for quite a while now.  I think they need to take a good hunk of time off this fall to get themselves ready for a grueling 2008.

If there is a coaching change, then I think Ann Meyers is going to have some difficult decisions to make.  As the core of the team can remain intact (depending on the CBA negotiations), I think it would be interesting to see if the momentum can be continued.  The players, after all, have bought into the run-and-gun system.  With some side-line guidance, could the team take it upon themselves to prove that they can do it without Westhead yelling instructions from the sidelines, or is his constant instruction a requirement for success?  Can this team win with a more structured coach now that they have a proven formula for their own success?

I’m hoping that Paul Westhead doesn’t squander this golden place in time for a one- or two-year stint on the bench with the Oklahoma Sonics (show of hands–who doesn’t think they Sonics are going to move).  These opportunities don’t happen often.  He got to build a team to his requirements, and that team poured out its heart to prove that Paul-Ball could succeed without ego.  Unless he really needs the money, I say stay, Coach Westhead.  Follow your current success instead of your past glories.  Teach these women what you know so that your legacy will endure as your students take these lessons with them to their own future coaching opportunities.  Make a long-lasting mark on the job that you love.  What more could someone ask as a capper to a wonderful career?