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| Monday, May 17 Inside the Houston Comets |
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ANALYSIS BY NANCY LIEBERMAN  Any team with Sheryl Swoopes and Tina Thompson on its roster is already off to a good start. With these two -- who together have eight All-Star appearances, the Comets will always be competitive.
But the key for Houston in the preseason was figuring out its backcourt, especially since Brazilian Janeth Arcain is sitting out the season to prepare for the Olympics and both Cynthia Cooper and Ukari Figgs have retired. These three players combined for 31.9 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists per game in 2003, though Cooper played just four contests before a shoulder injury sidelined her for the season. Arcain, who is one of the most accomplished players in the world and really was a huge X-factor for Houston, started all 34 regular-season games, and Figgs started 30.
Coach Van Chancellor brought in more than a half dozen guards -- and has since kept the waiver wires busy -- at the start of training camp. So far, the likes of Stacy Clinesmith, Nicky McCrimmon, Brandi McCain and Maria Villarroel were cut as Felicia Ragland and Dominique Canty emerged as the frontrunners for the starting jobs. Ragland (four starts, 9.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.8 steals, 60 percent from field in preseason) and Canty (four starts, 7.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 48 percent from field) have been impressive this preseason and seem to have good chemistry. They also play well off each other, in part because Canty is such an effective slasher and Ragland is the shooter. They are both unselfish and very good passers. They, of course, will complement Swoopes and Thompson, who must continue to play at an elite level
STARTING FIVE
Dominque Canty, PG: She's smart and really knows how to use her body. She either gets to the rim or makes you foul her. Canty also is a great on-ball defender who's physically strong.Felicia Ragland, SG: She can take you off the dribble but also is a tremendous shooter. She's also a tough defender who can play multiple positions. Sheryl Swoopes, SF: This 33-year-old is getting older, but she's also getting wiser, and even though she doesn't work at warp speed anymore, she's deceivingly quick because she knows how to use what speed she has. Swoopes, who will become a three-time Olympian in August, remains one of the best players and best defenders in the world. Hopefully she'll continue to recover from an offseason toe surgery that still seems to bother her a bit. Tina Thompson, PF: She's playing the best basketball of her career right now, taking her game to another level. Thompson has always been the ultimate competitor and rarely received the credit she deserved, but she is truly a great pro. Michelle Snow, C: The league's Most Improved Player last season, Snow has unlimited potential. She can run, shoot and elevate over you. Now she must improve her consistency and rebounding (7.7 rpg in 2003).
BENCH
Kedra Holland-Corn could still find her way into the starting lineup. She was a tremendous role player in Detroit last season and instrumental in the Shock's championship run, particularly in the WNBA finals. She knocks down clutch shots and provides good leadership. Octavia Blue is another role player who can come in and provide defense and energy on the offensive boards. Sheila Lambert is another excellent passer but sometimes catch her teammates off guard. She can be very loose with the ball but is working hard on cutting down her turnovers and being more aggressive on defense.
QUESTION THAT NEEDS TO BE ANSWERED
Can Canty, Ragland and Holland-Corn make up for the loss of savvy veteran Arcain? Her versatility -- Arcain did whatever was needed, from playing point guard or forward to defending a point guard or a 3 -- will be missed.
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