Logan have lost lots of close ones.
It was a bout their turn to snag one.


Perhaps adelaide have injuries, that are stopping them from playing like we are used too?

Tough game tonight, a win , plus another townsville loss and they can still make 3rd.!!

Saw a bit of last night's game on TV this arvo and gee the defence was average. Not trying to start a marion slanging thread but her defense is average. She runs into the worst positions as she gets back on D and puts up no pressure , which basically leaves the rest playing 4 v 5.
Team moral not looking good but I guess that is understandable with the slump. lots of shoulders and heads hanging low, hope the can find the spark and be more than just a finals participant...

I also only saw bits of it , on tv today , and they looked a little lost.
Thought I saw Francis open about 10 times , but they didn't pass it and tried to force which didn't work.

yes, that scoreline is correct

time for the wheels to go back on

Question for you posters - Are you Lignting Fans?

Valk is one of the great Lightning past players and has done a great job imo getting the most out of her team

They are not playing well ATM however they need the support of there faithful fans

Perhaps some people need to move on and forget about past coaches

Watching the game on ABC2, a commentator noted that Sam was the barometer for the team.

Interesting that all the negative comments about Vicki and the team are from anons.

If you're going to have a go and you believe what you say, put your name against it!

I love it when somebody with an alias has a go at anonomous.

Feel free to post your real name Jack.

I watched the lightning last week against Dandenong I think it was, about 8 TO in the first 5 mins, luckily we came back and won. Terrible standard of ball. They need to play with some intesity at both ends of the floor. Got a long way to go IMO, and yes a lot of players seem to be playing for themselves

No point guard, no gelling .

One thing I think you can take from all the above posts is there is no team cohesion at the moment. There are a lot of selfish players out there and not a lot of team ball being played.
I personally think that Marino isn't playing as a true point guard and to be honest, I don't think the team actually has one. For your starting PG to only average around 3 assists a game (and I was surprised it was that many!) is not enough. Angela wants to shoot the 3 ball (which she is good at) where I think she needs to get all the other players into the game first, run offences.
Secondly, and some people may disagree but i'll take you out to a training session to prove it, but Cayla Francis is straight up lazy. Does not work hard enough at trainings, will try to get out of the hard stuff wherever possible and is simply a chucker. This may work in the ABL against lesser opponents and with a weaker side, but not in the WNBL game. We get beaten on the boards because she barely rebounds. Cayla gets beaten consistantly from true centres and will always be pushed out to the arc were she will settle for a long jumpshot or 3 pointer, not what you want your main inside player doing. Doesn't run back on defense but i've never seen someone move so quickly going forward!
I think Duke is a good role player and when she realises that will have more of an impact. A great rebounder and is solid on D, but of late is forcing shots and that is not her game. Bring her off the bench and allow her to be the "energy" player.
Jess will be Jess and her confidence will come back that's assured. A couple of bad games but if she keeps her head up and works a bit harder on her shot at trainings will be na great player.
Gahan flat out needs to get more looks. Get her into the game Vicki!!! GET HER INTO THE GAME ANGELA!!! Tracy is your most valuable player use her accordingly for christs sake!!!
Finally, put Sam back into your starting group for Duke. Sam provides stability and leadership, something this group lacks. Without replacing your PG the next best thinjg is to inject some heart into this group, some passion, which is what players like Sam,Erin and Whittle ooze.
Is it too late to save this side??? This Saturday will be massive!!!

agree with everything you say "the brad" Angela should not be playing the full game. definately needs resting. Saw Tracey calling for the ball Friday night and they just weren't getting it to her.
who is on the bench? get them on the court, if they are in the team they must be good enough to play, otherwise get someone else.
Jess is down on confidence at the moment and it shows.
unfortunately can't see them getting past their first finals match.
will be a Townsville v Canberra GF. although can't write off Bulleen.

Why is everyone so hard on Vicki when it's already been reported on here in the past that Vince makes all the calls from the stands at the games.

Some people don't believe everything that has been written on here in the past. And Vicki herself has said that she hasn't talked to Vince about anything to do with subs or game plan.

I would sooner listen to the coach than some anonomous poster.

Grow up edin

I highly doubt that Vince is calling the shots from the sidelines!! He probably doesn't even make it to every game!

watching a few of the lightning games lately i have come to realise that (yes Angela can be known to hog the ball and not dish off when it is often the better option) but that a few of the other players in the team are almost as bad or if not worse in that department. Jess foley being one. When she is on fire then yes hog it all you want to make a score, but when you are not in great form then dish the damn ball!! I have also noticed that Cayla would be a much better player if she wasnt so lazy. And that they should play Mia Newley a lot more as an impact player off the bench - she has a lot more to give to the team and will improve immensely with more court time.

But the biggest thing i have noticed is the lack of defense!! I dont think any of them know how to play split line/help defense, half of them dont know how to box out on the shot or bump the cutters. All basic skills that you learn as a youngster.

Come on lightning go back to basics, learn how to play defence, learn how to pass the ball and run some offences otherwise a year that seemed very promising at the start of the year will slip away before your eyes!!

Where were the Lightning expected to finish? From memory, most tipped them not to repeat - I get the impression that they overachieved to start the season and might've raised expectations?

exactly why they need to start playing some D. If your lacking in the scoring department the only way to win games is to play good defence.

Its not like getting to split line and boxing out is hard stuff, ive seen B grade juniors doing it better than the lightning.

If the coach had some disipline it wouldn't be an isue. Sub out the hogs, and demand they pass the ball.

Attitude reflects leadership.

Which shows Vicki and Sam are to blame.

I missed the start of the ch10 news item about it.
Heard part of Sam and Vicki denying that there is a rift in the team.
' A big turnover of players ' - Vicki said.

They interviewed Jan Stirling ( in Russia I think)
She said it's not a championship team , but hard work on the track and they'll get it together.

If the start said anything interesting , let's know.

This is an easy fix ,it is up to the coach and senior player to show leadership on and off the court.If they cant show this then maybe its time to move on.

The problems have risen due to poor selection into playing roster at the start off season.Sam should of not come out of retirement,Bowley was not a good replacement for the retiring post player.

We should off added a couple more young girls to the roster for the future.

The way they are playing at the moment shows up in a number of key indicators - team cohesion,intensity, confidence and disorganized..

Solution : players go at the end of season or coach goes,because at the moment they have lost belief in themselves or the coach...

Yeah, Marino should be doing better than being the 3rd top scorer at the Olympics. We don't need more playes who can do that! (insert sarcasm here)