The Sting entered their third week of training camp at the Presbyterian Training Center at Charlotte Bobcats Arena on Monday and still have two more preseason games remaining, starting with tonight’s contest against San Antonio. CharlotteSting.com caught up with Head Coach Muggsy Bogues after Monday’s practice to see what his impressions are of his team as it enters its final week of preseason games.
You’ve been employing the tactic of playing most of your rookies and younger players the first two games of the preseason. Does this give you an opportunity to see what the youngsters have got, as well as give them an opportunity to get that rush that comes from playing all the time?
It’s more of a learning process for us right now. We’re treating it like practice -- giving them the opportunity to go out there and get some of the rookie mistakes out. Playing your first WNBA game or NBA game, you have butterflies, so you want to go around and get a feel for what you’re capable of getting away with. I think they’re getting some good experience right now. They’re playing hard, competing, learning and going up against some veteran players. They are getting a lot out of it, and at the same time, we’re still trying to get our core healthy and get them to where we can start working on the chemistry.
After practice today you could just see how much you’re enjoying this. You’re liking what you’re seeing out here aren’t you?
No doubt I like what I’m seeing, and it gets frustrating at times during the game because you don’t have all your pieces, but once you get in practice you take a step back and understand what’s happening, you look at it differently. That’s what I’ve been doing these last two ball games that we’ve played.
Has it been difficult for you to convey to your young players that the experience is primary and the results secondary in preseason?
I don’t want to tell them not to worry about the outcome, because I want them to always know that any game we ever play, we want to win. I want my players to develop that mentality and to get that attitude. It’s not a light switch -- you can’t turn it on and off. But for the most part, the experience is definitely going to pay off in the long run. Playing against some of the better players they have played against and getting the competition in practice now, with almost all of our players being back, I think will also help their confidence and what they’re able to do.
Is it surprising to you that other teams have played their veterans so much against you the first couple games?
Everyone has their own makeup of how they like to do things in preseason. I believe we have to have everybody healthy and 100 percent, so there’s no need to go out there and overexert yourself if you have a little injury that you’re nursing. May 20 is the real date to me. We have veteran players who have been around for while. You have to understand how they are and get in their head some so you can manage them the best way you know how so they can be ready for every game.
Do you have to work some of the players who just came back from overseas in slowly?
Actually, those girls – Kelly (Mazzante), Tammy (Sutton-Brown) and Ayana Walker are all veterans. They came in and picked things up right away. The fatigue factor was more of an issue for me. They flew into town from another country, had their physicals and everything was kind of rush-rush. Then we just threw them out there for that one game. They were only in town for a day, but we just wanted to give them a feel of what the four quarters are going to be about and what the new home court feels like. We want to try to establish a real advantage here where our opponents are all aware that this is our home court.
Is this a situation where the veterans will begin to get a little more time these last two preseason games, or are you going continue as is?
The veterans will start to get more time and start to work on their chemistry in these last two ballgames. We are going to increase their time some, but we still have another week to go once these two preseason games are over with, so we don’t want anyone to have a setback. But we need to start working on the chemistry and have them get familiar with one another. Even though they were together last year, it was only for a year. I still think they need a little more time with one another.
In terms of the rookies, looking at what Monique Currie and Tye’sha Fluker have done, they’re showing they were worthy of those first round picks aren’t they?
Oh, absolutely. I’m very happy with the selections we made. LaToya Bond is getting better with each game she plays and getting a lot more confident, and so is Monique Currie -- getting better and getting more confident as she goes along. The same goes for Tye’sha Fluker and Yelena Leuchanka. You can’t dismiss them -- they’ve been a surprise to me and bring it every night. Their work ethic is really good. They are willing to learn and want to get better, and you can’t ask for any more than that.
How much has Yelena surprised you with her game?
Well, she’s hungry. She had a decent senior season after having some injuries her junior year. So she had to get healthy in her senior season and that played a big role in us not seeing her as much. She was under the radar and was a steal for us. I’m just happy that she was able to come in here and showcase the type of skills she has. It fits well with what we’re doing. I think she will be very complimentary to the girls that we have already.
Seeing the way LaToya runs the floor, do you think she was somewhat of a steal in the second round?
No question she was a steal in the second round. I had an opportunity to watch her in the Big 12 Tournament and just saw her cleverness -- she is smooth and can break you down. In this league, you need someone who is able to break you down and get to the basket when time is running out.
Tuesday’s preseason game is only for season ticket holders. How important is it to do something like this to show the season ticket holders how valuable they are?
It’s big. I mean it’s really big. We need to continue to extend ourselves to the season ticket holders and let them know how much we appreciate them coming and supporting the young ladies night in and night out. As a former player, I know how important your fans are. We’re all a family.
