Mystics Lament Costly Quarters

These days the only thing consistent about the Washington Mystics is the frequency of discussions centered on consistency: how to establish it, how to sustain it and, eventually, how to process it into wins.

One-fourth of the way through the regular season, Washington (2-6) enters tonight's game against Sacramento at Verizon Center looking for its first complete game -- or at least one devoid of any catastrophic, quarter-long letdowns.

"We're searching right now for an identity," forward Taj McWilliams-Franklin said. "The quarters that we do have lapses we have to find something that stabilizes us, whether it is every possession push it inside or every possession do a pick-and-roll. Something that's just part of our identity."

There has been no routine to the Mystics' inconsistencies, win or lose. Facing New York and Los Angeles they started slow; last week against San Antonio they finished flat. Washington outrebounded Houston but coughed up 20 turnovers, and with its offense in sync against Phoenix they left handfuls of points on the free throw line.

The slumps never isolate a few players, either, functioning instead like dominoes. Once one player's free throws are off target, they all misfire, and a single unforced turnover prompts several more.

Take the Mystics' loss to Connecticut on Sunday. Heading into the game, third quarters were arguably Washington's strongest, with the Mystics outscoring opponents 130-106. But against the Sun they unraveled. The Mystics failed to record a point in the first seven minutes of the quarter, committed nine turnovers, put up 12 points to the Sun's 29 and found themselves down 20 entering the fourth.

"I don't know how you manage to get down 20 points in one quarter," forward Monique Currie said. "We can't afford to do that. We have talent but we aren't talented enough to always chase teams down to try and win games. We always come back but it's too late, or we run out of gas. If we can stay close or stay ahead throughout the game we'll give ourselves a chance to win."

That logic is precisely why Coach Tree Rollins reestablished the "quarter at a time" mantra he preached last season. He's hoping that if the Mystics can remain focused on the present they might prevent the single-quarter meltdown.

Each game has had "one [quarter] that's completely devastating," Rollins said. "It's not hard to figure. If we put together 40 minutes of good basketball we'd have more wins. We know it's going to click. Sooner or later it's all going to click."

Mystics Note: Point guard Nikki Blue, who was named the starter before the regular season opener, returned to practice yesterday after missing two weeks with a high-ankle sprain. Originally projected to miss four to six weeks, Blue showed no signs of hesitation on the court and said her ankle is feeling good.

Since Blue suffered the injury on May 25, Amber Jacobs, who is currently hampered by a strained knee, Crystal Smith, Alana Beard and Coco Miller have all served as point guard. Rollins said the coaching staff will decide which two of the team's three natural point guards -- Blue, Smith and Jacobs -- will be on tonight's active roster after a morning shoot-around, but that there's a strong possibility Blue will play.