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How the Time Machine Influences Us
The Triple Threat Time Machine
By Justin Lyons, NBA.com Fantasy Expert

July 24 - The Time Machine rules the WNBA universe. It doesn't matter who you are, if you listen to what it has to say, you will be successful. That's why I am here. I wanted to learn from The Time Machine.

This week, however, The Time Machine disappointed me. Jon Loomer lured me in by producing a 107 PRA in three days. Before this week, I thought to myself, "This Time Machine has to be the best thing to hit the streets since NSync."

Now, I'm waiting for better proof.

Leslie's 22 PRA isn't a formula for success for the Time Machine.
(Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty Images)

The Time Machine produced a 157 PRA this week. From week to week, Loomer boasts about his numbers. Let's be honest, a 157 PRA isn’t too shabby; in fact, it’s quite average. But the Time Machine has high standards, and I have high standards. I didn't make C's in school and that was considered average. This means I'm above average. I expected more.

This week, The Time Machine's selections came from all over the court – guard, center, forward. Fair enough. I like a well-rounded outing. On Monday, Tamika Catchings didn’t let us down. The average 28 PRA produced a 26 PRA. An average start, but I thought things would get better for the Time Machine. Hey, we’d all like our picks to pull a Diana Taurasi and produce a 50 PRA, but we’re all realistic and rational people, right?

From there, the bulk of the week saw The Time Machine's PRA numbers in the low 20s: Cheryl Ford (2005 All-Star), Seimone Augustus (2006 All-Star -it's OK, she's a rookie), and Lisa Leslie (2006 All-Star). I felt confident the Time Machine would receive at least a 30 PRA each night from those selections. WRONG. I began to think the Time Machine was all a hoax.

Luckily, Taurasi and Lauren Jackson resurrected what could have been a disastrous week for The Time Machine. (Loomer purchased their jerseys in recognition of their achievements). So by the end of the week, I left somewhat confident leading up to this week. It is my only hope that The Time Machine won't let me down this week.

So as the world turns, I expect at least a 200 PRA this week. Here are my picks for this week's comeback.

Regular Season Projected
Day Player Team vs. Pts Reb Ast PRA Pts Reb Ast PRA
Monday Taj McWilliams-Franklin CON NYL 12.1 9.5 2.4 24.0 13 10 2 26
Tuesday Lauren Jackson SEA PHO 19.6 8.2 1.7 29.5 22 9 2 34
Wednesday Chamique Holdsclaw LOS SAS 15.7 6.2 2.2 24.1 16 7 2 25
Thursday Seimone Augustus MIN CHA 22.6 3.9 1.5 28.0 22 4 1 28
Friday Diana Taurasi PHO SAS 23.1 3.8 3.7 30.6 23 4 4 31
Saturday Tamika Catchings IND WAS 16.2 7.8 3.6 27.6 16 7 4 27
Sunday Lisa Leslie LOS SEA 20.6 9.7 3.3 33.6 21 9 3 33
Thursday
July 24
Shock at Comets
9:30 p.m. ET
ESPN2
Friday
July 25
Sparks at Liberty
7:30 p.m. ET
NBA TV
Monday
July 28
WNBA Olympic Break Begins
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