Submitted by | Sass

MVP… Olde was definitely good. But the last quarter of the game belonged to Lauren. She went nuts again, and it was so nice to see.
 
The biggest news is that we have a third scoring option. And a fourth! Bird's best part of the game was in the first half. She was in double figures. Lennox was blowin up! Great great moves. She could stand to settle down sometimes, but again, I'm just so pleased we have more scoring options than Lauren and Bird. (and it's nice to see Bird fast again). Lennox got a double-double! 17 points, 10 rebounds. When Sam kicks her points up into double figures in the next round, we will be deeper than Jacques Cousteau, baby.
 
Our strength in the past has always been our defense. Looks like that's not necessarily the case anymore. Hopefully Donovan will help them work on that. There were points in the second half where they were so sloppy it was embarassing. Oy.
 
Greco didn't play.
 
Adia looked faster and had some great moves, including a crucial rebound toward the end.
 
Tully was… Tully. Wonderful, fast, etc. Yo heart Tully.
 
Burse also had some great moments. It's nice to have some depth in the paint, too.
 
The whole team seems to have wonderful chemistry.  
 
Non-game stuff:
 
1. The anthem was sung by a 12-year-old boy who brought the house down. OOOWEE.
 
2. Would whomever is running the scoreboard please pull their head(s) out. The correct players weren't showing when they were on court most of the time. It was hella annoying.
 
3. The reffing sucked major ass. It was Darla, #48 and #8 (Scowl will have their names). We don't need to go into it again....but they were not a good thing.
 
4. They had a video of three players being interviewed on why they like Seattle. They happened to be ex-Lynx players Lennox, Burse and Sam. Coincidence? I doubt it. And the Minnesota players were all craning to see the video.
 
5. I don't think I like the new video they play before the team is introduced. It's too dark.
 
6. Michelle Van Gorp's new name: Flip Flop. That one she tried to pull on Lauren in the first half was funny.
 
7. I forgot to put this in the last game report, but Danielle McCulley and Kate Paye were there Sunday. And again tonight. I talked to Danielle again, along with jrod. She says she's looking for work. Understandable. But what is Kate Paye still doing here? Makes ya wonder......
 
8. Both the state girls bball champs from class 3A and 4A were in da house tonight and were introduced by the emcee. A nice gesture, but I was understandably not enthusiastic at all to see the 3A winners. On the bright side, Darnellia Russell and the Roosevelt Roughriders were sure lookin happy up there.   I saw their coach, Bill Resler, on the way in. He is a wacky but loveable guy.
 
9. They introduced Lauren as MVP before the game, just like we thought they would. Donovan ran after her to give her a hug. She sure does love that young lady.
 
10. It was really really nice to see Stacey Lovelace playing again. I wish her well.
 
11. It was also good to see Lassiter! Minnesota is a good team; they shouldn't be underestimated.
 
Bring on LA, baby.

Submitted by | StormFanNo1

Wheeew! That was a close one.
 
Before the start of the game, Storm owner Schults presented the MVP award to LJ in front of a wildly cheering crowd.  
 
Betty, forgive me for doubting you. How does the shortest player in the field get the most rebounds? By being lightning quick and jumping higher than post players. I love Betty. I love Betty. I love Betty...
 
Sue got off to a fast start scoring 11 points in the first few minutes. After a timeout, Minnesota put Amanda on her, which stalled Sue's offense rest of the game.

Minn did a decent job of denying LJ the ball in the paint, and doubled her whenever she managed to get the ball. They also tried hack a shaq which put the Storm in the bonus during the last 7 minutes of the first half.  While LJ didn't get many chances, Betty picked up the slack and with the help of free throws, the Storm finished the first half with a three point lead.

In the second half, Minn stopped doubling LJ and let Ohlde defend her one to one. To my surprise Ohlde did a decent job keeping LJ out of position early on, and provided some offense herself. At one point in the game, LJ had 15 points while Ohlde had 16. Storm also had several defensive breakdowns early in the second half, which gave Katie and Teresa wide open treys. As a result, Minnesota took the lead early in the first half, and kept it for a long stretch. About 7 minutes before the end of the game, we were down by 5 and I started getting really anxious.

It was time for MVP to step up and take over the game. LJ of course did exactly that. After a string of treys and three point plays, LJ was up to 31 points while Ohlde fouled out of the game. The Storm was up by one by then...

We traded baskets a few times. Storm was up by 2 with 23 seconds left and Minn had the ball. After a timeout Katie attempted to slash to the basket. Betty kicked the ball out of her right into Sheri's hands. Minn. had no choice but foul Sheri, who then nailed two free throws. In my opinion that was the play that clinched the game for Storm.
 
While LJ did her regular MVP thing, it was Betty that made the difference in this game.

Submitted by | eclair

OK, so it's a W. But why does it feel more like surviving an ordeal than a celebration?
 
Oh, LJ, LJ, LJ... She had a great night on the offensive end, but Ohlde had a much much better night than she ever ought to have had for her first outing in the W. Lisa Leslie won't let Ohlde get away with uncontested hook shots. And I don't think LJ will again, either. Our MVP just looked out of synch, and Minny got too many back door and second chance shots because of it.
 
Cheesy gossip: During the end-of-game high five line, Sheri and Janell were getting tons of love from their old teammates. Until they got to Katie Smith, who would not even touch Sheri's hand for a slap, and who shrugged her way out of Janell's attempt at a hug. She is one rough chick. I don't like her, and I don't like her game--I think she is a dirty player. But sometimes I wish she wore the Sienna, White and Gold. If we had a gunner like that, we would be unbeatable. She's also whiney, whiney, whiney. (And Sheri, honey? That was me who used to yell that you should quit yer whining. Now I'd like to encourage you to be as vocal with the refs as you need to be.  
 
And while Katie was tough, Michelle Van Gorp was  a flat-out thug. Elbows, jabs, stiff arms. I think it was her first offensive series in the first half that put LJ off her game. My favorite moment was her dramatic first half flop FER NOTHING! Way to go, bad ref! Way to go a coupla times--they ignored completely every single Minny Weenie flop.
 
Adia looked far more mobile tonight. I cringed when she subbed in, but she was able to play aggressive D, and was an effective cog in the offensive rotation.
 
Minny overpursued on defense something fierce, and I kept wishing we'd exploit that more. Kamila had a nice double-pump fake that drew their defender away like a charm--her international experience really shows. Butts got us a couple of easy looks by calling defenders off the ball handler to where she assumed the ball was going to go, leaving the ball handler a wide wide open look. More fakes. We needed more fakes.
 
While AD looked smashing tonight, Jessie and Jenny weren't up to their usual sartorial standards. C'mon girls, I expect big things from you this season!
 
The game wouldn't even have been that close if we could have gotten the job done at the free throw line. I believe our FT % must have been at 50% in the first half. Anyone know?
 
Amazing and interesting matchups this game. Ohlde/LJ, Kamila/Ohlde (Kamila handled her well on D) Van Gorp/LJ, Darling/Tully, Butts/Bird. Last year I thought these two teams were the most evenly matched in the league. This year on paper, anyway, we ought to be handing them their booties. I'll just chalk it up to early season jitters and needing to gel a little.
 
I love that we're not alternating possessions anymore, but, could anybody besides Tully please tie up the ball? She's not so effective on a jump ball, if you know what I mean...
 
Janell took a wicked pop to the nose at the end of the half. I thought she'd end up with a nose to go with that intimidating game face, but happily she reappeared to play the second half.
 
Stacy Lovelace, why couldn't you buy a basket when you played with the Storm? If only Lin Dunn could see your penetration tonight.
 
It's great to see Sue Bird dribble drive with gusto, and leave her feet once in awhile! Welcome back, young Birdie.
 
Tasha Butts. Remember that name.  
 
Alice. I'll remember that name! It was wonderful visiting with her tonight. She is as completely cool in person as she is online!
 
I'm not going to talk about Betty. I've groaned her name one too many times today. I assume the Storm staff will work her through her scary out of control-ness. (I know she had great numbers. I know. But she needs to pass. She needs to jump stop. She needs to stay on balance and in control.)
 
It was nice to see so many stormfans slumming in my neighborhood. Did you guys like the view? And what about SFiCL, who got plenty of Diamondvision time?
 
Whenever I close my eyes I see green monkeys and Lauren Jackson license plates. Time to go to bed. And no more pregame peyote for me.

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