Submitted by | Gym.Rat.07

From national anthem to final buzzer – this game made the Storm take the bar that the WNBA keeps raising, snapped it, and said, “you have to keep up with us now, foo’”. This game was the most physical game I've seen that hasn't involved LA.
 
Gym.Rat’s Droppings:

1) National anthem boy… he was amazing!

2) I like the video/music style of the Storm this year.

3) Storm auction stuff… yet again I was outbid on Kamila stuff by fellow board “friends”. *sniff*

4) Betty Lennox… I had no idea she scored that high. Once she gets to her spot 1-2 seconds faster to draw the charge, things will be good. I like her aggressiveness though. Time and time again she’ll run into the mosh pit ala key, grab the ball, and pass it off to a teammate.

5) Kamila… she’s off to a slow start and doesn’t seem happy.

6) LJ was guarding Ohlde exclusively in the second half of the game. Not only did she deny her the ball the entire time but shut her down for the rebounds. At one point though Ohlde was able to sneak behind Jackson, catch the ball and draw the foul from Kamila who stepped over for help defense. LJ called for a huddle though and said that was her fault. I thought that was classy and smart of LJ.

7) Speaking of LJ…. 31 points and Bird still calls it a bad game for you? I also thought she didn’t play *that* well (lack of boards and defensive stops) but way to get the Storm win MVP style.

Coach D totally gave the refs an earful when some question over the out of bounds area happened right in front of the Storm bench. I’ve never seen her that upset… she even stomped the floor. I gotta say though – I like it. If you talk to the refs in a respectful way while getting your point across – you’ll get a make up call… which we did.

9) Make your free throws people!

10) Butts played lots better than I thought she would, same with Ohlde.

11) One of the players during the introduction totally knocked Doppler down (I think it was Greco or Sam… can’t remember).

12) Gym.Rat’s Dropping Award goes to Michelle Van Gorp and Doppler: Doppler was on his way into the visitor’s tunnel and “ran into” some of the Lynx players, Van Gorp being one of them (I don’t think he saw them). Well, Van Gorp stared him down while Doppler made some “you want a piece of me” gestures. Van Gorp in turn wiggled her finger indicating Doppler to come over, which he hesitated and looked around for back up. Van Gorp waved her arms and called him chicken and proceeded to challenge him by raising her eyebrows in a “what are you going to do now furry boy?” gesture. Doppler, of course, ran away. Hmmm…. Doppler may have a new Spot.

Submitted by | bballchick12

That was the best night of the year so far...
 
It was great ot be back in the key for some Storm action, seeing some familar and new faces on this team.  
 
I wasn't to impressed with Minn even though it was a close game, I just thought we had a few too many TOs and we were horrible from the line in the first half. And some easy missed transition baskets.
 
Michelle Van Gorp is a flopper, give her a few more games and she could be the next Demya Walker. I was pretty impressed with Nicole Ohdle, going against the league MVP in your first game and then letting her get 31pts didn't seem to phase her and she just kept on playing her game. Katie SImth had some pretty long range 3s and should have had an offensive charge when she was on a fast break and competely mowed down Betty Lennox.  
 
LJ was spectacular as usual, she's really set herself down in the paint and had some timely 3s as well. I'm so happy to see Sue.B driving the lane and not squintng her face when she does, girl got her speed back. Sheri Sam can do it from the inside, outside and anywhere else on the floor. I remember on a pick and roll with LJ on the wing as soon as she got behind the pick and had the ball she let it fly and nothing but swish. Good range and a really quick release.  
 
Janelle Burse is going to be a great back up, I feel really comfotable if she came in the game for LJ or KV. She had an awesome monster block! Betty Lennox is a little water bug, she was just everywhere... lots of energy whenever she goes on the court. And Kudos for her, a double double with 18pts and 10reb. I just hope this isn't a beggining of the season thing like it was with Sandy last year where at the half point of the season couldn't find her shot.  
 
Adia didn't show off anything offensive tonight but her defence was  in the house. Tully is showing great improvement from last season, she had a nice drive to the lane where she got knocked to the floor and one thank you very much. KV is the same old KV, consistent and such a nice duo with LJ. Although she had a few fouls that were non fouls as usual  and a nice long range jumper in the first half near the 3 pt line.  
 
There were a few bad transitions breaks that I think the Storm need to work on and I hope the free throw shooting tonight was a one time thing only. I know this team is pretty good from the line and lets hope they can get back to knocking them down against LA.  
 
Coach AD looking sharp as usual but I just think that  Kenlaw and Boucek are saving the sharp dressing for the LA game. They showed an MVP highlight video of LJ and later had an interview on when and where she was when she got the news. As soon as she got the call, she gave her mom a big hug and later on she said she was having an interview with Coach AD when Sandy and Tully came knocking on the door with champagne bottles!
 
There was a video clip of the new comers on how they felt about being in Seattle and Sheri Sam's response "I wouldn't want to play anywhere in the league but Seattle." She likes the fact that when shes usually here, she heres nothing but boos and now shes got this crowd completely behind her.  
 
In like the first 3:00 mins of the first half, it almost seemed like there was a call on every play and I think by around the 9:00 or 8:00 min mark in the first half, Seattle was already at the shooting bonus.  
 
And another thing that just really got to me was you could see how happy LJ was to be back in Seattle, I just really like that fact that she loves playing here and it shows. With the jump ball at 0:08 secs to go in the sec half and the Storm up by 3, it was tipped to LJ she just held the ball up in the air as soon as the buzzer sounded. Putting LJ's passion, love, and play of the game into words would almost be taking something away from it because she is just really to great to be put into words, you just need to look at her and you know.
 
This was a great game that went back and forth and you really couldn't have asked for a better game with all the circumstances that were surrounding it, I mean Minn had knocked us out of the playoffs last year and it was a great game to get a small part of our revenge in this game.
 
The team is looking healthy and ready to go. I love the new defense and the balanced scoring attack we had tonight. We have so many players that can hit from almost anywhere on the court, and I don't think we have a problem with perimeter scoring either. I believe near the end of the game I don't know if its the final tally or not but we were 7-13 from behind the ark.
 
Howard Shultz and John Curley were both at the game, I wish we would have had a sell out for the game but it was a pretty good size crowd and I just hope we continue to bring in the fans. And with the Mariners currently going down the hole [yes I know they had a 11-0 blow out of Baltimore last night but still 14-26] should bring in some more fans.
 
I'm excited as can be for this season and Bring on LA!!!!!

Submitted by | numero10

It looked like we were going to lose it at the end of the first half. We had a good lead for a while, but slack defense let Minn back into the game and into the lead most of the second half.  
 
We get out-rebounded because we're not crashing the boards. There is a trade off here. It gives you a jump in transition, but it allows the other team second chance points and allows them to dominate on defensive rebounds.  
 
Minnesota also has an excellent perimeter game which was drawing out our players from under the basket. You can't go trading shots with Katie Smith from 3 pt range. We did an excellent job of shutting her down in the second half.
 
I got the impression watching Amanda that she used to get the responsibility of covering Sue during practice every now and then. She knew Sue's moves all too well.
 
Lauren was awesome. There is nothing more to say here. Only 5 RBs. She can do that every game she scores 30+ points in my book. Minn did an excellent job of boxing her out and KV out, but they couldn't box out Lennox at the same time - hence the double double.
 
Tully's pit bull defense was excellent as usual.  
 
Sue Bird..... this one was a pleasure to watch. It was great not seeing her grimace the entire game. She's picked up a step again. Someone get that girl some knee pads! Please!
 
Refs: What worries me here is that they seem to be turning a blind eye to flagerant stuff and calling the ticky-tack stuff again. That intentional foul toward the end of the game by Minn should have been a flagerant. There was no need for the hit. All the player had to do was wrap her up. Instead we saw a cross body check NHL style. You know this call: it should have been charging against Minn instead of blocking against us. Physical play is one thing. Some things go too far.
 
The Storm this year has the beginnings of something that they didn't have the last two seasons. The killer instinct. I'll give that to the arrival of Betty Lennox. Lauren has the ability to take over any game. Sue's play-making has improved a lot.
 
This was a tough win against a tough team. I was half expecting OT in the first game.  
 
Did I say Lauren rocks? I've never seen a player stay so focused in a game, and she does so consistently. Her confidence level has grown immensly. She KNOWS she can take over a game. It's been great watching her mature over the past three seasons into.... the best player in the league.

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