Submitted by | norwester

Actually, does anything even need to be added to that score?  Imagine a sold-out crowd (many of them Girl Scouts, which explained the very piercing screams coming from behind me  , and consequently, LL seems to have many young fans...or else she was just the most recognizable to young basketball neophytes), and a trouncing of the much-maligned LA team, and you may approach the euphoria present in the Key tonight.  The performance of our new players (i.e. Burse, Sam and Lennox) made AD look like a genius.  It's still very early in the season, so I've been very cautious about getting all hyped up about winning a championship, and there is still growth to be had, but there were moments when everything was going right that I could begin to believe in the possibility...
 
Off the cuff:
 
At one point in the second half we were on a 40-10 run.

The 93 points we scored in this game ties the all-time team best for points in a game (against San Antonio last year).

Was anyone else waiting (in vain as it turns out) for Simone to score in those last few minutes?

BrrringIt, the "Omalisa, you're fired!" sign you and Mini were holding up had me in stitches! Also there were plenty of yells of "baby spinach!" around me when LL was at the free throw line. Too bad we can't think of a way to synchronize everyone's yelling .

Is any of this increased attendance due to the Mariners, or is word of mouth and marketing getting to Seattle finally?

LJ's double figures put her into second place for the most consecutive games with double-figure scoring (55 games, ahead of LL's 54)  
 
Ok, so the game started out kind of slow. We were all still standing like 2 minutes in, hoping this didn't signify how our shooting would go all night. I think Betty Lennox scored our first points, though, and I suppose that could have pointed towards the night she'd be having, because she ended up player of the game. At half time it was Seattle 40 - LA 36. We had the edge in FG%, and surprising shot more free throws over all, considering LA didn't enter the penalty until the final two minutes. The end of the half was pretty wild though. Forget the many bobbled passes and rebounds (could we please hang on to the ball ; I was surprised that we actually edged LA in rebounds for the half), and the fact that while looking better than the last game Kamila was missing a lot of her bread and butter shots (and a free throw !), in addition to the refs apparently not having been informed that LJ is the reigning MVP, not LL (based on the way they were calling it...I swear at one point when the announcer said "2 team fouls" on the Storm I thought he said "2 ticky fouls"... LJ with 2, Kamila with 1 on LL), within the space of a couple minutes we had Sam's head nearly removed on a foul, Burse get a block, Adia force a jump ball with LL, and many fouls (Adia even got to the line ).  Both teams were rough around the edges, we kept it up with a bunch of shaky and tentative passing, and I don't know about anyone else, but I was digging in for another long back and forth battle like the Minnesota game.
 
It was tres exciting to have Michelle Greco come into the game, and even score points. She was getting a lot of love from the fans; I guess everyone finally caught on that it's been Michelle Greco week. She still looked very poised, even when bowling Dixon over at mid-court. She got to play the final minutes of the game too, and seemed to get more and more comfortable out there, drawing fouls, starting to make lay-ups that were so...close earlier in the game.
 
Kamila frankly looked ill to me last game. She seemed less flat this time out, though she was still missing some of her money shots. She had some beauties, though, and kept duking it out on defense. She also got the "DIXIE dish of the half," a sweet pass from deep in the key to a wide open LJ beyond the arc, with which she calmly stepped up and hit a 3. She kept doing that a lot tonight. I'm not sure if it was because no one would or could pass to her in the middle for huge stretches of the game, or if they decided, hey, go with the hot hands and sat back and allowed Lennox and company to take over. She still got a lot of touches, integral to running our offense, but it was more often than not out on the perimeter. There were a couple of times where she was clearly in a position to take the ball, and Sam or whoever dribbled away looking for a better or more open target. I attribute that to a bit of a lack in familiarity, because as soon as Tully got around her, she was attempting the tricky passes into LJ. I think Bird said once that it's a pleasure to play with LJ because generally if you get the ball anywhere in her vicinity, she'll come up with it. These things will come in time. If our chemistry hasn't gelled yet (?!) imagine how we'll be at the end of June!
 
There was a DJ mixing some stuff during the game, but it seems that he was under-utilized, unless he was running the regular canned music too. I looked around at a couple of game breaks when it seemed it would be natural for him to be doing stuff, and he was sitting back, perhaps working on his next selections. Huh.
 
The Dunking Ushers at half time was pretty cool, 4 guys all perky and acrobatic and stuff off of trampolines, but I didn't get as good a perspective as "someone else."
 
Sam scored our first points in the second half. That was more auspicious then I knew. For a while we weren't really able to get much done. LA was hanging in there tenaciously, and our flow left a bit to be desired, but nothing was dire, we just weren't getting it done. At around the 14 minute mark AD took Sue, then a couple game-breaks later LJ out and talked to them.  We had a few point lead, but it was being whittled away. But suddenly things started happening, and you blinked, then looked up at the score board (lots better tonight, guys, thanks) and we were up by 20!    
 
Adia had a quick steal and important rebound in quick succession. No offense Adia, so what? She was looking good tonight, brace and all (and according to a player poll, takes the longest to come out of the locker room...having to look glamorous and have her hair just...so and all  ). Her former self might not be back yet, but she's making a difference in the game, and looks better ever time we see her. Tully played solid minutes, and she hit the floor with 10 minutes or so left (sending her to the line), so it was a REAL GAME. Janelle Burse was solid inside, and I'm loving her off the bench (I can see why she'd earned a starting job in MN).  She made Mabika lose her cool at one point, so much so that Mwadi got a T. Sue made the technical free throw, then was getting all set to shoot two free throws, just automatically, when she realized that she hadn't been fouled, and she switched places with a waiting Burse, laughing ). Good times. At some points, the refs were even using Burse like they do Kamila:  every time she breathes she gets a foul call. You didn't see her getting frustrated or backing off about it, though. I really liked the defensive switch of her onto LL rather than LJ. She was up to the task, and it kept LJ from picking up more fouls.  Hurray.
 
So, as we began going on our run (I think Lennox, Burse and Sam scored more than all LA's starters combined...but I don't have the stats in front of me), Sam was hitting from outside, drawing fouls inside, Burse was picking up any old ball in her vicinity and laying it off the glass, and everything Lennox threw up was going in, even one-handed, off-balance runners as she was fouled. And she was out of control less this game. I left it up to her to convert me, and she's turning me into a believer.
 
However, the best part for me was that LJ and Sue didn't seem to begrudge their teammates the spot light at all. They were all smiles, and celebrating. I think LJ must have been more excited than Burse when she hit a key shot and drew the foul, running up to her and congratulating her. At the end, from the bench, they were cheering their hearts out, and LJ was clearly ecstatic at the end when she got to throw more shirts into the crowd. That's why we love these guys. And I love that they apparently won't have to shoulder the entire burden as much anymore. I think they'll start playing a little looser.  This is where it's at, everyone.  
 
Final random thoughts:
 
Doppler brought out a slingshot at one point, and had serious problems with it. His first attempt sent the t-shirt into the upper bowl, another into one of the entrance tunnels rather than the fans in the seats, and another didn't go anywhere except practically straight down into the court-side rows. Come to think of it, is Doppler a he? Whatever, practice with that thing is needed.  
 
The new opening sequence is growing on me. At first I missed the one from last year, but it's cool at the end of this one when you get those shots of Kamila, Sue and LJ in quick succession. And we still get the LJ look that could knock a lesser person down.
 
Ever since the singing of the national anthem in the preseason game when there was no flag on the court so many people were having to crane their necks or twist or turn around in order to salute the flag hanging way up above section 107, they've had the flag displayed in some incarnation on the court.  I hope they continue with that adjustment; a person could hurt themselves.  
 
The couch was green rather than purple. Is this a permanent change, or could we just not have a purple couch with LA in town?  
 
I'm glad they cut in the footage of Sue telling everyone to get on their feet at the beginning of the fan "instructional video" because there was mass confusion in my section last time, and hardly anyone stood up before high-fiving the fan next to them or clapping as instructed. And I was entertained by the customized "Beat LA" instruction.

Submitted by | StorminCali

Dis is the Freaky Report From Smog Central.....
 
Ok, its not really from Smog Central since I'm chillin with the badest in Seattle.  Awwwwwwwww yeah-uh!!  
 
This was without a doubt one of the best games I've ever been to.  I've nearly lost my voice, which I'm sure makes Leighway quite happy....*cough*
 
The game you ask?  BRILLIANT!!!!  *toast to SF#*
 
The Sporks you ask?  Not Brilliant!  Wooooo! *another toast to SF#*
 
Seattle was deffo playing the type of ball we've been dying to see. Great ball movement, wonderful defense and all in all wicked wicked plays. Our bench produced, came in and made sure to stick it to LA as only we know how.  
 
I'm priveledged to say that I got to sit next to wnbatalker, Jilly and Mr. jilly.....and yesh that was me making an a$$ of myself during halftime. If you missed it I'm sure wnbatalker will be able to provide you with video footage.   I was more concerned with the approach and dismount than I was with the actual points.  Score one for the SiC-ko!!!   It was my shining moment and I can now die one very happy hippie.......I'd better considering I haven't beaten Leighway all weekend.
 
2nd half was just BRILLIANT!!!  *toast to SF#*  
 
Birdy sat out most the 2nd half cuz Tully was just BRILLIANT!  *toast to SF# & Shed*  I so love Burse and Sam. They're VERY welcome in Seattle.  Lennox had a few wild moments, ok maybe more than a few, but she still had it going on enough to stop LA. I think I could've put my gramma in the game and she would've stopped LA. Much to Leighway's pleasure, I'm sure, I've just about lost my voice from all the cheering. Ain't no place like the Key.    
 
Many many thanks to all the Locals who have made my stay here in Seattle the best EVER. They're all incredibly BRILLIANT (*toast to SF# & Shed) and have convinced me that SoCali is just NOT the place to be.  I'm sure that I've gone over my "Be Nice to SiC-ko" quota for the year but I ain't complaining.
 
For those of you that saw me, just imagine what it'll be like next year when both SF# and I are Seattle residents.....MUAHAHAHAHAHA!
 
(I know Sassamajig's got dibs.....)
 
Thus concludes the Freaky Report....SiC-ko sends out much love, especially to Goddess Eclair, SF#, Shed, Jez, Pwe, Sox, Durty Sox, Admin, Admina, Leighway (yes you), BJV, Sassythang, wnbatalker, and even Trinity, eh.
 
Ok, peace out.

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