Submitted by | Alice

The whole first half, I was thinking "we're on ESPN2 and wow is this a low scoring game..."  In fact, Mercury had 6 points 6 or 8 minutes after tip-off.
 
Either Mercury are really good at defending the paint or we just sucked at getting the ball into the post.  We had way too many turnovers in the first half, unsucessfully trying to get the ball inside.
 
Poor KV, she was getting so banged up inside & missing some close shots (probably due to the unfair fouling on her).  She looked like she was trying really hard though.
 
I thought AD was going to blow up after a very bad pass.  She covered her head with her hands and asked for a timeout.
 
Betty, betty...I love this girl.  She was grabbing a lot of rebounds for us, admist of tall posts.  Just stretched her arm high, and snatched that ball down.  She was a HUGE factor tonight.  I didn't any any out of control shooting from her at all.  I think she knows what she needs to improve on and does make a sincere effort to do so.

Second Half

The Mercury lost something in the locker room while we brought something out.  The whole second half was just awesome to watch.  LJ had consecutive beautiful turnaround jumpers.  She and Birdie were having some "Bird Jackson Connection" (someone made this sign) moments.  Sam and Barnes played good D.  Burse had monster blocks (!)  Betty took good shots.  Our lead grew and grew and at one point I thought we just migh beat them by 39 points.  But hey, I will take the win.  I attribute the second-half greatness to AD's coaching and the players' willingness to hang in there and play their hearts out.
 
Random Notes:
 
Birdie played very tight D on Taurasi the whole night.  I know Sue wasn't the only one who guarded her, but she almost completely shut Taurasi down when she did guard her.  They were both very physical too.  Taurasi missed at least three fade away jumpers and did not look happy with herself tonight.  There was a foul on Bird that had something to do with her holding DT.  Sue was not a happy girl.  She looked so mad and kept trying to explain to the ref.  Finally she just said "whatever" and went away.  She was getting hurt a lot tonight too....a headknock here, a fall there...ouch.
 
LJ started the game with a pony tail, but when she came out after half time, she had a braid.  Hmm...how many times has the "change" happened this season already?
 
During the team huddle after Sue's breakaway layup, I saw LJ put Sue's head under her arm and kissed her forehead.  Awww...
 
When the benchies went in to finish the last 3-4 minutes, they still played very hard.  The starters were rooting for them, jumping up and down whenever any one of them made a basket/good play.  Greco was hustling, making the most of her minutes.  Thompson had a great play, I just don't remember what.  Tully missed 3-4 free throws and finally made her last one.  She looked so relieved.  LJ looked really cute being all excited.
 
During one timeouts, they was a "Shoot like Sue" game.  Yu have to make a layup to get a storm hat, make a jumper for something (can't remember), and make a hook shot on the free throw line to get courtside tix (with $200 paid by Sue).  They showed a video with Sue doing all these shots..at one point she said "hey I just can't miss tonight.  I feel like Lauren Jackson"  
 
Sonics player Reggie Evans was in attendance.  He looked like he enjoyed the game.

Submitted by | Wingardium

We need to bottle whatever stuff AD uncorks on the Storm during halftime and feed it to 'em before the game!! I don't know what kind of motivational speaking style she favors... Patton or Tony Robbins... but whatever she says, it seems to work.
 
The Other Wing wondered to Eclair at halftime whether it was she following the Storm up the ramp to the locker room, and Eclair denied it. Turns out that OW confused Jenny Boucek and Eclair. There is a resemblance, wethinks.
 
Janelle Burse is showing some moves!! She had a nice twisting move to score one time, and showed excellent persistance with rebounds. Seems to be getting better and better each game.
 
Sass, honey... Shaq called... he needs his shorts back.
 
I know that, as the Storm/WNBA gets more popular, we will need to accomodate the newer fans that may or may not have the same level of basketball knowledge as we StormFans. HOWEVER. If the leather-lunged and ignorant "gentleman" sitting behind me ever dares to call Kamila a "beeyotch" again, I will have to take action. 'Nuff said.
 
--I loves me some Tully. What a scrapper. The Opals just need to use our game films as her audition... and they'd be darn fools to leave her off the Oly team.
 
Ms. DeForge, keep your hands off the referee's rumps, wouldya please? Having a conversation about a call, then leaving them with a slap on the tushie is just so tacky.
 
Was that really Ann Meyers at the ESPN table? If so, this spanking seems a bit sweeter.
 
I don't know who enjoyed Simone's success more, her or LJ. Lauren was just falling over herself laughing with glee towards the end.
 
DT is definitely the real thing. Nice touch on the shot, amazing mobility for her size. She will do well. Just not in our house.
 
Danielle McCulley was in the house, sitting up in the back of section 111. About three different Stormies tried to launch a T-shirt up to her after the game, but none of 'em could throw it that far... much to Danielle's glee. Where's Brock Huard when you need him?

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