Final score: Storm 89 – Fever 75 (W) (13-12)

Submitted by Norwester

Unfortunately for Indiana, the final score makes this game sound closer than it was; our benchies could neither defend nor score with consistency in the end, but at least they got some reps. Before the game they showed an interview with Lauren Jackson on the ArenaVision, and the last question was, "Is this the year?" She responded by saying that on every Championship team she's been on (and that includes 2004, Korea, WNBL teams, Russia and the 2006 World Championship team) you can just feel something special. She continued by saying that she has felt that at times this season with this team, and feels that they are capable of special things. I'd say that the "special" Seattle Storm showed up for the first 3 quarters of this game. I mentioned on the road how I was pleased with the reappearance of our offense, but this game it was...brace yourselves...our defense that allowed us to build an impressive lead fairly early and never be in danger of relinquishing it. LJ didn't miss a step from her record-breaking outing in DC; everything she threw up went in. She reached 4,000 points easily in the 2nd quarter, and had 21 by half time, shooting 80%! It was unreal. Sue was scoring and dishing, Izi continued her aggressive and confident play, particularly from the perimeter. JB showed some heart early that we haven't seen for games. When her shot isn't falling Bad Betty doesn't appear for long, and Betty Lennox has been really good this season at racking up some excellent assists of her own, while allowing her shot to come to her rather than forcing it. Wendy is solid off the bench. Ashley is playing a more controlled game all the time, and Tanisha continues to give us solid minutes rotating in for both Sue (who is happily getting more rest from Anne) and Betty (who hits the floor several times a game, and is always grimacing and writhing very dramatically...it makes me fear for her health). Apart from defense, there was great communication and on-court chemistry by the Storm. I know Indiana has been hurting in the absence of Catchings, but that alone cannot account for a 40 point turnaround (I didn't do the math, but you get what I mean). We just clicked. This was the unstoppable team we saw early this season. Hopefully we see more of this in the future, because it was beautiful. On Women of Inspiration Night we were indeed inspired.

Did I say how nice it was to be home? So nice. Even though I did pick like the slowest concessions line ever...I had to apologize to the people behind me for miring them in my check-stand bad luck. It's actually funny by this point in my life, that I almost nearly present a "learning experience" to the checkers I interact with. Good times. As I sat I was wondering how this team would bounce back from such a long trip. Would LJ still have legs after her super-human effort on the road? Indiana scares me because of their tenacity.

The team emerged as always to "Party Like a Rockstar," which according to Sue recently is the song that best embodies LJ. Appropriately enough, I noticed an uncommon number of LJ jerseys in the stands. During warm-ups they flash stats and such up on the AV. Random stat of the night: on 6-10-2003 we beat the Fever by 27, 78-51; what prompted the display of this stat? Have we not beaten them since, or something? Didn't we beat them a couple years ago on Camp Day? It just seemed odd to be bringing up a game 4 years ago. Tully began to get shout-outs from the crowd as soon as her team emerged from the tunnel for their shoot around.

I cringed when I saw that both Roy and Kurt would be our refs, along with Tony. Roy rarely gives us a break. Kurt is either decent or awful. I don't think Tony is great, but don't have strong feelings either way. They certainly got whistle-happy at times, and JB gets very little love this season, but I think Indiana bore more of the brunt (Terry fouled out near the end).

The anthem was performed by a local cellist, Claire Garabedian, on a cello that was over 300 years old. The rendition was a bit slow for me, and I didn't know if the extra notes between verses were necessary, but I really liked it when she'd get into the meat of the piece: chords.

During the fan warm-up video I thought there was a pretty good attempt at Aussie, Aussie, Aussie M-V-P. The timing could have used some work. By the end of the game I thought I could hear it catching on all right (over half of the people), though it didn't sound as sharp over the radio. A work in progress.

Lin Dunn got a respectable amount of applause and cheers during coach/player introductions. Strothers got some cheers. Sheri Sam got a lot of noise, but didn't really acknowledge the crowd. And of course Tully got the loudest response, to which she smiled and waved to the crowd. LJ got the lion's share of the Storm reception. It was so loud you couldn't even hear/understand what the PA Guy was saying about her. She had hugs for pretty much the entire Fever starting line-up as the teams gathered at center court to prepare for the tip.

JB played some awesome defense on the first Fever possession, but Betty turned it back over with a bit of a travel, which worried me early...a lot of turnovers had hampered us on the road. Tully responded by taking it right to the basket past Sue. But pretty soon Sue was recovering a turnover, getting it ahead to Betty, to LJ for an &1! And the game was really on. We were actually not shooting too well (and LJ didn't get many early touches), but it was our 2nd and 3rd efforts, and the way we just kept going after the basketball that were keeping us in it. We were really playing like a team, particularly on our defensive rotations. A few minutes later DeForge was fouled, but the call was rather weak, which got the crowd antsy. Imagine our surprise when they decided she was in the act of shooting and she got free throws? Much booing commenced. JB and Betty both had blocks, Sue had a steal, and we were getting offensive rebounds. Tully fouled Betty just past half-court, and several fans yelled "wasn't she shooting?" and "two shots!" twitting them about putting DeForge on the line. I'm sure the refs love us. The Fever entered the penalty with 3 minutes to go. Tully also hit the deck at our end, earning her a trip to the line, but most importantly "making it a game." I yelled BRICK on her first free throw, and she missed. I felt so bad that I couldn't bring myself to yell a second time. I know. I'm too soft-hearted. I've been impressed with Anne's end-of-quarter substitution schemes lately where she often gets the starters out (particularly if we're ahead) for some extra rest (and probably to avoid stupid fouls) with just a possession or two remaining. Betty's never been known to me as a shot blocker, but she blocked the Fever at the buzzer. Go defense! 1Q: 26-16

JB was looking like she had new life out there. Betty's shot wasn't really falling, but she was hustling after rebounds and loose balls and tenacious on defense. Izi was also working extra hard on defense, and it showed. As the second began, Hoffman had the ball down low with her back to the basket and the shot clock winding down, and some alert fans counted down "3, 2, 1" prompting her to turn and shoot with a couple seconds still left. Katie got some court time (the crowd applauds whenever they see her lining up at the scorer's table), and they ran a play seemed designed specifically for her, and she missed it all. Audible groans. As a shooter I think she really needs court time to get her timing and rhythm going.

Meanwhile, LJ is hitting pretty much every shot she throws up (and they aren't necessarily easy ones...plenty of 10- or 15-foot turnarounds in coverage), and with just over 6 minutes to go in the half, 1 point shy of 4,000, she hit what would be a routine bucket in any other game, and the Key went crazy! Everyone was on their feet, cheering and clapping and it was LOUD. Of course, there was still a game going on, but we stopped the Fever on their possession, then T scored for us to force an Indiana time-out up 34-20, and still the cheering and applause went on, only dying out a bit to be able to hear the LJ montage on the AV, then Sue giving a little congratulatory blurb "not only the youngest and fastest, but the best hair." Also during the pandemonium, through the kindness of strangers I was able to move down to the front row of floor seats under the basket because LozFan and partner got to move to the Rock Star seats. Dirty Socks and I (though later New Socks switched places) got to sit down by Green Girl and Bloodnfire, and the players were right there. They had to come within a couple of feet of me to pick up a towel as they went to the bench. You could hear the coaches yell instructions. I don't mind saying it was one of the thrills of my young life. I even toned down my yelling a bit because they were so close I didn't want to distract or startle the wrong players, and I don't shut up for many people! It remained LOUD in there. The PA Guy led us in some Aussie chants, and that's where I thought I heard a pretty good contingent yell M-V-P versus oi x 3. Everyone was still on their feet, clapping to the music. This was a lot of fun. There was very little in the other arenas I visited recently that got the fans to their feet during the game. The Key is great.

Someone lit a fire under DeForge and she scored a few consecutive baskets, but everything was bouncing the Storm way. T even hit a 3, prompting a Fever timeout in which Wendy (on the AV) congratulated LJ: "great job, sweetie." Awww. Betty drew a charge on Sheri, but at the same time Ashley was elevating to block the shot (which she did) and nearly landed on our little guard. Yikes. LJ hit some more shots, giving her 21 points already with 2 minutes to go in the half, and Betty went down hard on a fast break, lying on the court in clear pain. How much is drama, and how much is real pain? Who can say? She managed to get to her feet and make a couple of free throws, though, and at time out between them she congratulated LJ (on the AV) with a short beat-boxing prologue: "thanks for being a great teammate; you're supa, mate." That also earned her some ribbing on the bench. HT: 50-27

We were treated to a pretty cool Women of Inspiration ceremony (see Run-off). The Fever came out with over 5 minutes to warm-up. My wish was that we would have a killer instinct and not let up in the 2nd half. I know this is something the Storm have been aware of and trying to fix: meeting other teams' intensity in the 3rd quarter. LJ started the quarter off with a bang: a 3 (right in front of me )! I don't know that I like to start with outside shooting right away...but hey, if it's going to go in. Izi followed this up with some outside shooting of her own, but JB was called for a foul, and was immediately replaced by Wendy. Meanwhile the players on the bench were all smelling one another, apparently attempting to ascertain the source of some kind of odor. Everyone had a good laugh when Tully was stuck trying to defend LJ, which led to an &1 as LJ did her best not to squish Tully on the landing. Just 3 minutes into the quarter we were up 64-33! A few minutes later Betty hit Wendy perfectly on a fast break to double us up on Indiana 70-35 and once again it was LOUD in the Key. The Fever would score a couple of buckets, but we were relentless and the hits just kept on coming for Indiana: out of a timeout Izi inbounded in front of our bench with a lob right to Sue in the post for a nice reverse move that brought a temporarily benched LJ up off her feet in appreciation. Since when does Sue Bird post up? Betty came up temporarily lame towards the end of the 3rd, Strother checked in on fire, and as Sue drove down the court for a last-second shot she was ridden the whole way with no call. She had emphatic words for the official after that, too. I love how competitive she gets. 3Q: 78-48

We were so firmly in control to start the 4th that we started to let things slip. Sue was visibly disgusted with herself for an unforced 8-second backcourt violation, and she rolled her eyes and threw the ball up in the air. We missed a couple of gimmes, and Shyra turned it over on a double dribble when T wasn't ready to receive her pass, causing her to hesitate. LJ was still in, with 27 points, and I kept waiting for them to get her a couple more shots so she could reach 30+ and sit down, but she really wasn't getting touches, and overall we were very sloppy on offense, but particularly defense (really emphasizing how good our defensive rotation looked earlier in the game), and some Fever players were showing some skills. Sharp is very fast, for instance. LJ did get to pad her rebound stats a bit, though, and the couple of times she did touch it (once from Lewis, who seems to have picked up that very important key to our offense: get it to the big blonde in the middle) she worked on distribution instead of scoring (setting up a wide-open Shyra to score). AD's congratulatory message came up on the AV: "another milestone, another MVP season; congratulations). With 4 minutes to go, and "certain fans" yelling things like "hey, coach, there's a whole bench here waiting to go in" and "Katie" Anne gestured for Arob and Katie to get up, much to the fans' delight. LJ left the game to a well-earned standing ovation. Next Fever timeout at 3:15 we were still up 86-64.

Nothing much else happened the rest of the way except A LOT of referee whistles , and plays that had the bench either grimacing, or putting their heads in their hands. Lewis had some unfortunate turnovers. Arob went to the line and banked in her first shot to everyone's delight. The bench in particular loved it and Sue and LJ kept yelling "do it again!" Sadly, she over-corrected and missed the 2nd off the front of the rim. Time and again the crowd would start cheering as the benchies (or I guess the Bench Brigade, as Alan and Adia have dubbed them) made a good play, then came the audible "oh" of disappointment from the crowd as they failed to convert their opportunities. Katie scored, which gave everyone a warm fuzzy, but Lewis failed to score, though she had a chance on a fast break before she lost the ball in the air somewhere as she drove, and it landed behind her. She lost the ball again towards the end, and the Fever scored. Then she just dribbled the time out, though we were all yelling "shoot it!" since she was the only one who hadn't scored. Oh, well.

The happy players threw t-shirts to the crowd. Sue pretended to steal one, hiding it under her warm-up shirt, but pulled it out, laughing, and threw it into the stands.

LJ (of course) was interviewed by Alan post-game. He laid it all out: milestone, 5th player ever to 4,000 points, youngest and quickest. Lauren responded that she didn't know what to say, that she was happy she was able to do it in front of her fans. Every game remaining this season they feel an urgency, and they just want to win, especially in Key Arena. It's going to be fun, but hard work, and it's nice that they have the best support in the League. As an aside, having been to a few other Arenas, I'm more inclined to believe these statements now.

Run-off

StormVision featured a pre-game interview with LJ, the "Greatest Player in the WNBA." She was asked about starting the season injury-free, which she says was a long time coming and has really given her an emotional boost. Regarding Russia, she, Sue, Diana, Tina Thompson...Ticha...they all had so much fun. Yeah, playing with Sue was a boost, and may have helped transition into the season. Asked about this team's chances this was where she talked about the special feeling she's gotten on all her Championship teams, and that she's felt that at times with this team. She feels that there are positive things in their future, and if they just remain positive themselves they can accomplish special things.

Alan & Adia game breakdown (also on AV): LJ is the story of the team and the League right now, after amazingly tying the scoring record last time out. She's having an MVP season, and should reach 4,000 points that night, the youngest and the quickest to do it, playing the best basketball of her career, and doing it at such a high percentage. Regarding Indiana, the last game against them we really struggled. They have a lot of depth and experience (e.g. Tully and Sheri), and are not to be underestimated.

Women of Inspiration Night: during half time they set up some Ionic columns mid court, turned the spot lights on, rolled out a red carpet, and Adia MC'ed while Karen Bryant presented crystal awards to the 2007 Women of Inspiration Honorees while we were either treated to clips of their accomplishments, or a montage of pictures. I don't know if this was to counter the controversial pick of the League for its Woman of Inspiration award during the All Star Game, or if this is something that every team has been doing, but I'd say that the choices of the Storm organization were fantastic, and put the League to shame in any case. Doris Heritage (runner); Patricia Barker (gifted ballerina); Courtney Thompson (volleyball), accepted by her lov-er (Adia put the cutest, pointed emphasis on this...her lover was also a woman? Perhaps Adia said mother.)*; Sally Jewell (REI CEO); Rosa Franklin (WA State Legislator), accepted by a legislative aide; Dr. Bonnie Dunbat (astronaut, president and CEO of largest aerospace museum in world...here in Seattle). As their accomplishments were read, I was truly impressed with these women. These are the role models we were looking for with the League award. We gave them a standing ovation, and I have to say that the whole thing was pretty cool.

LJ was in her green shoes, still has a white sleeve on her right leg/knee; Shyra has white sleeves on both legs; Betty and Sue still sport black knee sleeve/braces on their right and left legs, respectively. Wendy still have a white sleeve and elbow pad on her right arm.

There were a couple of pre-game presentations, one to a couple Storm Team Shop employees who got 100% ratings from secret shoppers, garnering them the "Storm Guest Care" pin. Two was the Creative Change Award presented to Cynthia and Tim for their leadership and generosity in change and inspiration against sexual assault.

Czechchick7 sported a snazzy yellow t-shirt proclaiming: Aussie, Aussie, Aussie M-V-P.

Jr. Captains at center court pre-game: LJ and Sue (nice to have her back), and Tully. Plenty of applause just from the PA Guy saying her name, and warm smiles and hugs all around between the three players.

Pacific Medical Injury report pre-game: Indiana = Catchings, left foot injury. Storm = clean bill of health (applause).

During the 1st quarter Discover Card Foul Shot Shootout it was Haley versus Haley, and my friend Haley won! Nice. I believe she won a DC pre-paid gift card.

During the 2nd half Chelle Thompson, who was in the crowd, was introduced to much applause. On the AV she was identified as "Storm Legend" Chelle Thompson. That got me thinking about what exactly constitutes a "Storm Legend." Does playing on the 2004 Championship Team automatically gain that recognition? Or do you have to have contributed in some significant way? Will we one day be welcoming "Storm Legend" Trina Frierson? I think I brought this up previously when Adia was intro'd earlier in the season as "Storm Legend" herself. I'm just wondering, not trying to stir anything up, or arguing with the designation as it's been applied.

Mini races between the 3rd and 4th quarters: Green (representing Section 107) won over red (127) and gold (117). The PA Guy once again did the call, adding in the little tidbit that the Mariners were currently ahead as the cars virtually raced past Safeco Field. Doppler threw something to the winning section, but it wasn't t-shirts. Care to clue us in, 107?

Also during the game break this message appeared on the AV: Alysia, will you marry me? We did not find out the answer, but hopefully it was appropriate and/or happy.

During the 4th quarter Doppler was throwing t-shirts, one with a $25 Discover Card gift card in it.

*ETA: except I probably heard wrong and it was her mother accepting the award. Sounds more correct. I don't know what presentation I was watching.

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