Final score: Storm 74– Monarchs 78 (L) (13-14)

Submitted by Norwester

I'm not as unhappy after this game as I was after the last one. It's tough, really tough, to see our players giving so much effort, only to come up short, but unlike last game I felt like overall our effort was in the right direction...Sacramento just outplayed us. I feel like our defense did a better job at showing up, though why we weren't on Nicole Powell like white on rice is beyond me. A hand in her face is not going to do it. She's tall. Her specialty is outside shooting. Of all players I least want to beat my Storm, it's Nicole Powell or Kara Lawson. There isn't any logic behind it. I'm sure the Powell notions stem from Stanford being a regional arch nemesis to UW, plus the fact that she whines like a mule, yet somehow gets the kind of treatment from refs generally associated with superstars. But whatever. Body up on her...she hates physical contact and loses it really fast. That's something we did not do. For a change it was offense and rebounds that cost us this game, the latter more than the former. Though again, with Sacramento so prone to overplaying the passing lanes, a few fakes before actually passing would have probably really opened things up for us. So rebounds, and a terrible call or two by the officials. I'd like an explanation as to why when two Monarchs collide and create an LJ sandwich, knocking her to the floor, it's a blocking foul on Lauren. Or why JB can't buy a call any more than we could buy either a bucket or a rebound when she's playing straight-up D and it's her willowy form being pushed around by the offensive player's hip-checks. But these seem like deeper philosophical questions, along with why we're consistently outplayed in the 3rd quarter. I'm sad that we lost, but I'm trying to let go of my expectations for this team. Perhaps they were too high. We still got to see some good basketball, and we didn't obviously shoot ourselves in the foot like the other night, and we were headed in the right direction at the end. We just ran out of time.

We started the game the "defensive" or "Sacramento" way, which means offense at our bench 1st half. I forgot to wear my "LJ for MVP" t-shirt from 2003, and realized that when I saw Section 113 representing. Then I spilled mustard on the shirt I was wearing, so at least I bought an LJ shirt at half time to change into. There were LJ for MVP signs on most of the lower bowl seats that were really cool, "LJ for MVP" in white text/green background on one side, and a collage of LJ shots on the other.

Betty hit a floater right away, after LJ controlled the tip. After that our offense kind of broke down and LJ had to create a shot, but after drawing the foul she calmly explained to JB, etc. where they should go on that play next time. We jumped out to a respectable 14-9 lead, but it would have been more if Nicole Powell, who bricked her first couple, hadn't gotten hot. After that it was all three-pointers all the time for the Monarchs as our perimeter defense seemed nonexistent, and with less than 2 minutes to go they'd tied it 21-21. At this point the crowd was pretty quiet, not even chanting along with the AV "De-fense" prompts, which is uncharacteristic, but warranted in this case. Please, do something to earn our applause; we're not going to encourage porous defense. Well, the crowd was quiet until Katie got up to go to the scorer's table. Finally, something positive to get excited about. And despite the ugly Monarch run, our scoring was distributed well between our starters, and I felt good that everyone was getting involved. We also had some good, patient offense at the end, but again with the Sac 3s 1Q: 23-24

To start the 2nd LJ went down HARD to the floor. The refs weren't calling hardly any contact the 1st half, and I was just waiting for someone to get hurt. A chill went through the building at the volume of sound and the awful noise created when Lauren hit the floor on her right arm/shoulder/elbow. She got up, grimacing, and Wendy went to the scorers table, but meanwhile play continued, and LJ still got a block! She's inhuman. Then she got a chance to check out, where the trainer worked on her for a while. Meanwhile, we didn't score for a bit until Katie hit a 3 and the place went crazy! Storm timeout with 3 minutes to go in the half, down 33-41 and we just couldn't buy a rebound. We could probably have sold our collective souls, and not been successful on the glass. Therefore, even though we'd play good defense initially, they'd eventually score (though we did also have an unfortunate instance or two where we let them just waltz into the lane). June called JB for a foul as she was being obviously bodied around by Brunson while playing straight-up D. Someone brought up how she gets called because her body is turned. Anyway, this put the Storm in the penalty, and despite calls like this the refs were continuing to let a lot of contact go, and we weren't taking advantage of that like Sac. They forced a few turnovers, as they used our bodies like maypoles, swinging around them to pick off passes. This is where I think some fakes would have been a good idea, but despite the disheartening turnovers we played some surprisingly tenacious defense. I liked what I was seeing, but we'd have to start rebounding to have a chance. It's always something. HT: 39-43

We started out the 3rd very sloppy on offense, and began to dig a big hole. And again, with the Sacramento rebounds. Even with our shots not falling, if we could have come up with a few more boards...criminey! Izi kind of took it out on Powell, catching up to her on a fast break and blocking her...and some arm. A couple minutes later Ticha was going for some sort of acting award, wigging out and throwing her body around after jumping into Wendy as they both went after a rebound...predictably drawing a foul. 90 seconds into the half, and we already had 3 fouls. 4 minutes in we were in the penalty and the fans were still all standing because we hadn't scored yet!

At this point they were just throwing bodies at us, the refs apparently ok with their brand of contact, causing us to rush, and lose control of the ball and we called a timeout down 39-52 after another turnover leading to a Monarchs lay-up. Sigh. Not a good time for a Fan Dance contest, as the crowd was very reluctant to get involved. Finally LJ scored, taking it right at Yo for an &1. All it took was one good play to get the fans back into it, then Ashley got a rebound that generated a lot of love from the fans, leading to another LJ&1! The Key went crazy! Sac finally entered the penalty. LJ sat down for a rest, up 48-55. The Monarchs got like 10 tries on one possession (an exaggeration, sure, but seriously? Not by much) until Nicole Freaking Powell finally scored to put Sac up 48-60 just when we were finally chipping our way back into it. Anne gestured Lauren to get back up and in the game, and the slowly painful way she got to her feet was uncharacteristic, and indicative of her level of pain and exhaustion. JB had some great blocks, but then picked up her 5th foul on some sort of mysterious contact, sending Sac to the line...again. I started chanting "Re-bound" versus "De-fense" but it didn't really catch on. 3Q: 50-62

Izi had to get her forearm taped during game break. Blood? Pain? LJ, Sue, Ashley, Katie and Tanisha started the 4th. We immediately tried to get it in to LJ, but Sac knocked it out twice in a row (this would have been a great time for a fake before passing as they would totally throw their bodies out in front of the entry passes to tip them out of bounds). Finally Sue went to the line. It got kind of rough out there, and LJ went to the line a couple minutes later clearly in extreme pain, limping and grimacing and moving stiffly. I don't know how she was ambulatory, much less effective. But right after her free throws we forced a Sacramento shot clock violation and half the Arena got to their feet in appreciation. We had to take whatever chance we could get because zero of our shots were falling, and Storm rebounds were practically nonexistent. JB finally hit our first field goal in like 80 minutes to get us within 9, 56-65, but then NFP went to the line at the other end. Before free throws could be shot there was apparently something nasty on the floor, and the ball girl had to go get a wet towel with which to clean it up.

Sue gave us some life with some key 3s down the stretch, the 1st to make it 61-67, and it got LOUD in there. Then LJ lunged in and stole the inbounds and took it all the way in herself. She'd probably have finished it too, if she had any legs left, but the PA guy had us all hold up the LJ for MVP signs. You don't distract the home player? 1/2. NFP scored again, but Sue answered! Again the place went crazy, and half the fans were already on their feet, clapping and screaming. LJ went to the line after a timeout, and we were playing the "Noise" prompt on the AV? Not really good timing on that prompt either. LJ goes 1/2 again, but Betty scored to get us within 1, 68-69. The refs had to separate Izi and NFP on an inbounds play. LJ went to the line to keep us within 1, but NFP hit a 3 with a minute to go to put them up 4.

We still had chances. There was little crowd response to the Dance Troupe during timeout, but then the "No one comes into our house and pushes us around" clip played and the fans got up and loud. And Betty stole the ball, but we couldn't convert offensively. Izi passed up a wide-open 3 that she so should have taken. That's her role on the team, man. That was probably the most painful play of the game for me. Sue was left trying to pull something off in traffic, that didn't fall, and after that it was NFP to the line to put it away after we misfired again. LJ missed a 3, but what can you do? She came down the court with her head in her jersey after we fouled Sac to stop the clock off that play. Someone on the other team always has a great game to beat us. Becky the other night. Powell this night. If our offense had been clicking more or if we'd rebounded, we could have won. If Izi hadn't been afraid to take that shot, maybe we'd have had a shot ourselves. But defense is Sacramento's forte, and I felt like we gave a good showing against the #1 team in the West.

LJ closed out the game with a quiet lay-in. We quietly clapped (no applause, no screaming, just a patter of hands together) as the buzzer sounded. A weary team threw t-shirts to the crowd. I felt like we mostly played like we had nothing to lose, and I'm...proud, I think is the emotion, at our effort. Too bad this isn't horseshoes or grenades, but at least we're getting close-game experience lately without the playoffs being on the line.

I'm not going to be at the Phoenix game, but the we're 1-4 over the past 5 games I've attended, so perhaps that's a good thing. Write good observations.

Run-off

There was a Discover Card Fan Lounge tonight with Haynie and Katie Gearlds. I expect details, those of you who attended. By details I mean what questions were asked, what were their answers, and any details about atmosphere or manner you want to throw in.

Pre-game we got the personal flotation devise PSA from Betty again. Ms. Lennox really projects energy well on the screen this year. It's fun.

StormVision was a bit from the Crossroads Community Center Be Fit Clinic with Wendy, Betty and Heidi, as well as the WA State Nurses Association. Four stations (nutrition, cardio, core/abs with Betty, and strength training with Wendy) were set up for kids to rotate through. Betty seems to really love these clinics, saying the most important part is putting a smile on kids' faces.

LJ wore her green shoes and a bunny tail and a new black knee brace on her right knee. Shyra's leggings of pretty much all season were gone. Betty has a black knee brace on her right knee, Sue her left, and both JB and Betty have wrapped wrists. Ouch.

Karen Bryant and Anne Donovan presented LJ with the game ball from her 4,000th point game against Indiana.

Discover Card Jr. Captains got balls signed by Sue, LJ, Ticha and Yolanda Griffith. Also, there were hugs all around between all four players.

Pacific Medical Injury Report: Sacramento - Demya Walker; Seattle Storm - clean bill of health (though it's somewhat painful to look at the team and see all the bandages/wraps/braces, etc.; if this is what a "clean bill of health looks like"... )

The anthem was sung by Stephanic Osmer and while there was an interesting quality to her voice that I liked, the poor girl was so obviously nervous that she was quite often shaky, and went flat once or twice. It was pitchy for me, dawg.

The PA guy paused appropriately for applause after introducing Jenny Boo, unlike the flub on Sandy Brondello the other night, but the initially distracted and small Tuesday night crowd was a bit slow to respond. Also, why are we applauding the Sacramento starting line-up? They're our enemies, folks!

It was announced that the Storm have now passed 1 million fans attending games. Huh.

During the 1st quarter they showed highlights of LJ's season...I still think I like the blocks the best of everything , and they were really hitting the "MVP" hard, with a new prompt on the AV, etc. That's good, but I felt that 5 minutes into the game was a little early to be bringing it up so strongly, and it seemed a touch awkward. Let Lauren get some good plays under her belt first. I'm just saying.

Between the 1st and 2nd quarters: Discover Card Foul Shot Frenzy. I swear they change the name of this contest every time, but the game remains the same - the contestant to make the most shots in the time allotted wins a $50 Discover Card Gift Card. There was unusually accurate shooting at our end, too.

For the Fan Dance we voted on three songs to see which would play James Borwn "Get Up Off That Thing", Jackson 5 "Shake Your Body" or Peaches & Herb "Shake Your Groove Thing". The last one won. Then they did the fan dance during an unfortunate stretch of the game, and like two people got up to dance (ok, a few more than that, but still, participation was paltry).

Half time entertainment was a Be Fit relay that I didn't really see because I was in the team shop.

Half time also brought us a Go Green tip from Wendy Palmer about using cold water to wash your laundry, only doing a full load, and something about driers.

Microsoft Play of the Half: Betty putting some moves on and scoring.

ETA: I was impressed with the crowd again tonight. They consistently reacted appropriately to what was happening on court. I was worried the size would be too small, but you didn't notice it when it came time to get loud. Extra kudos for standing until scoring in the 3rd.

Page 1 | 3