Final score: Storm 90 – Lynx 62 (W) (3-2)

Submitted by strumpet22

First, I'm not sure what's hard to understand, but this crowd likes a video intro that we can clap along to. So it was a different intro from last game, lots of cool graphics mixed in with some live plays. But the music was nothing. I know we've forced it in the past, but I don't think anyone could find the clap track to that video. I think sometimes the Storm uses videos that Fox Sports produces as their commercials, but that doesn't mean you can't change the music out or something. There was zero energy for that video.

It was also sad because I realized as Doppler came running out after the video that the Thunder probably made off with a lot of his toys. No scooter, skateboard, ATV or whatever Doppler used to have access to. Lame.

Yeah, absolute blowout. I think it was 12-2 before Minnesota called a timeout. Then it was Lauren Jackson 12, Minnesota 11. For the halftime stats, I actually thought there was a typo. Minnesota shot 28% and the Storm were shooting 73%. 73%! That was 16 of 22. Of those 16 baskets, we had 14 assists. On the not so cool side, we were only 10-25 from the free throw line. Lauren herself had missed 3.

What else? A-Rob had a beautiful hook shot that went in. It looked like she got into a spot of trouble and the only thing she could do was force up a hook. But then it sunk and she just smiled.

I think it was off a rebound, but JB collected the ball and Pee-wee happened to be ahead of the pack. JB decided to toss a dead on monster pass up to Pee-wee, who finished easily. Little role reversal there.

LJ was really getting under Anosike's skin. Back and forth all night long. But in the last minute of the first half, Anosike ran over Pee-wee or something. I couldn't really see what happened. A foul was called and everyone started walking down to shoot free throws. Anosike just kept pointing at Lauren and complaining to the refs. She walked down the middle of the key obviously very frustrated. Then she circled out and walked to the opposite end, back to her bench. Even though they hadn't officially subbed her yet, she was done. I have no doubt that Lauren is frustrating to play against, for numerous reasons. But man, she was REALLY upset.

Bat Girl put up an amazing screen when Pee-wee was bringing up the ball. Charde Houston was giving a little too much pressure for the past few possessions so I think Suzy just decided to pass the ball off to Johnson and plant for a screen. Houston obviously didn't hear her because she just ran into a wall. There was much laughter from the crowd.

I was really pulling for Ashley Walker since her parents were sitting courtside, but she didn't do too much. Since it was a blowout, she got to play the entire 4th quarter. But she seemed a little nervous. At least they got to see her play.

Matt Hasselbeck was awesome. He got introduced along with his two daughters. They went to get some food and when they came back both of his girls had Storm shirts on. Then he did a little skit with Doppler before helping him throw out shirts. He stood up with everyone else and stayed till the end.

Overall, a complete whooping, but I couldn't really get into it. Of course, the refs didn't help with the constant fouls. But also because I've never really disliked Minnesota. And so soon after losing Augustus. I know injuries are a part of sports, but I felt sorry for them. L.A. on the other hand, doesn't matter how much we win by, I always love it.

Submitted by LaurenRules

National Anthem: The Seattle Girls Choir. Very nice, clear, three-part harmony, sung at a good clip. Their final consonants got a bit iffy, but overall, a lovely job. I hope they come back. (I also went to graduate school with their rehearsal accompanist, so I may be a bit biased).

Player Introductions: subdued on the part of the Lynx. Candice Wiggins and Nicky Anosike got the loudest rounds of applause. There was a nice ovation for Jennifer Gillom, too, which she didn’t acknowledge at all. As a side note, one of her assistant coaches reminded me of Lurch from The Munsters.

Storm Intro: lead by a slightly boring video, not sure what the point was supposed to be. At that moment, I definitely missed the Perfect Storm concept, even if the execution wasn’t what we’d hoped. Interest definitely built when Doppler came skipping in. He’s not riding the Scooter this season, maybe the New Doppler just doesn’t like it.

First Quarter
Lauren won the tip, handed it off to Sue, who made a nice pass right back to LJ and we were sitting down before we knew it. Wiggins scored, and then off we went on a nice little run, including T scoring from a gorgeous assist from Swin, Lauren blocking, sinking a trey and stealing the ball all in about fifteen seconds, T sinking a long two and Lauren scoring another three. Minnesota just looked confused and befuddled and as though they wanted to go home.

They fought back, though, with Wiggins and Houston both scoring and Hodges sinking a very pretty three. JB had a very nice rebound and Swin was playing with a renewed vigor and energy. It is GREAT to see her playing so well. Something of a foulfest ensued, but the Storm did an excellent job of sinking their free throws, Katie buried a BEAUTIFUL three, Minneapolis answered, Sue scored on a driving layup and it was 31-19 at the quarter’s end.

PeeWee drew a FABULOUS foul against Montgomery during the quarter – not sure when – but that was definitely a veteran move, shall we say. Any refs lurking on the board?

Interval: A very sweet video of Ashley Walker and her dad. The music was so loud it was hard to understand what they were saying, but sweet, nonetheless.

Second Quarter
The foulfest continued, with Wiggins picking up her third. She looked visibly rattled by what was happening around her, something that will probably become easier as she gains more experience in this league. JB scored and picked a foul in quick succession. More fouls and free throws ensued. Lauren continued to quietly – or no so quietly – dominate the game, snagging a rebound, passing it off to Sue who went coast-to-coast. LJ and Hodges traded three-point shots – Hodges, Houston and, later, McCant were the only ones to keep Minnesota in the game, though Wiggins had some nice moments, too.

Timeout, during which two pairs of dads and daughter had a shootout. The second team won.

Poor T got stuck in a jumpball against Anosike – and lost – of course – but, despite assorted second chances, their shots just weren’t falling. We were lucky in that respect. Suzy came in and played a few solid minutes. At one point, she sent a long bomb down the court to LJ – you can totally tell that those two have been playing together forever. A-Rob came in, had a block and a nice rebound and then scored with a beautiful hook shot right over her defender, prompting my seatmate and I to nickname her “Kareem Abdul A-Rob.” LJ sank another three, SJ sank her free throws and the quarter ended, much to the bedlam and joy of Storm fans.

55-32 at the half. Jennifer Gillom was not a happy camper.

The first half was really an amazing display of All Thing Lauren, because she was everywhere – stealing, rebounding, defending, blocking, SHOOTING. I think she had at least eighteen or twenty at the half. If she keeps playing like this….

Having just read the stupid power rankings right before the game, I was VERY happy to see us dominate that like. Falling from second to FIFTH on the strength of one road loss is just moronic.

Halftime Show: Bellevue Cheerleading Squad. Thin, cute and flexible. In other news, I caught up with Lisa from the Storm and suggested either REI or Amazon.com for our jersey sponsors and un-suggested Starbucks. She may have just been polite, but at least she listened.

When I saw the halftime stats, I couldn’t believe my eyes – we shot 73% from the field in the first half? I was miffed, though, that they weren’t displaying the ongoing stats on the wall like they usually do and aren’t handing them out this year, either – or, at least, I didn’t get them.

Third Quarter
Slow start. More stupid foul calls. Coach Agler was whistled on a T – for, I presume, shouting at idiot refs about more stupid foul calls. Storm shots not falling. Candice Wiggins whistled on a T (yikes!), for either slamming down the basketball or mouthing off to the ref. LJ sank it, and we all sat down to our great relief.

T had a fabulous rebound off of a rare LJ miss, fell hard on a rebound and sank her free throw. And on we went. Sue went coast-to coast with a no-look to JB who had a very good game. I think she wants her starting spot back.

It got a little quite toward the end of the third, but we all got very happy when we forced a shot clock violation. Katie sank another three and the crowd went even more crazy.

During the timeout, the Storm Dance Troupe had this cute little number where they brought out their fathers to dance with them. Three of them had some serious moves, but the fourth and last not so much. Also, there was a nice shoutout to the Seattle Sounders Women FC, who are in first place in their conference. (I didn’t even know there was a Seattle Sounders women’s team and I follow women’s sports pretty closely. Ouch).

For some inexplicable reason, the Army did a parachute drop to Wagner’s “Ride of the Valkyries.” Someone needs to tell the Army that was Hitler’s theme song. Not sure that’s the message they want to be sending. 80-47 Storm.

Fourth Quarter
The bench played the entire fourth quarter and did themselves really proud. They would have extended the lead, were it not for the stupid foul calls. This is when not having an extra guard was unfortunate – that would have been a great chance for a Beck or someone like her to get some experience while resting the veterans. Someone needs to tell Pee-Wee she’s a veteran, though, because she was charging all over the court like a kid, rebounding, shooting, bouncing off of Lynx players and generally adding spark. Katie had a quietly authoritative fourth quarter, too, passing, rebounding and shooting. Looked like a real confidence-booster.

Suzy missed a few shots, but sank an AWESOME three right at the top of the key. At one point, she was in the wrong spot on offense, but laughed and just raced there when it was pointed out to her.

A-Rob did very well fourth quarter, too – no more points, except for a beautiful layup that wasn’t counted, due to yet another whistle for yet another ticky-tack foul – but rebounding and placing her body beautifully, especially on defense. She grabbed one rebound in particular that made her look about eight feet tall. Also, worth noting, she had only one foul and zero turnovers, despite playing over ten minutes.

Ashley Walker was the only player that didn’t score at all, and, sadly, she kept getting beaten on defense, especially on the baseline. She did have great hustle. Game ended with Minnesota two more free throws on another foul call, and we were set: 90 – 62.

A few notes:
Except for LJ’s amazing game and Sue’s equally amazing 10 assists and lack of turnovers, this was really a team effort. Swin scored 10. JB scored 14 off of the bench and sank eight of nine free throws. KG had 11. Camille and T each had 7. SJ had six.

Crowd was small, only about 7,000. Matt Hasselback was there with his two daughters and played a cute skit with Doppler in the fourth quarter.

Suzy needs to cool it with the reaching in. I saw her reaching in from all of the way across the court. I wonder how long it takes to adjust to the different types of calls across the world?

After that first run, Minnesota never really got back into it. They played and played hard, especially Houston, Hodges and Wiggins, but never really clicked. I hope someone works with Wiggins to cool her down, because she needs to harness her frustration, not let it walk all over her. She was clearly unhappy and frustrated the entire game.

Anosike is a much better player than she showed last night. I was happy we won, but sad for her.

At one point, Montgomery bounced right off of Sue and ended up on the floor. Those two in particular were interesting to watch. Sue really has it over Montgomery right now, but in about five years (or sooner) she’ll be a force to be reckoned with. Montgomery also bounced off of SBB, which was intense. Ooops.

It was weird to see AW bringing the ball up, but at least she didn't lose it.

T had some nice assists, too, and effectively shut down Wiggins. She had a quietly strong night. Camille played with more flash, but didn't convert as much as she has in the past. Those two are unstoppable on defense.

Overall a great game! Go Storm.