How It All Came Together- A Look Back
PAUL CRARY
Lynx Writer
The last time the Lynx clinched a spot in the WNBA postseason the Montreal Expos were still a MLB team and �The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King� won the Oscar for Best Picture. Basically, its been awhile since Lynx fans have had the opportunity to taste WNBA playoff basketball in Minneapolis.
Fast-forward to 2011, the Lynx currently hold the best record in the WNBA and became the first team to clinch a spot in the playoffs in the 2011 season. The regular season isn�t even over and the Lynx have already provided fans with many positive moments. Whether it was the nine-game winning streak, Taj McWilliams-Franklin�s and Lindsay Whalen�s respective game-winning buzzer beater shots, or the 2011 All-Star game, where the Lynx sent a WNBA-best four All-Stars to San Antonio- there have been many memorable memories this season. It's certain there will be more exhilarating moments to come in the near future for this team.
The question is: How did the Lynx go from 13-21 and second to last in the Western Conference last year, to a justified and legitimate championship contender in 2011? To answer that question you have to go all the way back to November 2010 and look at the key offseason acquisitions made by the Lynx front office staff.
November 2, 2010- New York City - 2011 WNBA Draft Lottery: After a tough season, the Lynx found themselves with a 38% chance of landing the number one pick in the 2011 WNBA Draft. The only team with higher odds of landing the coveted pick was the Tulsa Shock (44.2%). The Lynx needed some luck to come out of New York with the first overall selection. Sure enough, the Lynx logo was flashed for the number one pick. Fans, Media, and players alike all concluded that University of Connecticut superstar Maya Moore would be the unanimous player taken at number one. Lynx fans were jolted with excitement after the pleasant surprise.
January 15, 2011-Brno, Czech Republic- Free Agency Period Begins: Heading into 2011 with an already young roster and the expected additions of two more rookies, Lynx general manager Roger Griffith and Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve knew that a veteran presence in the locker room would be an essential piece for the young Lynx players to grow and learn from. The Lynx front office quickly targeted 40-year-old Taj McWilliams-Franklin, a fundamental and poised post-player that has played in 12 WNBA seasons. McWilliams-Franklin also played for Coach Reeve in Detroit in 2009 so there was familiarity already in place.
At midnight on the first day of the free-agency period, McWilliams Franklin was the first player Reeve called. McWilliams-Franklin picked up the phone while she was overseas (Taj played for Sparta&K Moscow region in Russia at the time) and listened to Reeve�s pitch.
�We had a conversation, and I wasn�t sure whether she was going back to New York or what, but I asked her to give us a look and told her what it was we needed,� Reeve said. �When we hung up, I just knew I was hopeful. I knew she would at least do the respect of thinking about it. She understood what the team needed; it was just a matter of did she want to come to Minnesota and do that, and I�m just glad that she did.�
McWilliams has become the mother figure for the rather young Lynx. The rest of the squad not only respects Taj�s seniority and experience but also has been amazed by her play on the court this season. Taj is averaging 8.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per game so far this season. Taj�s defense has also been spectacular as well as she has been able to contain and hinder her opposing skilled (and younger) post-players from scoring like they are accustomed to. Taj�s presence and experience has given the Lynx a new, heightened level of focus and determination this season and is a huge reason why the Lynx will be playing in the postseason later this fall.
April 11, 2011- Bristol, CT- 2011 WNBA Draft: The Lynx hold the first and fourth overall picks in the draft. As expected, the Lynx select Maya Moore at number one. The excitement over Moore is reverberated from the Target Center front office throughout the Twin Cities as the Lynx added a rookie that will play immediately and provide the ability to change the outcome of games with her lethal scoring and defensive skills .
With the fourth selection, the Lynx select center Amber Harris from Xavier University. The 6-foot-5 Harris gave the Lynx a formidable presence in the paint- an area of concern for Minnesota heading into the 2011 season.
Both Harris and Moore have been vital in the Lynx�s success this season. Moore was named a starter for the 2011 All-Star game, the first time a rookie was named a starter since Sue Bird and Tamika Catchings did so in 2002. Moore has started every game for the Lynx this season. She is averaging 12.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game. Moore has scored 20+ points four times so far this season, including a 28-point effort in a win against the Mercury on August 9. Moore has allowed Seimone Augustus more open space as teams are hesitant to double Augustus with the addition of Moore on the Lynx roster.
Harris has also been a productive rookie. While she has been a bit inconsistent at times, she has shown flashes throughout the season. Harris has been a nice asset for Lynx Head Coach Cheryl Reeve. Harris has relieved McWilliams-Franklin and Rebekkah Brunson off the bench and has averaged 3.2 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. Harris has also scored in the double-digits twice this season. Undoubtedly, without Moore and Harris on the squad, the Lynx would have had a much harder time obtaining the same amount of success this season.
May 15, 2011- Minneapolis, MN- Training Camp Begins: With the additions of Moore, McWilliams-Franklin, and Harris there was a definite buzz around the Lynx training camp. Returning Lynx players like Seimone Augustus, Lindsay Whalen, and Rebekkah Brunson started to realize that they have a lot more talent on the roster this season to work with. Coach Reeve pushed and challenged the new-look Lynx throughout Training Camp, implemented an offense that puts Augustus and Moore in favorable scoring opportunities and preached the importance of defense regularly.
Feeding off the surge of excitement and heightened expectations, Brunson, Whalen, and Augustus have played some of their best basketball together and have meshed with their new teammates seamlessly.
Brunson is averaging 11.2 points and 9.3 rebounds, both of which are near her career bests for a single season.
Whalen has been the perfect �glue� point-guard that has the benefit of playing alongside such lethal scorers. 2011 has been a career year for the University of Minnesota graduate as she is averaging 14.2 points, 5.9 assists, and 3.3 rebounds per game launching her into the MVP discussions.
Augustus, in her sixth season with the Lynx, hasn�t experienced this much team success in her career. The guard was named July�s Player of the Month and has been able to score down the stretch when the Lynx need it most. Augustus is averaging 16.5points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. The off-season player acquisitions have given Augustus more freedom to operate and create, one of the best in the WNBA at doing so.
The Lynx use the productive training camp as a launch-pad into the season and propel themselves to their current franchise-best record of 20-6, with a playoff spot clinched.
The Lynx organization had a vision and acted on it. The offseason moves gave the Minnesota coaching staff enough talent to compete with the WNBA elite. Coach Reeve took that talent and directed their energy and skills towards a common goal: winning. The Lynx have done just that and now find themselves right where they want to be at this point; with a playoff spot clinched.
The WNBA leading Lynx will look to continue to ride the positivity surrounding the team into the final stages of the season as they look to lock-up home court advantage throughout the playoffs and ultimately march towards every player's and coaches final goal: a WNBA championship.
A lofty goal, that a year ago seemed so farfetched and unreasonable. It�s amazing what a difference a year can make.
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