2010 WNBA Finals - Game One Quotes: Seattle Storm
Sep 13 2010 11:44AM
The following is a collection of quotes from Seattle Storm players and coaches after Game One of the 2010 WNBA Finals.
Head coach Brian Agler
Coach, can you go through last time with Phoenix you had plays sitting there waiting and you just needed to talk about them with the team. Can you go through the final time out with the final 2.6 seconds and what you told the team?
Well, we executed what we wanted to run, except Sue not that she questioned anything, she wanted to be more in the shooting spot than have the ball in her hands, and I think the way the game was being played tonight and who was on the floor and making the good decisions and those things, we wanted to put the ball in Sue's hands this time, not have her come off a screen but have it in her hands and have her make the decision. They played it one way for her all night long and she read it and went back and got her shot.
Talk about the personalities, someone like Sue who wants the ball in her hands in big moments and always seems to come through.
I think Sue really has a calm disposition and it helps in tight situations, you know, she's the one who has the ability to be in the fray and keep an open mind and take what's given to her. I think a lot of times people most people in those situations, they get one thing in their mind and they're going to do that no matter what happens instead of coming through, coming off the play and making a read. It's not like you have a lot of time to make a read, but when you have the ability to play with an open mind like Sue does, usually you're going to make good decisions.
As far as you're concerned, did you need to get Lauren more involved in the second half?
Yeah, we talked about at halftime, we wanted to go play through her even though she may not score, she would get the basketball more, so I believe she got more multiple touches in the second half than the first, and we made a run there and shot ourselves in the foot by turning it over a couple of times, but a lot of that was Lauren shooting a couple of three's and hitting the rim.
Can you talk about what you drew up in the 2.6 seconds left on the clock?
We ran a good pick and roll there for Sue and Lauren. We were going to read how they defended it, basically, if they were going to switch we were going to take Lauren down to the rim. If they were going to trap we were ready for that. We were just going to let Sue be Sue and, you know, if she were to turn the corner then we had Tanisha in the shooting spot on the right corner. So you let your players make the decisions; you have to do that because you never know how they're going to defend things.
Coach, this game was such a game of adjustments. Angel McCoughtry didn't play a normal number of minutes but they managed to stay close with you. Is that a concern going into game two?
Yeah, it's a concern (Away from mic.) This one was very important to us, but Angel is a great talent, no question, and they got the ball in her hands for that last shot, and it was a definitely doable shot.
Lauren Jackson
Lauren, can you talk about Atlanta being known for rebounding and their defense and you guys out-rebounded them today. Can you talk about how huge that was?
Yeah, they're a great team offensively and defensively and rebounding is a huge thing and it was good for us to get game one out of the way and to be able to move forward and look at things and work on what we need to do to get better and we're not going to set back and rest, we're going to come back and work on what we need to for Tuesday.
Lauren, can you talk about offensively getting involved early.
It wasn't perfect and I think everybody wanted to pull together and (Away from mic.) We definitely didn't feel like we won anything special right now and it was important just to (Away from mic.) We've got so many
Sue Bird
Would you each talk about what it is in your makeup that you want the ball at the end of the game, and, Sue, did you know as soon as the ball left your hand that it was going in?
I can't speak for both of us, but I think I'm going to be able to. (Away from mic.) Definitely for me at an early age that was just something that happened, you know, whether it's AAU or high school, into college, now WNBA it's just something that situations I was put in at a very early age so it's kind of I don't know, you get confident the more you do things and the more successful you are at them, and I think at this point in my career, it's something that I enjoy. Those situations are fun, especially when they go in! As far as the shot goes, I was able to get a really good look and it was a pull up, which is what I like, and swish!
At this point in your career you talked about the game slowing down for you, you see things so well. Was that the case at the end, you could just see it that way?
A little bit, you know, because they hadn't covered our pick and rolls for the majority of the second half and I had a feeling that I had a feeling if I went off the pick and brought it back to the same side that I came from I would be able to get a good look. Like I said, I got virtually the same look 45, a minute earlier so I had an idea that I was going to get it. It just played out well and then, you know, once you're in your shooting form, nothing else to think about but trying to knock it in.
Talk about the pace of the game, still in the 70s, but they ran you up and down and turned you over more than you wanted for sure?
Yeah, that's something we're going to have to go back and look at. They led the league in creating turnovers, so we know that. Doesn't mean it's going to be easy, because it isnt, but we know they like to do that. But they like to take it (Away from mic.) And we saw that early and we saw that often. Every time we were able to establish ourselves and get a lead we would have a couple of turnovers and they just went out and ran and they got a few points that way. Anytime you can get easy baskets (Away from mic.) So for us it's definitely something we have to work on to take care of the ball.
Sue, did you have to convince Brian to give you the ball in your hands?
No, actually last game against Phoenix T. had the ball and was creating and looking for Lauren afterwards. So he had me taking the ball up the court running the pick and roll and I was like "Why didn't you give it to T. and we'll do the same thing," and he was like, "No, you have the ball," and that's how it worked out.
It seemed like a particularly important game that Camille had. Can you talk about that?
She was the key to the game, and every time they made a run, every time, you know, we relaxed, Camille was the one to step up, whether it be a defensive stop or a three point play, and she had the energy, she was encouraging the rest of the team. That's something Camille has done for us the entire season. If I had to pick a team hero, it would be Camille. Especially getting in foul trouble that messes things up, and they had Angel in foul trouble, which messes up your pattern and your routine, but Camille did a great job tonight.
Sue, you joked about it, getting the ball, but you guys have multiple different options, you handling the ball or T. handling the ball. Talk about that.
That's the beauty of our team, and that's what we've seen pretty much every game this season. Anytime we've been in critical situations, Swish in took a big shot, Camille, myself, T., everybody. Everybody has been in that situation and it is nice to have that, and even better it's nice to have five players on the court who are more than willing to take those shots or make the play. When you have that it's dangerous, it's hard to defend.
Head coach Brian Agler
|
Coach, can you go through last time with Phoenix you had plays sitting there waiting and you just needed to talk about them with the team. Can you go through the final time out with the final 2.6 seconds and what you told the team?
Well, we executed what we wanted to run, except Sue not that she questioned anything, she wanted to be more in the shooting spot than have the ball in her hands, and I think the way the game was being played tonight and who was on the floor and making the good decisions and those things, we wanted to put the ball in Sue's hands this time, not have her come off a screen but have it in her hands and have her make the decision. They played it one way for her all night long and she read it and went back and got her shot.
Talk about the personalities, someone like Sue who wants the ball in her hands in big moments and always seems to come through.
I think Sue really has a calm disposition and it helps in tight situations, you know, she's the one who has the ability to be in the fray and keep an open mind and take what's given to her. I think a lot of times people most people in those situations, they get one thing in their mind and they're going to do that no matter what happens instead of coming through, coming off the play and making a read. It's not like you have a lot of time to make a read, but when you have the ability to play with an open mind like Sue does, usually you're going to make good decisions.
As far as you're concerned, did you need to get Lauren more involved in the second half?
Yeah, we talked about at halftime, we wanted to go play through her even though she may not score, she would get the basketball more, so I believe she got more multiple touches in the second half than the first, and we made a run there and shot ourselves in the foot by turning it over a couple of times, but a lot of that was Lauren shooting a couple of three's and hitting the rim.
Can you talk about what you drew up in the 2.6 seconds left on the clock?
We ran a good pick and roll there for Sue and Lauren. We were going to read how they defended it, basically, if they were going to switch we were going to take Lauren down to the rim. If they were going to trap we were ready for that. We were just going to let Sue be Sue and, you know, if she were to turn the corner then we had Tanisha in the shooting spot on the right corner. So you let your players make the decisions; you have to do that because you never know how they're going to defend things.
Coach, this game was such a game of adjustments. Angel McCoughtry didn't play a normal number of minutes but they managed to stay close with you. Is that a concern going into game two?
Yeah, it's a concern (Away from mic.) This one was very important to us, but Angel is a great talent, no question, and they got the ball in her hands for that last shot, and it was a definitely doable shot.
Lauren Jackson
|
Lauren, can you talk about Atlanta being known for rebounding and their defense and you guys out-rebounded them today. Can you talk about how huge that was?
Yeah, they're a great team offensively and defensively and rebounding is a huge thing and it was good for us to get game one out of the way and to be able to move forward and look at things and work on what we need to do to get better and we're not going to set back and rest, we're going to come back and work on what we need to for Tuesday.
Lauren, can you talk about offensively getting involved early.
It wasn't perfect and I think everybody wanted to pull together and (Away from mic.) We definitely didn't feel like we won anything special right now and it was important just to (Away from mic.) We've got so many
Sue Bird
|
Would you each talk about what it is in your makeup that you want the ball at the end of the game, and, Sue, did you know as soon as the ball left your hand that it was going in?
I can't speak for both of us, but I think I'm going to be able to. (Away from mic.) Definitely for me at an early age that was just something that happened, you know, whether it's AAU or high school, into college, now WNBA it's just something that situations I was put in at a very early age so it's kind of I don't know, you get confident the more you do things and the more successful you are at them, and I think at this point in my career, it's something that I enjoy. Those situations are fun, especially when they go in! As far as the shot goes, I was able to get a really good look and it was a pull up, which is what I like, and swish!
At this point in your career you talked about the game slowing down for you, you see things so well. Was that the case at the end, you could just see it that way?
A little bit, you know, because they hadn't covered our pick and rolls for the majority of the second half and I had a feeling that I had a feeling if I went off the pick and brought it back to the same side that I came from I would be able to get a good look. Like I said, I got virtually the same look 45, a minute earlier so I had an idea that I was going to get it. It just played out well and then, you know, once you're in your shooting form, nothing else to think about but trying to knock it in.
Talk about the pace of the game, still in the 70s, but they ran you up and down and turned you over more than you wanted for sure?
Yeah, that's something we're going to have to go back and look at. They led the league in creating turnovers, so we know that. Doesn't mean it's going to be easy, because it isnt, but we know they like to do that. But they like to take it (Away from mic.) And we saw that early and we saw that often. Every time we were able to establish ourselves and get a lead we would have a couple of turnovers and they just went out and ran and they got a few points that way. Anytime you can get easy baskets (Away from mic.) So for us it's definitely something we have to work on to take care of the ball.
Sue, did you have to convince Brian to give you the ball in your hands?
No, actually last game against Phoenix T. had the ball and was creating and looking for Lauren afterwards. So he had me taking the ball up the court running the pick and roll and I was like "Why didn't you give it to T. and we'll do the same thing," and he was like, "No, you have the ball," and that's how it worked out.
It seemed like a particularly important game that Camille had. Can you talk about that?
She was the key to the game, and every time they made a run, every time, you know, we relaxed, Camille was the one to step up, whether it be a defensive stop or a three point play, and she had the energy, she was encouraging the rest of the team. That's something Camille has done for us the entire season. If I had to pick a team hero, it would be Camille. Especially getting in foul trouble that messes things up, and they had Angel in foul trouble, which messes up your pattern and your routine, but Camille did a great job tonight.
Sue, you joked about it, getting the ball, but you guys have multiple different options, you handling the ball or T. handling the ball. Talk about that.
That's the beauty of our team, and that's what we've seen pretty much every game this season. Anytime we've been in critical situations, Swish in took a big shot, Camille, myself, T., everybody. Everybody has been in that situation and it is nice to have that, and even better it's nice to have five players on the court who are more than willing to take those shots or make the play. When you have that it's dangerous, it's hard to defend.
