Storm-Sparks Preview

By KATE HEDLIN
Posted Aug 27 2010 2:33PM

The Seattle Storm watched as the Los Angeles Sparks clinched playoff series wins at Key Arena in 2008 and 2009.

The Storm are in position to get a measure of revenge Saturday when they try to eliminate the Sparks in Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal series at Staples Center.

Since winning the WNBA title in 2004, Seattle has been ousted in the first round of the playoffs each of the last five seasons, including three times by Los Angeles. The Sparks advanced to the conference finals in 2008 and 2009 after ousting the Storm in Seattle.

However, the Storm are within a win of moving on after a 79-66 victory in Game 1 on Wednesday. Swin Cash scored 20 points and Lauren Jackson added 17, continuing the team's success after finishing with the league's best regular-season record at 28-6

All six losses came on the road, but Cash remained focused.

"I don't think we're peaking right now, but we're in the best possible place where we need to be," she said. "To have players come off the bench and really contribute. ... and as long as our players keep getting a rhythm and getting better and better game by game, I like our chances."

Cash, who is averaging 14.8 points in six games against the Sparks this season, is looking for another solid postseason. Although the Storm were eliminated in three games by Los Angeles last year, she averaged 21.0 points.

Besides finding a way to contain Cash, Los Angeles will also need a much better offensive effort - especially from veteran DeLisha Milton-Jones - to extend its season. The 66 points were the Sparks' fewest since a 76-57 loss to Indiana on July 22, and came after they averaged 87.3 points while splitting the final four regular-season games.

Milton-Jones was frustrated after being held to eight points on 4-of-10 shooting. She came in after averaging 15.4 points during the regular season while shooting 47.0 percent, and the 12-year veteran chose not to go through the postgame handshakes.

"It was intentional because I was rather upset for several reasons and I just decided to go in and not bring that negative energy to anyone out there," she said.

Tina Thompson finished with 16 points, but she shot 5 of 15 and 0 for 3 from 3-point range. She had been 11 of 22 from beyond the arc the previous three games.

"We were definitely a little excited about coming in here," Thompson said. "We were very high energy - maybe too much and a little overwhelming. It took us a little while to settle in during the first quarter and going into the second."

The Sparks haven't lost in the first round of the playoffs since 2005. Game 3, if necessary, would be Tuesday at Seattle.

Jackson helps Storm finish sweep of Sparks

Posted Aug 28 2010 7:49PM

LOS ANGELES (AP) Once again, the Seattle Storm were were just too much for the Los Angeles Sparks.

Lauren Jackson had 24 points, nine rebounds, three blocks and three steals as the Storm beat the Sparks 81-66 Saturday to sweep their best-of-three Wetern Conference semifinals series.

``Lauren makes that big of an impact,'' Seattle coach Brian Agler said. ``It's not just the scoring. It's her ability to recognize double-teams and find open people. It's what she does defensively.''

Swin Cash scored 16 points and Sue Bird added 15 to lead Seattle, which was a league-best 28-6 in the regular season. The Storm won a postseason series for the first time since winning the WNBA finals in 2004, and beat the Sparks in all seven matchups this year - including five in the regular season.

``I'm just glad we got the win here,'' Jackson said. ``For me, it means a lot. As long as I've been playing, L.A's been our No. 1 nemesis, really. It doesn't matter who they have on their roster. They're always going to be tough.''

The Storm will face Phoenix in the conference finals, which begin Thursday night in Seattle. The Mercury beat San Antonio 92-73 earlier Saturday to sweep their series.

``It was very important to close out the series tonight knowing our next opponent closed out their series as well,'' Jackson said. ``We need as much time to get rest and focus our attention on Phoenix and making it to the finals.''

Tina Thompson led Los Angeles with 18 points, Noelle Quinn had 15 and DeLisha Milton-Jones cored 14.

``Playing this team was a real challenge and we really had trouble stopping all their offensive weapons,'' Sparks coach Jennifer Gillom said. ``In the first half, Lauren really took it to us and we made some adjustments but in the second half Bird and Cash really picked them up and took the game over.''

Seattle shot 48 percent from the field (28 for 59), including 55 percent (12 for 22) on 3-pointers. The Sparks were just 38 percent (24 for 64).

Los Angeles eliminated Seattle in the first round the previous two years, but the Storm won all seven matchups this year - going 5-0 in the regular season.

The Storm trailed by five points early in the second quarter, before an 8-2 run capped by Jackson's layup gave them a 26-25 lead with under 6 1/2 minutes remaining in the first half.

After Los Angeles' Ticha Penicheiro hit a jumper to tie the score at 28-all midway through the period, Jackson made two free throws and Cash had a 3 to give the Storm the lead for good.

``Sometimes, we start a bit slow but we always manage to find our way,'' Jackson said. ``Once we started moving the ball around and finding open people, everything started to fall into place.''

Los Angeles rallied and pulled to 46-44 on Penicheiro's layup with 7:06 left in the third, but Seattle scored the next six points and pushed the lead back to eight on Camille Little's basket about 2 minutes later. A 14-3 run increased the advantage to 71-54 with 7 minutes to go in the fourth.

``Our execution was poor tonight and we just couldn't capitalize on our opportunities,'' Quinn said. ``We had a lot of trouble knocking down shots and I thought that was the difference.''

Quinn and Milton-Jones made consecutive 3s to pull Los Angeles within 11 with 4:40 left, but that was as close as the Sparks got.

Los Angeles completed a disappointing first season in the post-Lisa Leslie era. The Sparks lost Candace Parker 10 games in and were 3-11 before splitting their last 20 games to take the No. 4 seed in the West.

``Losing players and facing adversity is something these players must get used to,'' Thompson said. ``I thought our team played hard throughout the season and I'm proud how we left everything on the floor.''

• Storm: --
• Sparks: --

• Storm: --
• Sparks: Quinn, Toliver

• Lead Changes: 1
• Times Tied: 3

• Arena: Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
• Officials: #39 Michael Price, #13 Cameron Inouye, #45 Tom Mauer
• Attendance: 8326
• Duration: 1:59