Dream-Storm Preview

Posted Sep 11 2010 6:11PM

SEATTLE (AP) Averaging 28 points per game in the playoffs, Atlanta Dream second-year forward Angel McCoughtry has the numbers worthy of playing in the WNBA finals spotlight.

Although Seattle Storm veteran Sue Bird (11.8) doesn't come close to McCoughtry's stats, she has already has played - and won - in the WNBA finals.

Now, Bird figures that title-series experience in 2004 - and her six years in the league since then - could come in handy when the teams tip off in the this year's finals Sunday in Seattle.

``You can say that it might not mean anything. But trust me,'' Bird said. ``Having experience in this league, knowing what it takes to win, how to play hopefully at our best throughout the entire season, how to peak at the right time - all of those things, you learn over the course of your career.

``I definitely feel more mature (than in 2004), especially in my ability to lead and things like that.''

The second game of the best-of-five series is Tuesday in Seattle before it shifts to Atlanta for Game 3 on Thursday.

Bird and Australian superstar Lauren Jackson, who averaged 20.5 points and 8.3 rebounds during the regular season and was named the league's MVP for the third time, led Seattle to a 28-6 record. That tied the league mark for most regular-season victories, and the Storm set a record by going 17-0 at home.

Then, with five straight first-round playoff exits hanging over them since the title run, the Storm swept Los Angeles and defending champion Phoenix in the first two rounds.

Bird and Jackson are the only two holdovers from Seattle's 2004 championship team, though Jackson wasn't especially interested in comparing then with now.

``Honestly, I can't remember. We're a completely different team, different experiences, things like that,'' she said.

Bird, on the other hand, had no problem recalling her feelings heading into that best-of-three series with Connecticut, which went the distance.

``In a way, I was wide-eyed, kind of soaking it all in,'' Bird said. ``Now, it's definitely more businesslike, more focused, more knowing what to expect.''

McCoughtry is trying to avoid those wide-eyed emotions. Certainly, she was the picture of calm and cool effectiveness as the Dream swept past top-seeded Washington in the Eastern semifinals, then eliminated New York in the conference finals. McCoughtry led the clincher against the Liberty last Tuesday when she scored a WNBA playoff-record 42 points.

``I got so many comments on Facebook and Twitter saying, 'Oh, congratulations, you scored. 42.' Please - that's nothing,'' said McCoughtry, who experienced some championship-style atmosphere when she led Louisville into the 2009 NCAA title game. ``Tell me congratulations after we win. Don't try to pump my head up. Let me focus on this.''

In their own way, two of the WNBA's best team stories in 2010 are the last two in title contention.

The Storm got out quickly and kept going. From June 18 through July 30, Seattle won 13 straight, pushing its record to 22-2 and effectively wrapping up the West.

Atlanta, just two years removed from its 4-30 record as an expansion team in 2008, got off to a 6-0 start. The Dream were the league's last unbeaten team when they came to Seattle on June 1 and lost 90-72.

Seattle swept the season series with an 80-70 win in Atlanta on Aug. 10. But neither side is putting much stock in either of those games.

``I thought any of those teams in the Eastern Conference could have won the playoffs,'' said Seattle's Brian Agler, the league's Coach of the Year. ``Atlanta, not having home-court advantage, was impressive with how they got through there.''

Dream coach and general manager Marynell Meadors knows what her team is up against with Seattle, even with her successful switch to a more defensive-minded starting lineup that puts guard Coco Miller and guard-forward Armintie Price on the floor at the outset and brings regular-season starters Erika De Souza and Shalee Lehning off the bench.

``It's not only one challenge with Seattle, it's several,'' Meadors said. ``There are three of them (Jackson, Bird and Swin Cash) who are very tough, and they have a very good supporting cast. They play well together, they've been together for a long, long time, and they've been in situations probably more than our team has.''

Bird leads Storm past Dream in WNBA Finals opener

Posted Sep 12 2010 6:41PM

SEATTLE (AP) Different game. Different venue. Same old Sue Bird.

Same result for the Seattle Storm, too.

Bird made a tiebreaking jumper from the foul line with 2.6 seconds left and the Storm beat the Atlanta Dream 79-77 in Game 1 of the WNBA finals on Sunday.

Angel McCoughtry had a last-second try for the Dream, but her long 3-pointer from the left side bounced off the far side of the rim at the buzzer.

The best-of-five series resumes Tuesday night in Seattle.

Bird also hit a key shot in the Western Conference finals, making a 3-pointer with 2.8 seconds left to give the Storm a 91-88 victory in the clinching game last Sunday at Phoenix.

"I was able to get a real good look, and it was a pull-up, which is what I like, and swish,'' Bird said Sunday. "It's just something that, situations like this, I was put into at a very early age. At this point in my career, it's something I enjoy. Those situations are fun - especially when they go in.''

WNBA MVP Lauren Jackson had 26 points and eight rebounds for Seattle. Bird finished with 14 points, and Camille Little had 18 points and 11 rebounds as the Storm remained unbeaten in 20 home games this season.

McCoughtry and Iziane Castro Marques had 19 points apiece for Atlanta. Sancho Lyttle added 10 points and 14 rebounds.

McCoughtry wound up with three stitches in her forehead after a hard collision with Seattle's Jana Vesela with 8:59 to play. While she returned to the game, McCoughtry was ill afterward and unavailable for interviews. Dream trainer Kim Moseley said McCoughtry did not have a concussion and, barring any headaches, was expected to participate in practice Monday.

McCoughtry, who came in averaging 28 points in four playoff games, had a rough day all around. She picked up three first-quarter fouls, sat out the entire second quarter and wound up shooting just 6 of 17 in 21 1/2 minutes.

"She has to do a better job of not getting into foul trouble and still staying aggressive,'' Atlanta coach Marynell Meadors said. "If we can keep her in the game on Tuesday, she'll have a better chance of getting into some type of rhythm.''

On a day when the Seattle Seahawks opened their NFL season in front of more than 60,000 fans at Qwest Field just a few miles to the south, an announced crowd of 15,084 filled the lower bowl and a good portion of the upper balcony at KeyArena.

Jackson made a 3-pointer late in the third to give Seattle the lead for good at 52-49 and the Storm carried a six-point advantage into the final period. After shooting just 2 of 7 in the first half, Jackson went 5 of 8 in the third, scoring 14 points.

"We talked at halftime about how we wanted to go through her and play through her,'' Storm coach Brian Agler said. "Even if she doesn't score, we wanted her handling the ball.''

Atlanta trailed by nine in the fourth before tying it at 77 on Castro Marques' three-point play with a minute left.

After each team traded missed chances, the stage was set for Bird's last-second shot.

"We had to make a good defensive play in that situation,'' Castro Marques said. "It was just a good play (by Seattle) with two good shooters, and it's hard to defend that.''

The Storm went on a 20-4 run in the first quarter to take a 22-9 lead, hitting nine of their first 13 shots while the Dream hit just four of their first 15.

But Atlanta started playing better toward the end of the first quarter and carried it over to the second. A 21-6 surge capped with a steal and driving lay-in by Coco Miller gave the Dream a 30-28 lead with 3:42 left in the half.

Castro Marques made a 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer to tie it at 39.

"Everyone just wanted to pull together,'' Jackson said. "At halftime, we knew we could play better basketball. We'd gotten away from some of the things that got us here.''

Each team had to deal with foul trouble for one of its star players. Besides Atlanta's McCoughtry, Seattle forward Swin Cash picked up two fouls in the first minute of the game and was whistled for her third with 6:10 left in the first quarter. She wound up playing just 8 1/2 minutes in the first half.

• Dream: --
• Storm: --

• Dream: --
• Storm: Jackson

• Lead Changes: 9
• Times Tied: 11

• Arena: Key Arena, Seattle, WA
• Officials: #8 Daryl Humphrey, #9 Denise Brooks-Clauser, #39 Michael Price
• Attendance: 15084
• Duration: 2:5