2004 in Review: Janell Burse

Barry Gossage/NBAE/Getty BURSE'S STATISTICS 2004 PLAYOFFS 4.9 PPG 3.4 3.3 RPG 2.3 0.7 APG 0.1 0.8 SPG 1.1 1.2 BPG 1.3 17.7 MPG 13.6 .429 FG% .444

Storm Coach Anne Donovan on Janell Burse:

"I can't wait to see JB without an injury next year. She started off so well. In training camp, when Kamila (Vodichkova) wasn't in yet and LJ (Lauren Jackson) was here, they were working so well together. Personal tragedy and then her hip injury just really put a roadblock on what she could have done for us this year. I'm eager to see her come back and really start to reach some of the potential that we know is there."

2004 Season:
Days before the 2004 WNBA Draft, the Seattle Storm dealt forward Amanda Lassiter and its sixth pick of the draft to Minnesota for forward Sheri Sam and center Janell Burse. Sam was the player the Storm aggressively targeted in trade, the veteran small forward Donovan believed was necessary to win the championship (an opinion later proven correct). However, the Storm would not have done the deal without the inclusion of Burse, considered one of the WNBA's top young centers after a breakout 2003 season.

The Storm didn't get that player and prospect during much of 2004 because of injury. In late July, Burse initially injured her right hip during a practice. She was diagnosed with bursitis and placed on the injured list, missing the Storm's last five games before the August Olympics Break. Burse was activated in time for the start of September and played the Storm's final nine games and all eight playoff games, but her injury issues were hardly over. Further tests revealed Burse had a quad injury as well as hip bursitis, and eventually that she had a partial tear of the vastus lateralis, a muscle near the hip and the quad.

RELATED ARTICLES

2004 Janell Burse Photo Gallery 2004 in Review Archive Burse Brings It Off the Bench The Janell Burse File Q&A With Burse

Burse's injury was probably more serious than the Storm coaching staff was willing to let on, and her mobility was affected down the stretch. Still, she gutted her way through the pain, missing barely any playing time. The impact on her statistics was obvious. Over the first three months of the season, Burse averaged 7.7 rebounds, 3.1 blocks and 6.4 fouls per 40 minutes. In September, her rebounds and blocks dropped to 7.0 and 2.1 per 40 minutes, while her fouls increased to 7.0.

Nonetheless, Burse finished fifth in the WNBA in offensive rebounds per 40 minutes (4.0) and blocks per 40 minutes (2.8). Despite coming off the bench, Burse ranked ninth in the WNBA in blocks per game (1.2), one of only two reserves (Minnesota's Vanessa Hayden was the other) to block at least one shot per game. Burse's long arms give the Storm a second shot blocker the franchise has never before had alongside Jackson.

Teaming with Jackson proved more challenging for Burse on the offensive end. A traditional low-post center in Minnesota, Burse had to play more often in the high post to accommodate Jackson's post-ups. She seemed more comfortable in this role late in the season, as her offensive numbers actually improved after the break to a 47.6% field-goal percentage and 5.3 points per game.

Burse is a restricted free agent, giving the Storm the option to match any offers made to her, and she is expected to return as the heir apparent to starting center Vodichkova. After playing in China this off-season, Burse should enter 2005 healthy and more experienced in her role as the Storm's third post, promising a better season.
- Kevin Pelton, storm.wnba.com

2004 Highlights:

Ranked fifth in the WNBA in blocks (2.8) and offensive rebounds (4.0) per 40 minutes

Ranked ninth in the WNBA in blocks per game (1.2)

Ranked eighth in WNBA in rebounds by reserve (3.3)

Had season-high-tying 12 points and nine rebounds at New York on June 15

Scored 10 points and had career-high-tying five blocks at Indiana on Sep. 13

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