Storm Calm After 3-0 Road Trip
 Jackson had a big road trip, averaging 20.3 ppg. Ray Amati/NBAE/Getty |
It is rapidly becoming clear that there is something special about this group of Storm players as expectations have grown with every win the Storm has added to its streak. Clearly, having four All-Stars in the starting lineup makes the Storm talented, but there's also something more.
"This team knows it's talented, takes pride in being the best team in the league," said Donovan.
"We're more confident. When we get into a close game, we're going to win that game. I don't know that we felt that last year."
The changes have also given the Storm impressive depth. Seattle is the only team with four players averaging double-figures scoring, and all five starters have been playing well recently.
"We're so strong at every position, even going to the bench," said Donovan. "I don't feel like I have to compensate anywhere, and that's unique."
After Saturday's game, Donovan told the Seattle Times, "This is the best basketball I've coached." That naturally raises the question of how the Storm's 8-2 start compares with the historic 17-4 run her Charlotte Sting finished the 2001 season on after starting the season 1-10. That run included six- and seven-game winning streaks.
"Very different teams, very different circumstances," Donovan noted. "It was such a gut check to be totally written off, to just be a joke. To turn it around like that is remarkable.
"(This season), we've had talent since day one. It also wasn't my first season here, so the returning players knew what I expect. It was just a matter of acclimating our new players and getting chemistry."
Still, there are improvements that can and must be made if the Storm is to continue its hot streak. That starts tomorrow against the Houston Comets at KeyArena, as the Comets look to avenge their loss to the Storm last Friday in Houston. In that game, Comets forward Sheryl Swoopes went off for 33 points, tying her career high. Obviously, Donovan believes that can't be repeated.
"Most of her damage was in the last 25-26 minutes, if you look at it," Donovan pointed out. "She realized her team needed her to score and stepped it up. But we're going to see if we can do a better job on her. Double-digits is okay. 33 points is not okay."
Houston will again be without forward Tina Thompson after the All-Star was placed on the Injured List before Friday's game because of a severe left calf strain. Without Thompson, the Comets have lost two in a row to slip to 6-6 on the season, but Donovan still believes they're a dangerous opponent.
"Houston's a hungry team," she noted. "Thompson was maybe having the best individual season in the WNBA this year, so losing her is significant. They still played us close."
The other area of focus lately has been the bench, which came through with some strong efforts on the road trip and was key to the 3-0 finish. After speaking at length before the trip about needing more offense from her bench, Donovan got just that.
"It was huge," she said. "On the road trip, we knew we needed the bench to step up, and they did that right away in New York. Adia (Barnes) has come in to spot Sheri (Sam) defensively when Sheryl Swoopes was going off. Janell (Burse)'s been consistent for us this whole season, giving us both scoring and rebounding. And Tully (Bevilaqua) is Tully. She's done a great job of giving us backup minutes at both the one and the two."
