Storm Tracker (May 20-26)
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May 19-25 Record for the week: 0-2 Overall Record: 0-2 Standing: 7th, Western Conference |
Thursday, May 22, 2003
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Wednesday, May 14, 2003
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Player of the Week
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15.0 ppg, 7.5 apg, 3.0 rpg, 2.0 spg, 3.75 ast/to ratio
The obvious highlight of Bird’s week was her season-opening outing against the Comets, scoring 19 points on 8-for-17 shooting and handing out 10 assists for only the fourth double-double of her young career. While Bird struggled to find her offensive rhythm against San Antonio and was visibly frustrated, as Storm announcer David Locke noted, she found other ways to contribute in that game, grabbing six rebounds and picking up three steals with solid pressure defense in the waning moments of the game. Overall, Bird’s most impressive accomplishment might have been a fine 3.75 assist-turnover ratio. Only two WNBA regulars, former Miami guard Debbie Black and Sacramento All-Star Ticha Penicheiro, posted ratios better than 2.5 last season. Bird’s 1.75 mark was 19th amongst players who played more than 200 minutes, but it could have been higher if she cut her turnovers. No WNBA player had more turnovers than Bird last season, but with a year of experience she is making even better decisions, which will allow her to improve on an already stellar rookie season.
Weekly Happenings
 Bird and the Storm faced two tough defenses last week. WNBAE/Getty |
Playing two of the WNBA’s best defenses as well as two of its best individual defenders in Swoopes, last year’s Defensive Player of the Year, and Dydek, the league leader in blocked shots the last five seasons, the Storm could have expected a slow start to the season offensively. Still, 37.4% shooting is a disappointment, and the second half of the opener against Houston was the only time the Storm really had an extended run of success on offense. At the same time, there are some encouraging signs for the Storm going forward. The most obvious is that most of the shooting struggles against San Antonio came from the team’s stars, Bird and Jackson. Taking away them and Brondello, the rest of the Storm players shot a respectable nine of 20. Obviously, Bird and Jackson are going to be just fine on offense - though Jackson is currently hampered by a strained groin suffered against Houston that kept her out of practice on Saturday - and time spent worrying about their performance is wasted. Also positive is that the Storm has out-assisted opponents despite making less field goals, indicating effective ball movement. Seattle can also help improve its offense by getting to the free-throw line more. Over the first two games of the season, opponents shot 52 free throws to the Storm’s 27. At the same time, the Storm has shot more than twice as many threes, 31 to 15; some of those outside attempts might better be directed to the lane to get freebies at the line.
Still Haven’t Found What They’re Looking For
One of the major goals of the early part of the Storm’s schedule has to be finding a consistent third scorer to complement Bird and Jackson, whether it be Vodichkova - who filled the role last year - an improved Barnes, or one of the imports, Brondello and Burras. While three of the four players scored double-figures in one of the games or the other, Brondello’s 8.0 ppg average was the best over the two games combined, and the Storm will need more production from a third option to contend in the Western Conference. Brondello, who struggled with a hamstring injury late in training camp, is still looking for her shot after shooting just 29.2% on the road trip. Barnes had an impressive performance against Houston, doubling her 2002 total with a pair of three-pointers, but foul trouble kept her from carrying that momentum over against San Antonio. Vodichkova stepped up despite foul trouble in her first start, and getting her up to speed in the new Donovan system - five days off should help - should provide a real boost to the Storm. Burras has been unimpressive in her first two games with the Storm, averaging as many turnovers (2.0) as rebounds and points.
Roster Machinations
Last Wednesday was cut day in the WNBA as teams had to reduce their roster to 11 active players and up to two on the injured list, but the Storm didn't wait that long to make its moves with a trip to Houston looming. Guard Kate Paye was waived on Monday, and rookie guard Chrissy Floyd also got waived a day later. More surprising was the team's decision to cut a pair of wing players who had been in the running for backup minutes, Kate Starbird and Stacey Thomas. To replace some of the perimeter depth lost in the cuts, the Storm acquired former Houston guard Rita Williams for a third-round pick in next year's draft. Williams, who played for Donovan in Indiana in 2000, played with the Comets for less than a half-season after being picked up in a trade with the Fever late last season. Williams joined the Storm in Houston and has played in both games so far. To make room for her on the roster, forward/center Danielle McCulley was placed on the injured list with left Achilles tendinitis.
The Week Ahead
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