David Locke’s Keys to the Storm-Comets Series
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Are you ready to Bring It On!!! Where will this journey take us? I can’t recall what we felt like heading to Minnesota a year ago, but I am sure we had no idea what we were about to experience as a team, a fan base and as a city.
As we get ready for the next ride let me give you a few things to keep an eye on or if you are listening on the radio an ear out for.
Bird is the Word:
Sue Bird simply wins. She is the Derek Jeter of the WNBA. Her numbers will never tell the story. She wills her team to victories. She makes the biggest plays at the biggest moment. She makes every player around her better. She has the special knack to carry a team to a championship. This year she has become a leader, carrying a team that played more minutes from rookies then any other team in the W to a franchise-record 20 wins.
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Sue's playoff performance last year of 14 assists in Game 3 versus Sacramento is one of the best performances of all time. The Phantom of the WNBA Playoffs is ready to roll again.
This matchup is particularly difficult for Bird because the Comets place two-time Defensive Player of the Year 
Sheryl Swoopes on her for a great deal of the game. Swoopes caused Bird great difficulty with her size and length. Bird shot just 38% against the Comets this season.
Betty Ballgame or Izzy, Izzy, Izzy
When
Van Chancellor puts Swoopes on Bird, someone has to make the Comets pay for that switch.
This is the same strategy that the Connecticut Sun used on Bird in the WNBA Finals that allowed 
Betty Lennox to explode and win MVP of the Finals. Lindsay Whalen simply could not guard Lennox. In this series, Dawn Staley can’t guard Lennox either. In fact, it will be hard for Chancellor to use Staley for extended minutes because Lennox and Bird should be able to exploit that match-up.
Lennox only played two games against the Comets this year, but her second half in the first meeting was dynamic. She finished with 24 points on 10-of-18 shooting.
Iziane Castro Marques played just three of the games against the Comets. Both times she crossed into double figures the Storm won.
Izzy has become a much better offensive player. Since July 1, she is shooting 44% from the field and 41% from 3-point range.
MVPs:
The two best players in the world are matching up again. August 9th at the Key was one of the greatest duels the league has ever seen when Swoopes and
Lauren Jackson went head to head.
The two combine for three MVP awards (someone will get the fourth this season), four scoring titles and 10 All-Star Games.
Neither team has a player that can guard either of these stars. The Storm’s best bet on Swoopes is 
Tanisha Wright. However, she is considerably smaller and Swoopes will be able to shoot over Wright. Keep an eye out for the three-guard lineup with Wright on Swoopes.
Chancellor tries to avoid having Michelle Snow guard Jackson because she is so foul prone and the Comets drop off considerably after Snow. Tina Thompson understandably is not in tip-top shape. LJ will get looks on the pick and pop.
Last year, LJ buried 16 of 22 3s in the playoffs; if she sniffs that type of performance this will be over in a hurry.
Making Plays:
These games will be close. See below for how even they really are. There are nine Olympians playing in this match-up. Arguably four of the six greatest players in the league’s history are playing.
In the final minutes of each of these games, there will be a play or a two-play sequence that you will be able to highlight as the game changer. Which superstar makes the play may determine the series.
Will it be LJ on the offensive glass with a putback and the foul? Will Bird pull up for a stop-and-pop 3 in transition?
The Comets are scary in these circumstances. Their playoff experience is unparalleled in the W. Janeth Arcain, Swoopes, Thompson and Tari Phillips have all played at least 20 playoff games, while three-time Olympian Staley will be playing in her 18th on Tuesday.
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The Houston Comets are dominated by MVP candidate Swoopes. However, the X-Factor is 6-5 Snow. The Storm has been a poor defensive team all season and much of that has been interior defense. Snow torched the Storm for 20 points in the Comets win over Seattle on August 14th.
This season against the Storm, Snow averaged 15 points and 8 rebounds while shooting 64%. While Thompson is getting in better and better shape after the birth of her baby, the Storm must slow down Snow.
Find Possessions:
The Storm forces the fewest turnovers per possession of any team in the WNBA. The Comets commit the fewest turnovers per possession of any team in the WNBA. That is a tough combination. This puts a premium on Seattle taking care of the ball and the Storm outrebounding the Comets.
These teams are amazingly equal. Over the past 80 minutes of basketball the Storm and the Comets are tied 143 to 143. Their offensive and defensive efficiency ratings for the season are almost identical. In 100 offensive possessions the Storm score 97.5 points and the Comets score 97.3. Over 100 defensive possessions the Storm allow 94.3 points and the Comets allow 94.4.
Bench Bomber:
Houston will play as little as 20 minutes a game from their bench players in this series. Therefore, if Seattle can get any type of jolt off the bench it will be a huge advantage.
Last year, 
Chelle Thompson hit three 3s in the regular season and then caught fire in the playoffs hitting six on 12 attempts. Can she do it again?
Tully Bevilaqua replacing the injured Bird three minutes into Game 2 versus Minnesota in the first round. Is it Wright off the bench this year?
Francesca Zara has had a really tough time with Houston, shooting just 1-of-7 with six turnovers in the four games. Will she show her poise and improved play of the last few weeks and put the nail in the Comets coffin?
