Oakwood Live From Press Row - Storm vs. Minnesota
The Storm enjoys a home-court advantage at KeyArena unparalleled in the WNBA. Even if you don't live in Seattle, you can enjoy the electricity of the KeyArena experience thanks to storm.wnba.com's Oakwood Live From Press Row. All night and all season long, Kevin Pelton will be bringing you pregame quotes from coaches and players and observations from the game as it unfolds - on and off the court. Make sure to keep coming back
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Big Win For Storm
Final: Storm 76, Minnesota 60
Only a little drama in the final few minutes, including the final score and whether Sue Bird could get to a double-double (she didn't, finishing with nine points and nine assists). But there are bigger things afoot than even the win or Lauren Jackson's 18 points and 11 boards. The win gets the Storm within a win of clinching a playoff spot. That could happen as soon as Saturday in Sacramento (and be sure to watch that game on ABC, and don't forger the viewing party - featuring a visit from Adia Barnes - at Theatre Off Jackson; more details on the homepage).
It's also Anne Donovan's 100th career victory, and while she may have downplayed the importance of that before the game, saying she likes championships, forgive storm.wnba.com if we have other ideas. We've put together this page to celebrate Donovan's accomplishment. So do Anne's players, who presented her with a bouqet of flowers and a bunch of hugs after the game. Be sure to visit storm.wnba.com later this evening to hear Donovan's own thoughts after the big win.
Oh, did I mention playoff tickets for the first game of the first round are now on sale?
Storm Holding Off Minnesota
Second Half: Storm 63, Minnesota 46
If you know anything about the Minnesota Lynx, you know there is no quit in this team. They're showing it again tonight, but the Storm has played intelligent basketball and is holding on to the lead. The team is still up 17 with five minutes even to go and our final mandatory lineup. Nicole Ohlde (16 points) and Tamika Williams (career-high 14 boards) have been good for Minnesota, but the Storm's balance has overwhelmed them.
With this game looking to be in hand, let's talk MVP a bit. Anne Donovan was asked again for her thoughts before tonight's game, and had this to say:
"I think, for sure, Lauren has to be the frontrunner. They did a great study in USA Today this past week that really statistically showed why Lauren is far out in front of everyone else."
Donovan also pointed out how surprised she was to watch Sacramento's broadcast of their game with Los Angeles Tuesday and see that the Monarchs broadcast crew of Jim Kozimor and Krista Blunk did not have Jackson as one of their top five picks for MVP.
Getting Chippy
Second Half: Storm 59, Minnesota 42
With the Storm leading big, emotions running a bit hot here at KeyArena. Double technicals on Iziane Castro Marques and a furious Stacey Lovelace, and Lovelace and Lauren Jackson also got into a little bit. All three players have been removed from the game. Funny that there have been a bunch of technicals throughout the WNBA tonight. Must be a full moon.
Storm Running Away
Second Half: Storm 56, Minnesota 36
As cold as the Storm's offense was in the first half, it has been equally hot since halftime. Crediting Sue Bird's technical foul shot to the second half, the Storm has already matched its halftime total of 28 points, and we've still got nearly 13 minutes left in the second half. Sue Bird with seven assists is powering the offense, Francesca Zara (seven points) is rolling and Izzy Castro Marques has 14 points tonight.
Important to note that Hayden's injury is being officially termed a subluxation, not a separation.
Strong Start
Second Half: Storm 41, Minnesota 27
The Storm seems determined to put this game away right now. Seattle has come out from halftime very strong, opening the second half with a 13-6 run (including Sue Bird hitting the technical free throw). Very balanced offense tonight, with all five Storm starters scoring between six and eight points. The defense, of course, has been better than the offense. Tanisha Wright with three steals, a new career high for her.
Halftime Stats
Halftime: Storm 28, Minnesota 21
The Storm's Offensive Rating is a subpar but okay 84.8. Minnesota's is a dismal 61.8, as advanced statistics aren't really necessary in this case to explain the Lynx's struggles. 33 and 34 possessions for the two teams, which is a very slow pace considering how the Storm likes to play and how Minnesota has played recently.
The word we're hearing is that Vanessa Hayden separated her shoulder when she went down early in this game. I wouldn't expect her back tonight.
Low-Scoring First Half
Halftime: Storm 28, Minnesota 21
The 21 points the Lynx finished the first half with are the fewest allowed by the Storm in a half this season (previously, that was 22 in the first half of the team's June 8 win at Detroit). But the Storm's offense, despite shooitng 42.9%, wasn't much better. The Storm was hurt by eight turnovers and by getting to the free-throw line just four times (Minnesota only four), meaning Minnesota is still very much in this game, trailing 28-21.
It would be something of an understatement to say that the Storm crowd was underwhelmed by the refereeing in the first half, but apparently Minnesota wasn't all too pleased either. An assistant coach (I haven't been able to determine which one) was called for a technical foul on the way out and the Storm will get a free throw before we start the second half.
Storm Bringing the D
First Half: Storm 26, Minnesota 19
Over five minutes since the Minnesota Lynx have hit a field goal as we go to our last mandatory timeout of the first half. The Lynx is shooting only 27.6% from the field, and you have to credit the Storm defense for that, as Minnesota has been putting the ball in the hoop successfully with Chandi Jones in the lineup (granted, Vanessa Hayden's injury has hurt the Lynx). The key against the Lynx is post defense.
"We want to not allow easy post entry," said Anne Donovan. "It comes, of course, from our post players, but also better pressure on the ball."
Lynx Reserves Step Up
First Half: Storm 20, Minnesota 18
The Minnesota bench didn't play particularly well in the Lynx's Tuesday win over Houston, but that has reversed itself tonight. Five reserves currently in the game for the Lynx, and they're playing pretty well. Four points and five boards for Tamika Williams and two points apiece for Tynesha Lewis and Kristen Mann as the Lynx is, as usual, hanging around.
Lewis in the House
First Half: Storm 17, Minnesota 12
Sonics All-Star Rashard Lewis is courtside along with New York Knicks guard Jamal Crawford. They're teaming up to host a Celebrity Softball Weekend tomorrow and Saturday. For more details on this great weekend, check out
SUPERSONICS.COM. Also courtside, in addition to, as usual, Howard Schultz - former UW guard Tre Simmons.
Burse Okay
First Half: Storm 13, Minnesota 8
There was some concern about the status of Storm center Janell Burse after she tweaked her left MCL during practice yesterday, but Burse started.
"She was ginger in shootaround, so we'll see how she is come game time," said Anne Donovan before the game."
Burse has four points on 2-for-2 shooting, but she's still on the bench. The reason? Two quick fouls. Simone Edwards is the first player off the bench for the Storm, though she's since been joined by Francesca Zara. Three reserves are in Suzie McConnell Serio's lineup.
Hayden Out
First Half: Storm 0, Minnesota 0
Quick timeout as Minnesota center Vanessa Hayden went down with an apparent injury to her right shoulder on the Storm's first possession. I didn't see a replay, so I'm not sure what happened. Hayden did go back to the locker room. She's been replaced by Tamika Williams. Here's hoping Hayden is okay.
Lennox Update
Pregame
Betty Lennox had a doctor's appointment this morning to have her injured left wrist re-evaluated, and the news was not what Lennox had hoped to hear. While she's making progress, the partially torn ligament in her wrist still needs rest, and the Storm plans to shut her down for another week.
"It's better if she doesn't play," said Coach Anne Donovan. "If she gets another week or two weeks of rest, hopefully it will get better, it will get less painful. She tried to shoot free throws yesterday, and gathering the ball gave her great pain. Betty is minimum a week away, and my guess is more than that."
If the Storm's playoff position sinks in the next week, that could change, because Lennox is cleared to play if it's necessary.
"The doctor has said, 'If you need her tomorrow or tonight to win a playoff game, it's up to Betty - she can go,' but it's clearly not a good idea," Donovan added. "She's not even close to having basketball range of motion."
Signing On
Pregame
Playoff positioning again on the line tonight at KeyArena as the Minnesota Lynx come to Seattle to take on your Storm. Seattle enters the game a half-game up on the Houston Comets (who are playing Phoenix during the game) for second place in the Western Conference, and securing a playoff spot is also within view for the Storm. But the focus is simply on tonight's game and a pesky bunch of Lynx players that has shown no quit after the team traded star Katie Smith to Detroit at the trade deadline.
Oakwood Live From Press Row Archive