Live From Press Row - Storm vs. Phoenix (Game 1)
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Live From Press Row Archive
Mercury Scorches Storm
Final: Phoenix 93, Storm 76
Well, Paul Westhead said it was first to 100 wins. We just figured that would be a closer battle. Westhead's Phoenix Mercury, playing in the postseason for the first time since 2000, ran up 101 points and answered every Storm challenge in the second half in seizing control of this series with a 17-point victory at KeyArena in Game 1.
You have to give a lot of credit to the Mercury. This team has won 12 of its last 13 games for a reason. Diana Taurasi and Penny Taylor (22 apiece) and Cappie Pondexter (21) all went over the 20-point mark and hit some impossible shots in the second half, while Tangela Smith chipped in with a double-double (13 points, 10 rebounds) and three key three-pointers. At the same time, the Storm team was flat in the first half, and that was certainly unexpected. 18 turnovers - six of them by the midway point of the first quarter - made life very difficult for the Storm. Credit the team with playing hard throughout the fourth quarter, particularly a tenacious Betty Lennox.
So now the Storm faces the very difficult challenge of winning twice in Phoenix. If anyone knows that is possible, it is Anne Donovan, who has been involved in both all time comebacks from a 1-0 deficit at home. Donovan's 2001 Charlotte Sting swept two games from New York in the Eastern Conference Finals, while just two years ago the Houston Comets won twice in KeyArena after losing Game 1 at home. Game 2 is Sunday in Phoenix at 4:00 p.m. on ESPN 2 and 1150 AM KKNW. Also be sure to check out storm.wnba.com. For the first time ever, we're taking Live From Press Row on the road, as I am headed to Phoenix and will be blogging live - technology permitting - from the US Airways Center.
Lucky Penny
Fourth Quarter: Phoenix 93, Storm 76
Penny Taylor isn't lucky; she's good. Taylor had five points at halftime and was very quiet, but she's scored 17 points on 6-for-9 shooting since halftime and has been a big reason why the Mercury has been able to hold the Storm at bay during several runs. Betty Lennox has been the high scorer in the fourth quarter, putting up 11 of her team-high 18 points on 5-of-7 shooting.
Unflappable Mercury
Fourth Quarter: Phoenix 86, Storm 73
Every time the Storm gets hot, the Phoenix Mercury has had the answer. Betty Lennox is playing her heart out in this fourth quarter trying to bring the Storm back and she hit back-to-back threes following another triple by Iziane Castro Marques to bring the Storm within 11, but Cappie Pondexter followed with another high-degree-of-difficulty shot, making a jumper with a defender draped all over her. Then Penny Taylor intercepted a Sue Bird pass and headed the other direction to draw two free throws. With Phoenix up 13, the clock is the opponent, and there is just 5:33 left in this game now.
Phoenix Answers Storm's Run
End Third Quarter: Phoenix 74, Storm 57
A moment ago, KeyArena was rocking. The Storm was on a 10-0 run to get back within 12 with a chance to get the lead into manageable single-digits heading to the fourth quarter. Credit the Mercury for maintaining composure. Phoenix scored on its last three possessions of the fourth quarter, getting a pair of Cappie Pondexter free throws, an impossible Penny Taylor fadeaway jumper and a three-pointer from Diana Taurasi to return the lead to a comfortable 17.
Pondexter, Taylor and Taurasi have combined for 51 of Phoenix's 74 points tonight. As much as we've discussed other Storm issues, it's awful hard to beat the Mercury when the Big Three is going like that.
Mercury Running it Up
Third Quarter: Phoenix 67, Storm 47
A Kelly Mazzante three-pointer a moment ago gave the Mercury its largest lead at 22 points. Phoenix has already put up 22 here in the period to extend the lead. Credit Penny Taylor, who has been much more aggressive during this third quarter and now has 13 points. Four Phoenix players have scored double-figures. Lauren Jackson did send the Storm into the timeout with a layup plus the foul.
The Storm still seems to be having a hard time producing energy, though that hasn't been an issue for Ashley Robinson. Robinson has four blocks and has done a great job for the Storm on defense. However, rebounding has been a surprising problem for the Storm, with Phoenix holding a 24-21 rebounding advantage.
Storm's Offense Silent in First Half
Halftime: Phoenix 45, Storm 33
The Storm averaged 96.7 points in three matchups against Phoenix this season, so it was only natural we were expecting some big offensive numbers. So far, just the opposite. The Storm was limited to 13 points in the second quarter and 33 in the first half, shot 38.7% and committed 17 turnovers. As a result, the Storm trails by 12 at the break.
One big issue in the second half will be finding a way to get Lauren Jackson involved in the game. Jackson attempted just four shots in the first half. She had two free throws on the team's final possession of the half to finish with seven points and four boards. As much attention as Phoenix is paying to Jackson, the defense is not much different than it was in the regular season, when Jackson averaged 29 points a game against the Mercury. It would be one thing if other players were stepping up, but no Storm player has more than seven points while Diana Taurasi (17) and Cappie Pondexter (12) are both in double-figures for Phoenix.
The "A Team" of Alan Horton and Adia Barnes is loving their first look at the Beale Street Flippers during this timeout.
Donovan Searching for Answers
Second Quarter: Phoenix 43, Storm 29
Anne Donovan is looking for the right lineup combination to snap the Storm out of its first-half funk. Just before Phoenix took a strangely-timed timeout, Donovan subbed Tanisha Wright and Wendy Palmer off the bench for starters Betty Lennox and Ashley Robinson. The rest of the starting lineup is on the floor. Right now, no one on the Storm is matching the intensity of Diana Taurasi, who has 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting. The Mercury seem to be winning a disproportionate number of the loose balls right now. Combined with the turnovers, that means all Mercury in the first half.
Mistakes Costly for Storm
Second Quarter: Phoenix 35, Storm 25
A Wendy Palmer three-pointer tied the game at 25-all less than a minute into this second quarter. The Storm came out of the quarter break with energy and focus, but that has quickly dissipated under the weight of the pressure of the Mercury's offense. Phoenix responded with a 10-0 run including threes by Tangela Smith and Penny Taylor. The Mercury has taken its largest lead of the game and forced Anne Donovan to take another timeout.
The Storm's 11 turnovers have led to 19 Phoenix points and also made it very difficult for the crowd to get in the game. Amongst those in attendance: NBA legend and WNBA advocate Bill Russell, who is sitting at courtside.
Poor First Quarter for the Storm
End First Quarter: Phoenix 25, Storm 20
We saw the Storm play polished offense throughout the week in practice against the practice squad, replicating Phoenix's 3-2 zone as well as the box-and-one defense (which we have yet to really see tonight). However, that hasn't carried over to the game. The Storm rushed shots frequently and turned the ball far more over (though just once after the mid-quarter timeout). The Storm is shooting just 43.8% from the field, though 4-of-7 from downtown. Offensive boards for the Mercury have also been a surprising problem; the Storm holds an 8-7 advantage on the glass, but Phoenix got a lot of balls bouncing out of bounds and back to them.
During the timeout, StormVision featured the results of voting in the 2nd Annual Stormy Awards. Congrats to Tanisha Wright, who was the clear pick for her rendition of Renee Zellweger's line in Jerry Maguire.
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Phoenix on the Run
First Quarter: Phoenix 15, Storm 12
A 6-0 Mercury run has forced Storm Head Coach Anne Donovan to take an early timeout. Turnovers are the big story in the early going. Sue Bird has three of them and the Storm has six as a team. WE've talked all week about the need to avoid turnovers and keep Phoenix out of transition. The Mercury has only four fast-break points, but the turnovers have kept the Storm from gaining momentum.
LJ Wins Defensive Player of the Year
Pregame
Right now at center court, Storm forward Lauren Jackson is being honored as the WNBA's Defensive Player of the Year as well as being presented with Peak Performer awards for leading the league in scoring and rebounding by WNBA Chief of Basketball Operations and Player Relations Renee Brown. Jackson was also named to the WNBA's All-Defensive First Team today.
"It's a huge honor," Jackson said at a press conference earlier this evening. "I don't think I've won a defensive award before in my life."
Jackson said after receiving word from the WNBA on Wednesday that she was the Defensive Player of the Year, she immediately called her mother Maree to share her excitement. Storm Head Coach Anne Donovan was also like a proud mother about Jackson receiving the award.
"I'm surprised she was noticed (for her defense)," said Donovan. "We were both surprised when Doris Burke starting talking about that."
Donovan was a strong advocate for her star winning this ward, and that paid off. Jackson doesn't play for individual accolades, but this was clearly one that meant something to her; she flashed a megawatt smile for the cameras when posing with the trophy and Brown.
Signing On
Pregame
Do you feel it? Playoff basketball is in the air. The Seattle Storm and Phoenix Mercury are warming up on the KeyArena floor in front of me with a pair of WNBA Playoffs 2007 logos on the court and two more on the basket standards. A passionate Storm crowd is filing in and we are nearly ready for Game 1 of the Storm's First Round series against the Phoenix Mercury. These wo games both play an entertaining brand of basketball that features plenty of scoring, so it should be a great night. Stay with us throughout for all the latest excitement.
