STORM: Insider Preview - Storm vs. Charlotte

Insider Preview - Storm vs. Charlotte

HEAD-TO-HEAD

16-14	RECORD	9-21
W-1	STREAK	L-1
3-2	LAST 5	2-3
78.0	PF	72.0
103.5	Off. Rat.	93.0
75.0	PA	76.9
98.7	Def. Rat.	99.0
33.6	RPG	32.3
.519	Reb %	.478

Storm (16-14) vs. Charlotte (9-21)
Saturday, August 5, 7:00 p.m.
KeyArena
TV: FSN Northwest
Radio: KJR AM 950 and KPUG in Bellingham
Promotion: Fan Appreciation Night
Buy Tickets:

Kevin Pelton, storm.wnba.com

The Charlotte Sting has been eliminated from playoff contention since Sunday, but that doesn't mean the Sting can't go into the off-season on a strong note. Charlotte, 3-16 at the All-Star break, has gone 6-5 since then to easily top last year's total of six wins. The Seattle Storm was one of those victims, which also include playoff-bound Indiana and Detroit. Charlotte's most recent success came Tuesday, when they helped the Storm by going into San Antonio and defeating the reeling Silver Stars 68-65 thanks to a late 3-pointer by forward

Tangela Smith.

On defense, the Sting has taken on the scrappy personality of Coach Muggsy Bogues, who finished in the NBA's top 10 in steals three times during his 14-year career, spent mostly with the then-Charlotte Hornets. The Sting plays an attacking style of defense and has forced 17.4 turnovers per game, good for third in the WNBA. The ringleader is point guard Helen Darling, a key difference between a Minnesota defense that posted the league's top Defensive Rating in 2004 but has been seventh and 13th the last two seasons. Darling averages 1.1 steals per game splitting minutes at the point and her defensive pressure starts the Sting's defense.

Charlotte is still seeking to improve an offense that has been hurt the last two seasons by poor shooting percentages. At 39.7%, the Sting's field-goal percentage is second-lowest in the WNBA. Of the six Charlotte players averaging at least 20 minutes per game, only Tammy Sutton-Brown (48.9%) shoots an above-average percentage from the field. Only one more player from that group (Smith) is over 40%.

The Storm concludes its home campaign tonight with a shot at being able to celebrate a playoff berth at the end of the evening. If Phoenix (hosting Los Angeles, also at 7:00 p.m.) and San Antonio (at Indiana in a game that will be completed before the Storm tips off) lose, a Storm win would clinch a playoff berth. That would be crucial in terms of giving Anne Donovan the chance to rest banged-up players on the Storm's season-ending three-game road trip. Tonight's game will also determine whether the Storm finishes 2006 with a winning home record.

G U A R D S
The dramatic difference made by Darling's defense is best shown by plus-minus data. With Darling on the court, Charlotte allows 69.9 points per 40 minutes; when she's on the bench, that balloons to 78.4. Darling isn't necessarily a lockdown defender - witness Sue Bird's 19 points on 6-for-13 shooting when these teams matched up in Charlotte - but she can force the ball out of the point guard's hands and create havoc, which favors the Sting defense. Unfortunately, Darling has the opposite problem on offense. While a decent 3-point shooter (better this year; she's hitting a career-best 39.5% from downtown), Darling averages 2.7 turnovers per game and barely an assist per turnover.

Rookie Monique Currie, the third pick of April's Draft, has not transitioned to the WNBA as rapidly as the All-Stars drafted around her. Currie is averaging 10.4 points per game, but shooting just 33.2% from the field. Currie has played very well of late, however, averaging 16.8 points per game in her last four games. Currie has shot 35-for-42 from the free-throw line in that span; keeping her off the charity stripe will be key for Betty Lennox. Fighting a sore right knee, Lennox has been limited to seven total points the last two games.

F O R W A R D S
Former Storm forward Sheri Sam was the key as her new team beat her old team last month for the first time in three tries. Sam scored a season-high 23 points on 8-for-17 shooting. In the seven games since then, Sam has taken a back seat to Currie, scoring double-figures just once. Sam was not as dominant against the Storm last season, totaling 26 points in two games on 10-for-31 shooting. She does have an advantage in the post against Iziane Castro Marques, but Castro Marques can cause Sam problems at the other end if she continues shooting as well as she has lately, capped by Thursday's 22 points on 7-for-10 shooting.

An All-Star for the first time this season, Smith picked up her offense in July, averaging 14.6 points per game on 45.6% shooting. She was a non-factor in Charlotte against the Storm, however, scoring just four points. Smith has developed a 3-point game this season, making a career-high 27 while shooting them at a strong 38% clip. Coming back from missing a game because of plantar fasciitis, Lauren Jackson was also quiet in the last matchup, finishing with 11 points and five rebounds. Jackson has dominated recently, totaling 74 points on 21-for-37 shooting in the last three games.

C E N T E R
While in Charlotte, Donovan faced a choice of centers in the second round of the 2001 WNBA Draft - Sutton-Brown or Janell Burse? Ultimately, Donovan has worked with both players and helped both develop into second-round steals. Sutton-Brown, an All-Star in 2002, is a strong post scorer and shot-blocker (1.9 per game, second in the WNBA) who struggles frequently with turnovers (2.2 per game). Burse is the better rebounder of the two players, shoots a better percentage from the field (51.9%, seventh in the WNBA) and has more range from the perimeter.

B E N C H
In a blowout loss at Phoenix Thursday, the Sting's bench saw plenty of action. Guard Kelly Mazzante (right) scored a career-high 18 points and is averaging 8.5 for the season. She hit three 3s against the Storm and is a 36.6% shooter from downtown. 2004 top overall pick Janel McCarville has put up some solid games, like 11 points and seven boards in Phoenix and eight points and four assists against the Storm, but is still looking for consistency. Veteran forward Allison Feaster also dropped three 3-pointers on the Storm, but is averaging just 1.5 points this season after giving birth in the spring. Rookie LaToya Bond splits time with Darling and is an energetic but turnover-prone (2.5 per game against 2.1 assists) presence. Storm center Tiffani Johnson, a Charlotte native, stepped up in her hometown when Burse re-injured her shoulder minutes into the game, finishing with eight points and seven boards. The Storm's bench did not play a key role in the win over Washington, combining for just two points and three rebounds.

TEAM LEADERS

JACKSON
SMITH

Jackson
19.3 PPG Smith
13.5

Jackson
7.9 RPG Sutton-Brown
5.9

Bird
4.9 APG Darling
2.8

Bird
1.7 SPG Sam
1.4

Jackson
1.5 BPG Sutton-Brown
1.9

Bird
31.6 MPG Sam
29.4

USELESS STAT OF THE DAY

The Storm is 3-3 all time in regular-season home finales.

LAST TIME

On Jul. 20, the Storm started its road trip in Charlotte with an unusual 11:30 a.m. local start that seemed like 8:30 a.m. for the Storm. Though Jackson returned to the lineup, Burse left minutes into the game after experiencing a left shoulder subluxation and did not return. The Storm fought hard and was within five in the fourth quarter, but the Sting's barrage of 3-point attempts (9-for-27 from downtown) provided several big momentum-turning shots and Charlotte prevailed 86-72. Bird scored a season-high 19 points, while Lennox (13 points, 10 boards) recorded her first double-double of 2006.

INJURIES

Storm - Guard

Betty Lennox (right knee contusion), forward

Lauren Jackson and center

Janell Burse (left shoulder subluxation) are probable. Forwards

Shaunzinski Gortman (torn right ACL) and

Wendy Palmer (partially torn left Achilles tendon) are out.

Charlotte - Center Tammy Sutton-Brown (back spasms) is probable.

G U A R D S
	The dramatic difference made by Darling's defense is best shown by plus-minus data. With Darling on the court, Charlotte allows 69.9 points per 40 minutes; when she's on the bench, that balloons to 78.4. Darling isn't necessarily a lockdown defender - witness Sue Bird's 19 points on 6-for-13 shooting when these teams matched up in Charlotte - but she can force the ball out of the point guard's hands and create havoc, which favors the Sting defense. Unfortunately, Darling has the opposite problem on offense. While a decent 3-point shooter (better this year; she's hitting a career-best 39.5% from downtown), Darling averages 2.7 turnovers per game and barely an assist per turnover.
	Rookie Monique Currie, the third pick of April's Draft, has not transitioned to the WNBA as rapidly as the All-Stars drafted around her. Currie is averaging 10.4 points per game, but shooting just 33.2% from the field. Currie has played very well of late, however, averaging 16.8 points per game in her last four games. Currie has shot 35-for-42 from the free-throw line in that span; keeping her off the charity stripe will be key for Betty Lennox. Fighting a sore right knee, Lennox has been limited to seven total points the last two games.
F O R W A R D S
	Former Storm forward Sheri Sam was the key as her new team beat her old team last month for the first time in three tries. Sam scored a season-high 23 points on 8-for-17 shooting. In the seven games since then, Sam has taken a back seat to Currie, scoring double-figures just once. Sam was not as dominant against the Storm last season, totaling 26 points in two games on 10-for-31 shooting. She does have an advantage in the post against Iziane Castro Marques, but Castro Marques can cause Sam problems at the other end if she continues shooting as well as she has lately, capped by Thursday's 22 points on 7-for-10 shooting.
	An All-Star for the first time this season, Smith picked up her offense in July, averaging 14.6 points per game on 45.6% shooting. She was a non-factor in Charlotte against the Storm, however, scoring just four points. Smith has developed a 3-point game this season, making a career-high 27 while shooting them at a strong 38% clip. Coming back from missing a game because of plantar fasciitis, Lauren Jackson was also quiet in the last matchup, finishing with 11 points and five rebounds. Jackson has dominated recently, totaling 74 points on 21-for-37 shooting in the last three games.
C E N T E R
	While in Charlotte, Donovan faced a choice of centers in the second round of the 2001 WNBA Draft - Sutton-Brown or Janell Burse? Ultimately, Donovan has worked with both players and helped both develop into second-round steals. Sutton-Brown, an All-Star in 2002, is a strong post scorer and shot-blocker (1.9 per game, second in the WNBA) who struggles frequently with turnovers (2.2 per game). Burse is the better rebounder of the two players, shoots a better percentage from the field (51.9%, seventh in the WNBA) and has more range from the perimeter.
B E N C H
	In a blowout loss at Phoenix Thursday, the Sting's bench saw plenty of action. Guard Kelly Mazzante (right) scored a career-high 18 points and is averaging 8.5 for the season. She hit three 3s against the Storm and is a 36.6% shooter from downtown. 2004 top overall pick Janel McCarville has put up some solid games, like 11 points and seven boards in Phoenix and eight points and four assists against the Storm, but is still looking for consistency. Veteran forward Allison Feaster also dropped three 3-pointers on the Storm, but is averaging just 1.5 points this season after giving birth in the spring. Rookie LaToya Bond splits time with Darling and is an energetic but turnover-prone (2.5 per game against 2.1 assists) presence. Storm center Tiffani Johnson, a Charlotte native, stepped up in her hometown when Burse re-injured her shoulder minutes into the game, finishing with eight points and seven boards. The Storm's bench did not play a key role in the win over Washington, combining for just two points and three rebounds.