Insider Preview - Storm vs. Los Angeles (Game 2)

Sparks Head Coach Michael Cooper paid tribute to the importance of home court after Game 1, recalling the motto of his former head coach with the L.A. Lakers, legendary Pat Riley.

"Coach Riley used to say the playoffs don't start until the other team wins on the other team's home court," Cooper told the Los Angeles Times yesterday.

Because of the WNBA's best-of-three format, a road win from here on out would also bring the series to an end. But Riley's philosophy speaks to the importance of home court and holding serve. Despite the Storm's precarious position, the team needs only win at home to take the series.

Certainly, the fact that the Storm must win this game adds to the urgency. The higher-seeded team in WNBA best-of-three series has a better record in Game 2 after a loss than after a win.

"You're out there playing and it's win or good home," said Storm guard Shannon Johnson after the Storm's practice on Thursday. "That's something that we're thinking about right now: We either win or we're out. We've got to go out there and play to the best of our abilities and let the numbers take care of themselves. We're a very good team and we believe in ourselves and that's the way we're going to play tomorrow."

Adjustments will also come into play tonight. The Storm's coaching staff has had two days to review the film and tweak some things at both ends of the floor to neutralize what L.A. was able to do in Game 1. On offense, a big key will be avoiding turnovers, something the Storm did well over the final three quarters but only after being extremely sloppy with the basketball in the first quarter as the Sparks opened up a 16-point lead.

The Storm can count on a better game from All-Star point guard Sue Bird, who missed eight of her nine shot attempts in Game 1, finishing with four points. Look for the Storm to try to establish Bird early. She had a tough time with L.A.'s traps and the Sparks ability to switch screens and put bigger, athletic defenders on Bird on the perimeter.

The Storm would also benefit from center Janell Burse being able to stay out of foul trouble. Forced to contend with an L.A. frontline of superstars Lisa Leslie and Candace Parker, Burse picked up six fouls in less than 12 minutes of action. Fortunately for the Storm, backup Suzy Batkovic-Brown stepped in to contribute 16 points - tying the most she's had in any WNBA game - and seven rebounds. Still, the Storm's rotation will be stronger with Burse getting the team off to a good start in the middle.

Defensively, the Storm did a good job of forcing the Sparks into tough shots. L.A. hit just 35.7 percent from the field. However, the Sparks benefited from other areas, attempting 30 free throws and collecting 12 offensive rebounds. When the Storm cut down on these easy scores, L.A. struggled to score. However, putbacks and free throws have been strengths of the Sparks offense all year, so taking them away may be easier said than done.

KEY MATCHUP
	Both teams were led in scoring by their small forwards on Wednesday, with Swin Cash pacing all scorers with 24 points while Tina Thompson contributed 16 for L.A. Facing bigger defenders, Cash did much of her damage from the perimeter. However, she also showed the ability to get into the lane and get to the free throw line, making eight of her nine attempts. The veteran Thompson, playing in the postseason for the first time since 2006, knocked down a pair of three-pointers in her role as a floor-spacer for post presences Leslie and Parker.

The Seattle Storm fought for 40 minutes, but was never able to make up an early deficit in a 70-63 loss in Wednesday's Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinal series with the Los Angeles Sparks. The Storm was unable to get anything going in the first quarter, committing seven turnovers and going nearly the full 10 minutes without a field goal. Down 16 at the end of the period, the Storm got things going thereafter. Nine second-quarter points from Batkovic-Brown got the Storm within six at halftime. But the closest the Storm would get was a three-point deficit early in the fourth quarter. A 7-0 Sparks surge midway through the period sealed the Storm's fate.

The Storm was able to hang close by holding L.A. to 35.7 percent shooting from the field. None of the Sparks stars went off, with Thompson leading the team with 16 points, but Los Angeles benefited from 25 free throws in 30 attempts.

At the other end, the Storm got plenty of timely scores from forward Cash, who scored a game-high 24 points and was 8-of-9 from the free throw line. Batkovic-Brown tied her highest-scoring game in a Storm uniform, putting up 16 points and grabbing a team-high seven rebounds. She made six of her eight shot attempts. Guard Tanisha Wright, who scored 13, was the only other Storm player to reach double-figures. In particular, L.A. shut down Bird, who finished with four points on 1-of-9 shooting and handed out five assists.

INJURIES

Storm - Forward Katie Gearlds (torn left posterior cruciate ligament) is doubtful. Center Lauren Jackson (stress fractures, lower back) is out.

Los Angeles - None.