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TONIGHT'S NOTES |
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Trailing 59-57 after three quarters, the Storm outscored Los Angeles 27-13 in the final period.
With the game tied at 61, the Storm went on a 9-0 run, including 7-0 with Lauren Jackson on the bench. The run was 14-2 after the Sparks took their largest lead, five points.
Los Angeles got back with four, 70-66, with 2:27 left to play, but the Storm responded with an Iziane Castro Marques 3-pointer and a Jackson three-point play.
The Storm defeated Los Angeles for the third time in four matchups this season and the fifth time in their last six head-to-head meetings.
Seattle improved to 3-3 all-time in Game 1 of playoff series.
Jackson led all scorers with 22 points on 7-for-13 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds. Jackson was 8-for-8 at the free-throw line and scored seven in the fourth.
Janell Burse added 17 points on 7-for-12 shooting.
Betty Lennox's seven assists were better than her regular-season high (six).
Sue Bird had 12 of her 15 points on 5-for-6 shooting in the first half.
Tiffani Johnson scored double-figures for the fifth time this season.
Los Angeles had 17 offensive rebounds to just 19 defensive rebounds by the Storm.
Seattle's eight turnovers were a season low, including just one in the fourth quarter.
The Storm opened the game with a 15-4 run.
A 14-4 Sparks run during the third quarter gave them the lead.
Seattle was outscored 17-8 during the first half with Lauren Jackson on the bench.
Chamique Holdsclaw started the game for the Sparks. She did not start any games during the regular season.
Tamara Moore, who started 33 of 34 games this season, did not see any action.
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August 18, 2006
STORM COACH 
ANNE DONOVAN:
On the game:
We knew at some point L.A. would come with that big lineup and it caught us a little bit off guard in terms of starting with that lineup, so we switched into the zone right out of the gate. I thought we finished very strong. We started very strong and finished strong in the fourth quarter. I’m really proud of how hard the girls played and how well they stuck to the game plan. The other thing we talked about coming into this series was we’ve got to take care of the ball. During the regular season we really struggled with turning the ball over too much. This time of year it’s something you can’t do. I think that, along with our zone defense, put us in good shape tonight. L.A. is really strong and they’ll come back and be competitive on their home floor. We’re expecting another good matchup.
On the third quarter:
More than anything they just pushed the tempo. We couldn’t get back and get the zone set before they were scoring. I thought L.A. came out of the locker room really ready to push it and we were not ready to get back quickly. That gave them a little bit of momentum.
On 
Tiffani Johnson's performance:
We didn’t get a whole lot else out of our bench except good minutes. We got some good play within the zone, but Tiffani was the one who really helped us off the bench. Tiff has played much bigger minutes than we recruited her to play. With 
Lauren (Jackson) out for several games, with 
Janell (Burse) out for several games she played the starting role, she played the backup role and tonight you saw the role that’s she comfortable with. She’s very good against the zone. Important minutes for us.
On having Jackson and Burse together against the Sparks:
Lauren and JB play so well off each other and it really frees up what we can do. When L.A. went to the zone it was important that both bigs were in there to stretch the defense out there. The combination of Lauren and JB with Tiffani coming off the bench gives us a nice rotation.
GUARD 
SUE BIRD:
On the win:
In a three-game series when you are the lower seed, the home court is very important. Winning the first game is very important. Obviously L.A. is going to be more fired up (on Sunday). They played very well in the third quarter and I think what you saw then is probably what you’re going to see, and more so. We definitely have to work on some things that we did wrong tonight and hopefully improve them in Game 2.
On L.A.'s big third quarter:
This is a very good team. I wouldn’t expect them to roll over and die, not in the playoffs. We knew they had a run in them and unfortunately it went longer than we would have liked, but we knew we had a run of our own.
On the Storm's feelings going to L.A.:
I think we’ve played well on the road. I don’t think it’s a cockiness or arrogance, but it definitely is a confidence. We know we can do it. Game 2 is going to be an absolute dog fight. They’re fighting to stay alive and L.A. would love to wrap this up in two games.
FORWARD LAUREN JACKSON:
On the game:
I think tonight we really stepped up as a team. It was so nice to be able to play with Janell, so they can’t double-team off of her. Honestly, our team just stepped up in every part of the game. Hopefully we can keep it up in L.A. I know they’re not going to settle for this.
CENTER JANELL BURSE:
On the game:
We came out with the energy that we needed and stayed positive even when they went on their run towards the middle of the game and actually got the lead. We just kept fighting and didn’t get down on ourselves. I think that was the key and we got the momentum back and came up with the win.
LOS ANGELES HEAD COACH JOE BRYANT:
On the game:
It was a well-played game. There was a big discrepancy - they scored 26 free throws and we made 12. Then you look at the field goals and it was 27 apiece. It was just a little unbalanced and I thought we got a couple of cheap fouls early and they did too. But we had a chance to win the game. We went up five, but made some bad decisions with the ball. We’re looking forward to Sunday.
On whether his team made adjustments at halftime:
Not really. The important thing was we executed our offense and got some easier baskets. That was the only difference. It was a good game. Seattle has a great crowd and it’s great for the WNBA. But I’m really proud of my team. We played really well this year and we’re looking forward to the next game at Staples Center.
On the difference between the third and fourth quarters:
We did a good job picking apart the zone in the third quarter and we kind of went away from that. A couple of times we had some good passes inside that we fumbled. We just couldn’t pick the ball up.
CENTER LISA LESLIE:
On the game:
It was a good effort from Seattle for 40 minutes. I thought we played good in spurts, but there are a few things we need to tweak, obviously against the zone. Defensively, too, but overall I thought we played a decent basketball game. We could’ve done better defensively and with our individual efforts as well.
On halftime adjustments:
No, we didn’t make any adjustments. I just thought we played harder and wanted it more. We were down six - three possessions - and we wanted to get that back quickly so we jumped out on them. Offensively we really started to pick their zone apart, but somewhere in the fourth quarter we got away from what we were doing and they got the momentum. They really got out on the fast break. We really need to slow down their transition so if we can limit that more I think we’ll be okay. Janell Burse played very well as did Johnson, so we need to limit their shots and not let them have as good of a game offensively on Sunday.
On the Storm's runs and Jackson's impact:
It’s a team game. There were times when we went on runs and they went on runs. I’m not sure whether Lauren was in or out during those times, but they just did a much better job of getting out on the fast break. I thought 
(Iziane) Castro (Marques) was really the key defensively. She kept getting her hand on the ball, getting steals and getting the ball out for layups. Lauren, overall, just played a solid game offensively and defensively. She’s big inside. She didn’t shoot that well from the outside, but she was able to finish inside. Lauren is Lauren.
GUARD TEMEKA JOHNSON:
On the game:
You have to take your hat off to Seattle. They came out ready to play and did what they were supposed to do in their home gym. We’ll learn from this and take what we can and come ready on Sunday.
On the difference after halftime:
With a team like Seattle, we turned the ball over too much. You can’t give them that many extra possessions. Coming into the Key, you have to value the basketball. We have to execute better on offense and on defense.
2006 Postgame Quotes/Notes Archive
