Postgame Quotes/Notes - Storm 69, Los Angeles 67
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TONIGHT'S NOTES | |||
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BRIAN AGLER:
On the game:
L.A. is a good team. They were missing some people, but they still have some pros out there, some All-Stars. They know how to play and they got the game the way wanted it to be played, in the half court. It’s not that we didn’t want to play that way, but they just did a good job of executing their offense. They played with a lot of poise and I thought we played a real, solid game. We’re going to have to make some adjustments. More from my end; the players played well. We just want to create more time for some people.
On the game's final play:
Swin (Cash) made a heck of a play right in front of our bench. Fortunately they didn’t call a foul, which it wasn’t. It was a good no-call.
On how the Sparks defended 
Lauren Jackson:
They were jamming her all night long. But she just had one of those nights when she was on: 12-for-15 from the field and got off to a tremendous start. I haven’t been here for but a year in a half, but from what I remember coaching again her I don’t know if she’s played any better than she’s playing right now. She scored a majority of our points tonight. It’s not like we were going to her a lot. She scored 30-some points on 15 shots. She had 26 the other night on 11 shots. She’s getting to the free throw line and playing very strong. People are not making it easy on her. I’m really proud of how she’s playing.
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SUE BIRD:
On the game:
This was a weird game. It was an up and down. We had a big lead and they came back and made it interesting. A win is a win no matter how it happens.
On the comeback by the Sparks:
L.A. is too talented, and for us I think we relaxed a little bit, especially when we got up by 14. You can't do that against a team like L.A. We can score, but we’re not going to rely on our offense to win games. It’s probably 70-30 our defense. I think everyone has had their turn to make a big play on the defensive end.
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On the physical nature of the game:
It was like 20 seconds into the game and I said, 'OK, you’re going to punch me in the chest.' I think she does it to get under my skin. When I was younger it definitely worked, but now it’s like, 'Why are you doing it?' Whatever.
On whether she's playing the best basketball of her career:
I don’t know. I definitely have a lot to work on. I have a supportive team and my teammates are definitely helping me. I have great people around me. They can’t just stop one player.
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On the game:
I thought it was a very good basketball, game but unfortunately we had to lose. We played well, especially in the second half. We could’ve gotten down, but we kept battling and we had a chance to take it into overtime.
On the difference in the game in the second half:
We just got after them. Our defense got a little more solid. We were letting them get away, people screening and getting open for layups in the first half. When we cut that out and kept the team in front of us, we saw we could play with them.
On defending the Bird-Jackson pick-and-roll:
We wanted to do what we did and I thought we did a good job in it. Bird got away for a couple of shots, but I think our biggest Achilles' heel tonight was our rebounding. We gave up too many second and third shots down the stretch. They may not show up on the stat sheet, but when we had a good stop, they came up with the board and that was the biggest difference.
On defending Jackson:
I thought we did a good job in the first half. She just hit some shots. She’s a great player. She hit some tough shots and got away for a couple layups, but it took its toll in the second half and we were able to hold her down. She’s a physical offensive player so we had to play her physical like she was playing us.
On the final play:
You know what, the refs weren’t calling many fouls tonight anyway. In a game like this, they’re going to make the players make a play. If I had the same opportunity, I’d put the ball in (Tina Thompson’s) hands again and I guarantee she makes that play. You gotta credit Swin Cash. That was a good defensive play and she got her hands on the ball, but still, I’m going to take Tina scoring before she stops her again.
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On coming back:
We just worked really hard and didn’t give up. They came out really strong and that’s their MO. They come out and try to get up early and maintain the lead, but we continued to fight back. We knew it was possible, so we just kind of maintained and continued to stick with our game plan and got back into it.
