Postgame Quotes/Notes - Storm 69, Sacramento 56
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TONIGHT'S NOTES | |||
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BRIAN AGLER:
On playing without
Lauren Jackson:It is not enjoyable to play without her. We played 16 games without her at the end of the season (last year) so we do have experience of how we have to play without her. It changed the rotation of our players. Lauren Jackson would of played 30-plus minutes. People like Janell Burse played big minutes and Ashley Robinson gave us depth. That was key for us tonight.
On 
Sue Bird:
We are going to put the ball in her hands. Whether it is her scoring or she is distributing. She did a great job tonight. She finished off tonight strong. She scored, made some passes, picked up the tempo. That is why in my opinion she is the best point guard in the world.
On outrebounding the Monarchs:
Sacramento is the best rebounding team in the league, so there was a high emphasis in terms of just trying to stay even with them. For us to have that rebounding mark stat, that is quite the accomplishment.
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On her fourth-quarter play:
It is obviously something that I would like to channel every game. Tonight there were certain situations were the ball was in my hands late in the shot clock and I had to make a play and luckily they went in. Literally, one of them was very lucky.
On the Sacramento defense:
They play that white-line defense and make you turn the ball over. They take things away from you, don’t let you go certain places on the court. That is what they are all about. For us, and for any team that plays them, you just have to play through it. If they don’t let you go right, you go left. If they don’t let you go left, you go right. You just have to figure things out. It can be tough and for ever reason in the fourth quarter we were able to capitalize on some things.
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SWIN CASH:
On playing without Jackson:
We wanted everybody to utilize their skills and make it a team effort. We needed people to step up and I thought that our bench really came in and contributed for us. Obviously by controlling the glass was an emphasis and I thought that we did that.
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On the first quarter:
I told our team - what our system is supposed to do is wear the other team down. We are not in as good of shape. I saw that in Phoenix and I worked them hard trying to get the eight that had played for me to remember the defensive stuff from three years ago and they were sore. In the last three minutes we were a team that was out of gas. We have to work harder. I knew this when I made this move, that we didn’t have many practice days, but I could see the team was going in the wrong direction. I knew we needed to turn it around but obviously we haven’t done that at this point.
On being outrebounded:
I think they really prepared. We lead the WNBA in rebounding and the fact that they didn’t have Lauren Jackson showed that they really prepared and came ready to keep us off the boards. Its like a lot of things, you can’t turn it on and off.
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On making her first career start:
I was a little nervous, but I was happy to be in that role. I wanted to come out and help us win, but unfortunately we lost.
On her development:
I think it’s progressed pretty well. I think tonight we lost with rebounding. I’m a little disappointed, but I take accountability for that because that is what I do. Even through the learning curve you can still rebound. That is something I need to get back into.
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On the adjustment to a new head coach:
There have been different principals, but we still have the same mindset that we have a big hole that we need to overcome. Defensive principles are similar, but it’s just a different coach. He has a different style in coaching but I think we are learning.
On Coach Whisenant's practices:
They are shorter, but much more intense. It's just something that we are going to have to get used to and get better at but I think it will help us come game time.
On staying confident:
We have to. We are in this together and we have to make the best of this situation. We need to stick together to get this season back on track.
