Storm Prepares For Game 2
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A win away from advancing to the Western Conference Finals, it was a happy - but not satisfied - Seattle Storm team that arrived at The Furtado Center Wednesday afternoon to watch film and briefly shoot around after flying back from Houston.
"It's great (to be back), especially on a great day in Seattle," said Storm Coach 
Anne Donovan. "It's awesome. Long travel day, up early, but great to be back. To know that we're going to be at KeyArena tomorrow night is a great feeling."
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Lauren Jackson, the Storm got out to an early 23-11 lead and played tough down the stretch after being caught by the Comets, finishing off a 75-67 win.
"It gives us a lot of confidence," said Donovan. "Obviously, the rap on us is we're not a good road team, and certainly a win in Houston against that team is a good win. What it does is set us up to be back in KeyArena for hopefully one game, playing good basketball with our fans behind us, and if necessary go to Game 3. But we're looking to really get after it tomorrow night."
History now overwhelmingly favors the Storm. Entering this season, 21 WNBA teams had won the first game of a best-of-three playoff series on the road, and 20 of them had won the series. (The one exception was the Donovan-coached 2001 Charlotte Sting, who won two straight in New York to defeat the Liberty in the Eastern Conference Finals.) Only seven of the 21 teams have forced a Game 3.
Those numbers, however, won't help the Storm on the court against a Comets team sure to bring its best possible effort tomorrow night (7:00 p.m., 
, NBA TV).
" Sheryl Swoopes is not going down without a fight," said Donovan. " Michelle Snow has had her way with us in the post. Tina Thompson hasn't really made much noise yet. They love it. They thrive on that kind of environment. Every time we've played Houston, it's been a great matchup. Tomorrow will be no different."
The Storm has plenty of motivation of its own. That starts, most obviously, with not wanting to risk a win-or-go-home Game 3 on Saturday night. The team also knows that a win tomorrow would mean a week off before beginning the Western Conference Finals, critical rest at this point of the season, particularly with Jackson battling back pain that left her status uncertain before last night's game.
"Lauren's back has definitely flared up," said Donovan. "She was a tough cookie last night, playing through it, but the sooner we can get her some rest, the better it would be."
"When I found out the next series didn't start until next Thursday, that gave me even more motivation," said Storm guard 
Sue Bird.
The two flights the Storm took to get from Houston back to Seattle proved challenging for Jackson's back. She sat on the sidelines in warm-ups while the Storm shot around, and was holding her back upon her arrival at the building.
"Yeah, the travel was pretty hard," said Jackson. "Not the most comfortable seats in the world."
Still, no one expects Jackson to be anywhere but on the court when the ball is tipped tomorrow evening.
"She didn't sit out last night; I seriously doubt she'll be sitting out in this series," Donovan said.
That decision was Jackson's, and made in part against Donovan's advice. After playing through painful shin and ankle injuries for years, Jackson is accustomed to playing in pain and isn't about to be kept out of a playoff game.
"She (Donovan) wanted me to come home and get treatment, but I was pretty much like, 'That's not going to happen,'" said Jackson.
"We may not get another chance, so for me the opportunity just to get out there and play in the playoffs … winning last night was awesome, but it could be over like that, so I want to be out there.
"I won't miss any games."
