Training Camp Notebook: May 6

The Seattle Storm is looking to get running - literally.

With Bird leading the charge, the Storm should be able to rack up points in transition. Jeff Reinking/WNBAE/Getty

At today's practice, Coach Anne Donovan emphasized the transition game, having her team compete in a fullcourt scrimmage where teams could only score points on a fast break or with secondary-break action. Displeased with the black team's effort early on, Donovan pulled aside the squad - made up mostly of projected rotation players - and challenged them to do more.

"I want to see us score a bunch more in transition," Donovan told the media after practice. "I would say that and our defense would be my biggest goals, defense meaning all the way in transition to halfcourt."

With the addition of perimeter players Betty Lennox and Sheri Sam, both of whom are effective in an up-tempo attack, as well as center Janell Burse, who has impressed during camp with her ability to run the floor, the Storm should be able to get easy baskets to make what was already the league's best offense on a per-possession basis even more potent.

"We're looking to always put pressure on the defense," Donovan later added.

The Storm coach also commented that chemistry - apparently the on-court kind, as opposed to bonding in the locker room - was her biggest goal heading into Saturday's first preseason test against the Phoenix Mercury. Having a trio of newcomers seeing heavy action hasn't helped the Storm's transition defense, with players still looking to figure out their roles. When point guard Sue Bird, for example, has to play back as a last line of defense to prevent against a fast break, someone else, presumably Lennox, has to pressure the ballhandler. The Storm continues to struggle to make this adjustment, though it should come in time.

In addition to their transition work, the Storm also worked on a zone defense for the first time, playing a 2-3 zone against the male practice squad the team scrimmages against. The black team's zone was particularly effective, pairing a pair of the league's top ten shot-blockers on a per-minute basis last season in Burse and forward Lauren Jackson.

Gardner-Combs Impresses

After two days of practice, Donovan went into detail about her impressions on newly-signed post Andrea Gardner-Combs, who she said has done a "nice job" overall.

"She is athletic," Donovan said. "She has picked up things very quickly, which is important at this stage of the game when players come into camp late - they better be able to adjust. She's done that.

"She's got good feet. Strong inside, not afraid of contact. Rebounder. Haven't seen much range yet."

Notes

Guards Michelle Greco and Rita Williams returned after missing Wednesday's practice with a right hip contusion and a strained quad, respectively. Greco was still limited by the contusion and is day-to-day.

"You'll have to wait and see," Donovan said about her starting lineup for Saturday's game.

Forward Tonya Massaline played well during the portion of the practice open to the media, providing some scoring from the perimeter and getting her hands on numerous passes in both the zone and transition drills to record multiple steals.