Seattle Storm vs. Los Angeles Sparks Playoffs Round 1

Dates of Games:
Game 1-- August 18 Friday Key Arena
Game 2-- August 20 Sunday Staples Center
Game 3-- August 22 Tuesday Staples Center

2006 Season Series

May 21 at Key Arena
Storm- 90
Sparks- 67

June 28 at Staples Center
Storm- 75
Sparks- 67

July 30 at Key Arena
Storm- 70
Sparks- 71

Starting Matchups

Guards:
Storm- Sue Bird and Betty Lennox
Los Angeles- Temeka Johnson and Tamara Moore

* Bird averages 11.4 PPG, 1.8 SPG, 4.8 APG, 3 RPG
* Johnson averages 8 PPG, 1.5 SPG, 5 APG, 3 RPG
* Lennox averages 13.7 PPG, 1.06 SPG, 2.1 APG, 4 RPG
* Moore averages 6.1 PPG, 0.97 SPG, 1.9 APG, 2.1 RPG


Forwards:
Storm: Iziane Castro Marques and Lauren Jackson
Los Angeles: Jessica Moore and Mwadi Mabika

* Castro Marques averages 7.2 PPG, 0.68 SPG, 1.4 APG, 2.1 RPG
* Moore averages 4.3 PPG, 0.65 SPG, 0.7 APG, 2.9 RPG
* Jackson averages 19.5 PPG, 1.7 BPG, 0.80 SPG, 1.6 APG, 7.7 RPG
* Mabika averages 8.5 PPG, 0.59 SPG, 1.5 APG, 2.0 RPG

Center:
Storm: Janell Burse
Sparks: Lisa Leslie

* Burse averages 11.1 PPG, 0.93 BPG, 0.63 SPG, 0.8 APG, 6.6 RPG
* Leslie averages 20 PPG, 1.68 BPG, 1.5 SPG, 3.2 APG, 9.5 RPG

Bench:
Storm: Tiffani Johnson, Edwige Lawson-Wade, Ashley Robinson, Barbara Turner and Tanisha Wright
Sparks: Doneeka Hodges-Lewis, Chamique Holdsclaw, Murriel Page, Tiffany Stansbury, Christi Thomas and Lisa Willis

Analysis:
Lisa Leslie puts up incredible numbers as you can see. Everyone says she carries the team and I totally agree. I didn't put up the bench players numbers, but if I had, you'd see that LA's bench is more productive than Seattle's because of Chamique Holdsclaw who averages about 15 PPG. The problem with LA is that it can rely on Lisa Leslie way too much. In fact, she's the only match-up here that I can say will be better than Seattle's.

The guards of Seattle are more productive and are more active than the guards of LA. Advantage goes to Seattle.

The forward match-up has to go to Seattle. When Izi plays to her potential, she owns Jessica Moore. She's quick and explosive. Lauren Jackson is obviously also above Mwadi Mabika especially since Mabika is having a "down" year statwise.

The center match-up goes to Los Angeles, pretty much by default. As much as I don't like Lisa Leslie and I love Janell Burse, she will win this battle. See, this is me being unbiased.

The problem for LA lies on the fact that they expect Leslie to do all the scoring for them. More often than not, they pass her the ball and just let her get to work. You can't depend solely on one player to win a game for you, even if she is putting up huge numbers this year. It just won't work because the other team is going to scout you and is going to limit the amount of good looks you get at the basket. What will end up happening, since she is so used to being forced to make a shot, is that she will take a bad shot. The Storm, with Izi and our speedy guards (heck, even LJ can be fast down the court), will run the transition game.

The Storm, in order to be able to beat LA, have to do the following:
1. Watch game tape and figure out a way to guard Chamique Holdsclaw. Don't let her get her 15 PPG. By doing so, the onus of scoring will be solely on the shoulders of Lisa Leslie. I think we can contain her as much as we can. We won't prevent her from scoring, but we can keep it under control.

2. Work on rebounding. I don't want to see any misses from Leslie come back down to her for an easy putback. The Storm have to prevent this because it prevents them from getting out and running and it's a hell of an emotional downer when that happens.

3. The running game. I think the Storm need to practice their transition SO THAT THEY WON'T MAKE STUPID ERRORS RUNNING THE BALL. No turnovers during breaks. Controlled aggression in a sense. I forgot which game it was I listened to when we'd get the ball on the break only for a bad pass out of bounds, a blocked shot (apparently someone was right behind them), a missed layup or stepping out of bounds. This will kill us. I have no doubt, if the Storm had to go to a half-court set, that we can get our points. So can LA, however. The difference has to be in our ability to run the ball.

4. Bench production. This has been quite sad, honestly. I'm not saying this to dog our players, because I cheer for them as much as anybody does. This is the playoffs, however, and the Sparks bench has Chamique Holdsclaw. It's no longer enough to burn minutes on the floor and not be productive. When you get out there for a few minutes, you have to make those minutes count. I'm not saying that it has to be scoring either. Great defense, good shot selection is all I'm really looking for. Tanisha Wright has been faltering a little bit. Again, I don't look at their stats that much but for a second year player in a system she knows, she hasn't been making her mark felt. In fact, she's been forcing some bad shots. I would call her time on the floor productive if she could make a good pass into the interior or find an open teammate. As for the posts, they have to learn how to handle passes. A-Rob and Tiffani Johnson aren't exactly very good at it, but they have to be right now. Sometimes, it's right in their hands and they can't just grab onto it. Learn how to handle passes, go up and get a foul. Get us those free points from the free throw line.

Again, I'm not being negative, I'm just pointing out things that need to be improved upon if we wish to advance to the next round. I honestly think we can beat LA, but only if everyone can remain healthy (please LJ....please JB....please Betty....ugh...please Sue....please everyone).

I'm a Storm fan so I can't really make a prediction on this. I find myself cautiously optimistic but fearing my optimism as well. Catch the first game at the Key. It's gonna be packed and loud.

Oh yeah, as a final note, thank you to the players and the coaching staff of the Storm for grinding it out and getting into the playoffs, giving this Storm fan a chance to experience the playoffs once again. I'm extremely thrillled and grateful. Oh, and good luck.

GO STORM! BEAT LA!!