One step forward, two steps back.
That could best describe the Seattle Storm’s weekend after a convincing 68-54 victory over the Indiana Fever Friday night at KeyArena, followed by an embarrassing 74-50 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday.
On Friday, it was defense that won the Storm the game — on Sunday, that defense was nowhere to be found. To top that off, the Storm couldn’t seem to find a way to put the ball in the basket, shooting just 20-for-66 (30.3 percent) for the game.
The game was decided when the Sparks went on a 30-8 run, most of the run coming in the second quarter, but starting in the waning minutes of the first period.
“They seem very hungry and played hard every possession and are very versatile. At one point when they had that big lineup, not only were they big, but they were all three-point shooters and it’s difficult to guard,” Storm point guard Sue Bird said in her postgame comments published on the Storm’s website.
The three-point shooting was a problem for the Storm, the Sparks shot 6-for-11 (54.5 percent) from beyond the arc in the game.
For the Storm, putting the ball in the basket was a challenge. Bird was the only Storm players in double figures, scoring 15 points.
“They (the Sparks) probably watched film on us from our last game against Indiana. They slowed us down and it’s something we have to work through right now,” Bird said.
Reigning WNBA Most Valuable Player Lauren Jackson continued to struggle. Jackson scored just nine points on 3-for-14 shooting.
“I’m not really too worried, I just want to make sure that we all get on the same page. We need a game like this to find ourselves. I think it’s frustrating to everyone,” Jackson said.
The Sparks had four players score in double figures, Ebony Hoffman led L.A. with 12 points, Kristi Tolliver chipped in 11 and Candice Parker and rookie Jantel Lavender each added 10 points.
Tolliver, Hoffman and Lavender all come off the bench for the Sparks.
Before the game, Sparks head coach Jennifer Gillom told her team on camera in the Sparks locker room that she felt that L.A. had a deeper bench than the Storm this season. Something that she said would be a difference in being more competitive with Seattle this season. The Storm took all seven of their meetings with the Sparks last year including the postseason.
It appears Gillom was right, the Sparks (3-1) bench outscored the Storm 40-7 in the game.
“Our bench production was was awesome compared to theirs. I think the reason they came out and played that way is because our starters set the example and that is the way it needs to be. We are 11 deep and I think that will be the difference,” Gillom said.
The Storm (2-2) are just four games into the season, but still seem to be struggling to find out what kind of a team they really are. For the Sparks, this game did a lot to tell them just who they are.
“This game told a lot of about what type of a team we are. This game showed we are capable of playing with anyone, anybody at any time and when we play together as a team, I’m telling you we are going to be tough to stop,” Gillom said.
Seattle made a run to close the gap in the third quarter, but couldn’t get any closer than nine points.
“Getting beat by 24 points, it’s not a whole lot different than getting beat by three or four. We had the ball down nine, and were closing the gap in the third, but didn’t continue the run,” Storm head coach Brian Agler said.
Seattle is off today, before facing the Tulsa Shock on Tuesday night.
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