7/29 Storm vs. Silver Stars

San Antonio, former bottom dweller of the WNBA, now OWNS the Seattle Storm. I don't mean that Bennett sold the team, I just mean that they have complete control over the outcome whenever these two teams face off and that does NOT bode well for the playoffs. The Storm will face them one way or the other if they want to advance. Anne Donovan says they have to learn how to stop Becky Hammon and man is that true. She started slow but then just took over the game whenever Seattle made a run.

My son decided at the last minute to stay home with Mom. Doppler came to his regular spot looked right at me and raised his/her arms as if to say "Where is he?" and walked away dejected unable to get his regular high five.

The bench has to do more. I realize that they didn't play much, but look at the numbers.

Wright and Palmer came in to drive a +4 run in the first quarter but once Ely came in they gave up 2 of those. The Storm made big run in the second for +5 but the starters turned around and gave it all away with a -7 run later in the quarter. Wright and Palmer came in for another +5 boost in the third, but when Ely and Robinson came in they gave it right back again. The Storm never recovered from that loss in the third. San Antonio clamped down defense at the end of each of the first three quarters with -2, -7 and -4 stingers to end them followed by a -4 run to start the fourth. They are showing a clutch capability to just clamp down the defense when they want while they continue to execute on offense, very similar to the way the Storm played in 2004 on the way to a championship.

By the way, welcome back to Janell Burse who was simply fantastic in the first half and to Sue Bird who looks to be back in form.

Most Effective Shooters

Player	Floor %	Eff FG%
Janell Burse	56%	58%
Betty Lennox	55%	50%
Sue Bird	54%	89%
Lauren Jackson	52%	65%

Best Ratings

Player	Off Rating	Indiv. Rating
Betty Lennox	124.67	105.20
Sue Bird	122.91	122.56
Lauren Jackson	118.92	106.13

Best Plus/Minus
Wendy Palmer: +16
Iziane Castro Marques: +6

Most Effective Lineups
Bird-Wright-Ely-Jackson-Palmer: +5
Bird-Wright-Castro-Jackson-Palmer: +5
Wright-Lennox-Castro-Palmer-Burse: +4

Quote of the Night

"What exactly are you trying to say, Kevin?" Coach Anne Donovan to Storm beat writer Kevin Pelton when he attempted to a round about way to point out that her team STILL DOESN'T PLAY DEFENSE during the post game radio interview!

7/27 Storm vs. Fever

It was nice to have a big win in the Key after a long layoff. Some of my Plus/Minus numbers don't line up, but they match the published play by play...the only one's way off are Burse/Palmer.

Most Effective Shooters

Player	Floor %	Eff FG%
Lauren Jackson	68%	75%
Iziane Castro Marques	57%	65%
Wendy Palmer	49%	50%

Best Ratings

Player	Off Rating	Indiv. Rating
Lauren Jackson	149.28	143.14
Iziane Castro Marques	142.90	131.79
Wendy Palmer	108.25	96.58

Best Plus/Minus
Lauren Jackson: +27
Sue Bird: +25
Iziane Castro Marques: +25
Betty Lennox: +22
Wendy Palmer: +17

Most Effective Lineups
Bird-Lennox-Castro-Jackson-Palmer: +15
Bird-Lennox-Castro-Jackson-Robinson: +9

Any guesses on who the 2nd most important player on the Storm is so far this season? It is obvious to me from the numbers. There is no question is Number 1. She has been my Player of the Week every week except one this season. One hint, the 2nd most important player has NEVER been my POW.

Another Home Game

I have had a really hard time writing about the last game and am now pressed for time. There was so much good for LJ, the Storm and the fans on Friday, but I had a rotten time at the game. My oldest son was so angry that he had to go (this was the second of three games all four of us are going to attend) that he spent the whole evening intent on ruining the game for everyone else in the family. It is a subconscious act, I know, and he is not even eight years old, but it was hard to be back in the place that I love after so long with so much great stuff (LJ's 4000, Tully, Sheri, Chelle, a win) and have someone so miserable there with me.

He will not be joining us this evening and I look forward to finding the fun of the Key again.

The Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, MVP! chants did not quite break through on Friday, we need to do a better job. We might need more signs to hint to everyone what is being done. I saw a few but the fans weren't getting it and the Oi/MVP chants became mush.

Stats for both games will be up tomorrow.

Get Warmed UP

Tully and Sheri are back and rumour has it (over at Stormfans.org) that Chelle will be on site too. Loud cheers are expected BEFORE the whistle blows for game paly ONLY.

We must all bow down in honor of LJ's 47 point night.

LJ should break 4,000 points tonight, she needs 14 to be the youngest and fastest ever to reach this number. More loud cheers are expected here.

The chant of the evening is...

"Aussie, Aussie, Aussie! M! V! P!"

Do not forget.

7/24 Storm vs. Mystics

Oh my goodness...I am finally caught up. Why on earth do ESPN and the WNBA Play by Plays have different scores for the same intervals....anyway...using ESPN's data I match up.

Most Effective Shooters

Player	Floor %	Eff FG%
Lauren Jackson	71%	68%
Tanisha Wright	58%	60%
Shyra Ely	55%	33%

Best Ratings

Player	Off Rating	Indiv. Rating
Lauren Jackson	150.76	135.50
Shyra Ely	123.21	97.53
Tanisha Wright	118.05	96.11

Best Plus/Minus
Lauren Jackson: +3
Sue Bird: +3
Shyra Ely: +1

Most Effective Lineups
Bird-Lennox-Castro-Jackson-Robinson: +5
Wright-Gearlds-Castro-Jackson-Palmer: +5
Bird-Wright-Ely-Jackson-Robinson: +3

Tanisha and Shyra are stepping up their games and the Storm need that from the bench, unfortunately LJ can't win it alone....where were Sue, Betty, Izi and JB in this game?

Netflix Streaming NCAA Women's Classics

Stumbled on these while perusing Netflix. With their service you get some number of DVD's mailed to your house and a limited number of streamed movies per month over their site. Two NCAA Women's games pop out at me and BOTH have Storm players in games I did not get to see. I count 5 current or former Storm players in the rosters, and I just scanned the rosters.

(Edit: Up to 6 former or current Stormies Alissa Burras plays center for 1998 LA Tech)
(Edit: Up to 7...Tye'sh Fluker on 2004 Lady Vols)
(Edit: Back to 6...B-Money was still in JC in 97-98...she played 98-99)

1998 NCAA: Tenn vs. La Tech
Mique at her peak, Semeka Randall, Tamika Catchings, and Alissa Burrass

2004 NCAA Tenn vs. Conn.
Diana Taurasi, Barb Turner, Anne Strother, Ashley Robinson, Shyra Ely and Shanna Crossley (Zolman at the time)

Both can also be delivered via mail, additionally there are three DVD's others available for mail delivery...

2004, 2005 and 2007 Final Fours.

Cheers for Netflix for picking these up. Now I know what I am watching after dinner tonight while I am on the road in California.

7/22 Storm vs. Liberty

Still 1 game behind.

Most Effective Shooters

Player	Floor %	Eff FG%
Iziane Castro Marques	76%	95%
Tanisha Wright	59%	90%
Betty Lennox	46%	50%

Best Ratings

Player	Off Rating	Indiv. Rating
Iziane Castro Marques	194.70	190.17
Tanisha Wright	133.96	135.87
Betty Lennox	107.95	92.26

Best Plus/Minus
Betty Lennox: +8
Sue Bird: +7
Janell Burse: +5
Iziane Castro Marques: +3

Most Effective Lineups
Bird-Lennox-Castro-Jackson-Palmer: +5
Bird-Lennox-Castro-Jackson-Burse: +3

Were Izi, T and Betty that good or does the Liberty have a serious perimeter defense problem? This game was won by Sue Bird left wide open at the top of the key...her shot and she made it.

7/20 Storm vs. Sun

Storm fans know Kevin Pelton. We know that as the beat writer for storm.wnba.com he has single-handedly made the Storm web site one of the most interesting and informative team sites in the league. People like Kevin and Paul Swanson of the Lynx are prime examples of why the WNBA might be the most friendly league in professional sports today. We know that Bill Lambier and Donna Orender read and post to fan sites like Rebkell, but so do people throughout the league like Kevin, Paul, Matt Wurst and others who are lurking or have managed to maintain anonymity. I love the game of basketball and I would not be able to enjoy it near as much without the active participation of people like Kevin and Paul. Their passion for the game and their ability to remain fans while they also earn their paycheck from the league is fantastic, but it is their willingness and desire to share their knowledge and access with fans that sets this league apart from others. Paul and Kevin have both helped me out with getting data I couldn't get in other ways or pointed me in a great direction to learn something new and see the game from a new perspective. They help keep the game alive between the final buzzer of one game and the first jump ball of the next. If you haven't done it before drop them a comment at their blogs or pm them at Rebkell just to say thanks, they don't score the points, but they help bring the game to us every day.

Still 2 games behind.

Most Effective Shooters

Player	Floor %	Eff FG%
Lauren Jackson	51%	41%
Shyra Ely	47%	50%
Katie Gearlds	46%	50%

Best Ratings

Player	Off Rating	Indiv. Rating
Lauren Jackson	103.83	89.00

Best Plus/Minus
Wendy Palmer: +5

Most Effective Lineups
Wright-Gearlds-Castro-Jackson-Palmer: +3
Bird-Gearlds-Castro-Jackson-Palmer: +2
Bird-Lennox-Castro-Palmer-Burse: +2
Bird-Lewis-Ely-Robinson-Burse

Stuff to Say

Why am I still behind?

I am stuck on the Connecticut game. I have worked numbers off two different play by plays, one from the WNBA site and one from ESPN. Both are horribly inaccurate, but in completely different ways. For instance in the first quarter Sue Bird starts the game, checks out and then checks out again without ever checking in! I did the best recreation of the game that I could and still am off pd_swanson's numbers from the Lynx plus/minus blog. I don't know WHAT is happening. To top that off my internet router went dead this weekend and now I am on the road.

Will I ever change my Player of the Week?
When LJ stops playing like she has all year I might have room for someone else. Sue Bird has the honor once the season, all the rest are LJ.

47 POINTS!?
I have been wondering how long it would take LJ to break 40. Generally when she is playing well enough to do so she sits out the last 5-8 minutes of a blowout victory. Tuesday's nailbiter against Washington forced her to keep playing and finally break the barrier. No offense, Lauren, but I think I'd rather have the win....when will this team get defense figured out? Even if Tamika Catchings was still playing this performance might have sealed LJ's MVP status for the season.

7/17 Storm vs. Mercury

Still 2 games behind.

Most Effective Shooters

Player	Floor %	Eff FG%
Lauren Jackson	63%	72%
Betty Lennox	46%	47%
Iziane Castro Marques	38%	33%

Best Ratings

Player	Off Rating	Indiv. Rating
Lauren Jackson	151.42	141.14
Betty Lennox	112.22	95.01

Best Plus/Minus
Ashely Robinson: +9
Iziane Castro Marques: +0

Most Effective Lineups
Wright-Lennox-Castro-Ely-Jackson: +5
Wright-Lennox-Castro-Palmer-Burse: +4
Wright-Lennox-Ely-Jackson-Robinson: +4
Lennox-Gearlds-Castro-Jackson-Robinson: +3

LJ and Betty came to play on offense but where were the rest of the players? This is the game where I began to wonder if Janell Burse belongs in the starting lineup any longer.

7-11 Storm vs. Sun

Still 3 games behind.

Most Effective Shooters

Player	Floor %	Eff FG%
Lauren Jackson	53%	50%
Betty Lennox	46%	43%
Janell Burse	45%	44%
Tanisha Wright	41%	33%

Best Ratings

Player	Off Rating	Indiv. Rating
Lauren Jackson	105.32	89.38
Betty Lennox	91.02	76.15
Janell Burse	90.01	70.67

Best Plus/Minus
Ashely Robinson: +1

Most Effective Lineups
Wright-Lennox-Ely-Jackson-Burse: +2
Wright-Lennox-Castro-Jackson-Robinson: +1

This had to have been one of the WORST offensive games I have seen the Storm in, right next to the horrid LA opener in 2005.

7/10 Storm vs. Sparks

Still 4 games behind.

Most Effective Shooters

Player	Floor %	Eff FG%
Wendy Palmer	100%	100%
Iziane Castro Marques	68%	94%
Janell Burse	55%	56%

Best Ratings

Player	Off Rating	Indiv. Rating
Wendy Palmer	206.28	186.54
Iziane Castro Marques	169.00	174.09
Janell Burse	114.24	101.84

Best Plus/Minus

Tanisha Wright: +35
Lauren Jackson: +28
Shyra Ely: +23
Janell Burse: +22

Most Effective Lineups
Wright-Lennox-Castro-Jackson-Burse: +8
Wright-Gearlds-Ely-Robinson-Burse: +7
Wright-Gearlds-Castro-Jackson-Palmer: +6
Wright-Lennox-Ely-Jackson-Burse: +5

7-7 Storm vs. Silver Stars

Still 3 games behind.

Most Effective Shooters

Player	Floor %	Eff FG%
Katie Gearlds	84%	100%
Tanisha Wright	66%	73%
Iziane Castro Marques	51%	100%
Lauren Jackson	38%	46%

Best Ratings

Player	Off Rating	Indiv. Rating
Katie Gearlds	214.71	209.60
Tanisha Wright	141.23	135.40
Iziane Castro Marques	124.90	134.58

Best Plus/Minus

Katie Gearlds: +12
Shyra Ely: +3
Wendy Palmer: +2

Most Effective Lineups
Wright-Lennox-Gearlds-Ely-Jackson: +8
Wright-Lennox-Gearlds-Jackson-Palmer: +5

You probably remember this game. It will be remembered as the greatest performance of Tanisha Wright's WNBA career. Katie Gearlds also came up big, and the bench almost stole this one away from the conference leader without Sue Bird even available through an amazing +13 run starting at the 6:55 mark in the 3rd quarter right down to the final seconds. This is the game that gave you hope for the playoffs and getting out of the first round this year. Wow.

7-6 Storm vs. Comets

Still 4 games behind.

Most Effective Shooters

Player	Floor %	Eff FG%
Ashley Robinson	100%	100%
Lauren Jackson	65%	68%
Wendy Palmer	50%	100%
Tanisha Wright	40%	43%

Best Ratings

Player	Off Rating	Indiv. Rating
Ashley Robinson	200.00	185.61
Lauren Jackson	141.52	125.81
Wendy Palmer	100.52	107.85

Best Plus/Minus

Iziane Castro Marques: +23
Lauren Jackson: +20
Betty Lennox: +16
Ashley Robinson: +9

Most Effective Lineups
Wright-Lennox-Castro-Jackson-Palmer: +8
Wright-Lennox-Castro-Jackson-Burse: +5
Wright-Gearlds-Castro-Jackson-Robinson: +5

7-3 Storm vs. Sparks

Still 4 games behind.

Most Effective Shooters

Player	Floor %	Eff FG%
Katie Gearlds	71%	50%
Lauren Jackson	59%	60%
Betty Lennox	59%	50%
Sue Bird	58%	56%

Best Ratings

Player	Off Rating	Indiv. Rating
Katie Gearlds	153.82	129.66
Sue Bird	138.34	121.54
Lauren Jackson	135.71	116.15
Betty Lennox	121.20	96.95

Best Plus/Minus

Sue Bird: +20
Betty Lennox: +20
Iziane Castro Marques: +16
Janell Burse: +16
Lauren Jackson: +11

Most Effective Lineups
Bird-Lennox-Castro-Jackson-Burse: +8
Bird-Lennox-Castro-Jackson-Robinson: +3
Bird-Castro-Ely-Jackson-Burse: +3
Bird-Lennox-Castro-Palmer-Robinson: +3
Bird-Lennox-Ely-Jackson-Robinson
Wright-Gearlds-Ely-Palmer-Burse: +3

Katie shows some life and the bench holds a lead for half a quarter.

7-1 Storm vs. Liberty

Still 5 games behind.

Most Effective Shooters

Player	Floor %	Eff FG%
Iziane Castro Marques	65%	92%
Betty Lennox	56%	39%
Lauren Jackson	50%	33%

Best Ratings

Player	Off Rating	Indiv. Rating
Iziane Castro Marqes	158.38	160.44
Betty Lennox	131.21	107.38
Lauren Jackson	109.23	82.70
Shyra Ely	103.84	94.51

Best Plus/Minus

Iziane Castro Marques: +33
Betty Lennox: +27
Janell Burse: +26
Lauren Jackson: +24
Sue Bird: +21

Most Effective Lineups
Bird-Lennox-Castro-Jackson-Burse: +14
Wright-Lennox-Castro-Jackson-Burse: +7

What is it about Izi and the Liberty, she ALWAYS tears them apart.

6-28 Storm vs. Comets

Still 6 games behind.

Most Effective Shooters

Player	Floor %	Eff FG%
Lauren Jackson	72%	73%
Wendy Palmer	56%	33%
Betty Lennox	50%	77%

Best Ratings

Player	Off Rating	Indiv. Rating
Lauren Jackson	153.14	144.24
Wendy Palmer	125.73	98.22
Betty Lennox	123.57	120.22
Iziane Castro Marqes	106.88	92.45

Best Plus/Minus

Iziane Castro Marques: +10
Tanisha Wright: +1

Most Effective Lineups

Bird-Lennox-Castro-Jackson-Palmer: +7

What the heck happened to Bird????
Floor %: 12%
Eff FG% 0%
Off Rtg: 26.77
Pelton IR: 22.22
+/-: -4

6-26 Storm vs. Sky

Still 7 games behind.

Most Effective Shooters

Player	Floor %	Eff FG%
Sue Bird	67%	63%
Lauren Jackson	65%	60%
Betty Lennox	61%	50%

Best Ratings

Player	Off Rating	Indiv. Rating
Sue Bird	155.02	143.15
Lauren Jackson	143.24	131.04
Betty Lennox	132.92	118.56
Tanisha Wright	119.63	115.49

Best Plus/Minus

Sue Bird: +22
Iziane Castro Marques: +20
Lauren Jackson: +15
Betty Lennox: +14
Janell Burse: +11
Wendy Palmer: +8

Most Effective Lineups

Bird-Lennox-Castro-Jackson-Burse: +11
Bird-Castro-Ely-Jackson-Palmer: +5
Bird-Lennox-Castro-Palmer-Robinson: +3

The Storm controlled this entire game with solid play throughout, and NO lineups giving up more than -2 runs for the entire game. Two big bursts of dominance won the game handily. The Bird-Castro-Ely-Jackson-Palmer lineup went on a +6, two minute run near the end of the first quarter and the starters put on a +8 run in the first six minutes of the third quarter.

6-24 Storm vs. Sparks

STILL PLAYING CATCHUP

Most Effective Shooters

Player	Floor %	Eff FG%
Lauren Jackson	65%	68%
Wendy Palmer	62%	70%
Janell Burse	56%	43%

Best Ratings

Player	Off Rating	Indiv. Rating
Wendy Palmer	146.11	131.30
Lauren Jackson	143.38	133.92
Janell Burse	110.59	91.15

Best Plus/Minus

Sue Bird: +23
Lauren Jackson: +13
Iziane Castro Marques: +11
Janell Burse: +9
Betty Lennox: +8

Most Effective Lineups

Bird-Lennox-Castro-Jackson-Burse: +12
Bird-Lennox-Castro-Robinson-Burse: +4
Bird-Wright-Gearlds-Jackson-Palme: +3

Playing Catchup - 6/22 Storm vs. Lynx

Back home from vacation and trying to catch up. I am MANY games behind.

Best Shooters

Player	Floor %	Eff FG%
Sue Bird	64%	83%
Betty Lennox	51%	83%
Shyra Ely	40%	83%

Best Ratings

Player	Off Rating	Indiv. Rating
Sue Bird	156.87	157.41
Katie Gearlds	126.95	119.48
Betty Lennox	112.68	115.76

Best Plus/Minus

Betty Lennox: +7
Tanisha Wright: +5
Shyra Ely: +4

Most Effective Lineups

Wright-Lennox-Gearlds-Jackson-Burse: +5
Bird-Lennox-Ely-Jackson-Burse: +5
Bird-Lennox-Ely-Jackson-Palmer: +3

Fire Warnings in Effect

After two wins, and a loss, I finally have an internet connection. I am not likely to get caught up anytime soon, however. I wish I could say that is because I am having too much fun on vacation, but that isn't the reason. There are two wildfires in the area, one within 10 miles and the other within five miles. I can see the closer fire out bedroom window and smell the smoke from the balcony. We are under warning stage for a possible evacuation, but that is all. If I keep my connection it will be because we get lucky and the fire doesn't make it here.