Sunday, May 18, 2008

Game One: Storm vs. Sky 17 May, 2008

MOST EFFECTIVE SHOOTERS
PlayerFloor %Eff FG %
Swoopes61%50%
Bird60%55%
Griffith59%43%
Ely58%75%

BEST RATINGS

PlayerOffensive RatingIndiv Rating
Bird133.00122.33
Swoopes

124.04

100.65
Cash117.2198.56
Ely116.63107.65


BEST NET PLUS/MINUS
Gearlds: +30 (+18 on floor)
Bird: +24 (+15 on floor)
Jackson: +22 (+14 on floor)
Swoopes: +16 (+11 on floor)

MOST EFFECTIVE LINEUPS
Bird-Gearlds-Swoopes-Cash-Jackson: +10
Bird-Gearlds-Cash-Ely-Jackson: +6
Bird-Swoopes-Cash-Jackson-Griffith: +5



After running the plus/minus numbers, it is clear that the Storm were able to take control of the game whenever Jia Perkins sat down. Perkins was a net +12, but when Joens came in for Perkins at the 3:10 mark of the third quarter the Sky completely fell apart. They went on a -16 interval until the 6:45 mark of the fourth quarter while Perkins sat out. By then things were out of control and the Storm were hot. The Storm went small in that interval with Gearlds, Swoopes, Cash and either Bird or Wright along with one post, Jackson or Robinson. In the fourth Ely was the four with either Jackson or Robinson at the five. Griffith sat down at the 5:15 mark of the third and Agler went small and quick the rest of the night. I am not certain whether it was the matchup that forced Chicago to sit Perkins, or if she was just tired, but it led to a blowout run that was disguised by the reserves giving up 9 points in the last two minutes of the game.

Overall, the evening was very satisfying.

We got to thank Force 10 Hoops for keeping our team and we got to welcome some great new veterans. The savvy experience of Swoopes and Cash were a big factor during the run and may have made the difference. We saw nice play from Shyra Ely, I like the way Agler is choosing to use her. Tanisha struggled, as did Beck, and Ashley wasn't on top her game at either end of the floor, but it was only the first game of the season, and no starter needed to play more than 34 minutes despite the struggles of the bench. Katie didn't score much, but the team fared very well when she was on the floor. Any win that doesn't require 40 minutes from Sue and LJ and 30+ minutes from Sheryl and Yo is a very good win.

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