Game Thirty: Storm @ Sky 4 September, 2008

The Storm have, with four games left in the season, tied their franchise record for season wins.

They are the first WNBA team this season to 20 wins.

They have clinched a playoff spot.

They are in sole possession of first place in the Western Conference.

They have the best record in the WNBA.

Not bad for a bunch of old ladies and role players.


Storm
Most Effective Shooters

Player	True Shooting Percentage	Effective FG%	Floor Percentage	Points
Ashley Robinson	100%	100%	34%	2
Sue Bird	79%	79%	57%	19
Yolanda Griffith	73%	67%	44%	10
Camille Little	69%	67%	56%	13
Katie Gearlds	64%	50%	74%	9
Kelly Santos	57%	0%	74%	1
Swin Cash	54%	50%	32%	7
Shyra Ely	50%	50%	61%	2

It takes fantastic shooting and stellar bench play to recover from 20 team turnovers.  Sue Bird has been unreal over the past month of play.

Top Ratings

Player	Offensive Rating	Individual Rating
Katie Gearlds	146.31	129.28
Sue Bird	132.06	130.88
Shyra Ely	123.08	95.50
Kelly Santos	122.95	113.64
Camille Little	114.00	105.97

I can't state how critical it is for key bench players like Swoopes and Gearlds to come in and perform or how important it is that bit players like Ely, Santos and Robinson come in and perform their roles so perfectly.  Things are really coming together.  Ashley comes in to rebound, block shots, and clog the middle.  Kelly comes in to score or draw a foul.  Shyra comes in to rebound, defend and score easy buckets off double teams aimed at the starters.

Raw Plus Minus

Sheryl Swoops: +11
Kelly Santos: +9
Ashley Robinson: +9
Katie Gearlds: +9
Sue Bird:+5
Tanisha Wright: +3
Camille Little: +2
Swin Cash: 0
Shyra Ely: -3
Yolanda Griffith: -5


Most Effective Lineups
Bird-Wright-Swoopes-Cash-Griffith: +6
Bird-Wright-Swoopes-Little-Santos: +6
Bird-Gearlds-Cash-Little-Robinsons: +5
Wright-Swoopes-Gearlds-Little-Santos: +3

Can you say BENCH?!

Sky
Most Effective Shooters

Player	True Shooting Percentage	Effective FG%	Floor Percentage	Points
K.B. Sharp	100%	100%	100%	2
Jia Perkins	76%	79%	83%	22
Sylvia Fowles	67%	67%	43%	12
Dominique Canty	56%	60%	46%	8

Jia Perkins was ridiculously good.  I stand by what I said at the start of the year, Sylvia Fowles is going to be GREAT in this league.

Top Ratings

Player	Offensive Rating	Individual Rating
K.B. Sharp	200.00	177.35
Jia Perkins	164.41	152.80
Brooke Wyckoff	127.95	87.55

Perkins put up superstar numbers in this game against decent defenders.

Raw Plus Minus
Dominique Canty: +4
Brooke Wyckoff: +4
Jia Perkins: +3
Candice Dupree: +1
Sylvia Fowles: -1
Ty'esha Fluker: -6
Chastity Melvin: -10
Quianna Chaney: -11
Arimintie Price: -12

K.B. Sharp: -12

Most Effective Lineups
Canty-Perkins-Dupree-Wyckoff-Fowles: +10

The bench killed the Sky's chances.  They just need a little more oomph for the bench.  They are going to be scary good in the next two years.