It isn’t getting better for the Storm.
A terrible start — 25-8 after the first quarter — was way too much to overcome for the disconnected Storm against the Minnesota Lynx, the defending NBA champions, which routed the visitors 79-55 in Minneapolis Wednesday night.
The Lynx (8-0) are one win shy of tying the WNBA for wins to start the season, set by Los Angeles in 2001 and tied in 2003. The Storm (1-5), which lost to the Lynx 10 days ago, is off to its worst start.
Trailing by as much as 18, the Storm closed the deficit to nine before a couple of quick baskets put Minnesota up 43-30 at the half. The Storm came no closer than seven the rest of the way. The Lynx posted their most lopsided win of the season despite the absence of the Lynx’s leading scorer, Seimone Augustus, who was out with a right quad strain.
Seattle’s defense was ineffective against the WNBA’s No. 1 offense, which shot 53.4 percent from the field. The Storm made only 19 of 57 field goals (33 percent). Sue Bird missed seven of nine shots (1 of 6 from three-point range) with three assists in 25 minutes.
Taj McWilliams-Franklin led all scorers with 17 points. The Storm’s Tanisha Wright had 14. The Storm is without Lauren Jackson for the first half of the season, as she trains with the Australian national team for the Olympics.
2 Comments
I’ve tried to be optimistic about the Storm this year. There is a lot of talent on the roster even without Lauren Jackson…with her, they have the ability to go fairly deep into the postseason. It’s pretty hard to remain an optimist after the first six games of the season, though. Still too many turnovers, not enough effective passing (NINE assists as a team won’t cut it) and when a player in her 40’s like Taj McWilliams-Frankin drops 17 on you, you know the interior defense is lacking. No need to even comment on the 33% field-goal shooting.
Trading Cash and Willingham for the number 2 pick was a gamble that didn’t work because neither Griner nor Delle Donne came out early. Instead, we traded an All-Star and a solid reserve big for a rookie tweener who has never shown consistency even she played for Pat Summitt. Letting Ashley Robinson go for Victoria Dunlap for salary cap purposes was a mistake. Ashley was severely limited offensively but she could rebound and block shots (sort of a female version of Harvey Catchings) and what she brought to team chemistry can’t be quantified.
It’s still early in the season, but it’s not a LONG season in the WNBA. There are obviously on-floor and leadership roles to work out, but they need to work them out soon. Seattle could be a solid team by the playoffs, but right now they don’t look like they’ll even qualify. It has to get better.
I’ve tried to be optimistic about the Storm this year. There is a lot of talent on the roster even without Lauren Jackson…with her, they have the ability to go fairly deep into the postseason. It’s pretty hard to remain an optimist after the first six games of the season, though. Still too many turnovers, not enough effective passing (NINE assists as a team won’t cut it) and when a player in her 40’s like Taj McWilliams-Frankin drops 17 on you, you know the interior defense is lacking. No need to even comment on the 33% field-goal shooting.
Trading Cash and Willingham for the number 2 pick was a gamble that didn’t work because neither Griner nor Delle Donne came out early. Instead, we traded an All-Star and a solid reserve big for a rookie tweener who has never shown consistency even she played for Pat Summitt. Letting Ashley Robinson go for Victoria Dunlap for salary cap purposes was a mistake. Ashley was severely limited offensively but she could rebound and block shots (sort of a female version of Harvey Catchings) and what she brought to team chemistry can’t be quantified.
It’s still early in the season, but it’s not a LONG season in the WNBA. There are obviously on-floor and leadership roles to work out, but they need to work them out soon. Seattle could be a solid team by the playoffs, but right now they don’t look like they’ll even qualify. It has to get better.