Sparks’ Game Plan Is Tough to Beat
Toughness. It’s not only a state of being for the Sparks, it’s a state of mind.
It’s what separates this year’s team from last year’s team, the players and coaches say, even though they had identical regular season records--28-4.
And it’s going to have to be the difference if the Sparks, who begin their WNBA first-round playoff series today against the fourth-place Houston Comets, are going to reach what they feel is their destiny this season: the league championship.
Toughness is not only about planting yourself in the lane and drawing an offensive foul.
The toughness that Coach Michael Cooper has wanted from the Sparks, and believes has emerged, is a mind-set that you can’t--and won’t--be defeated no matter the opponent, environment or circumstance.
That is one reason the Sparks ran off a league-record 18 consecutive wins, and became the first WNBA team to go through a regular season unbeaten at home (16-0).
“When tough situations have arisen this season, we haven’t just taken the easy bail-out shots any more,” Cooper said. “We have people who take the ball to the basket strong and make the officials make calls. Fortunately, it’s been to our advantage.
“I also think we make the appropriate plays now. In the past we often settled with the first option. Now we look for the second and third, and sometimes fourth option. We know our strength is running, so we make a concerted effort to rebound. That’s the difference from last year’s team to this one.”
Even though the Sparks’ running style made them the league’s highest scoring team in the regular season, averaging 76.3 points a game, they hate the label of “finesse,” which is hoops jargon for “soft.”
The addition of Latasha Byears, looking more and more like one of the great steals by General Manager Penny Toler, and Rhonda Mapp brought muscle and attitude to the Sparks. Both are highly adept at taking up space and clearing it out underneath the basket.
Their presence in the locker room has been as important as any contribution on the court. Byears speaks softly to the media, depending on her mood. But she’s not afraid to challenge her teammates if she feels the effort was lacking. Mapp will always talk, but at a solid 6-1 and 190 pounds, she doesn’t have to say much.
“Before they came, we were known as a finesse team,” Tamecka Dixon said. “They have added more aggression to our post play that we need.”
There is no better showcase for the Sparks to prove how legitimately tough they are than the first-round series with Houston. The four-time WNBA champions are staring across the court at the Sparks like an aging fighter trying to prove he still has it to the up-and-coming contender.
Cooper is expecting “40 minutes of hard basketball” today, feeling the 19-13 Comets must win to once again raise doubt in the Sparks’ minds about whether they can defeat Houston in a big game before a national television audience.
The Sparks, however, want to take out two years of playoff frustration against the team that always seems to block their path.
“Losing to them last year left a taste in my mouth I never want to experience again,” Dixon said. “Maybe last year we thought it would be easy going in. But the first 10 minutes of the first [playoff] game they put it on us. By the time we figured things out we were so far in a hole we couldn’t dig ourselves out.”
“We’re happy to play Houston in the first round because we have the opportunity to put them out before anybody else does,” Lisa Leslie said. “Sacramento or Utah could have put them out. But why not let it be us? I think it’s fitting.”
(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)
WNBA PLAYOFFS
Western Conference First Round
Sparks vs. Houston
* Game 1, today at Houston, 1 p.m. (Channel 4)
* Game 2, Monday at Staples Center, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
* Game 3 (if necessary), Tuesday at Staples Center, 6 or 7 p.m.
*
FRIDAY’S RESULTS
Western Conference
Sacramento 89, Utah 65 (Sacramento leads series, 1-0)
Eastern Conference
New York 62, Miami 46 (New York leads series, 1-0)