Rough Going for the Sparks
The Sparks are 12 games into their season, so what made Sunday’s meeting with the New York Liberty a “must win” situation for Los Angeles?
“When you lose a game or two after a long win streak, you don’t want losing to have a snowball effect,” said forward DeLisha Milton. “History shows that can happen.
“Other teams also gain confidence from your losses. We have to show people we have slipped twice, but we’re not gonna do it three times.”
Sunday, the Sparks didn’t slip. They got knocked down and battered by the New York Liberty 82-69, before 17,084 fans chanting “Beat L.A.” at Madison Square Garden in a game that had New York’s Tamika Whitmore calling L.A. “a dirty team” after she was charged with a flagrant type-two foul in the closing minutes.
The victory was the seventh consecutive for the Liberty (8-3) in its only regular-season meeting with the Sparks this season. Becky Hammon came off the bench to score 21 points for the Liberty, and teammates Whitmore, Crystal Robinson and Tari Phillips each had 13.
The Sparks had 26 points and 11 rebounds from Lisa Leslie and 13 points from Latasha Byears. But that did not keep them from their third consecutive loss.
Of the three defeats, however, this was one time Los Angeles didn’t have to wonder what-if afterward. After New York went ahead, 5-3, in the first two minutes, the Liberty spent the rest of the game blowing in and out of leads that reached as high as 20.
They did it by blistering the Sparks’ defense inside and outside. New York made 11 of its first 18 shots and shot 54.4% (31 of 57) for the game. The Liberty defense--an amalgamation of knees, forearms and elbows--caused 21 turnovers and recorded 17 steals.
Spark Coach Michael Cooper, who spent a good portion of the game burying his face in his hands, was too disappointed to talk with the media, leaving assistant Glenn McDonald to offer explanations.
McDonald was asked if the rest of the league has caught up to the Sparks.
“No,” he said. “What we have to do is try and regroup. Right now this has been a [road] trip of anxiety, more or less. You will find teams that have gotten better, and you have to remember New York was in the championship game last year.
“We have to do some soul-searching in what we’re doing out there, and correct some things.”
The Sparks did not hesitate to match New York’s physical stance, and the referees had a busy day, calling 35 fouls and five technicals.
The game nearly got out of hand with 3:48 to play when Whitmore knocked Leslie to the floor on a layup attempt. Leslie got up and attempted to go after Whitmore before being cut off by teammates. Whitmore also was shielded by teammates but kept up a lively chatter, and Spark guard Tamecka Dixon headed toward Whitmore before being restrained.
When order was restored, Whitmore was assessed a flagrant type-two foul and ejected.
“Whether it was frustration or she tried to hurt me, I can’t make that call,” Leslie said. “You would have to ask her.”
Whitmore faces a fine for the ejection and could face a one-game suspension by league officials after a review of the game film.
“If there is a [penalty] I’ll contest it,” Whitmore said. “I fouled her, but I was going for the ball and my momentum carried me into her. It wasn’t flagrant.”
New York Coach Richie Adubato didn’t fan flames, saying the game “was just a very heartfelt battle. We know that Los Angeles has size, athleticism and physical toughness. I was very proud of my team because everyone knows L.A. is a very physical team. They play hard-nosed, aggressive basketball. For the most part that was what you saw.”
Whitmore hinted at something different, though. When asked if she was surprised by the rough play, she shook her head no.
“L.A. is a dirty team,” she said. “We knew that coming in. I just decided to be more aggressive.”