Sparks Losing Their Touch
It has been a while since the Sparks played a game of this importance at this time of the year. When a team posts consecutive 28-4 records, it tends not to sweat the regular season.
Maybe that’s what’s wrong with them.
The Sparks played their biggest game of the season Thursday against their bitter rivals, the Houston Comets. And the Sparks fell on their faces, losing, 67-64.
In front of a sellout crowd of 12,540 at Staples Center, the Sparks shot a franchise-low 25.7%, making only 19 of 74 shots. The previous low was 27.9%, when Los Angeles made only 19 of 68 against Detroit on Aug. 9, 1999.
A sturdy defense, Sheryl Swoopes’ 31 points and 16 points and 11 rebounds by rookie Michelle Snow, who replaced the injured Tina Thompson in the lineup, propelled the Comets (23-7) to a victory that gave them a half-game lead over the Sparks in the Western Conference race and a decisive 2-1 edge in the season series between the teams.
If Houston and Los Angeles wind up tied after the regular season, the Comets will be the top-seeded team and have home-court advantage in the playoffs.
And home court is definitely an advantage for the Comets right now. Since losing the season opener to the Sparks in May, Houston has won 13 straight at home. That’s where they will play their final two games.
“That was the most gutsy win I have ever seen,” Houston Coach Van Chancellor said. “We had incredible team play without Tina Thompson, and Snow really stepped up in her first start.”
The Sparks, who got 27 points from Mwadi Mabika and 19 points and 12 rebounds from Lisa Leslie, finish with three road games. If Los Angeles is to defend its WNBA championship, it will have to find the missing element in its game, and quickly.
Coach Michael Cooper thinks it is more than jump shots.
“We’re in trouble,” Cooper said after the game. “I’m troubled about our heart and desire to win. Every time a game has been on the line for us this year, we haven’t had the ability to win.
“We’re better than Houston athletically. But they did everything they had to do to win. This [loss] was not a wakeup call; the wakeup call was five losses ago. Swoopes said we only won last year because she was hurt and I’m beginning to wonder if she’s right. Houston looks like it wants to take back the championship we won last year.”
Cooper didn’t call out any names this time, but he would have had plenty of options at which to point fingers.
Leslie, Mabika and Latasha Byears were the only Sparks to make more than one basket. DeLisha Milton (one for 13), Tamecka Dixon (one for 11) and Nikki Teasley (one for eight) couldn’t hit from outside. And after Leslie fouled out with 3:16 to play, Mabika was the only reliable shooter Los Angeles had on the floor.
Even though the Sparks got to the free-throw line 25 times, they did not make enough efforts to drive to the basket and force the Houston defense to foul.
“Again, we settled for too many jump shots,” Cooper said. “Houston is a great defensive team. They’ll give you the perimeter, and if you miss the outside shot it just plays into their hands.”
The score was tied, 28-28, at halftime, and with 5:58 to play Los Angeles took its last lead, 52-50, on a layup by Leslie. But the Sparks would not make another field goal until Milton threw in her only basket, a three-pointer, with 7.4 seconds left. By that time Houston was ahead, 65-58.
The Sparks were left to sift through the ashes.
“I do think we have the heart and desire,” Leslie said. “We want to win. But it seems so much harder at one end of the court than it does the other.”
“This is a very tough loss, especially when I didn’t do anything to contribute like I can,” Dixon said. “But Houston had us on our heels all night. They took it to us.”
It doesn’t get any easier for the Sparks, who play at Utah tonight. Perhaps they need to get away from Staples. After winning 28 consecutive games here, they have lost three of their last four. Houston has beaten them here twice.
Sophia Witherspoon said the team is not ready to quit. “It’s not over,” she said. “And when the playoffs start everyone will be zero-zero again.”
If something doesn’t change for the Sparks, however, it won’t be a long postseason.
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THE RIVALRY
The Sparks’ rivalry with Houston, matching the only two franchises to have won WNBA championships, has been the hottest in the league over the last four seasons:
*--* 1999 Series: Tied, 2-2, each winning twice at home Ranking: 1. Houston, 26-6; 2. Sparks, 20-12 Playoffs: Houston won, 2-1, in Western Conference finals
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*--* 2000 Series: Sparks swept, 3-0 Ranking: 1. Sparks, 28-4; 2. Houston, 27-5 Playoffs: Houston won, 2-1, in Western Conference finals
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*--* 2001 Series: Sparks won, 2-1, including a season-opening victory at Houston Ranking: 1. Sparks, 28-4; 6. Houston, 19-13 Playoffs: Sparks won, 2-0, in Western Conference semifinals
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*--* 2002 Series: Houston won, 2-1, after its 67-64 victory Thursday Ranking: 1. Houston, 23-7; 2. Sparks, 22-7
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