Early Optimism Runs Deep for Sparks

Saturday’s WNBA opener against the New York Liberty did not show whether the Sparks can make a realistic run at the undefeated season Coach Michael Cooper thinks his team is capable of.

But the 72-64 victory over New York, before 11,289 at Staples Center, did make a case that the 2002 edition of the Sparks might be better than the 2001 team that won the league championship.

In other seasons, a scoreless first half from Lisa Leslie might have put the Sparks in a perilous position or at least a high level of anguish. But this year’s team appears to have more depth.

Eight of the 10 players in uniform (Latasha Byears was serving a one-game suspension) scored at least one basket for the Sparks. Leslie finished with 14 points, as did Mwadi Mabika and new addition Sophia Witherspoon. Tamecka Dixon had 12 and rookie Nikki Teasley had eight.

No wonder Cooper, normally one of the league’s more animated coaches, sat peacefully on the Spark bench with his head in his hand. His expression was the same whether the Sparks trailed (31-30 at the half) or when they took their biggest lead, 67-53, with 3:22 left to play.

The win stretched the Sparks’ regular-season home winning streak to 23 games, dating to July 14, 2000.

“This was the kind of depth I imagined we could have,” Cooper said. “And once [Brazilian rookie] Ericka DeSouza understands this game she’ll add another dimension to us because we’ll have three legitimate players [6-foot-3] and up.

“When we get rolling we’re gonna be a tough team to deal with.”

They were too much for New York, which got 19 points from Vickie Johnson, 14 points from Tamika Whitmore, 13 from Tari Phillips, but little else.

The Liberty struggled from the field, making 34.8% of its 69 shots. Johnson made seven of 16, Phillips five of 15 and Whitmore four of 10. New York’s other key starter, Crystal Robinson, had a miserable game, making only one of eight.

Said Liberty Coach Richie Adubato, “Some of the people who shoot the ball well for us were not knocking it in tonight.”

Leslie made it tough on the Liberty with seven blocked shots to go along with 14 rebounds.

“Lisa is the ultimate professional,” Cooper said. “She set the tone with those first four blocks. She doesn’t just have to score for us anymore.”

Said Adubato: “I think she’s hanging out with Shaq too much.”

Meanwhile, the Sparks, who shot 47.3% (26 of 55) and had 21 assists (led by Dixon with seven), expect this sharing-the-ball notion to catch on.

“With this team, yes, Lisa is the focal point, but you never know who’s going to hurt you,” said DeLisha Milton, who scored only two points but concentrated on harassing Whitmore and Phillips on defense. “If Lisa is short, someone else may have 20 or 25. That’s the luxury we have on this team.”

Despite enjoying an early eight-point lead, the Sparks saw New York outscore them, 13-5, in the last seven minutes of the first half.

The Liberty wasn’t making many shots, but it was getting plenty of them. New York worked the boards for a 16-9 edge (8-1 on the offensive end), and kept Los Angeles from turning on its fastbreak to try to wear down its smaller, older opponent.

But in the second half the Sparks took charge of the glass--the rebound totals wound up 31-31--took the lead for good, 35-34, on two Mabika free throws, and generally grew stronger as the game progressed.

“Rebounding was the difference in the second half--especially with the guards,” Dixon said.

Said Cooper: “Overall I thought it was a good game against one of the better teams in the East. New York is still trying to make some improvements, and they’re a ways away as far as their cohesiveness. But it was a good win for us.”