Sparks Wary of Storm Surge in Playoff Opener

Earlier this week, Seattle Coach Anne Donovan praised Sparks Coach Joe Bryant for leading his team to the WNBA’s second-best record.

“I give a lot of credit to Joe Bryant,” she said. “He has done a great job in giving them the right roles. That starts with [Chamique] Holdsclaw coming off the bench, and really embracing that role, and doing great off the bench for them. But it just seems to be a more balanced, focused, not-so-erratic team.”

So much for the niceties. When the best-of-three Western Conference first-round playoff series between the top-seeded Sparks (25-9) and fourth-seeded Storm (18-16) begins tonight in Seattle, Donovan fervently hopes to eliminate the Sparks with her team’s speed and savvy.

Which comes as no surprise to Bryant.

“It’s really their transition game and their speed that makes them good,” he said. “We have to be careful about letting them get out on the wings and letting them attack the basket the way they do, because that’s when they’re really successful.

“I think going to Seattle, the energy boost the home fans can give to Seattle, we’ll have to overcome that. We’ve just got to be able to withstand that, and hopefully come out with a victory.”

These teams last met in the playoffs in 2002. It, too, was a first-seeded vs. fourth-seeded matchup, and Los Angeles swept the series.

But those Sparks were the defending WNBA champions and on their way to a second title. This time, the Storm is the more experienced team, with a veteran core group of Lauren Jackson, Sue Bird, Betty Lennox and Janell Burse that led Seattle to the title in 2004.

Lisa Leslie and Mwadi Mabika are the only Sparks players remaining from the 2002 championship team. But there are other veterans, among them Murriel Page, eager for their own title run.

“These playoffs mean a whole lot to me,” said Page, in her ninth season. “In Washington, we went to the playoffs but I never was ‘in position’ to compete for the championship.

“There would be no better way to finish my career than with a championship.”

*

TONIGHT

at Seattle, 7, NBA TV

Site -- KeyArena.

Radio -- 1150.

Records (regular season) -- Sparks 25-9, Storm 18-16.

Record vs. Storm (regular season) -- 1-2.

Update -- It is said that records go out the window in the playoffs. Still, it’s worth noting that the Storm’s two wins were by a combined 31 points, whereas the Sparks’ victory was by one point. The Storm also was the only team to win a season series against the Sparks. Sparks Coach Joe Bryant has contemplated lineup changes, so don’t be surprised if Chamique Holdsclaw, who has come off the bench all season, starts. Lisa Leslie was named to the WNBA’s all-defensive first team Thursday, and finished second to Indiana’s Tamika Catchings in balloting for the league’s defensive player of the year.