Sparks Don’t Get Much of a Break

Of all the questions swirling around the Sparks entering the Western Conference finals against Sacramento, one dominates.

How much energy can they bring into Arco Arena tonight after a taxing first-round series against Seattle?

The Sparks had less than 48 hours after Tuesday’s clinching win to recover before confronting the defending league champions on their court. The Monarchs, who swept Houston in the first round, have been off since Saturday.

The Sparks are facing a big, physical team that has eliminated them from the playoffs the last two years. Both times it occurred in the first round. In addition, Sacramento is one of the league’s deepest teams, with 10 players averaging 10 minutes or more.

“All year long I think they felt disrespected, not being spoken about for even getting to the finals,” Sparks center Lisa Leslie said of the Monarchs. “I’ve always been one to say you’ve got to keep an eye on Sacramento. We know what to expect there. It’s a very good team with a lot of athletes who play both ends of the court.”

Sparks Coach Joe Bryant does not agree with the notion the Sparks are exhausted.

“If you look at the minutes played, Lisa probably averaged 30, and [Chamique] Holdsclaw 29,” Bryant said. “Everyone else is in that 18- to 25-minute range.

“The quick turnaround would be a concern if I was playing the starters 36 to 38 minutes. So no, it’s not a concern.”

What does concern Bryant is whom can he turn to consistently for points after Leslie.

The Sparks still don’t know if Holdsclaw will be available. She is hobbled by an injured left foot, and sat out Tuesday.

“It’s all going to be game-time decisions,” Bryant said. “Where [her loss] hurts us is when we stagnate offensively she can create her own shots. That’s when we miss her.”

If Holdsclaw can’t play, or is ineffective, the Monarchs will gang up on defense around Leslie as Seattle did, and make some other player beat them.

That could expand the role of Temeka Johnson. Her main job as point guard is to run the team. But Johnson, while not a great shooter, can produce. Her 14 points Tuesday were critical for the Sparks. And her quickness is bound to cause problems for Sacramento’s guards.

Against Seattle, “she really took it to another level with her ability to penetrate,” Bryant said of Johnson. “We’ve been talking to her most of the year about creating tempo ... and she took it to heart.”

As well as the Monarchs are playing -- winning seven of their last nine, and 11 straight at home -- Coach John Whisenant said tonight is almost a “must-win” situation. And he is trying to keep his team from thinking all they have to do is show up.

“Houston had beaten us three out of four in the regular season. But they came into the first game overconfident, got down and never really recovered,” Whisenant said.

“On other hand, it’s not like we dominated L.A. this year. Joe has done a marvelous job; he’s got them playing together, playing happy and playing hard. There’s a reason they won 25 games.

“They didn’t luck into those wins.”