Sparks get a test at a tough time
Between them, the Sparks and the Detroit Shock have four WNBA championships, and one goal: to win another title.
They go against each other tonight at Staples Center.
The Sparks are 5-3 and still settling in after the retirement last week of forward Chamique Holdsclaw. They had a three-game winning streak ended Saturday in an 83-58 loss to the Minnesota Lynx.
Life after Holdsclaw could get harder still against the Shock (7-1).
The defending league champion was off to its best start in franchise history and chasing a league record of nine consecutive victories to open the season before a 77-67 loss to the Indiana Fever on Saturday. The Sparks won their first nine in 2001 and 2003.
“What is great about our team this year is they are, internally, in the locker room and amongst themselves, very focused,” Shock Coach Bill Laimbeer said. “The peer pressure is enormous in our ballclub right now.”
The Sparks, on the other hand, are still finding themselves after the departure of Holdsclaw and in the absence of new mother Lisa Leslie and injured Temeka Johnson.
“What we are looking to do is put our pieces together so that they can fit and match perfectly well, so that when we do compete against each other, we are competing at the highest level and giving ourselves the best chance to win,” Sparks Coach Michael Cooper said. “We are not just a team built around one or two players.... I would like to think the team will take up the slack.”
Several players have tried to step up, but the Sparks have yet to find one who will be the key to consistent success.
Forward Taj McWilliams-Franklin has scored a season-high 20 points in two of the team’s last three games. Forward LaToya Thomas has gained playing time and confidence after Holdsclaw’s departure, and center Christi Thomas had a career-high 25 points in a win over the Washington Mystics on Friday.
Six different players have led the team in scoring and six have led or tied for the team-high in rebounds in the team’s first eight games.
The return of Johnson from knee surgery is tentatively scheduled for the end of the month.
“All I’m waiting for is her to come and tell me, ‘You know what? I’m feeling great,’ and I’ll look at her one more time and make sure she’s good to go,” trainer Marco Nunez said.
TONIGHT
vs. Detroit, 7:30
Site -- Staples Center.
Radio -- 1150; TV -- FSN Prime Ticket, NBA TV.
Records -- Sparks 5-3; Shock 7-1.
Record vs. Shock (2006) -- 1-1.
Update -- A game that would have been pegged as a showdown between league heavyweights before the season instead will feature teams that are both coming off losses. Taj McWilliams-Franklin leads the Sparks at 13.8 points a game. Cheryl Ford and Deanna Nolan average 14 apiece for the Shock. Ford sat out Detroit’s last game because of a knee injury and may be sidelined again.
Tickets -- (877) 447-7275.