Bosco --
I look at WNBA like I look at college hoops, a lot changes from year-to-year so I don't look at historical data the way I do in bases etc. IMO the teams that match up tonight are very different than the ones that played last year in that 48-38 game.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The Storm managed to win two of its first three games without All-Star forward Lauren Jackson, who was out with a sprained ankle.
Rookie point guard Sue Bird and supporting cast have succeeded in painting the winning picture. All that's missing is Jackson's 6-foot-5 frame, along with her 15 points and seven rebounds per game.
"This team can play," said Jackson, who is expected to make her season debut tonight at KeyArena against the Charlotte Sting. "They don't need me."
Contrary to Jackson's modest evaluation, her presence in the post will be welcomed, to say the least. Jackson led the Storm as a rookie last season in minutes played, scoring, rebounding, three-point field goals made, steals and blocks. Her play should complement the newly developed team chemistry.
"We're cautiously optimistic," Coach Lin Dunn said of Jackson's return.
Dunn said Jackson's return will increase the Storm's depth in the post, where Jackson will join Simone Edwards and Kamila Vodichkova in the rotation. With Vodichkova healthy, and Edwards playing well, Dunn said, "Lauren doesn't have to feel like she's got to play 35 minutes."
After completing her first full practice yesterday, Jackson, wearing an egg cast on her right ankle to suppress swelling, said the ankle was fine. She practiced like it. For the first time since her injury, Jackson made sharp cuts through the lane without grimacing. She hustled to corral loose balls, moved well laterally, effortlessly swished countless jumpers, and showed no signs of favoring her right ankle.
"It's (ankle) doing very well," Jackson said. "I didn't feel any pressure at all."
Jackson, who practiced in the half-court sets yesterday, has yet to participate in full-court play. "I'm confident I'll be out there (tonight)," Jackson said. "I just want to be a part of the team again."
Redd, Marciniak practice
Jamie Redd and Michelle Marciniak, who are on the injured list, actively participated in practice yesterday, and might be available for tonight's game.
Neither Redd, out with a strained right knee, nor Marciniak, sidelined by a sprained right ankle, have made their debuts this season. "
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rookie Sue Bird is by far the team's leading scorer, averaging an incredible 37 minutes of play per game, 19.7 ppg and 6.0 assists.
The Charlotte Sting just put away the two best teams in the Western Conference: LA and Houston. With Andrea Stinson and Dawn Staley both playing well, they may be the best team in the WNBA this year. FWIW, Charlotte started very slow last year winning just 2 of their first 12 before making a run to the championship series vs LA.
In summary, two very different teams match up tonight with much better offenses. I think Vegas is using last year's games as the benchmark and that is why the line is so low. Maybe I'm wrong, we'll find out tonight.
- Jon
