A Prayer Was Answer In Sparks' Victory Over Seattle 67-65

Story by L.T.Willis

The Sparks' defense forces the Storm into a turnover. Photo by Eric Wade/
T.G.Sports.

The (4-1) Los Angeles Sparks hosted the (1-3) Seattle Storm on Sunday at the Staple Center in a game that turned out to be another game won in the last few seconds. The Sparks' defense has been keeping them in all of their games, but now there has to a point when the offense has to start cranking it up. However the defense for the Sparks has some cracks in it's armor that must be address. Giving up 24 points in the paint is too much and being out rebounded must be corrected . Also their defensive rotation on the perimeter and leaving teams best shooters wide open must do a better job on finding them.

Sparks' Candace Parker challenge a shot by Seattle's Ann Wauters. Photo
by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports.

The Sparks must also figure out how to get center Jantel Lavander in the game so she can develop into the center she is capable of being. She has proven that when she gets the minutes she can produce points, runs the floor better than most centers in the WNBA and has also proven she can pull up and hit the mid range jumpers and take defenders of the dribble. Letting Jantel use her big body to wear down other teams centers will help Candace Parker stay more healthier and less wear and tear on her body. Ebony Hoffman is another players who is another banger who needs more time on the floor and still is one of the best 3 point shooters in the game as a forward. With a solid post game being establish this will force teams to change their defensive strategy.

Sparks' #20 Kristi" Popcorn" Toliver has
become a force to recon with in the
WNBA. Photo by Eric Wade/
T.G.Sports.

Sparks' #30 Nneka Ogwumike will become
a superstar in the WNBA. Photo by Eric
Wade/T.G.Sports

The last two games against Seattle the Storm force the Sparks to become a perimeter shooting team which for the most part played into their hands and last night game was no different. In the first half the Sparks shot 34.4% from the floor while the Storm shot 41.4% from the floor and at half time the Sparks trailed 34-32. The Storm made adjustment in their defense and force the Sparks into some bad shots and made easy baskets on their end of the court. The Sparks' Candace Parker and the Storm's Katie Smith both had 11 points in the first half.

The Sparks' defense couldn't keep the Storm out of the paint and trailed at
the end of the third quarter 49-43. Photo by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports.

The third quarter was no better for the Sparks as the Storm continue to find easy baskets in the paint and had the Sparks on the rope. Sue Bird was having a quiet night as she had only 12 points in the third while the Sparks's defense was trying to clamp down and get them back in the game. At the end of the third quarter the Storm still led 49-43. Now in the fourth quarter with about 1:49  left in the game the Sparks led 61-60 after a Kristi Toliver layup and  Candace Parker blocked Tanisha Wright shot and once again the Sparks' defense came up big. Now with 49 seconds left Nneka Ogwumike drove from the left side of the base line and hit a reverse lay up and the Sparks now led 63-60.

The Sparks' #30 Nneka Qgwumike with 02.1 seconds
left in the game hits a 14' jumper and the Sparks
defeated the Storm 67-65. Photo by Eric Wade/
T.G.Sports.

The Sparks' defense did a cardinal sin and left Katie Smith wide open on the left side of their court and she hit a 3 pointer from about 22' and tied the game 63-63. It was nervous time at the Staple Center when Kristi Toliver scored on a layup and now the Sparks led 65-63 with 12.6 seconds left in the game and the Storm called time out and got the ball back on their side line. The Storm's Camile Little scored on a put back with 05.5 seconds left and tied the game 65-65 and the Sparks called time out. Now the Sparks would get the ball on the right side of their court after the time out with 05.5 left in the game. 

We have lost a special person who coached the Sparks in 1998 & 1999
Orlando Woolridge we will miss you. Eric Wade/T.G.Sports

 The Sparks inbound the ball to Alana Beard who pass the ball to Nneka Ogwumike with 02.1 seconds hit a 14' jump shot and the Sparks prayer was answer with a 67-65 victory over Seattle. The Sparks Kristi "Popcorn" Toliver led her team in scoring with 23 points and 7 assist,Candace Parker had 16 points 13 rebounds and Nneka Ogwumike finish with 10 points. The Storm's Katie Smith finish with 19 points and Sue Bird  finish with 12 points. What a wonderful way to honor the passing of  a great players who played in the NBA and coached in the WNBA with a victory than Orlando Woolridge who coached the Sparks in 1998 and 1999. All photos were by Eric Wade /T.G.Sports and EW Gems Images. The next  game for the Sparks is at home on June 8th against the Phoenix Mercury.