The Storm Throw Themselves Down Into A Hole Just So They Can Climb Out Very Very Slowly
They won? Yes, they somehow won.
Luckily I did not watch the Storm’s 90-78 victory over the Minnesota Lynx live, because it probably would’ve driven me bonkers. See, Thursday nights I have my regular D&D game, since you were definitely wondering I play as an inquisitive rogue high elf named after this guy and I have a super cool flaming sword, so I dvr’ed this fan torture masquerading as a game (much like the death slaad that we encountered that was disguised as a bullywog, although that was less of a relief and more of a horrible outcome that will hopefully not kill us/turn us into other slaads next week). I also cheated and saw the final score so when I watched the Storm play like a broken toilet in the first half I could hold onto my brain and not writhe around on the floor rending my garments. The Storm were very very bad in the first half, and that combined with the making me think of other toilet similes 4th quarter of their previous game was WORRYING! Buuuuuuuuuutttttt I think they made some important adjustments in the second half and slowly worked their way back into the game and then took control while the Lynx just sort of, um, withered? I can’t really put my finger on what happened to them, they just kind of stopped playing.
The main issue for the Storm throughout the first half was the same one I get whenever looking at the inside of homes on Zillow, problems with the paint. The Storm’s offense in the first half was a steady diet of jump shots that would not go in with the exception of those taken by Jewell Loyd or Candice Dupree (who’s set shot would be the pride of any aged pickup game). I know that a lot of their offense comes from behind the three point line but when those shots aren’t falling they need to get to the basket. Then on defense Sylvia Fowles was getting whatever she wanted inside, again I love Ezi Magbegor and think that she’s a big part of the team’s future but she can’t quite hang yet. All this added up to a half where the Storm were down 15 and I was making making noises like I was being slowly electrocuted.
Fortunately for the Storm and for my partner who came into the room to ask if I was ok after hearing said noises, the second half was very different! The Storm started attacking the rim and getting to the free throw line, especially Jordin Canada. The backup point guard more than made up for her abysmal showing against the Aces by getting to the line a game high 14(!) times and sparking the very very slow Storm comeback. It was not the usual whirlwind of turnovers and threes that is the hallmark of a Storm team ascendant, just a methodical working of the game, shrinking the Lynx (Lynx’s?) lead till they tied it with 3:22 left in the game. Once that happened the Lynx seemed to totally fold as the Storm closed things out with a 15-3 run and I closed things out with a sigh of relief.
Other non-surpisingly dry game recap thoughts (sorry this one was not as fun as I had hoped but this game was not super fun to watch!)
It’s possible the comeback seemed to so sub-exciting was due to the NBA TV broadcast, someone decided that one poor commentator would call the entire game, this was a BAD IDEA. Not because the commentator, who might’ve been Tiffany Greene but good luck verifying that, was bad but because broadcasting an entire game by yourself IS CRAZY HARD! I once tried to do it and nearly went crazy! I think that maybe-Tiffany was probably worn the hell out by the time the Storm came back so she couldn’t give it the weight that it deserved.
Welcome back Mercedes Russell! Cedes got a little less than 10 minutes of run and looked good despite the lack of practice, she’s going to be an important player going forward.
Dope sweater season (not szn, it will never be any kind of szn on this substack) continues for the Storm, with Jewell Loyd rocking this piece from Aseye Studio. The fringe isn’t my fave but any time someone updates the letterman cardigan I’m into it.
That’s all for now, up next the Storm travel to Arlington to play the Dallas Wings and maybe for a second could’ve been a Storm (Storm player? Stormite? Stormian?) Charli Collier. SEE YOU LATER!