Link roundup: Bird returns to record 11 points and 7 assists in 75-62 win over the Sparks

After Friday's practice, Storm coach Brian Agler said that Bird’s back injury was behind them.

In the Storm's 75-62 victory over the Sparks, Bird made it official.

Kathy Goodman: You gotta have heart
Last 10 minutes of basketball. We started the fourth quarter with a shot-clock violation and our first missed free throws of the game, but then we again went on a scoring run to cut Seattle’s lead to just three points. The arena was on its feet, but back-to-back three-pointers by Sue Bird and Tanisha Wright ended our celebration. Seattle’s superior depth and experience doomed us.

Nevertheless, Jayda Evans of the Seattle Times reports that Bird still didn’t look 100%.

Game thread: Seattle at Los Angeles
BIRD NOT BACK: Bird looks like her normal self, but isn’t 100 percent back from suffering from back spasms this week. She has six assists, but is 1 of 5 from three-point range. No worries, back-to-back three-pointers by Cash to nullify Milton-Jones’ shooting has Seattle up 54-42 with 5:01 remaining in the third quarter.

That said, at this point in a professional sports season, it would probably be difficult to find many players who are truly at 100%. Even last night, Lauren Jackson, who finished with 20 points and 8 rebounds, played the last three quarters with a concussion.

Lauren Jackson takes a hit but Storm win again
The Storm might say D-Malicious after an elbow in the first quarter against Seattle on Saturday gave Storm star Lauren Jackson a bloody nose.

“Every single game that we play against DeLisha, everyone knows she’s a thug,” said Jackson after the Storm defeated the Sparks 75-62 on Saturday. “It’s ridiculous to me, but whatever. On a bad day, I probably would have decked her back, but I don’t really care. I’m just happy we won.”

Jackson scored 13 of her game-high 20 points in the opening quarter, helping Seattle jump to an early 13-0 lead. Yet, when she was evaluated after the game, it was determined that she played the final three quarters with a mild concussion.

Afterward, Storm coach Brian Agler had some strong words for Sparks forward DeLisha Milton-Jones.

Postgame Quotes/Notes – Storm 75, Los Angeles 62
She got wacked in the first quarter. Everybody saw this, it was the same thing, same person, same game, same team – there’s a common denominator. It’s unfortunate that the referees aren’t ready for it because I’ve said enough things to the officials, but it goes on deaf ears and it happens every game. We didn’t know about the concussion until after the game when she voiced her issues.

Despite the Sparks trying to play physical with the Storm from the outset, it was ultimately the Storm’s hot start to the game that made it tough on the Sparks.

Poor shooting dooms Sparks against Seattle
The Storm began the game with a 13-0 run before center Tina Thompson scored the Sparks’ first points on foul shots with 6:07 to play in the first quarter. Thompson made the team’s first field goal on a jump shot half a minute later. .

“Seattle came out hot and we didn’t,” said guard Kristi Toliver, who came off the bench to lead the team with 18 points. “Sometimes it happens like that.”

However, it’s starting to look as though the Storm’s success is due to more than chance: at 15-2, they have put together among the best first half starts in WNBA history, according to Kevin Pelton of StormTracker.

Their next game is a mid-day “Kids Day” matinee on Tuesday, July 6th against the New York Liberty.

Bird Expected to Return to Play Parker-less Sparks on ESPN2

What: Seattle Storm at Los Angeles Sparks

When: 2 pm

Where: Staples Center — Los Angeles, CA

Broadcast info:

ESPN2
ESPN360.com

The Story:

Tanisha Wright played well as the lead ball handler last game (Jayda Evans, Seattle Times)

…but…

Bird is expected to return from injury (SBN Seattle)

…and…

The 4-11 Sparks are not great, but not a team to look past (Swish Appeal)

Agler on Bird's injury status: "To me that's behind us...right now, I'd say she's playing."

Sue Bird practiced today and by all accounts she looked good enough to return to game action tomorrow.

“Her shot and everything is still there,” said Swin Cash after this morning’s practice. “It’s not like she’s not been completely practicing or whatever, so I mean I think she’ll be fine.”

Although Bird and coach Brian Agler hadn’t spoken about playing as of the end of practice today, the fact that she practiced makes it sound likely that she’ll play tomorrow.

“She practiced today,” said Agler. “I mean, you never know — no one knew what was going to happen in Tulsa either. So, to me that’s behind us and we get ready for her to play tomorrow and if something else happens and she can’t then she doesn’t. But right now, I’d say she’s playing.”

Storm Practice Notes: 'Bird Making Progress'

Kevin Pelton of StormTracker reports that Sue Bird is making progress on her injury practicing for the first time today. However, the dilemma now might be whether Bird should play against the 3-11 Los Angeles Sparks this weekend.

The Storm is being cautious in dealing with Bird’s back. Head Coach Brian Agler pointed out at Tuesday’s game that the Storm doesn’t want to deal with the injury all season long. Yet teammate Lauren Jackson is excited at the prospect of getting Bird back on the floor.

“I want her to play,” said Jackson. “If it’s going to jeopardize herself, obviously then we want her to rest as long as possible to get it right, but me personally I miss her so much. I miss playing with her. T (Tanisha Wright) has been great, but Sue Bird is a legend in my eyes, so I love her out there.”

As much as Jackson might want her friend and legend to play, the fact remains that if Bird is less than 100%, resting her might be reasonable.

The Storm have already beaten the Sparks three times this season, Tanisha Wright dropped 12 dimes running the offense in place of Bird in Tuesday night’s victory over the Silver Stars, and given that the Sparks are currently without star forward Candace Parker… this game is conceivably quite winnable without Bird.

However, when asked about sitting Bird at practice today, Agler was hardly so overconfident.

“The Sparks are good,” said Agler. “The Sparks are a good team. Everybody’s good in this league. We’re just trying to get better and win every game we can.”

Back spasms keep Bird out of Silver Stars game, but "it's getting better, day by day"

Not even Brian Agler knew whether Bird would play prior to the Storm’s 86-72 loss to the San Antonio Silver Stars last night, as he talked to her about an hour before the game to make a decision.

Bird ended up sitting out the game, but said her back is getting better.

“It feels fine,” said Bird in the locker room after the game. “It’s getting better, day by day, so that’s always a good thing…I’m not sure if I was necessarily ready to go, but also precautionary.”

Agler said after the game that the team hopes to have Bird back for their next game on Saturday at 2 pm in Los Angeles.

Sue Bird listed as "day-to-day" with back spasms

Point guard Sue Bird left the Seattle Storm's 83-72 win over the Tulsa Shock on Sunday afternoon with her second injury of the season, as described by low in email communication from the Seattle Storm on Sunday:

Seattle Storm guard Sue Bird left Sunday's game against the Tulsa Shock after only 1:44 minutes of play in the first quarter. Bird who is experiencing low back pain, will be further evaluated in Seattle on Monday, June 28.

After evaluation, the Storm announced that Bird is listed as day-to-day with back spasms. 

As any sports fan knows, back spasms can either be a short-term annoyance or a long-term problem. But most of all, it means the Storm may be without the floor leader that makes their league leading offense (108.50 points/100 possessions) go.

Heading into Tuesday night's home game against the San Antonio Silver Stars will be a test to see how the Storm perform without Bird -- a week prior to the Shock win, the Storm outhustled and outworked the Silver Stars in Key Arena and coasted to a 82-61 win.

For more on the injury and how the Storm might fare without Bird, visit SBN's Swish Appeal.