Attending Lynx practice this evening, it is evident that there is a new aura around this team. The style of play is going to be different, the philosophies are going to be different and, hopefully, the season outcome will be different.
With all the hype surrounding number one pick, Lindsey Harding, the number four pick, Noelle Quinn, and fellow rookies Shay Murphy and Kathrin Ress, it is easy to forget that the Lynx had a nice draft last season as well. Of course, the world witnessed the Rookie of the Year campaign from Seimone Augustus, but the Lynx other high pick last year, Shona Thorburn, just may be ready to have a breakout season.
As practice wrapped up tonight, I sat down with Shona Thorburn to discuss how camp has gone to this point, while looking ahead to the quickly approaching season...
SL: You are coming off a rough rookie season. Was there a specific area of your game that you focused on improving during the off-season?
ST: Yeah, um, my entire game. No, you know, I spent a lot of time getting stronger. I think that’s obvious because you can easily test that. I am stronger. That’s a part of my game, although not basketball related, it is basketball related, that I worked on. I worked hard with CJ (Carolyn Jenkins) and Ohlde when she was in town, you know, just working on my shot. I’m more confident in it and I think that’s showing. I’m shooting shots that I didn’t shoot last year and, you know, they’re going in every now and then instead of never last year. I did a lot of hard work in the weight room and I put in a lot of time on the court, working on individual basketball specific stuff with the basketball.
SL: How excited are you for the up-tempo pace that Coach Zierden is implementing?
ST: You know, I wouldn’t really say it’s my game, but, that being said, I think I’m doing a good job of playing into it also. The people that were here last year, we’re playing at a quicker pace. We could have played like this last year, but it wasn’t demanded of us, we didn’t really learn it. I think we’re all capable of doing it and the freshmen that we do have, they are obviously here for that reason. I like it. We’re scoring more or you have more chances to score, so that’s always fun. Our defense is more intense, that leads to more stops and you get to go play offense again.
SL: Although you are only a few days into training camp, what do you feel as if your role on this year’s team will be?
ST: I think that every day I come in and work hard. I don’t take any plays off, I don’t take any time off, I don’t take any repetitions off, so, maybe in a way, I’m a leader. Although I’m only going into my second year, we have a lot of young players on this team. I think being a leader in that respect, coming into practice and working hard. I think that’s definitely going to be one of my roles this year.
SL: This team is coming off a 10 win season last year and the big acquisitions for this year are rookies. They’re talented rookies, but rookies nonetheless. What do you believe is a realistic expectation of this team this season?
ST: The big problem we had last year was that we didn’t give ourselves the chance to win games. We were out of it by the fourth quarter. This year, we’re going to put ourselves in the position to win a lot of those games, as compared to last year where we didn’t have a chance. You can’t really give a number of wins, but we’ll have the opportunity to win more games. Flat out. Number-wise, it’s kind of tough, but, obviously, you want it to be more then 10, but I think that’s going to be the main difference. We’ll be in it at the end.
SL: So, what did Lindsey Harding have to do to get you to give up the #10 jersey?
ST: You know that nice little Nike contract she has? She gets some nice apparel money, so I think I might be going through the Nike catalog a little bit this year. That’s kind of where we are right now.
SL: So, why did you choose to switch to #12?
ST: I have no idea. You know, I wore it at some point in my young career when I was way younger. It’s two up from 10. Numbers aren’t a big thing with me, so I’m not like ‘Oh, I really need number 10.’ Coach basically came to me and said ‘What number do you want?’ and I was like ‘I don’t know.” So, he said ‘Do you want me to just give you a couple numbers that are available?’ He came one day with a list of, like, five numbers and number 12 was first and I said ‘OK.’
SL: OK, so you’re a scout now. Tell me what you’ve seen so far from Harding in camp.
ST: She’s deceptively quick. Everyone knows she fast, but she’s very in control when she does it though. In college everybody is like ‘Ivory Latta’s fast,’ but Lindsey is that, but also very much in control of her body, which is what you need at this level. She’s a good leader and she works hard. You know what you’re going to get from her, you know how hard she’s going to work and I would not want her playing defense on me for a 40 minute game, that’s for sure.
SL: How about Noelle Quinn?
ST: You know what, Noelle is such a talented player. She really can play all three positions. She’s a rookie. I was there last year and we’ve all been through it, but she’s a little shy, a little timid right now. She doesn’t really know her role and is trying to figure it out. As soon as she gets the confidence, which she’s getting because Coach is saying ‘I want you shooting that shot,’ she’s going to be very scary. She’s just very talented overall.
SL: Shay Murphy?
ST: Shay. She’s just a workhorse. She’s one of the best rebounders on our team. She’s knocking down shots. In our scrimmages, she’s up there second or third in points scored, so she definitely can shoot the ball. She gives herself second chance opportunities going strong to the boards, especially on the defensive end. She’s a very good defensive rebounder.
SL: …and, Kathrin Ress?
ST: I like Kathrin. She works hard, she’s got a big body already, which is going to help her in the long run. I mean look…(points to Ress working with Coach Theresa Edwards)…she’s sticking around after practice, working on her game. I think what is so great about this whole rookie core is they’re intelligent. They think the game before a play happens. They pick up plays right away, which is something you need to do. If Coach writes down a play, all five players have got to be able to go out there and do it. You see them doing that already.
SL: My last question is somewhat of a buzz-kill. Being with the team last season, it must have been hard to see Megan Duffy cut yesterday?
ST: Yeah, you know, Duff’s a friend and will always be a friend. I’m glad I got the opportunity to get to know her and play with her. It’s sad to see her go. I went out with her last night and was like ‘Who’s going to be my roommate on the road?’ That’s the kind of friends we were together. She’s going to get picked up, she’s going to get another opportunity and she’s going to play basketball for a long time to come. I really just want what is best for her and I think what she has in front of her and what happens will be best for her.
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The highlight of the evening was watching Lindsey Harding and Thorburn shoot together to conclude practice. After making shots from each of the five main spots around the three point arch, they then shot free throws. Although this was practice with no defender, the shots were falling at an incredible clip, all while the players joked, laughed and built chemistry and friendship.
With an entire training camp like this, the Lynx, at the very least, will be a more exciting team to watch this season…and Shona Thorburn will be a big part of that.
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