Announcement-Rookie Ress Reports From the Road

Following Friday’s game at home against the New York Liberty, the Lynx will be on the road for the next four games. That road trip includes stops in Chicago on Sunday, Phoenix Tuesday, Los Angeles on Friday and Seattle on Saturday, June 9th.

After each game of the trip, rookie Kathrin Ress will be checking in with Minnesota Basketball. Be sure to check back to hear her thoughts on the team as they journey on their longest road trip of the season.

Even When Garnett Succeeds, He Hurts the Timberwolves

Kevin Garnett has heard the criticism for quite awhile now, with his feet being placed to the fire even more so the past three seasons. Although his career averages of 20.5 points and 11.4 rebounds per game are stellar numbers, Garnett has consistently been hammered for disappearing in the fourth quarters of games, rarely putting the team on his shoulders and leading the Wolves to victory.

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What's Missing On This Lynx Team?

With the Lynx rough 0-4 start, I arrived at the Target Center tonight wondering what the players themselves thought was the biggest problem so far. Even the most casual observer can see that rebounding is certainly an issue due to the team’s overall lack of size. Nicole Ohlde’s inability to be that needed low post player for this team to this point is another.

Or, of course, that phrase that we will hear constantly all season. “We’re a young team, committed to building for the future.”

Although it has been nice to see this team fight against some of the better teams in the league this early into the season, the end result is that this team remained without a win prior to the game with Indiana.

With young players such as Noelle Quinn having a tough time to start the season, I have wondered why a veteran such as Svetlana Abrosimova continues to see limited minutes. Certainly, Svet came into camp a heartbeat before the season began, but why not allow Quinn and the other rookies to watch a wily vet some to help their development, rather then allowing them to make mistakes and get down on themselves.

Prior to the tip-off with Indiana, I spent a few minutes with Seimone Augustus. Here’s what she had to say.

SL: This team is obviously off to a rough start this season. What is the number one cause of that?

SA: Just one thing? We’ve been talking about energy a lot. You know, just being ready to play. The first time we played Indiana, we weren’t ready to play and we had a lot of mistakes. We played Sacramento after that. We came in and had a lot of turnovers and a lot of mistakes once again. We played Chicago. Once again, it was the same scenario. So, if we clean up the mistakes by keeping our energy level high, we’ll be ok.

SL: Noelle Quinn is struggling offensively to start the season. Have you said anything to her to keep her spirits up?

SA: Yeah. I mean, I talk to all of the rookies, especially Noelle because she’s not really in her form. We knew when we drafted her that she was a scorer and she hasn’t been scoring a whole lot. She’s been more of a passer, so we’re trying to get her into her confidence. I think that’s key. Her confidence is key and right now I don’t think she has it. She’s kind of shy. I understand that coming in as a rookie coming in and thinking ‘I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes and just do what I can,’ but I definitely talk to her all the time. I’m telling her ‘When you have an opportunity to score, please score the ball.’

SL: With Svetlana coming into camp late, do you think at this point that she has “caught up” to the rest of the team?

SA: She’s kind of grasped the idea of the system, so I definitely see us getting better with her getting into the rotation more. She will get more time. She knew coming in that this year we have a lot of plays. I mean, last year we didn’t have many plays. This year, we have almost 20 plays, so that’s a lot for someone to learn in a week or two’s time.

---

Moments later, I speak with Svetlana Abrosimova herself on the topic. We all know that Svet has her opinions and that she has no problem expressing them either.

--

SL: What is the biggest reason this team is 0-4 right now?

SA: It’s a new team and new coaches. Like last year, Phoenix got a new coach. I don’t know what their record was the first two weeks of the season, but I think they were 0-5 or 0-6. It takes some time and we’ve got to keep believing. That’s the dangerous part. We can’t just say ‘Oh, this is not working.’ You know, that’s really bad. As long as we keep getting better, we’re going to be ok, but I think the biggest part is that everything is new. People are still finding their comfort zone. You still trust your instincts, but you have to trust the system.

SL: With Coach “staying the course” with the young players and allowing for them to make rookie mistakes, do you think that some of the veterans on this team are having a tough time understanding their roles at this point?

SA: I don’t think that’s the case. I think he’s going with what he had at training camp. He worked really hard, creating something with what he had. For me, of course, being late, that’s the thing. I mean, it’s hard to get a new system, but as long as they trust me and let me play, I feel like I’m going to learn and get in the flow. It’s up to the coaches. It doesn’t matter if you’re a rookie or not. If they feel that you’re doing your part, they’re going to play you. It’s a good thing and it’s a bad thing for somebody, but I think that it just shows that he’s fair.

SL: Because of your late arrival, do you feel as if you have “caught up” to the rest of the team now in learning this system?

SA: I feel pretty good. In terms of earning minutes, it’s hard for me because we don’t really have practices. It’s one of those things where you feel good, you feel like you know the plays, you feel like you know the system, but the coaches don’t know that yet. If you don’t get time to play, you can’t really show them. You have to be pretty much perfect coming off the bench and with me--I know myself--I always want to create something. The biggest thing for me is to take it easy and when I get on the court, I just have to do my part and just see what happens.

SL: Where is this team’s confidence level heading into this nationally televised game tonight?

SA: You get confidence from winning, but we are 0-4, so now it’s time to win. It’s really frustrating to know that other people don’t think we’re good because we know we are not as bad as 0-4. Of course, playing on national TV, I think it’s going to be even more motivation and I’m sure we’re going to step up.

---

Once the game begins, it is obvious that the starting lineup does not have “it.” Kristen Mann has been placed in a bad situation, playing out of position and having to go up against Tamika Whitmore. Whitmore ends the first period shooting 4 of 7 from the field for nine points and three rebounds while the Lynx total 15 points, led by nine from Augustus. The rest of the starters combine for 2-10 shooting, with Lindsey Harding the only other Lynx player to score.

Yet, in the second quarter, when Coach Zierden subs Shay Murphy in for Augustus at the 7:52 mark and a score of 20-26 in favor of Indiana, something shocking happens. A lineup of Amber Jacobs, Svetlana Abrosimova, Shay Murphy, Tiffany Stansbury and Kathrin Ress play the remainder of the quarter like a team.

It is only due to the amazing presence of Tamika Catchings that the Lynx do not lead going into the half. This perennial MVP candidate finished the half by stealing the ball twice in the final 11.9 seconds, leading to four points which brought the halftime score to 37-40 Indiana. As expected with a young team like Minnesota, they were never able to recover from Catchings momentum changing steals. To put it simply and kindly, the Fever did whatever they wanted in the second half.

After a fine effort by the bench in the first half--and throughout the entire game by rookie Kathrin Ress--I wondered if, at this point in the season if talent or heart and hustle are more important. Nicole Ohlde, for example, may be a more talented player then Kathrin Ress as a whole, but does not play with the same intensity and fire that Ress exhibited tonight.

So, which is more important for this team right now?

After the game, Coach Zierden answered that question with “You’d like to have both…but, you’ve got to fight through things. If you don’t play hard, then you’re really in trouble.”

“It’s not enough to just play hard in this league,” says Abrosimova post-game. “You can compete and say you play hard, but you have to find a way to win. I feel like we have enough talent, but we have to find a way to win. It’s that simple.”

Does that mean that there is a lack of heart in some members of this team right now?

Conversation--Wolves Off-Season

Following my appearance on KFAN yesterday, I would like to hear your ideas for the Timberwolves this off-season. Let's start the conversation.

Now that we know we draft in the seventh spot, who will be available for Minnesota to select? Who should we draft?

What trades need to be made before training camp? What trades are even possible?

Are there free agents out there that you believe could make an impact on this Timberwolves team?

...and, of course, is this now the time to trade Kevin Garnett? If so, what is even possible?

Just click on the comments button below to post your thoughts. Enter your name, so we all know who we are speaking with.

Listen to me on KFAN today

At 5:00pm today, I will be on KFAN AM 1130 as a guest of Doogie's. We will be discussing the state of the Timberwolves and ideas on how to "fix" the team, as impossible as that may sound.

Hope you will all tune in!

Checking In With Noelle Quinn

First, let me apologize for my absence this past week. Between the NBA Draft Lottery and my daughter’s second birthday celebration--as well as not feeling all that well on top of all that--I have been somewhat out of commission.




Although the Lynx were able to fight back last night against the Chicago Sky, this loss was still an embarrassment. As I have stated before, one of the most important things a team like the Lynx need to accomplish is to learn how to defend their home court. It wasn’t until after the half and after the two straight turnovers, resulting in two straight layups for the Sky, that the Lynx decided that they were not going to continue with their half-assed effort.

Certainly on this night, Seimone Augustus yet again should receive a majority of the credit for the comeback, as well as rookie Lindsey Harding showing a few glimpses of solid play. However, it was another rookie, Noelle Quinn, who actually began the solid play in the third quarter that allowed for the team to give their fans a little something to cheer about the rest of the game.

After a relatively ineffective first half in which Quinn went 0/1 from the floor, with 2 rebounds and one turnover, Quinn was given the point in the third. Although that was certainly a surprising move by Coach Don Zierden, it was one that paid off for the most part. In the third quarter alone, Quinn grabbed 2 rebounds and dished out 4 assists, which set the tone the rest of the way. It is through glimpses like this that fans can see what the Lynx brass saw from Quinn at UCLA that made them take her with the fourth overall pick in the 2007 WNBA Draft.

After Friday’s game, I sat down with Noelle Quinn in the locker room to discuss the game she had just completed...

SL: It seemed as if Coach Zierden had a short leash on you in the first half, subbing you in and out numerous times. What was he telling you was his reasoning behind that?

NQ: We had talked before the game and he had told me that he wanted me to play backup point, so he was going to sub me out early. That way, I could get some rest, come back in and run the point.

SL: When you were on the bench during the first half, waiting to go in to run the point, what were you looking at specifically to attack once your opportunity came around?

NQ: Just everything that transpires. Time management, how much time is on the clock, how many fouls we have, what players are doing what offensively and defensively. As a point guard, you have to know all of that stuff, so I was just trying to observe what Lindsey was doing and tried to go with what worked.

SL: In the third quarter, you played a majority of that time at the point. You seemed to be more confident then you were in the first half, so what happened there to give you that confidence?

NQ: In the third quarter, I did play the point more. When I have the ball in my hands, it changes my demeanor because I have to run the team. They’re looking for me to call plays. Just having the ball brings more responsibility and, like you said, confidence, so you can’t be shy because they’re looking to me.

SL: So, right now, you are more comfortable with the responsibility of running the team at the point, rather then off the ball?

NQ: Yeah. I played it my senior year of college. I wasn’t really that comfortable, but a lot of people said I was good at it. I was still uncomfortable coming into the league with it, but I’ve just been practicing during training camp and into the season and I’ve become more comfortable. I’ve just got to keep working on my ball handling and keeping everything tight and I’ll be even more comfortable.

SL: You’ve certainly had to take in quite a lot of information since arriving in Minnesota. What have you been doing to relax and to get your mind off of basketball?

NQ: I’ve been watching a lot of TV and going out to eat. I’m pretty much a chill person, so I just lay back and relax.

SL: This game against Chicago was, obviously, a rough game for the Lynx as a whole, but what does it say about this young team that you continued to fight and nearly came all the way back?

NQ: It was good to know that with how far we fell back that we were able to fight back, but at the same time, we can’t keep digging ourselves a hole like that. We shouldn’t rely on that. We should just jump out on them in the beginning. It does show a lot about our team that we don’t give up and that we have each other’s backs. I mean, we have the fight. It’s just a matter of having it for 40 minutes.

SL: What did you specifically take away from this game and will be able to utilize moving forward?

NQ: I think that it’s just the intensity from the start. Now, we’ve got to figure out why we didn’t have it. This is a totally different league. Sometimes in college, you could get by with kind of just going through the motions. This is the pros and you can’t do that. You can’t take a play off, you have to be ready every second and we just have to have that focus and that fire from the beginning.

---

At Coach Zierden’s press conference after the game, I had the opportunity to ask him the same question I asked Quinn about his “short leash” on her during the first half. His answer was more general, then specific to Quinn, but was still a great indication of his thoughts on areas where this team needs improvement.

“A couple of things,” said Coach Z. “I think we need to come out and be ready to play ball. I think that these young players--and we are young and we’re going to get better every game--but we need to understand that when that ball is thrown up, it doesn’t matter who you’re going against that you better be ready to play.”

When I asked Coach my follow up question, wondering when he would have to think about altering lineups and rotations in an attempt to start winning, he expressed the team’s commitment to the young players.

“The one thing that I will say is when talking to Tony Dungy, who I really respect, when he took over at Tampa Bay, they started off either 1-7 or 1-8.” He continued with “Tony said everybody wanted to change this, that and the other thing, but the thing that we want to do right now is just stay the course. We’re not happy with being 0-4, we’re definitely not happy with the way we played tonight, but we have 30 more games to get better. We’ve got some young players that we made a commitment to our fans and to our front office that we were going to develop, so we’ll continue to do that.”

A Challenge To Men

Here we are in the year 2007 and there is still a stigma surrounding men who are fans of women’s sports. Apparently, we have still not broken through the sex barrier and a vast majority of men believe it is not “macho” to support the women’s teams. I’ve heard the argument numerous times that women’s basketball is not as entertaining because it lacks the high-flying dunks that are consistently shown by the men, but I believe that to be an incredibly weak argument.

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Keisha Brown Set The Tone

By now, you know the story. The Lynx lost their home opener to the Sacramento Monarchs tonight after, what can only be considered as, an up-and-down performance. As we have come to expect, Seimone Augustus did her thing, gutting through her injury and peddling away on a stationary bike when she was not on the court. Augustus’ 28 points, unsurprisingly, paced the Lynx while her closest teammate in that department, Kristen Mann, had nine.

Minnesota was outrebounded by 19 boards and only shot 31.1% from the field. Although the defense of this young team was solid, holding last year’s Western Conference Champions to 38.3% shooting, they were unable to stop the Monarchs from hitting 7 of 13 shots from downtown. All this while hitting a single three point shot themselves.

…but, stats are boring. They don’t always tell the whole story.

Possibly the least-known member of this year’s squad, Keisha Brown’s line on the stat sheet were not anything special, but her presence on the court was the difference in the Lynx attack. Without the effort of this incredibly valuable bench player, the Lynx loss would have been by a much greater margin.

With number one pick, Lindsey Harding, having a “rookie night,” struggling in all aspects of the game, Coach Don Zierden subbed Keisha Brown into the game. From the moment Brown stepped onto the court, she had command of the team and played an important role in Minnesota continuing to fight until the final horn.

“You know, we got Lindsey out early because we thought she was trying to press too much, so we went ahead and went with Keisha,” said Coach Zierden after the game. “She ran the ball club and she got up defensively. By Keisha doing some good things in that first quarter, it gave me a chance to sit Lindsey longer and say ‘Listen, young lady, you’ve got to calm down and don’t base it on your shot. Base it on running the ball club’ …and, I thought Lindsey played a little hungrier in the second half.”

Speaking with Brown after the game, she stated “That was kind of a goal of mine today just to come out and to give the energy we need off the bench. Lindsey was struggling earlier on, so I just wanted to come in and move the ball and get everybody some touches.”

She continued with “I’ve had the opportunity to learn from Dawn Staley and Theresa Edwards and from a lot of other players that I played behind or with, so being able to bring that kind of poise to the court it was good. Everybody became confident and we started running the ball and doing what we should be doing.”

Many fans around the league were surprised when the Lynx final cut of Chandi Jones, not knowing what rookie Navonda Moore and Brown were capable of on the basketball court. Although the game eventually was another loss for the Lynx, Brown gave the hometown fans a glimpse of what they can expect from her. As I mentioned before the season, her intensity is contagious and her teammates took their cue from her on this night. I believe that if this young Lynx team continues to learn and follow the lead of Brown--who is the oldest player on the team--they will improve quickly.

First One In The Books

We couldn’t honestly expect this incredibly young Lynx team to start the 2007 season with a win on the road against Indiana. Although it may still be a buzz-kill to have the team start it off with a loss--as well as an injury to Seimone Augustus--we, as fans, must remember that this has been a perennially bad basketball team. They do have a few pieces in place, but still have a long way to go. So, as expected, there were some positives and negatives from the first game of the year.

As has been discussed the past couple seasons, Nicole Ohlde must step up and begin to play up to her potential. Although Ohlde started her season off quite well with 15 points and 9 rebounds--5 offensive rebounds--I will, as Brian Siemen stated throughout the game, reserve judgment on her until I see efforts like this consistently…or when I do not see these efforts regularly. Coach Zierden did start the season off on the right foot by going to Ohlde early and often in the post, in an effort to run the offense inside-out, as this always proves to be the most effective way to attack.

Throughout training camp, it has been a major concern that this team only has three legitimate post players in Ohlde, Raymond and Ress, with Kristen Mann filling in when needed. The concern, of course, is still there, but Minnesota won the rebounding battle with Indiana by a 7 board margin, led by Ohlde’s nine. For the Lynx to have any chance to stay competitive, they must continue to have all five crash the boards at all times in an effort to make up for their lack of posts.

The Lynx did show their youth in the first half, with 12 turnovers. Yet, they also showed their ability to take in the direction of their coaches and adjust, only turning the ball over three times in the second half. Personally, I will be curious to see the amount of turnovers that this team has tomorrow at home against Sacramento. Will they maintain that same focus (in this one area) tomorrow or will they relax because they are in the friendly confines of the Target Center, in front of the fans who support them wholeheartedly? Only time will tell.

After a slow start--in part due to Ohlde’s fast start--Seimone Augustus was able to pick up where she left off last season and, as expected, rookie Lindsey Harding had a solid first outing. The concern here is that outside of the 43 points by Augustus, Harding and Ohlde, the Lynx were only able to score 21 points between the other 8 players who saw court time. With only 10 bench points total in the game and 7 points from number 4 overall pick Noelle Quinn--all after Augustus’ injury--the supporting players showed that they are still searching for their roles on this team.

Simply outplayed by a superior team, the Lynx were only able to dish out a grand total of 7 assists. The older and more experienced Fever team was able to help each other achieve a grand total of 19. Augustus, at times, felt the weight of the franchise on her shoulders again, unable to trust her teammates as of yet, forcing up a few bad shots early in the shot clock. You can’t blame Augustus at this point. We are only one game in and it certainly is going to take time.

All-in-all, this was what was expected. The young pups outclassed by the veterans. One of the most important things a young team like the Lynx must learn to do is learning that they must protect their home court. To have any sort of chance at the Playoffs this season, this young Lynx team must start their “home-work” tomorrow.

A Chat With Keisha Brown

Arriving at Lynx practice a few weeks back, I was immediately drawn to the new face in the crowd, which belonged to Keisha Brown. In her first practice with her new teammates, she was already running the offense like the veteran that she is. At 28 years of age, she is also the oldest member of the 2007 Minnesota Lynx. I believe this to be a great plus for this team, as her confidence and swagger is contagious.

After practice this week, I sat down with Brown to discuss camp and the upcoming season, which starts about an hour from now.



SL: How excited are you for the up-tempo style of play that Coach Zierden is implementing?

KB: Me, I’m excited because it’s very natural to me. Ever since I started playing basketball, it’s always been kind of run-n-gun, feed and go, so to have the opportunity to play in this system--and Coach Z thinks I can fit in this system--it’s definitely a plus. I can use my abilities and just be natural with it.

SL: What has been the hardest part of training camp for you?

KB: It’s not necessarily hard per se, just because I’ve been in the league so long and a lot of plays become repetitive with just one or two wrinkles, depending on the coaches. Maintaining consistency, if anything, is the most difficult thing because we’re going to have our highs and we’re going to have our lows, but the whole point is to just maintain consistency through it all.

SL: What are your thoughts on Coach Zierden so far?

KB: Well, I like him. When I talk to people, the first thing I say about him is that he’s a great teacher and that I’m learning. I’m a sponge right now. With me being 28 and having more experience on this team, I like the fact that I’m still learning, I’m still eager to learn and he’s ready to teach. In that perspective, we can help each other because he’s certainly helping me.

SL: After the release of Katryna Gaither, are you concerned at all about the lack of post players on this team?

KB: No, just because we have a coaching staff and that’s their concern. Our concern is to come out here and play with the cards that we have and we’ve got good people, who can get the job done. That’s not really the players’ focus. That’s for the coaches and the organization to deal with. We trust them that they are going to get the job done because it’s going to make all of us in the organization look good.

SL: Now, it is your turn to be a scout for me and tell me what you’ve seen out of the rookies since your arrived in Minnesota.

KB: Shay Murphy is a good shooter, an aggressive defender, has so much she can improve upon, but is like a sponge. She’s going to get better every minute, so I’m excited about that.

SL: Navonda Moore?

KB: She’s quick, pure baller and athletic. She can shoot, come off the dribble and is just explosive.

SL: Lindsey Harding?

KB: Ah, I don’t know about her. She’s got so much natural talent at the point and has such a good head on her. That definitely helps with a program like this because you’re going to get a different look. She is definitely going to be fun to watch for many years to come.

SL: Kathrin Ress?

KB: I like her. I like her a lot. She doesn’t mind banging, she doesn’t mind being down there in the block and a lot of foreign players, you know, they always like that outside jumper. Kat, when she wants to get in there, she wants to get in there and bang and, obviously, she’s going to do nothing but get better.

SL: Noelle Quinn?

KB: Good girl. She’s one of those people who can, literally, play one through four and that’s a bonus on any team when you can have a person that can do that and she’s only going to get better with time. She’s a great shooter, she’s got great handle, a great eye for the floor and is a great passer, so she’s one of those people who can be the core of a team.

SL: Now, with the season starting soon, what do you feel will be your specific role on this team?

KB: My specific role is to make sure we keep our heads on. Like I said, this season is so fast that when we finish, it’s going to be a blur. Through it all, you just want to make sure that we maintain some kind of consistency. We’re going to have peaks and valleys, we’re going to have winning streaks, we’re going to have losing streaks and the whole key is to not get too emotional about it. As far as on the court, just kind of being the head of the body, if you will. First of all, keeping my head cool and being focused under pressure and having my players feel that energy coming off of me, so they can be able to react and play with a certain calmness, but aggressiveness as well.

SL: This team won 10-games last season. The acquisitions in the off-season were the rookies and yourself. They are all talented rookies, but rookies nonetheless. With that in mind, what do you believe is a realistic expectation for this team this season?

KB: What is there? 34 games? I’d say 0.500. We’re going to get it done on defense and I think that we all realize that. This league has gotten to the point where no one player can guard another person one-on-one and we’ve got to get it done on defense. Obviously, that starts with Lindsey and I up top on the ball. We start it off on defense and we’re going to be ok.

A Chat With Navonda Moore

Navonda Moore--or D, as her teammates call her--may be the least known member of this year’s Minnesota Lynx. Surfing around the numerous message boards that I take part in, I saw many people shocked that Chandi Jones was the final cut and not Moore. Yet, as someone who saw Moore at the beginning of camp through opening day, her heart, hustle and improvement were astounding. Quite honestly, when I first saw Moore, I thought there would be no way she would make this squad, but now, I am very excited for her contributions to this team.

After the Lynx open practice in Champlin this week, I sat down with Moore to discuss training camp and the season, which starts just a few hours from now.

SL: How excited are you for the up-tempo style of play that Coach Zierden is implementing?

NM: Oh, man, I’m very excited because people who have seen me play in the past, they know that’s kind of my style. I like to get up and down the floor. I don’t too much care for half-court sets. I will, if I have to, but I think the game is a lot more exciting for us as players and for our fans to see professional athletes get up and go. I’m happy that Z is like that. It fits me perfectly.

SL: What has been the hardest part of training camp for you?

NM: Me personally, it’s the two-a-days. Everyday. In college, we had periods where we would go more than once a day, but you have days off in between. We’ve been going hard. Two times a day…just pushing ourselves past that level that I didn’t think my body could go through. Playing against great players everyday twice a day, it’s a challenge. Once you get there, it’s a great feeling, but getting through this is hard, man. So, that was my challenge.

SL: What are your thoughts on Coach Zierden so far?

NM: He’s a great guy. The first conversation I had with him, he called me because I’m undrafted. He called me and he brought me up and, in that instant, I felt a great vibe and then meeting him was even better. You can tell right off the bat that he cares about us, not only as athletes, but as young women. You couldn’t ask for more in a coach.

SL: Especially now after the release of Katryna Gaither, are you concerned at all about the lack of post players on this team?

NM: Concerned? No. Coach Z challenges us and he challenges our post players every day. When people come in and see how hard these girls work to expand their game and to give everything to their team, they won’t be concerned either. Those post players are going to bring it every night.

SL: Now, be a scout for me and tell me what you’ve seen out of the other rookies in camp.

NM: For me personally--and this is from the bottom of my heart--I think this is one of the greatest rookies classes ever coming in. I mean, Lindsey Harding. What can you say? Number one draft pick. I watched her for years at Duke back home in Alabama and just to be able to play with her, I’m very excited. She’s a heady, heady point guard. She’s smart. She knows when to push it, she knows when to slow it down, she knows when to take it and she knows how to get her teammates involved. Defensively, she’s a beast. She’s going to go after other point guards with crazy, mad defense.

SL: Noelle Quinn?

NM: Noelle Quinn from UCLA. We call her ‘Butter’ because she’s got one of the purest jumpers I’ve seen in a long time. She’s smart too. Her thing is passing because she has tremendous passing abilities. You’ve always got to be ready because she’s real flashy, but it’s nice.

SL: Shay Murphy?

NM: Hard worker. She’s just a very intense person and crashes the boards real hard. Nice set jumper and just one of those people who knows how to win, wants to win and is willing to do anything to win.

SL: Kathrin Ress?

NM: Kat-Kat. A big, physical player down there. Great footwork and she loves to bang. She’s going to give you 100% every time she’s down on that block.

SL: With the season starting shortly, what do you feel will be your specific role on this team?

NM: The first conversation I had with Z, he said he wanted an athletic person defensively and that’s what I’ve been trying to focus on this whole training camp. At Alabama, I was the scorer. You know, I had to do a lot of things there, but now, I know I might have to step to that role of scoring a little bit, but I want to be that person he can put on anybody in the league--well, not post players--but, any great offensive guard in the league and he can be like ‘D, lock her up.’ I want to be that person, that defensive stopper and so I’ve been working on that and I take pride in that. Also, from the three position, crashing the boards real hard. I feel like I bring a lot of athleticism around the perimeter defensively and also crashing those offensive boards.

SL: Obviously, you were not a part of this team last year, but this team is coming off a 10-win season. The big acquisitions were all rookies, talented rookies, but you are all rookies nonetheless.

NM: What you trying to say, Stephen? (Laughs)

SL: Just saying that you guys are talented, but you’ll have to learn this league.

NM: Sure, sure.

SL: But with that in mind, what do you think is a realistic expectation for this team this season?

NM: You know what? I’m not going to do that. You’re not going to trap me into doing that, but I will tell you this. The good thing about this team here is the fact that we are rookies. We have talented rookies. We can hear about last year, but we weren’t a part of that. It’s unfortunate that it was like that and I feel for the vets who had to go through that, but this is a whole different year. Fortunately for the rookies, we don’t have that to think about. That’s not in our minds. I just think the way this team is built this year, with our athleticism and our up and down temp and the way we plan on getting into people defensively, I’m not going to give you a number, but I will say this…it will be a very special season.

Svetlana Speaks

After arriving in the Twin Cities only on Wednesday, Svetlana Abrosimova has a lot of catching up to do. She has arrived to a new-look team with a new head coach, system and philosophy. However, Svet is a smart player and seemed to be picking things up quickly today in practice.

After today’s practice (her first with her new teammates), I sat down with Abrosimova for a chat.

SL: So, this team has a new look since you were last here...

SA: Yeah, every year is new. Right now, it’s a completely different team. I think we have five players returning from last year, but it’s obviously different because of the coaching staff. For me right now, it’s just getting adjusted to what they really want us to do. I mean, I really missed a lot. Three weeks. I’ve been playing, so I’m not out of shape. I’m ready to go, but I’m just learning the system and I’ve got to get in right away. That’s the tough part. I like what I saw today though. People working hard. I like the rookies, but I haven’t seen anyone play in NCAAs, so this is the first time I saw them, but it was good.

SL: What are your thoughts on Coach Zierden after your first practice with him?

SA: I like how he’s very demanding. He has certain rules and he wants people to follow it. I do one thing wrong and he stops me right away and he says ‘We don’t do this because we did this last year’ and that’s when we were the worst team in the country. He’s got his rules and that’s what a young team needed because when you play for the national team people have more experience and they can help each other, but here, you kind of have to teach it.

SL: Is the fast paced style of play Coach Zierden is implementing what you prefer to play?

SA: Yes. Everybody likes the up-tempo style unless you’re a really, really big post and it’s hard for you physically. We have a lot of guards on this team, so that’s the kind of style they want to play. Run, score a lot of points and move a lot…it’s fun.

SL: Then, the other side of that…with the amount of guards there are on this team, are you concerned with the lack of post players?

SA: You know, I can’t answer that…but, yes.

SL: You’ll have to be careful with playing overseas, then coming here for a full season to not wear yourself out.

SA: You know, we had a lot of players on my team, so it’s not like I played 30 minutes every game. There were games where I only played 15 or 20 minutes, so it’s really good for all of us because there were a lot of WNBA players. Because we had a lot of really good players, we rotated and we didn’t play that much. Only at the end, the last part was tough. I had to play a lot of minutes, but that makes you in good shape and I feel like I’m ok. I don’t want to stop right now. I’m switching teams, so that helps. If I had to go back to the same team, that would be tough. Because of switching continents, the new coaches and teammates, it’s exciting and you want to keep going. I won everything over there and I want to bring that good luck to the Lynx. You know, it’s like ‘Keep ‘em coming.’

SL: With Roger Griffith able to swing the deal to acquire Lindsey Harding on top of drafting Noelle Quinn this year, do you finally feel as if this organization has a plan for the future and has taken the first step?

SA: I don’t think that’s the right way to put it. I mean, yeah, we got a good player. I heard she accomplished a lot, but this is a new league for her. She’s a rookie point guard and that’s extremely hard. She’s not going to be the only one to help us. I mean, last year we got Seimone, everybody talked about her and what happened? It’s not up to one or two players, but it’s going to take everybody.

SL: I know that you really had to put some thought in this summer if you really wanted to come back to the Lynx…

SA: Yes.

SL: So, what has to happen this season for you to want to remain in Minnesota after this season is over?

SA: Honestly last year, the chances of me coming back were like 10%. I really was tired, I was frustrated, I didn’t feel like this team was going in the right direction and I just didn’t see how we could get better. Now, obviously, we are already better, but everybody else is getting better too. This is my team, right now, for this year and I don’t want to think about next year. You always think about your options, but, as of right now, this is my team and I can’t wait for us to get better because not many people respect us right now.

A Chat With Nicole Ohlde

I have been hard on Nicole Ohlde since I began covering the Lynx. That is because I believe that she has the talent to be an All-Star in the WNBA and, apparently, Coach Zierden and his staff feel the same. Throughout training camp, the new coaching staff have been pushing Ohlde to achieve her potential this season and, hopefully, Lynx fans will reap the rewards of their work this season.

After practice last week, I sat down with Ohlde to discuss training camp and the upcoming season, which is now only three days away.

SL: How excited are you for the up-tempo style of play that Coach Zierden is implementing this season?

NO: Well, definitely very exciting. I think that with the team we have right now, that style of play will be to our benefit. I like getting out and running, getting the rebound, out-letting it quick and, like I said, with our guards that we have that are so quick, we also have quick post players. They’re mobile and we can get up and down the floor, so I’m definitely excited.

SL: What’s been the hardest part of training camp for you so far?

NO: I think, obviously, when you have a new coach and adjusting to his philosophy and the way the new coaching staff runs things, I wouldn’t say it’s difficult, but it’s different. But, I’m not going to lie, it’s been tough. The two-a-days have been…um, we’re in here a lot, but, I think, in the long run it’s going to pay off for us. Everybody that was here last year knew the feeling that we had and we all knew we wanted to change it, so this is a step towards changing that.

SL: What are your thoughts on Coach Zierden so far?

NO: He’s a great guy definitely. First of all, as a person, he’s very genuine, he cares about us and he’s somebody that you can go to with anything. From a coaching perspective, his knowledge of the game is great. He wants us to get better each and every time we step on the court and he wants us to leave here feeling like we got better. He’s putting his heart and soul into helping us achieve that.

SL: Numbers-wise, are you concerned about the lack of post players on this team, especially after the release of Katryna Gaither?

NO: No, definitely not. I think we have three of us back from last year and a rookie in Kathrin, so we’re good where we’re at. We’re trying to hold it down and we’re in here working extra and I think the coaching staff that we have is going to bring the most out of us. We all think that we can get it done.

SL: So, um, in my first article for the Downtown Journal, I basically put the pressure of this season on you specifically.

NO: Gee, thanks.

SL: Sure. Do you believe that is a fair assessment of this team? In order for this team to achieve anything this season, Nicole Ohlde has to step up and take her game to that next level?

NO: I think definitely I need to step up and, if you ask anyone in this gym about my past couple years, I do need to step up. That’s something coming into the season that I want to do and I’m looking forward to doing it. My teammates and the coaching staff have confidence in me and I’m ready for the season to get going to accept the challenge.

SL: Do you need to get “mean” on the court?

NO: If you want to call it mean or call it aggressive, sure. I mean, basically I just need to be aggressive all the time. That’s something that the coaching staff is working with me every day and trying to get that into my brain. Some people call it mean, but basically you just have to produce more, so whatever way you can get that done, get it done.

SL: Everyone else has had to do it, so now it’s your turn to be a scout for me. Tell me what you’ve seen out of the rookies in camp so far.

NO: We’ll start with Shay. She’s extremely athletic, she can hit the jumper, she can hit the three, she can get to the lane and she’s taller. She’s an excellent rebounded coming in off the wing and is someone who can help us out a lot.

SL: Kathrin Ress?

NO: Kathrin is a hard worker. I mean, look at her…she’s always in here doing extra work. She’s a big body and she’s strong. She has a little bit of that European style being from Italy, so she has those up-and-unders, the fifteen footers and a lot of combo moves.

SL: Noelle Quinn?

NO: She’s extremely quiet for one thing. She’ll trick you though…she’ll talk a lot, but she’s quiet. She’s an excellent passer, very smooth and you’ve always got to have your hands up and ready because there is going to be a pass coming.

SL: …and Lindsey Harding?

NO: She’s the quickest person out here. She’s an excellent leader and she’s very vocal. She stepped up to the challenge right away when she got here and she’s someone who wants to lead. All of these rookies want to win and take us to that next level.

SL: Finally, this team is coming off a 10-win season and the key acquisitions in the off-season were rookies. They’re all talented, but rookies nonetheless. So, with that in mind, what do you believe is a realistic expectation for this team this season?

NO: Obviously, coming into this season, we want to be competitive. Last year, there weren’t a lot of games where we were competitive. I would say 10. Ultimately, we want to reach the playoffs, we want to be Western Conference Champions and we want to be champions. We’re definitely going to win a lot more games then ten, I think we’re going to be exciting, we’re going to work extremely hard and we’re going to surprise a lot of people.

A Chat With Tamika Raymond

Now, with the release of Katryna Gaither, Tamika Raymond is once again one of the elder statesmen on this Lynx team. What is disturbing about that is that she was only born in 1980, making her only 27 years old. Yet, Raymond continues to have the knowledge of a veteran with the same athletic ability she had coming into the league.

Last week, I sat down with Raymond after practice to discuss training camp and the upcoming season.

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SL: Can you speak on how excited you are for the up-tempo style of play Coach Zierden is implementing for this season?

TR: I’m really excited for the up-tempo style. I think it’s been missing since Theresa Edwards was our point guard and I think with the young players we have, along with the core of players who came back and the new coaching staff, that it’s really going to work out. They’re pushing us. The reason that I think it’s going to work is that they work on the small things, you know? They don’t forget the little stuff. That little stuff is important.

SL: What has been the hardest part of training camp?

TR: I think the hardest part of camp for me is keeping up with the young kids. I think that’s the first thing. The second thing is the different players. We have a totally different team from last year. We were a little bit slower and we ran less, but this year, it’s hard because everybody is an option. Ohlde, Seimone, Lindsey and we have other people who can create their own shots. If you’re open, every shot is a good shot for you as long as it’s in your range and everything. I love that part and it’s great for our team.

SL: What are your thoughts on Coach Zierden to this point?

TR: I just think the staff, from Roger Griffith on down, treat us like people. That’s the thing that I like about the assistant coaches right now is that they treat us like we’re important. Taking us out to Vegas was great, staying that extra day was great and, you know, we get treated like pros. It’s more of a give-and-take situation and it’s more like a family. That’s how I look at it. If he yells at me, it’s like my Dad yelling at me, getting on me about something. I know that at the end of the day, he wants me to get better. If he didn’t say anything to me, he wouldn’t be thinking about me and that goes for everybody. If he gets intense, it needs to get fixed, so that’s important. Z, T, CJ, Coach Ed, Chuck and Matt…these people that work behind the scenes, they don’t get paid much and they don’t have to be here. They’re here everyday and they love what we do and that’s family to me.

SL: Ok, now it’s your turn to be a scout for me. Tell me what you’ve seen out of the rookies this season.

TR: Well, since Shay’s in here, I’ll start with her. Shay’s got a nice three point shot and she can stroke it if she’s got those feet set. She can get in the lane and she likes to pull up. She likes to slash. She can do a little bit of everything, but she’s been out with that ankle so she’s trying to get that back.

SL: Lindsey Harding?

TR: With Lindsey, I call her a gnat. I feel like she’s the young Debbie Black. She’s everywhere defensively. Offensively, you don’t see a lot of girls who can play with the guys, who can get past them…I mean, she can get past them off her quickness. She’s got a nice pull up jumpshot, she gets us into the flow of the game, she can finish at the rim above everybody and she’s a leader.

SL: Noelle Quinn?

TR: She’s kind of got a smooth game. Very smooth. Very Magic Johnson-ish in her passes. As far as her handle and everything, it kind of comes out of nowhere. She’s got a nice three point shot, she can get to the rim, pull up and she’s kind of like Shay. She can do a little of everything, but she’s just kind of smoother at it.

SL: Kathrin Ress?

TR: That’s my buddy. My Italian buddy. We go to the Italian restaurant. She’s a great teammate, both on and off the court. The other thing about Kathrin is that she can stretch it out. She has a nice 15 foot, a nice three point shot and she’s probably our best combo move post. She can throw four, five, six, seven or eight moves at you in one possession. She definitely has a counter to everything the defense can throw at her.

SL: This team is coming off a 10-win season last year. The off-season acquisitions are the rookies. They are all talented rookies, but are rookies nonetheless. With that in mind, what is a realistic expectation for this season?

TR: I really don’t want to put an expectation on this team. This team, because of it’s youth, needs to experience pressure, needs to experience the coaches staying on us about the little things, needs experience working hard, pushing through being tired and experience listening. They don’t know that Sheryl Swoopes, when she goes right, she likes to go to the basket. When she goes left, she likes to pull up. They don’t know these players as well as some of the rest of us do and they’re going to be playing a lot more. They have to listen to what the coaches say and what the veterans say, so they don’t get embarrassed. They don’t have to learn the hard way because they have a little bit of a cushion to be successful. That’s the biggest thing for us is to just get better every day, to push each other every day, to get stronger and to really listen to the coaching staff. They learn because they listen.

Svet's Back!

A Closer Look At Lynx Head Coach Don Zierden

The new head coach of the Minnesota Lynx, Don Zierden, is a man of many faces. Upon meeting him for the first time, you come away feeling as if you have met the nicest man you will ever meet.

I met Coach Zierden myself for the first time in one of the Target Center suites on Feb. 7 as the Timberwolves were playing the Golden State Warriors. After we were introduced, Coach Zierden shook my hand and asked if I would like to go sit down and talk basketball with him and, of course, I jumped at the opportunity.

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A Chat With Amber Jacobs

Amber Jacobs is coming off a career year, which was one of the lone bright spots for the Lynx last season. Now, with the addition of number one pick, Lindsey Harding, Jacobs slides over to the shooting guard position, which is a more natural position for her. It would not be unexpected to see Jacobs have another breakout year quietly as the chatter around this team goes to teammates.

Earlier this week, I sat down with Amber Jacobs after practice to discuss training camp and the upcoming season.

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SL: How excited are you for the up-tempo style of play Coach Zierden is implementing?

AJ: I’m very excited about this season. I think Coach Z has a plan and he’s done great things already. We’re definitely going to be an up-tempo team. That’s what he wants from us, but yet, looking to get a good shot. Seimone and Ohlde are, obviously, going to be our go-to players, but, hopefully, this will take some of that pressure off of them. I think what creates an up-tempo team is the defense and he’s really been stressing that big time, you know? Just the fact that we gave up 80.4 points per game last year. Our defense is going to be much better this year, which will, hopefully, create our offense.

SL: So, what are your thoughts on Coach Zierden as a whole so far?

AJ: The first thing that just comes to my head is just his passion. His passion for the game and his passion for us ladies. He is an excellent teacher of the game and I think, not only does he have a great coaching staff around him, but he just brings so much knowledge of this game. He really likes to push us to our potential and just bleeds the most out of us. I feel like I’ve already gotten better and understood the game more as a player just in these last two weeks in camp.

SL: What has been the hardest part of camp so far for you?

AJ: You know, every day is not only physically challenging, but it’s mentally challenging. That’s what championship teams are all about. They’re in top shape, but they can also mentally stay focused and stay aggressive when time is winding down. That’s what Z is bringing to each practice. He’s pushing us to when we think we can’t go anymore, but yet, we jump over that hump and surpass it. That’s what great teams do and, obviously, that is where we want to be.


SL: OK, so now I want you to be a scout for me. Tell me what you’ve seen out of Lindsey Harding in camp so far.

AJ: Lindsey is our true point guard. I think she’s already stepped up into a leadership role and she’s feeling comfortable with running the point. She’s so aggressive for our team offensively and defensively.

SL: Noelle Quinn?

AJ: Q has really started to come into her own. She’s getting into the quickness and the strength of the game and she’s becoming more aggressive herself. She’s working hard defensively and offensively, she not only brings her passing ability, but she’s a great shooter too. She can also crash the boards as well. She’s doing little things for us, you know? Knocking down that shot when we need her to.

SL: Shay Murphy?

AJ: Shay? She brings a lot of spunk to this team. She’s always smiling, always in a peppy, great mood and, even though she’s been out this past week or so with an ankle injury, she’s been on the sidelines cheering us on and continuing to encourage us. I’m excited to see her back into things this week because she’s a great shooter and she works so hard. She wants it just as bad as anybody else on this team. She’s very competitive.

SL: Kathrin Ress?

AJ: I think Kathrin has been developing more and more every practice just understanding post play in the WNBA. I mean, it is physical and I think she’s doing a great job of getting boards and bodying people defensively. Offensively, she’s looking for her move or her shot and she’s doing a good job of getting position and finding the open person.

SL: Are you concerned at all about the lack of post players on the team?

AJ: We have solid post players. When other teams look at us, they see two things. Yes, we’re a young team and, yes, we are very guard heavy. I think Coach Z and everyone on this team has faith in our post play and, obviously, that starts with Nicole Ohlde. There’s a little pressure on her to start it off on the inside, but she’s working so hard. She’s been more aggressive and attacking the hoop more then I’ve ever seen her and she’s really striving to be that person inside for us. Then, the other post are doing a great job of working around her.

SL: This team won 10-games last season. You added Katryna Gaither and the rookies in the off-season. They’re all talented rookies, but are rookies nonetheless. What is a realistic expectation for this season?

AJ: Man, putting me on the spot! Well, realistically, we will be better this year then last year for one thing. Realistically, we should be over 0.500. We should be winning more games then we are losing. Realistically, everyone on this team wants to be in the playoffs and wants to strive for that championship this year. Whether that will happen or not, I can’t really tell yet, but I know it’s going to be a much better year then last year.

A Chat With Shay Murphy

Shay Murphy, much like Kristen Mann, could play an incredibly important part in the Lynx quest to return to the playoffs this year. On a team with the likes of Seimone Augustus, Lindsey Harding, Noelle Quinn and Nicole Ohlde, there are enough players scoring the ball. Players like Murphy, who are capable of scoring, but can contribute to the team in other ways, will need to find their identity quickly. Although Murphy has not been able to participate in camp as much as she would like to, she is well on her way to finding her own niche on this team.

I sat down with Shay last week to discuss camp and the soon-approaching season.

SL: How excited are you for the up-tempo style of play that Coach Zierden is implementing?

SM: Well, it’s really exciting. I think this organization this year has a great mix of veterans and some rookies involved, so that means we’ve got a lot of athleticism. I think this team is going to be fast-paced, but controlled with our veterans. The coaching staff is going to be able to mix it up, depending on our opponent, so I’m really excited to be a part of it. I’ll just get out and run, make some plays and get the crowd into it.

SL: What’s been the hardest part of camp so far?

SM: I think the hardest part so far is just being consistent. I’m not able to do everything I want with the team right now. Whether it’s sitting out or just being on the sideline, that’s just really difficult for anybody no matter what level you’re at. On the games though, it’s just being consistent and knowing how hard you need to play every time, every second, and that’s something that really takes a lot of heart and work ethic. I’m glad we’re getting pushed to the test and I think it’s making me a better player.

SL: What are your thoughts on Coach Zierden so far?

SM: I think he’s a great coach so far. He has a great philosophy to his style of play, what he expects on and off the court and what he expects from his coaching staff. I really like it. I’m comfortable and he’s a father figure. He’ll push you. I mean, he’ll treat you like you’re one of his own kids, so that’s good. Ultimately, it will get you better and it’s only to benefit the team. It’s nothing too harsh that he wouldn’t treat his own kids, which is great. He’s positive and I’m real excited to play for him. I want to do exactly what he wants and make him proud.

SL: Now I want you to be a scout for me. Tell me what you’ve seen out of Lindsey Harding so far in camp.

SM: Oh, Lindsey’s really athletic and quick. She’s a creator and she’s a true point guard. She looks to dish to her teammates, but she has the ability to attack and score at will. She’s got long arms, a great defender and an all-around solid game. I really like playing with her and being her teammate. She’s a great player and can do it all.

SL: How about Kathrin Ress?

SM: Kathrin’s great. She’s a great teammate. She works real hard and she wants to get it right, you know? She tries her hardest and she’ll try 150 times until she gets it right. She’s really positive and encouraging all the time and she works her butt off, whether it’s defense or offense. She sets great screens and is an overall great team player. She’s a great person to have on the floor at all times because she’s pretty skilled down low. She’ll get you with the up and under and finish, so that’s great.

SL: Are you concerned at all with the lack of post players on the team this season?

SM: I’m not really concerned because of prior experiences at USC. I just think it’s unfortunate when somebody gets in foul trouble or a player gets hurt, but we’re a balanced team. We’re pretty deep, our bench is pretty solid and I don’t think the talent or athleticism is going to dip when the coaching staff needs to go to the bench. I think it’s just another opportunity for somebody to step up and, I think, any given night, anybody could be the ‘go-off’ player, the ‘go-to’ player. I think that’s just with having a well-balanced bench and a coaching staff that believes in everybody’s abilities. You have to do a scouting report on all of us…it’s not just one now, so that’s exciting.

SL: Have you been able to determine at this point what your specific role will be on this team?

SM: A little bit, but not really. I think my role and my goal is to go out every day and play 100%. Just give my entire work ethic and do whatever the team wants me to do that night. Whether it’s scoring, defending, knocking down free throws or maybe it’s just cheering, whatever they want me to do that day, I’ll do it. I’m just happy to be a part of the team. That task or assignment, I just hope I complete that, you know? That’s my goal and they’ll never have to coach effort with me. I’ll give it to them 100%.

SL: This team won 10-games last year. The acquisitions this off-season were Katryna Gaither and the rookies. You are all talented rookies, but are rookies nonetheless. What do you believe is a realistic expectation for the Lynx this season?

SM: Definitely a realistic expectation is winning more then 10 games. I just think we’ll shock a lot of teams, you know? Yeah, you know, we’re rookies and we’re young, but I just think our effort is going to shock a lot of teams. Our heart, we do have heart and we’re going to be the team to sneak up on someone. We’re excited for that and as long as our coaching staff never has to coach effort, we’re going to be happy with ourselves. Definitely taking it one day at a time and each day get better, each game get better. ‘Work Hard.’ That’s the slogan, you know? As long as we do that and contribute and stay together through the good times and the bad times—and this organization has had bad times—we’ll shock people.

Minnesota Lynx 2007: Young and Athletic, But Does That Bring More Wins?

Coming off an insanely frustrating season covering the Minnesota Timberwolves and their unbalanced roster, it is somewhat concern causing to see how guard-heavy the women’s pro basketball team, the Lynx, are as well. When a team struggles to rebound the ball efficiently, giving themselves more offensive possessions, they oftentimes will find themselves on the losing end of the contest.

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A Chat With Noelle Quinn

Lost in the excitement of adding this year’s number one pick, Lindsey Harding, to last year’s number one pick, Seimone Augustus, is the fact that Noelle Quinn isn’t too shabby herself. The fourth overall pick in the 2007 draft, Quinn completed an amazing career at UCLA and fulfilled a dream of playing in the WNBA.

An interesting stat on Quinn is that she is the only player in UCLA history (male or female) to score 1700+ points, grab 700+ rebounds, and dish out 400+ assists in her career. Coming from a school rich in basketball tradition like UCLA, that is quite an accomplishment. Quinn is well on her way to living up to the expectations she sets on herself admiring the great Magic Johnson.

After practice last week, I sat down with Noelle Quinn to discuss training camp and the upcoming season.

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SL: How excited are you to play the up-tempo style that Coach Zierden is implementing?

NQ: Definitely very excited. That’s the type of style I enjoy to play since I started playing basketball. I am a fan of just pushing the ball and generating excitement, not only for our team, but for the fans. That’s what fans like to see. In college, I played up-tempo also, I’m used to it and excited.

SL: What has been the hardest part of camp so far for you?

NQ: Two things, I’d say. First, the two-a-days. We not only practice, but we work with our strength and conditioning coach and he works us pretty hard and then, coming back at night. The second aspect is kind of like the mental aspect. This is a new level for me, so I have to remember that I can make mistakes. It’s kind of like I’m re-learning the game, which isn’t exactly how I should put it, but it’s difficult. It’s faster pace, you’re playing with grown women, so I’ve just got to keep my focus and keep my mind correct.

SL: What are your thoughts so far on new head coach Don Zierden?

NQ: He’s a great guy. First off, he’s very genuine, very family-oriented and he’s a phenomenal person. Just talking to him, he’s really passionate about basketball and he wants to change this franchise around. I enjoy every moment I have within his presence and I’m constantly learning from him. On the court, he wants to get the best out of you. He has a very good drive and that’s generating our thoughts and strengthening our playing abilities. He’s going to love you, but if you mess up, he’s going to tell you. I haven’t had that type of coach to get on me, but at the same time I have to think that it’s nothing personal. He’s just making me better.

SL: Are you concerned at all about the lack of post players on this team?

NQ: I don’t think it’s a big concern just because of our style of play since we like to get up and down the court. Hopefully, that won’t be our Achilles, not having a lot of post players. On the flip-side, we have great perimeter players and we kind of have combo players that can get in there and rebound. It’s very competitive right now. Everybody is fighting for a spot, but I don’t think our posts are lacking at all. It doesn’t matter how big you are, it’s about how much heart you have.

SL: Now, it’s your turn to be a scout for me. Tell me what you’ve seen out of Lindsey Harding so far in camp.

NQ: Lindsey Harding is a great player. She’s a great floor leader and she’s the type of person who is a natural leader. Her aura and the way she talks…she’s just a leader. She’s been a great point guard for Duke, she’s a great shooter, she can score, she knows how to keep the team together, she makes your life less hard, plays great defense and she’s an all-around great player.
SL: Have you been able to determine at this point what your role will be on this team?

NQ: Z wants me to play a little bit of point behind Lindsey, so I’m working every day to get better at that because that’s not my comfort, but I can do it. I’m a taller guard and the rest of my game is very versatile. As of right now, I don’t know really, but I’m in here just working hard on defense, which is one thing I need to improve on. I’m getting better every day.

SL: What’s been the best advice or words of encouragement that you have received since draft day?

NQ: I’d say from Nikki Blue from the Washington Mystics. She’s one of my closest friends. I was just telling her some of the difficulties I’m going through with being on my own and all that stuff. The best thing she said was ‘You’re here. You made it here because you’re a great player and you’re meant to be here, so keep working at it and don’t get down.” There are going to be days when you go through everything and you think it’s the worst day ever, but she was just telling me that I could do it. Just positive reinforcement.

SL: This team won 10 games last year. The acquisitions in the off-season were Katryna Gaither and the rookies. You are all talented, but are rookies nonetheless. With that in mind, what do you feel is a realistic expectation for this team this season?

NQ: First of all, we’re going to win more then 10 games. A lot of people are talking about how young we are, but we still have veteran players coming in. Right now, looking at the NBA playoffs and watching Golden State, they’re not supposed to be winning. Charles Barkley called them ‘midgets’ and all this stuff is going on, but, as a team, they play hard and they get after it defensively. If you look at the Lynx, we understand that people think we’re not going to do it and all we have is us.

First Article in Print

For those of you who are in the downtown area, be sure to pick up your copy of Downtown Journal. My first article is printed in the Monday, May 7 issue.

I will post the link as soon as the link has been created.

Lynx/Stars-Breakdown

The first preseason game is in the books for the Lynx and, looking at the box score, there are both positives and negatives for Coach Zierden’s team. Although this was only the first preseason game and there are still two weeks of training camp, scrimmages and one final preseason game, it is never too early to break down the stats.

Minnesota won the rebounding battle with San Antonio with the final tally being 34-27. The Lynx were also aggressive on the offensive glass, pulling down 11 offensive boards to set themselves up for second-chance points. The new coaching staff must be doing something correctly in this area as all 12 players who stepped on the floor for the Lynx grabbed at least one rebound. It is certainly a necessity for this team to have all five players rebounding with the lack of bigs and it seems, at least at the onset, that the team is doing just that.

Yet, looking at the rebounding as a positive, one negative that stands out is the inability to move the ball well. This resulted in a grand total of 7 assists for the game, with four coming from the starters and three off the bench. This will not get it done, to say the least. What is also concerning here is that the team’s two stars, Seimone Augustus and Lindsey Harding, combined for 20 shots to zero assists. At this point, the stars either do not have trust in their teammates or their teammates let them down by missing shots that would have given them a mark in the assist column.

The bench for Minnesota had a nice performance off the bench from the field. With the starters combining to shoot 13 of 35 from the field, the bench players shot an even 50% with their 9 of 18 shooting. As numerous players have told me throughout training camp, it is with efforts like this that this team proves it’s motto of “We’ve got each other’s backs.” On this night, the starting unit did not have their “A-game” and, although rust is somewhat excusable at this point, the second unit was able to come in and hit shots when needed. This needs to continue.

The defensive effort was evident in the Lynx ability to force 20 turnovers in this game. Watching this team so far in camp, the focus has been on the defensive end and the ability to communicate effectively with each other to achieve defensive dominance. The 20 forced turnovers, as well holding San Antonio to 38.5% shooting and 62 total points certainly shows that this team is buying into this focus…and that they have the ability to do so when they are focused.

The problem? Minnesota turned the ball over themselves an astounding 25 times. Again, this is only the first preseason game, but it is an alarming number. What jumps out of the box score here is that 19 of those turnovers came from the starting five alone, led by Nicole Ohlde’s six alone.

Eleven of the 12 players for Minnesota scored in this game, with Keisha Brown being the only one not to score a point. Yet, of the nine players who played double-figures in minutes, only Augustus and Harding were able to break double-figures in points. Rookie Noelle Quinn did end up with nine points on 3 of 5 shooting, but, at this point, those numbers seem to show the same dependence on Augustus to do a lion’s share of the work in this area.

On a night when Nicole Ohlde returned to Kansas, her line for this contest is the most concerning of all. In 27 minutes of action, Ohlde shot 2-9 from the field, scored 7 points, pulled down 6 rebounds and 6 turnovers. Haven’t we been hearing how Ohlde was working on not being so nice once she steps foot on the court since camp began? This was an opportunity for Ohlde to announce to the WNBA world that she isn’t the same old nice player that has been around for awhile now…this is a new Nicole Ohlde.

Hopefully, after another week of her teammates force-feeding her the ball and telling her to punish lesser defenses, she will be able to show this new player that we’ve heard so much about in Baton Rouge.

A Chat With Kristen Mann

Kristen Mann is somewhat of a question mark for the Lynx this season, but that’s a good thing. Will she play predominantly at the three position or will she, almost out of necessity, have to play at the four? Certainly possessing the talent to play either spot, Mann is searching for her niche on this team and will, most certainly, play a pivotal role in the Lynx success or failure in 2007.

After Thursday night’s scrimmage, I spoke with Kristen Mann on the upcoming season and training camp so far.

SL: Can you speak on how excited you are to play the up-tempo style of play that Coach Zierden is implementing?

KM: Wow. Well, I can tell you that I’m exhausted after every practice and that’s just showing you how hard we’re working and is completely different from last year. The new coaching staff is getting to the point from the get-go and they’re holding every single person on this team accountable. We’re scrimmaging against guys almost every single night and that’s definitely going to help us improve our game.

SL: What’s been the hardest part of camp so far?

KM: It’s been physically challenging and mentally. We’re doing a lot of tough, a lot of demanding drills. We can, obviously, do everything that’s physical, but everything is mental and that’s the hardest part. Just telling yourself ‘You can do it’ and ‘Don’t give in.’ I feel like we’re almost back in college just from all the running and everything that we’re doing. I’m not complaining at all. I mean, it’s great. We’re going to be in really good shape and even our strength coach, he’s phenomenal. That’s definitely been the hardest part.

SL: You touched on this a little bit, but, obviously, the coaching staff is new this year besides Carolyn Jenkins. What are your thoughts on Coach Zierden so far?

KM: I love the guy already. From day one when I first met him, he’s very upfront and honest with me and I think that’s what this team needs. We need someone who is going to look you dead in the eye and tell you what your weaknesses are, what your strengths are and what he believes you can do. That’s another big thing is that he believes in every single person who is on the floor and he has a lot of trust in us, just like we have a lot of trust in him. He’s an awesome guy and I think he’ll have a great career here as head coach for the Lynx.

SL: Are you concerned at all about the lack of post players on this team this season?

KM: Not at all. I mean, if you look at us, we’re definitely undersized in the post, but we’re definitely fighting. We’re going up against big time guys out here who are a lot bigger then us and we’re finding ways to work around them and use our strengths against them. I’m not concerned at all. Like I told you before, I knew our coaches were up to something and I trust their decisions.

SL: It may be a little tough at this point in camp, but have you begun to define what your specific role will be for this team?

KM: Yes and no. I mean, I can tell you right now that they want me to be more of a presence on the court and not, kind of, be out there. They give us feedback after almost every scrimmage and that’s been a common thing for me is that when I’m out there, they want me to do something. Whether that’s crashing the boards and getting a rebound, being a defensive stopper or scoring, just anything like that. I think, for me personally, is to just get better defensively. That’s always been something in the back of my mind since college.

SL: You are coming off a ten-win season and the big acquisitions are Katryna Gaither and the rookies. They’re certainly talented rookies, but are rookies nonetheless. So, what do you believe is a realistic expectation for this team this season?

KM: We are definitely not going to finish last, I can tell you that. You know, I can’t blame anybody, outsiders, media or whoever because we had a terrible year last year and we just haven’t had a very good track record lately. I can tell you that after our scrimmage we had in Las Vegas that Sacramento, Detroit and Houston can tell that there’s a difference and so do the referees. I don’t know what number we’re going to finish, I don’t know if I can say that we’ll go out there and win a championship because that’s looking too far ahead, but we’re going to take it one game at a time and, hopefully, come out with more wins then losses.