Burse Brings It Off the Bench

With starting center Kamila Vodichkova struggling through a night in which she would shoot 2-for-6 from the field and grab just two rebounds, Seattle Storm Coach Anne Donovan did not hesitate to go to her bench during the second half of Saturday's game against the Los Angeles Sparks. At the 16:23 mark of the first half, with the Storm leading 50-38, Donovan sent in Janell Burse, playing her second game in Seattle, to replace Vodichkova.

Burse takes it strong to the hole against Los Angeles. Jeff Reinking/NBAE/Getty

Burse would play the balance of the game, and after the Sparks momentarily cut the lead to six points, the Storm would go on a 43-23 run the rest of the way to defeat Los Angeles by 26 points.

It would be an exaggeration to say Burse was the reason the Storm played so well in the second half, but she certainly played a role. Burse scored all 12 of her points during the second half, making five of seven shots and adding five rebounds. It was the first double-digit scoring effort by a Storm reserve this season after that occurred just six times last year, but with Burse - who averaged 7.1 points per game last year in Minnesota - that number should jump this season.

"She gives me so many options," said Donovan. "When I look down the bench to sub for Lauren or Kamila, we don't lose anything there. Her size - she's a true 6-5 post that can contend with the likes of Lisa Leslie. And for us, in our offense, it's just a different style. It's a real benefit to have her on the roster this year."

That's exactly what the Storm imagined when the team acquired Burse in a three-player deal with the Lynx two days before the WNBA Draft. In Vodichkova and MVP Lauren Jackson, the Storm already boasted one of the best starting frontcourts in the league. Now, with Burse on board, the Storm's top three post players can match up with anyone.

To some extent, Burse's acquisition was a natural reaction to the Storm's problems in the middle after Vodichkova sprained her left foot late last season and the Storm went 2-4 in her absence. Burse is excellent insurance should one of the Storm's starters up front go down. Even when the team is at full strength, however, Burse is a valuable contributor who can pick up for a struggling starter.

That's how it worked on Saturday.

"Everybody on our team should be like that," said Burse after Monday's practice. "If I'm doing bad, somebody should come in and pick me up. It should never be somebody's doing bad, somebody else comes in and does bad too. I know if I'm doing bad or having a problem with something, you want to count on your teammates to be there."

"I think Janell is more confident," said Donovan. "I think she was more ready to go against L.A. I think players are getting to know her strengths. When she's down low in our motion offense, she needs to get the ball. She makes good things happen."

Where Burse has most impressed onlookers during training camp and the five games she's played with the Storm, three during the preseason, is with her ability to score in the paint. Burse aggressively attacks the glass and finishes as well as any Storm player save Jackson. Twice in the second half on Saturday, Burse powered through contact to score and draw the foul.

The kind of finishing ability that allowed Burse to shoot 49% from the field last season has proven especially valuable on a team that features a pair of All-WNBA first-teamers in Jackson and Sue Bird drawing double-teams and setting up their teammates.

"Definitely they open up a lot, and it's always good when you can have a post player who's commanding attention and a guard that's demanding attention, because it's harder for the defensive team," explained Burse. "So they do make everybody's job a lot easier."

If Burse continues to play as she did Saturday night, she'll make everybody else's job a lot easier as well - except perhaps for Donovan trying to find playing time for all four of her posts.

Notes

Forward Alicia Thompson practiced for the first time since spraining her left ankle last Monday and continues to be on track for a return to the lineup Friday when the Storm travels to Phoenix.

"She looked good," said Donovan. "She is definitely not 100%, you could tell she was hobbled out there and it's stiff, but she did some real good things. Now she's got to get back in mental condition too, learning our plays and getting back on track with that."

Also returning to action was guard Michelle Greco, who practiced normally after aggravating her right hip contusion yesterday. Besides for forward Trina Frierson, who is on the injured list, the only Storm player sitting out was Jackson, who continues to rest her strained groin.

"It's doing better, but it's still bothering her," said Donovan. "With the day today, the day off tomorrow, we feel like she'll be better for it."

Jackson is expected to practice when the Storm returns to the court Thursday and play against the Mercury.