Storm Resumes Practices

While teammates Sue Bird and Lauren Jackson and Coach Anne Donovan have been busy in Athens, the rest of the Seattle Storm has enjoyed a two-week break from basketball responsibilities. For the most part, the break was a welcome respite from the grind of games and practices that is the regular season, and a rare chance to get home or get away during the summer. After that time, however, the Storm found itself excited to return to the court, which it did, at least for practice, Wednesday.

In the absence of Donovan (right), Boucek and Kenlaw (left) are running the Storm. Jeff Reinking/NBAE/Getty

Barring a stunningly early exit from the Olympics by either the U.S. or Australia, the Storm will have 10 practices between now and Aug. 29 without its two most prominent players and its coach. Still, that doesn’t mean there isn’t work to be done or that progress can’t be made.

“It is a great opportunity, because during the season we don’t have a lot of practices,” said Storm assistant Jenny Boucek, who is sharing coach responsibilities with fellow assistant Jessie Kenlaw in Donovan’s absence. “And we’re focused mainly on our top players and scouting. So we can’t go back to the basics and teach some of the ones that missed training camp. It’s good, just for cleaning up our execution both offensively and defensively, because you’re going to naturally have game slippage throughout a season, and especially the players who aren’t playing.”

That makes these practices especially valuable for rookie Trina Frierson, who missed all of training camp after knee surgery and has seen action in three games since being activated from the injured list. Frierson got an opportunity to work with the Storm’s first team Wednesday during scrimmages against the Storm’s male practice squad. Meanwhile, Bird’s absence meant fellow rookie Michelle Greco got reps at point guard for the first time since camp, valuable experience should the Storm have an injury at the position.

Even for the veterans, there is the opportunity to learn to play without relying on Bird and Jackson. At times, the Storm has had a tendency to stand around and watch Jackson in particular, something that becomes a problem when Donovan needs to give her a rest. Fellow starters Betty Lennox, Sheri Sam and Kamila Vodichkova should all get a chance to play a go-to role at times over the next two weeks.

“Hopefully it will be an opportunity for some of the other players to get more repetitions and have to step up and be your primary scorers in practice,” Boucek noted. “We’re hoping this is an advantage for the other players, although we definitely miss Sue, Lauren and Anne.”

While Boucek and Kenlaw are in charge on the court, there is no doubt this is still Donovan’s team.

“She’s our leader,” Boucek explained. “Jessie and I have learned from her, and we’re trying to keep it going, the program that she’s built and done such a great job doing. Obviously, her presence is still very much here.”

Boucek and Kenlaw are also keeping Donovan informed on what’s going on thousands of miles away through the magic of technology.

“She’s pretty accessible,” Boucek added. “We’re going to be talking to her after every practice. We’ll go and we’ll call her, and if we don’t get her, we’ll e-mail her, so she’ll be very up-to-date on what we’re doing here in Seattle.”

Boucek and Kenlaw worked like a cohesive team Wednesday, each picking their spots to offer suggestions or run the show. Boucek says the two of them have no formal plan for dividing duties, but will allow their mutual respect to guide their partnership.

“We’re doing practice together every day, and it’s all mutual,” she said. “There’s really not a lot of structure to our divvying it up, but we have a lot of respect for each other. So we go out there and we do this as a team.”

Center Janell Burse, who missed the Storm’s last five games before the break after being placed on the injured list with right hip bursitis, did not participate in the portion of practice open to the media. Boucek noted that the team is being cautious with Burse, since there are still two weeks until the Storm’s next game. Boucek added that Burse is “a lot better” than she was before the break.

storm.wnba.com asks … How Was Your Break?

Assistant Coach Jenny Boucek:
“It was great. It was weird to just turn off the momentum we had gained. But it’s always nice to just catch up on some sleep and your phone calls to family and friends and bills and little things that go by the wayside. Honestly, I miss it (basketball) more than anything. I didn’t want it to go away.”

Forward Sheri Sam:
“It was good. Very relaxing. Just went back to the Bay Area, did some camping in Big Basin, hung out and relaxed. It was good for several reasons. I got a chance to get away from the game, and now you’ve got a chance to come back and start anew. We’ve got two weeks of the season left, and we’ve got to make a push for the championship, so it’s exciting.”

Guard Betty Lennox:
“Short, for me.”

Center Simone Edwards:
“Good. I went down to Florida, but I got out before the hurricane hit – I’m kind of used to hurricanes since I grew up in Jamaica – it was pretty good getting a little break. It didn’t really hit West Palm Beach at all, so I’m happy because my mom is down there and all my nieces and nephews were down there. In Jamaica, it mostly hit around the coast, I think, so even my family in Jamaica was okay, so I was happy.”

storm.wnba.com asks … Are You Watching the Olympics?

Assistant Coach Jenny Boucek:
“Now that I’m back in town in Seattle and not traveling, I’ll be watching everything.”

Forward Sheri Sam:
“I’ve tried to keep up with it as much as possible. They played a few games on NBA TV, and, unfortunately the men get more coverage, so you’ve just got to watch for box scores for the women. I’ve been following a lot of the Olympics – swimming, the gymnastics. I’m a sports fan, so I love watching the Olympics.”

Center Simone Edwards:
“Yes. I get up at 4 o’clock in the morning to cheer on Coach and Sue. I don’t get to see Australia play, unfortunately, but I guess when they are playing against the U.S., I will get to see Lauren. I do get up to watch Sue compete.”