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Roman Augustoviz spends Minnesota's winters covering college hockey, specifically the Gophers, and other University of Minnesota sports. During the summer, he writes about the WNBA's Minnesota Lynx, with a dose of U sports sprinkled in. Follow him on Twitter @RomanStrib.
Augustus hoping Taurasi can play Wednesday and in Olympics
Posted by: Roman Augustoviz under Lynx Updated: June 26, 2012 - 11:17 PM
Lynx guard Seimone Augustus said after Tuesday's practice that she would rather play Phoenix with guard Diana Taurasi in the lineup than not.
The Lynx face the Mercury for a third time at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Target Center. The Lynx are 2-0 in the series so far this year, but Taurasi had not played in either game. She has been bothered by a hip flexor.
"It is always fun having Diana in there," Augustus said. "You never know what is going to happen. From her rants to it just being a physical game, you never know what is going to happen. So it is definitely a joy to play with her."
Augustus said she expects Taurasi to be ready to play in the Olympics, starting late in July. "But I am not really sure; I hope so," she said.
Augustus and teammates Maya Moore and Lindsay Whalen all are on the Olympic team with Taurasi, but are trying to not look ahead.
"We've got a few more games [six] before the Olympic break and we want to make sure that we win these games," Augustus said.
Asked if she is pacing herself for the Olympics, Augustus said, "You don't pace yourself. You just play. Once we do get to the Olympics, training sets in. It is a whole other level. So you have to be prepared now to get ready for the Olympic training session."
Augustus said that she and other U.S. players, as professionals have to know when to switch gears. "Right now I am in WNBA mode," she said. "And once it is time for the U.S.A. team, it is a whole other level, another gear, a whole other type of expectations and pressures.
"Once it is time, July 12th or 13th when we head out, we will switch over to that."
* On camaraderie on Lynx: "We just have a lot of fun together. That is on and off the court. Like [Monday] we had a great team dinner. When the NBA playoffs was going on, we had a great team function every NBA game. It is just a matter of having fun with each other and that is what we enjoy most about each other."
* On one loss: "The Seattle game that we lost actually woke us up a little bit. We really saw a lot of things that we could get better at. So we would never get overconfident in ourselves. We will keep confident individually, but as a team we know we still have a lot of work to do."
* On playing Phoenix on Wednesday: "We understand that they are missing their leading scorers in Penny Taylor [torn ACL playing overseas] and Diana Taurasi [hip flexor], but they still work hard. And they still get out in transition like they would if Diana was there. And defensively they have gotten a lot better and trying to put teams in difficult situations."
* On Lynx's strength: "There are so many weapons that we utilize in our offensive scheme that it is tough for any team to guard us."
DEFENSE IGNITES LYNX
Lynx forward Maya Moore said she was glad to see her team force Chicago into 24 turnovers in Saturday's victory. Moore tied a career high with five steals.
"We were getting deflections. We were trying to cause them to be uncomfortable," Moore said. "And when we do that, that is when our offense picks up. I know when I am aggressive, make hustle plays, it is good for my team."
MORE FROM MOORE
* On her overseas contract: "Every year that I get older, I get a little better, so the price goes up."
* On being on a businesswoman/athlete: "I definitely enjoy it because it is an opportunity to do great things. I have plans in the future to start a non-profit."
* On what she has treated herself with since becoming a pro: "I have been able to get a new set of clothes. Now that I am becoming a grown-up, out of college, [I needed] some clothes to represent myself well in the business world. "
* On where she buys clothes: "I am a big fan of Nordstrom's."
* Tulsa center Liz Cambage, like Moore, is playing in China this winter. Cambage will join Zhejang Chouzhou, reportedly for $400,000. For more on the story, click here.
The list of other WNBA who have played in China includes Ebony Hoffman, Swin Cash, Chasity Melvin, Camille Little, Chante Black and Betty Lennox.
L.A. STRUGGLING
Not too long ago, the Los Angeles Sparks were on the Lynx's heels. Not anymore.
One-win Tulsa beat visiting L.A. 91-75 on Tuesday.
The Lynx (12-1) are now three games ahead of L.A. (10-5) and up four in the loss column. The Sparks dynamic duo of Candace Parker (two points, three rebounds, 1x6 on FGs) and Nneka Ogwumike (12, seven) was underwhelming. Parker may still be bothered by a sore knee that kept her out a couple games ago.
Also troublesome for L.A. is ballhandling. Every starter had either four or three turnovers. The Sparks as a team had 24. turnovers as a team.
Rookie Riquana Williams led the Shock with 27 points -- a WNBA high for a first-year player this season -- Ivory Latta had 21 points and eight assists.
L.A. is 3-3 in its last six games. The Lynx play at L.A. on July 5.
SEATTLE ON HOT STREAK
Seattle (6-7) won its fifth game in a row, beating Washington 79-71 behind Sue Bird's 25 points. Crystal Langhorne had 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Mystics.
The Storm waived forward Victoria Dunlop and is expected to sign ex-Lynx Svetlana Abrosimova next week.
ATLANTA SLOWS FEVER
Atlanta beat indiana 70-58. Three Fever had eight points -- Tamika Catchings, Katie Douglas and Jessica Davenport -- but nobody was in double figures.
Angel McCoughtry scored 22 points and Sancho Lyttle 17 for the Dream. Atlanta (6-7) plays its next seven games on the road. Its next home game is Aug. 22.
Indiana was 1x15 in the second quarter and none of its starters had more than two field goals for the game.
* Scores from the second day of the FIBA Olympic qualifying tournament in Ankara, Turkey:
Turkey 65, Japan 49 ... Ex-Lynx center Quanitra Hollingsworth had 10 points and two rebounds for the host Turks.
Korea 71, Mozambique 65
Argentina 54, New Zealand 51
France 56, Canada 47
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