After taking two days off the Lynx got back to work today to begin prep work for Thursday's playoff opener against San Antonio.
According to coach Cheryl Reeve, it was a very good, very spirited practice.
"We're in a championship mindset," Reeve said.
The Lynx are sticking stubbornly to the notion that which team is best in the Western Conference is an issue that has not yet been settled. Everyone might be talking about Phoenix after the Mercury's record-setting regular season. But here is Reeve's official company line:
"We don't believe we're the underdog," she said. "We still believe we're the team that everybody wants to beat. … There is no championship associated with a regular season first place team. So the mindset is that our goal is still intact, which is to be the best in the West.''
Here are some items from today's workout:
--Rookie center/forward Damiris Dantas remains in Brazil tending to a family issue. It is likely she will not be with the team during their first-round series against the Stars. And that could be a problem, given how well she has played against San Antonio this season.
--Reeve said Rebekkah Brunson, who has been up and down since her return from preseason knee surgery, had her best practice of the season today. The feeling was Brunson was bound to go through a down stretch shortly after her return, much the same way players experience late in training camp. But the hope is Brunson is ready to jump to a higher level. Her defense and rebounding has been there, now the hope is she'll become more of an offensive threat.
