Lynx turnaround one of WNBA's best -- but Detroit set standard

Last season the Lynx were 13-21, which tied them for the second worst record in the WNBA with Los Angeles.

This year they are 24-6 going into Friday's home game with the New York Liberty. That's an increase in victories of 11 with four games still to play.

That's an impressive jump but not the best all-time in the WNBA. The 2002 Detroit Shock had the worst record in the league, 9-23. The regular-season schedule expanded by two games to 34 the following season and the Shock had the best record in the WNBA at 25-9 -- an increase of 16 victories -- and won the WNBA title.

So from 2002 to 2003, the Shock went from worst to first. The head coach of Detroit then was Bill Laimbeer, a Wolves assistant now.

THE LYNX'S PIPPEN AND JORDAN

Back in training camp, Maya Moore was reminded that she and guard Seimone Augustus have the same numbers, No. 23 for her and No. 33 for Augustus, as former Chicago Bulls NBA greats Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.

"We have so much potential to do great things between her and I," Moore said. "She is one of those players that when she gets hot, it is tough to stop her. You have to pick your poison when it comes to us."

THEY SAY

* Lynx assistant coach Jim Petersen on Rebekkah Brunson: "You don't want to have to coach effort. And with Rebekkah, you don't have to coach effort with her because she is tenacious. She is just an energy player like Dennis Rodman was for Detroit."

* Brunson on playing the New York Liberty twice this weekend: "The defense they have is very specific. It is not like other defenses that we have seen throughout the season. It is going to be a challenge, but we are excited. We are up for it."

* Lindsay Whalen, asked if she is playing the best basketball of her career: "I feel pretty good. It's hard to say. I just feel we have a good rapport on the court. All of us are playing together, playing just good basketball. On any given night, someone else steps up. ... A couple nights ago it was Taj, then it was Maya. ... When someone is feeling it, we know to give them the ball."

Whalen on how to slow down New York Liberty guard Cappie Pondexter, who is averaging 18.2 ppg: "Just try to make her take tough shots. We know we have Seimone [Augustus] on her. She is long and can really make a big difference on people. ... When we are playing a player like Becky Hammon or Sue [Bird] or Diana [Taurasi] or Cappie, it is a team effort. Everybody has to be focused in and be ready to help and recover to your player.

* Guard Seimone Augustus after a recent Lynx win at home, on Lynx executive vice president Roger Griffith's mood: "Roger hardly ever smiled in my first few years here. And now I seen Roger and he is all smiles. It is good to see the changes because everybody's job is a lot easier when you are winning."

* Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve: "The goal is to have the best overall record in the WNBA. And we will continue to pursue that goal. Once that goal is achieved, we might go a different route."

TIDBITS

* The Lynx have won nine games in a row -- no wonder they want home court advantage throughout the playoffs -- which is a franchise record. They are on a 17-2 tear.

* The Liberty need a victory on Friday night to clinch a playoff spot. Last year New York, with Lynx center Taj McWilliams-Franklin in their lineup, reached the Eastern Conference finals. ... New York is 11-4 at home, 6-9 on the road.

* Minnesota is 7-2 against Eastern Conference teams, with three games against the East left.

* The Lynx have won a league-high 16 games by 10 points or more.