After a day off following a season-opening victory over Connecticut, the Lynx returned to practice Monday. Most of the practice was focused on cleaning up details remaining from came and in the wake of that victory. Overall, coach Cheryl Reeve was very pleased with the way her team played, but she was little for a little better execution in some offensive and defensive details and she continues to work with her players on preventing opposing teams from getting offensive rebounds. Connecticut got 18 offensive rebounds and 24 second-chance points Saturday.
The team will start prepping more in particular for Phoenix in Tuesday's practice. The Mercury and top draft pick Brittney Griner will play the Lynx Thursday night at Target Center.
Here are some items gleaned from Monday's practice:
--Janel McCarville talked again how emotional it was for her Saturday, when she made her debut with the Lynx. She also promised to attempt a shot in Thursday's game. "Maybe before the fourth quarter," she joked. "If my teammates pass me the ball."
--Reeve held veteran forward Rebekkah Brunson out of Monday's practice due to groin muscle soreness. It is not serious, Reeve said. Brunson felt it a little bit before Saturday's game but played anyway. But Reeve was able to pull Brunson arly with the Lynx taking control of the game; Brunson played less than 21 minutes. "We always try to make sure we get it before it becomes a problem," Reeve said.
--In the wake of her 26-point, seven-rebound, five-assist game in the opener, Maya Moore was asked if the big game served notice that her game was at a new level this season.
More specifically, she was asked if averaging 25-plus points a game was realistic.
"I think it will look different," Moore said. "It's something I'll strive for within the flow of the game. But this team, we have the luxury of having so many scorers as well, so I'm not necessarily going to bank my success or failure on scoring 25 to 30 points every game. How I judge my success is being able to contribute in a lot of different areas of the game, not just scoring. Moore said taking over a game means being involved in every good play in some form, not just scoring all the time.
