There have been times over the course of the 2003 WNBA season when every coach in the league wondered about the methodology that went into devising the 34-game schedule for each team.
Tea leaves, crystal balls and Ouija boards weren't necessary when the league office went about choosing whom the Comets and Los Angeles Sparks should play to finish their schedules.
Tonight's nationally televised (ESPN2) clash at Staples Center pits the No. 1 and No. 2 Western Conference powers, who between them are the only teams to have won world championships in the WNBA.
So what if first place in the West isn't at stake, as so many had anticipated over the last three months would be the case?
Even a late-season swoon during which the Comets lost four of their last five games hasn't diminished the attractiveness of Houston vs. LA.
"Oh no, oh no," center Michelle Snow said. "I mean, come on. This is LA. I really can only speak for myself. But this game means a heck of a lot. This is a big game. Even though we've clinched a playoff spot, this is a big game because we want to go into the playoffs playing well."
Spotty play has plagued the Comets (20-13) as they've maneuvered through six games covering the final nine days of the campaign.
In the previous five, they've posted a dismal 1-4 record.
A loss tonight would be the Comets' third in a row, something the franchise has never experienced.
The Sparks (23-10), after surviving a four-game losing streak when center Lisa Leslie was out with an injury, are playing some of their best basketball of the summer.
"They've got all kinds of weapons," Comets coach Van Chancellor said. "They start five All-Stars; they can all score; they all are a threat. ... They just can come at you from so many different angles. It's hard to double off of anybody because they all play so well."
Until 2001, the Comets dominated the series. Whether it was the goodbye salute of Tina Thompson to former USC teammate Leslie or Tammy Jackson's block of a DeLisha Milton shot in the lane late in the game, the Comets ruled in the playoffs.
But the Sparks have won the last two world championships. They swept the Comets out of the first round of the playoffs in 2001.
The Comets lead 17-14 overall in a series that always gives spectators what they want to see.
"It used to be us and New York," Chancellor said "Now, it's us and LA."
No team other than the Comets or Sparks has won a WNBA title. Four-in-a-row goes against two-in-a-row as the final pre-playoff jousting for psychological positioning comes down to tonight.
The 34th game of the season means far more to the Comets than to the Sparks. Houston, once riding high with 13 victories in 15 games over the middle of the season, is limping into the playoffs.
Lauren Jackson-led Seattle on Saturday night tagged the Comets with their second straight loss, 71-64 at KeyArena.
The Comets haven't won since beating Seattle 52-47 at Compaq Center Tuesday night to clinch the No. 2 seed.
"It definitely kind of disturbs you to be playing the way we are toward the end of the season with the playoffs right around the corner," point guard Ukari Figgs said. "I think we have a pretty veteran team. Hopefully, we'll be able to figure out what's going on and turn things around so that we won't regret something later on."
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/2064440
Tea leaves, crystal balls and Ouija boards weren't necessary when the league office went about choosing whom the Comets and Los Angeles Sparks should play to finish their schedules.
Tonight's nationally televised (ESPN2) clash at Staples Center pits the No. 1 and No. 2 Western Conference powers, who between them are the only teams to have won world championships in the WNBA.
So what if first place in the West isn't at stake, as so many had anticipated over the last three months would be the case?
Even a late-season swoon during which the Comets lost four of their last five games hasn't diminished the attractiveness of Houston vs. LA.
"Oh no, oh no," center Michelle Snow said. "I mean, come on. This is LA. I really can only speak for myself. But this game means a heck of a lot. This is a big game. Even though we've clinched a playoff spot, this is a big game because we want to go into the playoffs playing well."
Spotty play has plagued the Comets (20-13) as they've maneuvered through six games covering the final nine days of the campaign.
In the previous five, they've posted a dismal 1-4 record.
A loss tonight would be the Comets' third in a row, something the franchise has never experienced.
The Sparks (23-10), after surviving a four-game losing streak when center Lisa Leslie was out with an injury, are playing some of their best basketball of the summer.
"They've got all kinds of weapons," Comets coach Van Chancellor said. "They start five All-Stars; they can all score; they all are a threat. ... They just can come at you from so many different angles. It's hard to double off of anybody because they all play so well."
Until 2001, the Comets dominated the series. Whether it was the goodbye salute of Tina Thompson to former USC teammate Leslie or Tammy Jackson's block of a DeLisha Milton shot in the lane late in the game, the Comets ruled in the playoffs.
But the Sparks have won the last two world championships. They swept the Comets out of the first round of the playoffs in 2001.
The Comets lead 17-14 overall in a series that always gives spectators what they want to see.
"It used to be us and New York," Chancellor said "Now, it's us and LA."
No team other than the Comets or Sparks has won a WNBA title. Four-in-a-row goes against two-in-a-row as the final pre-playoff jousting for psychological positioning comes down to tonight.
The 34th game of the season means far more to the Comets than to the Sparks. Houston, once riding high with 13 victories in 15 games over the middle of the season, is limping into the playoffs.
Lauren Jackson-led Seattle on Saturday night tagged the Comets with their second straight loss, 71-64 at KeyArena.
The Comets haven't won since beating Seattle 52-47 at Compaq Center Tuesday night to clinch the No. 2 seed.
"It definitely kind of disturbs you to be playing the way we are toward the end of the season with the playoffs right around the corner," point guard Ukari Figgs said. "I think we have a pretty veteran team. Hopefully, we'll be able to figure out what's going on and turn things around so that we won't regret something later on."
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/2064440
