Emotions ran high as the Toronto Tempo got their first ever franchise win, beating the Seattle Storm 86-73.
In this piece, we break down the good and the bad from this game, and what to expect in their next game against the Los Angeles Sparks.
The Good
After what Coach Sandy Brondello called was an ‘ugly’ offensive game for the Tempo after their first game against the Washington Mystics, there was a lot more to like about the Tempo’s offense in game 2. We saw much calmer, fluid, and improved ball movement and a more connected team. This resulted in a jump from a brutal 10 team assists in game 1 to 21 assists in game 2.
On defense, the Tempo also did an excellent job of disrupting the passing lanes, getting steals, and breaking out in transition. Believe it or not, this Toronto Tempo team is currently your league leader in steals!
While we saw a taste of their transition game in game 1, the difference in this game was the execution. The Tempo scored 26 points off turnovers while the Storm only scored 14.
We have to give a shout out to Maria Conde who contributed with four 3-pointers. Her ability to shoot the 3 can end up being huge for this team.
This site is also quickly becoming a Nyara Sabally fan site but we are loving the way she is playing on both sides of the floor. While containing Seattle’s bigs was a tall order, Sabally’s effort was admirable and she contributed 8 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks.
In our last piece, we saw lots of potential from the Allemand and Sabally connection. This game saw another one of their highlights. We will continue to clamour for more of these plays throughout the season.
Finally, we give the biggest shout out to Marina Mabrey’s shotmaking. 6 for 11 from the 3 point line with some incredible shots made in the second half including the highlight of the game.
The Bad
As many feared and predicted, Seattle’s front court cooked us all night. Dominique Malonga and Stephanie Dolson got all the looks they wanted, whether it was a pick-and-roll or pick-and-pop. However, the Tempo managed to keep Seattle’s offensively talented guards in check.
The Tempo’s turnovers, especially between Slim and Mabrey, were also noticeable. As tempo.basketball creator, Arlin, said “if your two million dollar players are turning the ball over when passing to one another, that is not good”.
Sykes also didn’t have a good game on offense. And that can be summed up in one line: Driving Slim is good; shooting Slim is bad. In the long run, if this becomes a trend, other teams will expose this issue.
The Future
All in all, the vibes were impeccable and the Tempo should be really proud of this win.
Next up, the Tempo play the Los Angeles Sparks. While the Sparks have started the season 0 – 2, they have built a team to compete now and they will be eager to right the ship.
Containing Kelsey Plum will not be easy. She is a one-player highlight reel with her offensive array of step backs, speedy drives, hesitation moves, and sharp shooting. Slim’s defense will be put to the test.
Toronto’s clear weakness in the front court will be put to the test with the Sparks’ potent lineup of Dearica Hamby and Nneka Ogwumike. Also, don’t sleep on Rae Burrell. While she has been known to be an inconsistent player, when she is at her best, she can drive to the basket and finish like a taller Brittney Sykes.
This will also be Tempo’s first road trip. Our role players will also be put to the test with the need to produce in front of thousands of booing fans not screaming fans.