Who are the Los Angeles Sparks???

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  Who are the Los Angeles Sparks???

I’m writing this entry as fast as I can on the Los Angeles Sparks this day of August 5, 2013. Because in the next month, week, heck maybe day things could change with them. You see I’ve started two other entries on the Sparks so far this season but just as I was preparing to publish each, things changed. 

Most say there's none better than Candace Parker

For example, seeing the heartache and tears of desire shed by the Sparks as they endured coming one step away from going to the Finals last season and also recognizing their incredibly talented roster which added point guard Lindsey Harding, I was very high on the Sparks for the 2013 season. But after 9 games this superior Sparks squad was just 5-4. One measly game above .500. Immediately I go to my computer and begin typing. It went something like this:

You mean the Sparks have the game’s most talented player in Candace Parker and three, yes, THREE overall number one picks from the draft (Parker, Nneka Ogwumike, Lindsey Harding). Oh, and the other two starters, they were only the overall number two and three picks in their respective drafts as well. All that talent and they’re barely above .500??? I mean everyone was super excited about the overwhelming talent down in the desert with the Phoenix Mercury and deservedly so. But as impressive as the Mercury are, on paper player for player they don’t stack up to the Sparks. Now I’m talking overall basketball credentials going back to freshman year of college on. As a matter of fact, no one’s starting five does. Not even the mighty Lynx and you’re only 5-4?

League's most talented starting lineup on paper

So it went something like that, but I got busy and couldn’t publish the piece immediately and the next thing you know the Sparks win 6 straight. So then I’m writing:

They have caught fire with a 6 game winning streak. We’ve been waiting for this devastating lineup to come together, and right now it seems to be happening. The Sparks are the league’s most talented team, or at least have the league’s most talented starting lineup. They started the season struggling but a change in their mindset overall has this team becoming the type of ballclub we’ve been expecting to watch. It shows in their play and in the attitude they’re displaying.

‘We were very disappointed. That was not who we were. We wanted to identify ourselves and we are now going to be the toughest and the baddest team on the floor on a night-to-night basis.’

Kristi Toliver

It’s been hard to keep up with. I don’t know who the Los Angeles Sparks are yet and I don’t think that they do either as they recently lost to an overly matched Seattle Storm team at home and a ‘Better beat em now cause in a few years they’re gonna be a beast’ Tulsa Shock squad. Then then they came back and blew out a struggling Mystics team. Now with al that being said they’re still in second plaee in the West. That’s partly because when the Sparks are mentally prepared they can play with anyone and the other part is that the Silver Stars, Storm and Shock (though they’re on the rise) have struggled and also cause the Mercury REALLY don’t know who they are yet. There’s no reason the Sparks shouldn’t be battling the Lynx back and forth for the number one seed in the West. L.A. has three players who’s games I adore

Candace Parker- Parker plays such a fluid and beautiful game. She really is revolutionizing the game with her ability to do so many things on the court. (Yet I really believe she should be even more dominant game in and game out)

Kristi Toliver- I was so disgusted with the Chicago Sky when they drafted one of the greatest shooters the WNBA has ever seen in Toliver and nearly let her rot on the bench cause as a point guard she played an unconventional game. It’s such a pleasure to see her flourishing in her career now. I mean who’s heard of a jump shooter being in the top 5 in the league in field goal efficiency? It’s absurd how good she is. 

One of the best shooters the WNBA has ever seen

Nneka Ogwumike- Nneka is so talentedin the post. She reminds me of a baby Kevin McHale. Before Hakeem the Dream changed took post moves to a new galaxy, no one had seen footwork like McHale. Also like McHale, Nneka has Megatron type hands (that’s wide receiver Calvin Johnson of the Detroit Lions for those of you out of the NFL loop). She catches everything. She’s just super

Alana Beard, a consummate professional and tough defender, along with Lindsey Harding, a throwback type at point guard that seems has finally found her WNBA home. This team has the talent to say the least. But as the legendary Bill Russell, the greatest winner in the history of team sports said, ‘Never only let your jersey show up to the arena.’ Knowing you have the talent isn’t enough, playing your heart out game in and game out is what it’s going to take for the Sparks to finally reach their potential.