The Tulsa Shock shut down the Seattle Storm on Tuesday night with solid defense.
The 68-45 win over the Storm looked a lot different than the 101-93 win over the Chicago Sky just three days earlier.
And that may the case throughout the season for the Shock, who are now 2-1. Each win may feel different.
Courtney Paris, who has started all three games, said she the defense did what it was supposed to do against Seattle.
“I think it was a big game for us,” Paris said. “If you think about it, we’ve always been a pretty good offensive team, but last game we kind of struggled. We only scored 68 points. We’ve been higher with one game over 100 and then 90’s and 80’s. So that was not our best offensive game.
“But the good thing about the Seattle game was that we stepped up and we played great defense and we made the stops necessary to win the game. I think that’s going to be important this year – finding different ways to win games. That was good for us.”
The Shock is already having to make adjustments to the starting lineup. Second-year guard Odyssey Sims injured her left knee just before the half on Tuesday night.
Sims is leading the team in scoring (17.3 ppg) and assists (4.7 apg.). But she may be out for a while.
Paris said that her team just has to keep playing.
“Obviously, everyone knows what Odyssey Sims is to the Tulsa Shock,” Paris said. “Part of every season is adversity. And we’re getting ours really early to have her out for a little bit of time.
“We’ve got to make it a good thing and find ways to score points and make those defensive stops that she makes and everybody’s got to step up a little bit and fill the void we’re going to be left without her.
“And like I said, just find another way to win. She’s such a big part of our team. We’ve got to learn from this and make it into something positive.”
Paris had 11 boards against Seattle, but no points. She is averaging 10 rebounds per game, right behind the 10.2 she averaged in 2014, which was good enough to lead the league.
However, the 2.7 points per game through the first three is well off the pace of 9.2 points per game. That is nearly enough to average a double-double, for which Paris is no stranger. While a four-year All-American at the University of Oklahoma, she had a stretch of 112 consecutive double-doubles.
But Paris said she knows her main role right now is bring down the boards.
“That’s my big thing. No matter how everything else is going, my job is to rebound. I know that and I’m confident in that and I’ll continue to do my best in that area.
“We’ve got a great team. We’ve got a bunch of people that can score points and can make things happen. Some games I’m going to take a little amount of shots and I’m not going to have points. Some games we’re going to need a greater post presence.
“I’ve never been really worried about that. At the end of the day, we want to get wins.”
That’s not to say she’s doesn’t think she can score.
“I know that at some point in the season, we’re going to need me to do to be more aggressive offensively. And some games we’re going to need me to do other things, to be a decoy or focus on defense or other things. I know it works both ways.”
Now in her seventh season in the WNBA, Paris had a breakout year with the Shock last season. With the departure of Liz Cambage, she stepped in at the start of the year and took advantage of the opportunity she was given.
She started all 34 games for Tulsa in 2014 and her confidence seems to be growing with every contest.
“Definitely. Its’ been a long road for me in the WNBA, finding my way. Last year was a great year. Coach Fred gave me an opportunity and I tried to make the most of it and it worked out for me.
Paris has played on five teams in the league. But she said she is happy in the Sooner State.
“I feel like Oklahoma is home for me. I’m from California, but I’ve been here for the last 10 years. To be able to stay in this state and to play a game I love is awesome and to have the opportunities I’ve had.
“And I believe in the franchise. I love our coaching staff. I love our team. I believe in the direction our future is going and I’m glad to be a part of it.”
After starting 2-0 at home this season, Paris and the Shock are once again on the road. Tulsa travels to San Antonio to take on the Stars on Sunday at 3:30 p.m.
