There is a time and a place for it.
Seattle Storm point guard Sue Bird became the oldest player in NBA history to record a double-double with 18 points and 10 assists in her final game in the playoffs. Bird got high marks for both totals.
"Vintage Sue," the Seattle coach said as she spoke. There is something about these moments that make me understand why she is so great. She kicks a different gear mentally and physically.
Bird holds the record for oldest player in the playoffs with a double-double, having done so at age 39 during the Storm's 2020 WNBA Finals win over the Las Vegas Aces. According to stathead.com, only three NBA players have had a double-double in their 40s, and all of them were in the playoffs.
After recording two assists in Thursday's narrow 86-83 Game 1 victory, Bird had one in the first quarter Sunday while scoring nine points, her most in an opening period this season The aggressiveness from Bird was encouraged byQuinn.
The points need to come early and often for her, but we know that she can facilitate.
The way she was being defended made that happen.
"If they weren't changing pick-and-rolls when I was in them, they would go under," Bird said. In those moments, you have to be aggressive. Look for your shot. They have to be made to pay. I think there is a balance there, but you definitely have to do it.
Bird's playmaking dominated from the second quarter onward. In the second and third periods, she gave out seven assists. The 10th assist for Bird came on a drop-off to Tina Charles in the paint that gave Seattle a 11 point lead. The rest of the game wouldn't be threatened by Washington.
The Storm advanced to the semifinals for the third year in a row. In the last two years, the previous trips resulted in titles. During Bird's career, Seattle has won titles all four times they've advanced to the finals.
The Storm will face Las Vegas, who swept the Phoenix Mercury on Saturday, in the second round of the playoffs. Bird will play at least one more game in front of her fans at Climate Pledge Arena before she hangs up her cleats.
Bird only has a few games left. The victory pushed us into the semifinals. We will get more home games. It was in the back of my mind when I entered. It was a thought that I had as I entered.
The Delta app, which was providing notifications of the Storm's scheduled flight to Washington, D.C. on Monday, was an unlikely source of motivation for Bird and her teammates.
Bird said that it reminded them of what's at stake. I don't want to look at a bag.
Seattle will be able to spend the week at home preparing for the semifinals after the win.
"Now we have all this rest," said Bird, "we have all this time to prepare, so they were definitely going to get that rest and that time." It's great to be able to stay at home.
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