With league-leading scorer Chamique Holdsclaw and Tameka Dixon unable to play (strained hamstring and sore knee, respectively), you might not think Los Angeles would be able to hang with Seattle, not even at home before 10,151 loud fans.

You'd be wrong: both teams played speedy, sloppy and physical, Mabika and Leslie kept the game close for a while, L.A. cut a late 16-point deficit to just four, and if Leslie had made more free throws (or Mabika more three-pointers) her Sparks might have won.

Instead, Seattle got back to .500, compensating for their 18 turnovers by making 9 of 17 three-point attempts, playing smart zone, capitalizing on early L.A. mistakes, and using their bench to keep their starters energetic. Lauren Jackson scored 20. "We've been looking to try to play like this for a long time now," she said.

Coach Bibby doesn't get it: "I applaud the ladies, they're working hard. But we're not completely healthy. We've got to go with what we have."

But he and GM Penny Toler are responsible for what they have: a team of sometimes superb, but expensive, veterans who want to play fast, hard and loose, with exactly two players (as of last night) to spell them if they get hurt, get tired, or foul out. Does he regret waiving every draft pick this year, or waiving Grubin afterwards? Did he follow the Sparks last year, when the same thing happened? (Will the newly-signed J-Mo help out?)

Holdsclaw says she'll play in DC Tuesday. Lisa Leslie (8-14 from the floor, 3-9 from the stripe) gets it: "Having eight or nine players consistently all year is not enough."