New York Liberty head coach Bill Laimbeer led the Detroit Shock to three league titles before the franchise moved to Tulsa. JESSICA HILL / AP
Bill Laimbeer said he has never been in Tulsa, so Sunday's visit will be a first.
The former Detroit Pistons standout will renew acquaintances with a franchise he helped put on the WNBA map.
Laimbeer coached the Shock to three league championships before the franchise moved from Detroit to Tulsa in 2010. He's now the first-year coach of the New York Liberty, which visits the BOK Center at 3:30 p.m.
"The players who were there when I was coaching are gone, so there's really not any nostalgia," he said about facing the Shock.
Others are entering familiar territory. Liberty guard Plenette Pierson and center Kara Braxton played part of the 2010 season with the Shock, and rookie forward Toni Young was an Oklahoma State University standout.
Tulsa (9-20) fell out of playoff contention with Friday's loss to the San Antonio Silver Stars, but the Shock could play a spoiler's role because the Liberty (11-18) is chasing the Indiana Fever for the Eastern Conference's final playoff spot.
The 6-foot-11 Laimbeer was known for his brash attitude and brawling style of play while contributing to NBA championship teams in 1989 and 1990. Physical play became the Pistons' calling card throughout the era, earning them the "Bad Boys" nickname.
"I used the skills and physical traits that I had," said Laimbeer, a four-time NBA all-star who led the league in rebounding with 13.1 per game in 1985-86.
"I'm a big body and I don't jump very high, so I have to use my body to get by, and that's what I did. I tried to play a physical style of basketball and it worked. And then it became a moniker or trademark for how I played," he said.
Laimbeer also spent time as an NBA assistant, but his greatest successes came as the Shock's general manager and head coach.
In 2002, he took over a losing franchise and remade the Shock into a championship team the following year. Detroit made three subsequent finals appearances, winning titles in 2006 and 2008.
"It's great to have him in the league," Shock president Steve Swetoha said. "He brings a mental toughness to the teams he coaches, and he certainly has a tremendous resume from his time with the 'Bad Boys.' "
Tulsa played Friday without two regulars and it was unclear whether 6-8 center Liz Cambage or rookie point guard Angel Goodrich would be available against the Liberty.
Cambage sprained her ankle at Los Angeles last Sunday and Goodrich was vomiting blood and complaining of headaches before Friday's tipoff.
WNBA
Liberty at Shock
BOK Center
3:30 p.m. Sunday
Radio: Chrome fm93.5
New York (11-18)
|
|
Ht. |
Pt. |
Rb. |
| F |
Pierson |
6-2 |
12.4 |
5.3 |
| C |
Braxton |
6-6 |
8.3 |
6.4 |
| G |
Pondexter |
5-9 |
17.7 |
4.5 |
| G |
Smith |
5-11 |
5.5 |
1.9 |
| G |
Williams |
5-11 |
2.9 |
2.3 |
Tulsa (9-20)
|
|
Ht. |
Pt. |
Rb. |
| F |
Jcksn-Jones |
6-3 |
4.9 |
2.2 |
| F |
Johnson |
6-3 |
15.5 |
9.2 |
| G |
Diggins |
5-9 |
8.0 |
3.9* |
| G |
Wiggins |
5-11 |
9.7 |
3.0 |
| G |
Williams |
5-7 |
13.9 |
1.8 |
*assists per game
Notes: Former OSU standout Toni Young is averaging 3.6 points and 1.8 rebounds in her rookie season. She was selected seventh overall to the Liberty in the 2013 draft. ... Friday's loss to San Antonio eliminated the Shock from playoff consideration. ... New York trails Indiana by 2 1/2 games for the final Eastern Conference berth.
Mike Brown 918-581-8390
mike.brown@tulsaworld.com
Pro W Basketball (WNBA)
9 p.m. Saturday
Basketball Australia manager Tamara Sheppard was in town to meet with Shock officials Thursday and discuss the responsibilities of Australian national players in international competition the next three years.
