Seven With Shameka Christon

By Tracy Jusay: SPM NY Writer
Posted Thursday, September 18, 2008

Shameka Christon in Los Angeles, July 2008. File photo by Tara Polen.

Making their ninth appearance in the post-season, the New York Liberty kick off the 2008 WNBA Playoffs against the Connecticut Sun tonight at 7pm at Madison Square Garden. This year’s Playoffs will mark the fourth time Shameka Christon takes the postseason journey with the Liberty. Christon sat down with SPM before the team’s last regular season game and discussed the road to the Playoffs.

SPM: This is your fifth year with the Liberty, and 2008 has been one of your best seasons. You’ve averaged 15.7 points per game, an improvement from last season and you are the team’s leading scorer. Can you share what it is you have done to make yourself the efficient player that you are now?

SC: Actually, it’s more of what my teammates and my coaches have done for me. They’ve been very supportive, looking for me, and [Coach] Patty [Coyle] told me at the beginning of the season exactly what my role was. My thing is to go out there and execute the best way I possibly can. It’s been helpful, but I’m going to have to give all the credit to my teammates and my coaches. They’ve been very, very supportive.

SPM: In this last stretch of games after the Olympic break, what has kept the team motivated?

SC: Just the simple fact that we’ve been trying to gear up and get ready for the playoffs. It’s hard, but at the same time it is our job. So, we understand that. It has been a variety of things. We feed off of each other. But like I said, we’re trying to get ready and be a better team for the playoffs.

SPM: Since coming back from the Olympic break, the team has endured injuries. Tiffany Jackson has not returned to the lineup, you sat out for a few games due to injury and Janel did not play in the team’s last back-to-back of the season. What are your thoughts on how the team has pulled together despite not having key players in the lineup?

SC: The thing about this team, is that we’re very deep. When one of us goes down, the next person behind is always ready to step up and is just that good to go in and, you know, contribute. We try not to really focus on it, because injuries happen. Our trainers do a good job of getting us back as fast as we can. The thing is, you can’t really think about it. This team is young. We’re deep and we just go out there and play hard.

SPM: Last year, the Liberty did not qualify for the playoffs until the last game of the regular season. The team was under pressure during the final week, where every game felt like a thrill ride for fans. This season, the Liberty clinched a spot with one week go. What was the feeling in the locker room this time around?

SC: Last year, when we actually clinched a spot for the playoffs, it was thrilling. This year was like, “Alright, we made it.” It was like no pressure and I think that can be good and bad. We relaxed a little bit or whatever the case may be. But the fact of the matter is, we clinched early and there was no pressure for us thinking, “Okay, we have to get into the playoffs. We have to do this, we have to do that.” Now we can just relax and just focus, and catch our stride there.

SPM: During last year’s playoffs, it literally came down to the last minute in the first round in terms of almost eliminating Detroit. Unfortunately, the outcome wasn’t what the team had expected because of being unable to finish down the stretch. Is that going to be a motivating factor for everyone this year in this year’s playoffs as the team goes up against the Connecticut Sun?

SC: Yeah, I mean there are only four people that really don’t know the feeling that we felt last year of how close we were. The greatest thing about it last year was the simple fact that no one really expected us to go far and we did really well. I think last year we definitely gave Detroit a lot of problems. We’ve talked about it, where we were last year, how it felt and just keep reminding ourselves of where we want to be.

SPM: The team has come a long way this season in terms of becoming the cohesive unit that you all are now. Do you feel the rookies, Essence Carson, Erlana Larkins and Leilani Mitchell exceeded expectations?

SC: Oh, most definitely. Our rookies, they didn’t get the hype like Candace Parker did. Our rookies came in, they established themselves and they played well. It’s kind of hard to say they’re rookies, but we know they are because they came in relaxed, playing like they’ve been here before. I respect that in Essence, Erlana and Leilani. They all accepted the challenge, never shying away from it. They’re never worried about the names of the backs of the shirts of whom they are playing against. They always step up to the challenge, do their best and you have to respect them for that.

SPM: Do you think what makes the Liberty such a different team this season is the depth of bench compared to last season?

SC: Most definitely. It’s always good whenever you have -- instead of one through seven -- now you have a one through eleven. That’s always great to know. Definitely, I would have to say that’s been the biggest thing for us. We’re the youngest team in the league. We're young, we get out, we run and there’s still a lot of stuff for us to learn. We’ve done great this season and I think it’s because of our depth.

SPM: Thanks for your time, Shameka and good luck in the playoffs.

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