Moore: The postseason can re-energize you

Minnesota Lynx rookie forward Maya Moore has a bit of a reputation: She is a winner. Moore was voted the college Player of the Year twice at the University of Connecticut and led her team to a pair of national championships.While at UConn, her Huskies won an NCAA-record 90 consecutive games, the greatest streak ever in men's or women's basketball. Now Moore is enjoying a fantastic first season in the WNBA, averaging 13.2 points in the regular season, and has been voted the WNBA's Rookie of the Year. Moore helped the Lynx to a league-best 27-7 regular season and has been an integral part of the teams run to the league finals, which begin Sunday at Target Center against the Atlanta Dream. Last Sunday against the Phoenix Mercury, Moore set a WNBA record for rookies when she made six 3-pointers and finished with 21 points in the teams Western Conference finals-clinching win.With a best-of-five series against the Dream next, Moore is the subject of this edition of 5 Questions. 1. KG: What was the most difficult adjustment this year going from college to the pros? MOORE: The grind of the season. We play the same amount of games was we did in college, but we do it in a three-month period, which is tough. The competition is bigger and stronger, and the game moves at much quicker rate, so that is also has been an adjustment for me this season. I think it hit me in August. I started to feel a little run down, but it's funny how the postseason can re-energize you. 2. KG: Which of your current teammates is the toughest to guard during practice? MOORE: They are all such talented players, but defending Seimone (Augustus) is probably the hardest. She has such a deadly outside shot and she is really tall, so its tough to get up on her. She also can go inside-out so well, too. Candice Wiggins is another that is very tricky to stop. She is quick and can dart to the hole but also knock it down from the outside. 3. KG: What is your favorite memory so far this season? MOORE: There have been plenty of really good memories this season. Some of the buzzer-beaters that we won during the regular season were awesome. The game that stands out for me was Game 2, in Phoenix last Sunday. We played so well as a team, and to punch our ticket to The Finals was just awesome. Of course we are all hoping for the absolute best memory, which is still to come. 4. KG: What is game day like for you? Any superstitions? MOORE: I need to eat well, most often with chicken but always with pasta. I enjoy taking a nap on game day. It helps me relax and get ready for the game. I like shootaround in the morning too; it is a great place to start getting the mental focus you need to compete at a high level. 5. KG: What are some of your favorite things to do in the Twin Cities when you're not playing basketball? MOORE: Well, other than napping -- because I love to do that and now that I'm not in college I seem to have much more free time -- I did spend some time this summer at Minnehaha Falls. What a cool spot. It's only about 10 minutes from where I live, and the first time I just threw on my Lynx t-shirt and wandered over there. The weather has been beautiful, and that place is very relaxing, so I like it.