Players Grades: Sparks trending upwards

This season hasn’t seen a lot of victories for the Sparks, but this week was highlighted by their biggest win of the year over the Aces.

Not all progress is linear. For the Los Angeles Sparks in a rebuilding season, success will likely not be found in the win-loss column but in the development of players like Rickea Jackson and Cameron Brink.

This past week, the Sparks got the best of both worlds.

Los Angeles won two of their three contests and got big-time performances from their rookies, along with Dearica Hamby, who was named WNBA's Western Conference Player of the Week.

The best moment was undoubtedly the Sparks' win over the Las Vegas Aces, 96-92. But plenty of other great individual games contributed to this victory and an overall positive week.

So, let's grade this week's performances. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A "B" grade represents the average performance for that player.

Dearica Hamby

34.5 minutes, 19 points, 11 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.7 steals, 22-39 FG, 2-6 3PT, 11-14 FT, -12

Hamby has been the best player for the Sparks, and this week was no exception. She averaged more minutes, points and steals than anyone on the team and came up big in the win over the Dallas Wings, scoring 22 points and grabbing 12 boards.

There are not many ways Hamby can improve, as she's having a career year and outperforming even the most optimistic projections of the player she could be at the start of the year.

Grade: A

Cameron Brink

22.8 minutes, 6.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 3.3 blocks, 0.7 steals 8-24 FG, 1-6 3PT, 3-4 FT, -7

Brink improved, grabbing more rebounds than usual and was a good rim protector, but struggled to score. She only scored in double figures once and had a measly two points versus the Lynx.

It's clear her defense is elite, but the offense is still inconsistent and the shot selection needs work. It will come in due time, but this week wasn't one of those times.

Grade: C+

Kia Nurse

15.8 minutes, 4.3 points, 1.3 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 4-20 FG, 1-11 3PT, 4-5 FT, -31

Nurse is still starting but her minutes are getting reduced. She's only playing a few shifts and he hasn't performed well during the time she's been given. The shooting has been poor and if Nurse isn't hitting her shots and stretching the floor, there isn't much need for her to pay a significant amount of time.

Grade: C

Rickea Jackson

20.4 minutes, 8.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.3 blocks, 12-26 FG, 1-7 3PT, 1-2 FT, -20

The standout performance from Jackson is the 16-point game she had versus the Aces. That game, along with her other consistent play throughout the week, is becoming the baseline one can expect from Jackson.

Jackson still needs to work on her rebounding and ability to stay in front of the opposition, but overall, it was a solid week for the Sparks rookie.

Grade: B

Lexie Brown

22.7 minutes, 10.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.0 steals, 9-25 FG, 6-17 3PT, 7-8 FT, +30

Since coming back from injury, Brown has been relegated to the bench. I still believe she's the Sparks' best 3-point shooter and while her percentages were low at 35%, she did hit six shots from deep.

I think, ultimately, Brown will return to the starting lineup, but to convince head coach Curt Miller to put her in that spot, she'll have to perform better.

Grade: B-

Aari McDonald

20.6 minutes, 8.7 points, 2.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 0.7 steals, 8-22 FG, 4-10 3PT, 6-6 FT, +23

McDonald is starting to establish herself as a solid bench player. Her production has been up in two of the three games this week and she's done well defensively against the opposing guards.

I doubt McDonald can get much better consistently, but the Sparks need a solid backup guard and if McDonald can be that week in and week out, that'd be ideal.

Grade: B-

Layshia Clarendon

19.4 minutes, 7 points, 2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.7 steals, 7-16 FG, 1-4 3PT, 6-7 FT, -34

Clarendon was respectable this week. This is the kind of play one can expect from them. There are not many mental mistakes, they handle the ball well and knock down the occasional basket.

They're a solid veteran player you can trust.

Grade: B

Rae Burrell

13.2 minutes, 6.7 points, 2 rebounds, 0.3 assists, 0.3 steals, 6-16 FG, 3-8 3PT, 5-5 FT, -1

This was a good week for Burrell. She came off the bench versus the Aces and scored seven points in five minutes. It's hard for Burrell to find time on this roster, but she made a case this week for more run.

Grade: B+

Li Yueru

14 minutes, 6.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 0.3 assists, 0.3 blocks, 7-13 FG, 5-6 FT, -12

Yueru is improving slowly and steadily as the Chinese big adjusts to the WNBA. She had nearly double the shot attempts and was aggressive enough to get to the line.

Miller has mentioned seeing her as a potential starter someday and she showed some of that promise this week.

Grade: B+

Stephanie Talbot

14.7 minutes, 2 points, 2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.3 blocks, 2-11 FG, 0-4 3PT, 2-2 FT, +28

The plus-minus looks good, but I wouldn't say I liked much of the Talbot minutes. It just feels like she can't provide enough on the other side of the ball to get the minutes she's given.

However, Miller disagrees with my notion as he constantly speaks fondly of her and has consistently given her this time.

Grade: C-

Zia Cooke

Not enough minutes for Cooke to judge her play this week. It’s unfortunate a second-year player can't get more time, but that's where things are for her right now.

Curt Miller

Miller pushed all the right buttons this week. He adjusted his starting lineup, keeping Clarendon in and benching Brown, and did well managing minutes versus the Aces to rally back after trailing by double digits early.

The Sparks are now 4-7 and just a half-game back from the eighth and final playoff spot, and given their talent level and potential, that seems like a good place for the team to be.

Grade: B+

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88.