Before trading for Elaine Powell earlier this month, the Detroit Shock were using a Band-Aid to cover their holes at the point guard position.

	Elaine Powell averaged 5.9 points in Orlando, but is scoring 10 points a game for Detroit.

Not anymore.

Since Detroit traded for Powell on July 8, the Shock are 5-3, including wins over Washington, New York, Miami and at Charlotte. The team has had its rough moments, but the Shock, who started 0-10 but are 6-9 since Bill Laimbeer took over, have added pride and determination to their role as spoiler down the stretch.

Swin Cash has been Detroit's catalyst all season, and has put in a fantastic rookie performance, averaging 15.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 35 minutes. Although Cash has had to struggle through some growing pains without the benefit of having a teammate such as Natalie Williams to learn from, Cash has led Detroit in scoring in the past nine games and has been impressive with her decision-making.

All five starters, in fact, have been playing well and form a very athletic, quick group. Cash always plays hard. Deanna Nolan can guard anyone. Astou Ndiaye-Diatta is quietly consistent. Both Barbara Farris and Ayana Walker have been productive sharing time as Detroit's two-headed center.

But Powell has been the spark plug. The 5-foot-9, third-year veteran was averaging just 5.9 points in Orlando, but her stats are up across the board in Detroit, where she is averaging 10 points, 28 minutes, 4.0 rebounds and 4.6 assists in eight games.

While no one can say exactly why Powell seems to be playing better in Detroit, sometimes a fresh start is all a player needs to regain some confidence. Either way, and with all due respect to the players already on Detroit's roster, the Shock needed a point guard.

Edwina Brown is a tremendous competitor, but not a great ballhandler. Dominque Canty has a lot of talent and skill, but she shoots just 31 percent from the field, which has allowed opponents to cheat a little bit on defense. For her career, Canty is a 35 percent shooter from the field and a 15 percent shooter from 3-point range. But Powell sinks 44.8 percent from the field and a team-high 40-percent from 3-point range, numbers that command respect from the opposing defense.

Powell, a lefty who can drive either direction, isn't the best player in the league, but she has been an excellent fit in Detroit. Her leadership has rejuvenated the Shock offense, and she gives Detroit another legitimate player.

SHOCK-ING RUMOR

For several months, there has been some speculation that San Antonio would be awarded a WNBA team some time in the near future. Some sources are indicating, however, that it could happen as soon as next season. Sources also say league officials are considering moving the Detroit franchise to San Antonio. Whether the league would expand to other cities is unclear, but the Spurs could have a WNBA counterpart coming their way. -- Nancy Lieberman

Laimbeer, who orchestrated the Powell trade, deserves much of the credit for the turnaround. This team might not be able to do everything he wants, but they've bought into his style

The best things Laimbeer has in his favor are his confidence, his reputation as a "bad boy," and the fact he has no emotional ties to his players. He didn't draft them and is therefore is perhaps more at ease at benching some players who have traditionally been big-name players in the league. And deep down, his players are probably even a little bit afraid of him.

Either way, Laimbeer, who has shortened his bench and is playing with just seven players, is doing an excellent job. And Detroit has a lot to be proud of.

'Bird' soars in Seattle
Powell found her comfort zone in Detroit. Kate Starbird has found her zone in Seattle.

Starbird, who's from Washington and played for the Seattle Reign in the ABL, averaged just 5.9 minutes and 1.7 points in 15 games for Utah this season. But since she was traded to Seattle, Starbird is averaging 8.3 points and 23.7 minutes, and the Storm has won three consecutive games -- at Orlando, at Washington and at Detroit.

Starbird, who shot just 25 percent from 3-point range in Utah, is shooting 52 percent from the field (11-for-21) and 60 percent from 3-point range for the Storm.

ESPN analyst and Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman is a former WNBA coach, general manager and player. She is a regular contributor to ESPN.com's women's basketball coverage.