Playoffs....Round 2

Let the games begin!

Round 2 starts tonight and both match ups prove to be noteworthy!

Indiana Fever vs Detroit Shock

Game 1: Wed 9/23 - (Detroit) 8:00 pm (ESPN2)
Game 2: Fri 9/25 - (Indiana) 7:00 pm (NBA TV)
Game 3: Sat 9/26 - (Indiana) 7:00 pm (NBA TV, if necessary) <--and it will be This series is going to three games, I guarantee it. Even though Indiana won the series 3-1 during the regular season this Shock team is totally different then the June/July Shock team. Oh, and we can't forget that Detroit always plays better in the playoffs. They are a team that gets it, they get that it's "do or die" and they have the players that can "do". Deanna Nolan is key to the success of the Shock and I'm sure she won't disappoint. She is consistent and incredibly talented in the post season (and in general). Even with the hit to the head she took in Game 1 against Atlanta, she still dropped in 22 the next game. I think she is the most under the radar player in the league, not underrated but under the radar. There have always been distractions for the Shock or a great player named Katie Smith overshadowing Nolan. Now it's up to Nolan and I know she will not disappoint. I love watching her play because she gets such sheer joy out of playing the game, something that is lacking with so many players! Keys for Indiana
For Indiana to win it's very simple. Stop Deanna Nolan. If they can limit her to the 13, 16 and 4 points she had in the first three meetings the Fever won, then the Fever have a chance. Limit her looks, stop the transition game and get those rebounds. Tammy Sutton-Brown will have her work cut out with Kara Braxton (I can not wait to see that match up) so look for some heavy physical play in the post!

Keys for Detroit
Stop Tamika Catchings and feed the ball to Deanna Nolan. When Nolan is hitting, the rest of the Shock follow. When Deanna is on...look out. So, let her do her thing and drive to the hoop, hit pull up jumpers, set up the post players....get her rolling because when her confidence is high you can see the rest of the team getting confident.

Shock win the series 2-1 and go to their 4th straight WNBA Final.


Los Angeles Sparks vs Phoenix Mercury

Game 1: Wed 9/23 - (Los Angeles) 10:00 pm (ESPN2)
Game 2: Fri 9/25 - (Phoenix) 10:00 pm (NBA TV)
Game 3: Sat 9/26 - (Phoenix) 10:00 pm (NBA TV, if necessary)

This is another great series and one I'm really looking forward to. Phoenix is 3-1 against LA this season but again, like the Indiana/Detroit series, this is a different team then the 1 they beat in June/July. But so is Phoenix. If Phoenix plays the way they are capable of playing, there is no reason to evaluate the series (or the rest of the post season). But sometimes they just don't "show up". First game against San Antonio the Mercury looked almost star struck! It was odd to see confusion and frustration on the faces of the entire Mercury team. Nobody took charge and in the end, they dropped Game 1. Could that happen again? You bet. LA is going to be rocking, they get great attendance and this could be a Legend's last WNBA game in the city she grew up in. Emotion will be high and the Sparks will be determined to not let Lisa Leslie leave LA without a victory.

Keys for Los Angeles
Stop Diana Taurasi from getting pull up shots. Face guard her and always put a hand in her face. If you can frustrate her, perhaps you have a shot. Let Tina Thompson and Lisa Leslie pound the inside, that is where Phoenix might be "weaker". It's important for LA to win the rebound battle, if they can limit the second chance points and keep DeWanna Bonner in check then perhaps they have a chance to win the series. But doing both of these things will be tough to do for 3 games.

Keys for Phoenix
Slow down Candace Parker (I'm not sure she can be stopped so slowing her roll is important). It's important to always box her out so put your best box-er-outter on her at all times, no excuses for her to duck inside and grab easy rebounds untouched. But most importantly, get Diana Taurasi involved in every play in the first quarter, if she doesn't at least touch the ball then the confidence won't be there.

Phoenix wins 2-1

WNBA Playoffs

So with the playoffs kicking off tonight (and the games actually on TV...WOW!) it's time for some predictions.

Tonight's games:
Atlanta @ Detroit (8:00 pm, ESPN2)
Seattle @ Los Angeles (10:00 pm, ESPN2)

Atlanta Dream vs Detroit Shock

Game 1: Wed 9/16 (Detroit)- 8:00 pm (ESPN2)
Game 2: Fri 9/18 (Atlanta)- 7:30 pm (NBA TV)
Game 3: Sun 9/20 (Atlanta)- 3:00 pm (If necessary) (ESPN2)


It's reality time for Atlanta and their first round games are going to be the toughest games they have played all season. Why? The Detroit Shock are a.) on a tear b.) no WAY are the defending Champs going to bow out in the first round (a-la Tennessee Lady Vols). On paper, Atlanta is a more balanced team but that doesn't take into account the factor of the playoffs and what it can do to a team (good and bad). Some notes:

-5 Double figure scorers for the Dream compared to 3 for Shock (1 for each team might be out).
-Katie Smith and Chamique Holdsclaw are doubtful to play in Game 1, perhaps the entire series.
-Atlanta scores average 84 PPG and allows 82 PPG
-Detroit scores 78 PPG and allows 77 PPG
-Rebounds are close: Atlanta 37, Detroit 36
-Rebounds allowed (this is where Atlanta will suffer): Atlanta 37, Detroit 32

Here are some keys for Detroit to win: If Cheryl Ford remains healthy and dominates Erika de Souza (who is averaging 2 more boards per game then Cheryl), the Shock will win. If Katie Smith can play in the series, they will win (right now it's unclear if she will play in the first game or at all).

Keys for Atlanta to win: Limit the number of second chance opportunities for the Shock and perhaps, Atlanta can sneak out the win....but I just don't see that happening.


Detroit wins the series 2-0. (I'm sorry Atlanta, I love you, but first playoffs against Detroit? Sorry ladies!).

Seattle Storm vs Los Angeles Sparks

Game 1: Wed 9/16 (LA) - 10:00 pm (ESPN2)
Game 2: Fri 9/18 (Seattle)- 10:00 pm (NBA TV)
Game 3: Sun 9/20 (Seattle)- 5:00 pm (if necessary) (ESPN 2)

Seattle will be without All-World player Lauren Jackson for this series BUT they get many of their other players back. Swin Cash, Sue Bird, Tanisha Wright and Katie Geralds should all be in uniform and ready to play tonight. Geralds is still pretty hurt from her injured PCL but just having her on the floor for a few minutes will create some positive vibes for the Storm. The Sparks, on the other hand, have as much playoff experience as the Storm and are flying high with emotion. Nobody on that teams wants legendary Lisa Leslie to retire without a WNBA title this season (heck, how storybook would that be...a-la David Robinson?). The Sparks are playing really good ball right now and they are healthy. Some notes:

-Both teams have 5 players scoring in double figures but Seattle is down one
-Both teams average 74 points per game and allow the same 73
-Sparks have the edge in rebounds: 37-32
-Sparks have the edge in allowed rebounds: 30-32 (but close enough)

For Seattle to win: One name-Swin Cash. If Cash plays BIG (boards and points) Seattle could win the series. What is going to hurt them is no Lauren Jackson in the playoffs. Sure, they are playing great ball without her but LA is on a mission and they know how to win and they know how to use emotion effectively (loaded with successful NCAA and Olympic Champions).

For LA to win: Rebounds, rebounds and rebounds. Stop Swin Cash and limit the assists Sue Bird gets (in other words, protect the low block) and LA can win this series.

This is the series to watch...arguably the best one of the playoffs.

Los Angeles wins 2-1.

Almost-A-Decade teams and other news...

Since we are approaching #1 (haha, fooled you, we are not doing #1 today), let's look back at some quality teams that didn't quite make the cut in my top 10.

-Maryland: 2006 NCAA Champions, 2009 ACC Tournament Champions, 3 All-Americans (Kristi Toliver, Crystal Langhorne, Marissa Coleman)

-Ohio State: 4 Big 10 Regular Season Champs (or co-Champs), 1 three time All-American (Jessica Davenport, 2005-2007), NCAA Tornament 2003-2008 (#1 seed in 2006), Sweet 16 in 2005.

-Michigan State: NCAA Championship game berth (2005), 2 Honorable Mention All-Americans (Kristin Hayne, Lindsay Bowen, Liz Shimek), 2005 Big 10 Regular Season and Tournament Champs, 6 times in the NCAA tournament

Some nice teams but not quite good enough to hit the top 10, maybe they'll make the next decade countdown!

Central Michigan Chippewas
Small school (be it Division I) so this may have been passed over by some people. Last week a Michigan judge dismissed a case against Head Coach, Sue Guevara. The case: a player felt that she was discriminated against because she was not a lesbian. According to the article on CBS Sports.com, Brooke Heike lost her scholarship because of her poor attitude and unwillingness to work hard. The case was thrown out of court because the coach and other officials at Central Michigan are immune from such legal claims. So the player's lawyer will try another type of lawsuit. The best is, Heike is still attending the University. Interesting, no? I know that if I felt I was discriminated against by a company, person or school I would high tail it out of there. Wouldn't you? Makes me wonder if perhaps she thought she was a better player then she really was. You can read the entire article here.

WNBA
The Sparks clinched a playoff spot with their nice win over the San Antonio Silver Stars. With the Silver Stars loss, the Lynx pulled to within 1/2 game of the final coveted 4th spot. Silver Stars have 2 games remaining: @ Sacramento and home against Seattle Storm. Silver Stars are 1-2 against the Monarchs and 1-2 against the Seattle Storm. As for the Minnesota Lynx: Detroit tonight, @ Los Angeles and @ Sacramento. 0-1 against Detroit (losing when Detroit was mediocre), 1-2 against LA, 2-1 against Sacramento. Should be some interesting games in the West!

Indiana Fever (with the win last night over the New York Liberty) are tied with the Phoenix Mercury for the best record in the WNBA at 22-10. Indiana is having a hard time playing well on the road. Should prove to be interesting since their last 2 remaining games are on the road (@ Chicago and @ Connecticut)

Congrats to Deanna Nolan and Vickie "VJ" Johnson for being named WNBA players of the week. This is Nolan's fifth of her career and the second in as many weeks (winning last week with Sue Bird). Averages: 20.7 points, 51.1% from the floor, 4.3 boards, and 3.3 assists. She helped the Shock go 3-0 last week.
VJ wins her first "Player of the Week" award in her career. Nice way to end her career, no? She averaged 22 points, 76.0% from the floor (league leading), 3.5 assists, 3.5 boards, and 1.5 steals. She helped the Silver Stars to 2 wins over the past week. She is one of only 4 players still playing from the inaugural WNBA draft, one of two players to have 4,000 points and 1,000 assists in a career (with her teammate Becky Hammon) and is the WNBA all-time leader in games played.

Rookie Watch
Rookie report time (Last three games)
DeWanna Bonner:
41 points, 12 boards, 2 assists, 2 blocks, 4 steals
Team record: 2-1

Angel McCoughtry:
39 points, 10 boards, 12 assists, 3 blocks, 3 steals (double-double on 9/4: 26 points, 10 assists)
Team Record: 2-1

Shavonte Zellous:
44 points, 10 boards, 9 assists, 2 blocks, 2 steals
Team Record: 3-0

Tough call this week! Shavonte played great this week and is my rookie of the week. She really helped her team climb back into the playoffs! It's not just how she does as an individual but also how she helps her team.

Tonight's Game:
Detroit Shock @ Minnesota Lynx (8:00 pm)