WNBA Finals Game 3: Preview and Game Thread
by Seth Pollack on Oct 4, 2009 11:54 AM EDT
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They say in a 5-game series that the odd games are the one's that matter most. The Mercury took the first game and put Indiana on their heals. The Fever responded in Game 2 and here we are with the winner today taking a significant advantage in the journey for the title.
Whichever team loses today I can guarantee you they will say (and believe) that they are still in it, but for my money the winner of today's game will win this series. That's why I dragged my sorry @$$ from the sunny skies of Arizona to the windy and chilly flatness that is Indiana. This is the game that I didn't want to miss. Of course, I didn't want to miss the previous two games and I certainly wouldn't want to miss a game 5 but that's how championship series go. Every game is the most important game which contradicts what I just said and shows just how many knots you can tie yourself in if you think too much about this stuff.
But I stick to my prediction, the winner today will win the ring.
The Mercury
Reading through the quotes from yesterday's practice, it is clear that the Mercury are focused on playing better defense. In both games so far they've come out early and after the half and given up big leads. While they had some success in battling back, they will try and do some very un-Phoenix-like things in this game.
Diana Taurasi explains what her team needs to do, "We need to clean up some things defensively as far as points in the paint and rebounding. On the other end we need to be more patient, our style of play is to go fast but with their defensive schemes we need to have them play out longer into the shot clock."
Defense. Rebounding. Slow things down.
This is exactly why I've always been skeptical that run-and-gun teams can win in the post season. The game is different and teams almost always end up having to adjust to a different pace and do things they aren't comfortable doing.
It might even be something that seems trivial like longer time outs due to national TV which Taurasi talked about, "..the media time outs feel like they have been about nine minutes long. It's like playing with two halftimes these days."
The key for Phoenix is going to be a better defensive performance from Tangela Smith. In the first two series she played very solid D against Wauters and Leslie while so far in this series she's reverted back to her regular season ways of letting other team's post players catch the ball deep in the post where she's unable to prevent their easy looks. Smith needs to be far more active denying the entry pass and running the floor to prevent the early post play that the Fever like to run.
The Fever
Indiana Coach Lin Dunn thinks that her team is doing a great job. She feels like her team should have won Game 1 and that her defense is responsible for holding Taurasi down. Her only concern seems to be Penny Taylor, "Penny Taylor has been a pain in my...finger. She really is difficult to deal with. We've had matchup problems with her. She is a world renowned player. She was MVP of the World Championships, so her coming off the bench was a real challenge for us."
Taylor will certainly play with her injured tooth. In her dry Aussie style she explained, "I have a beautiful mouth guard. It's a tooth and I don't use it much when I play."
If I were a Fever fan I might be a bit more concerned than that. The chances of Taurasi and Pondexter having another poor shooting game is slim and if the Fever focus too much on Taylor they are going to end up trying to stop DT or CP with single coverage which is simply not possible. Taylor is a great passer and will impact the game even if she's not scoring.
More importantly, in both Games 1 and 2 the Mercury were able to come back from big deficits. Great defensive teams hold leads when they get them. If the Mercury can do a slightly better job on the defensive end and keep from having to use their runs to come back from behind then the Fever will be in big trouble.
The Playoffs
The great thing about post season series is that the level of competition is so high and with time and familiarity teams are able to take away what their opponents want to do. Winners are teams that can get it done despite that.
So far, neither team feels like they played well in their losses and neither team is anywhere close to admitting defeat. These are two stubborn bulls clashing horns and today we will see who's will breaks first.
[Note by Phoenix Stan, 10/04/09 12:32 PM MST ]
Pregame chat with Penny Taylor
Penny's mouth looked fine. No huge bloody gash and no swelling. I asked her if she had looked at the tape where she got it, "No, I'm not interested in that. Today's a new day."
Here's what January had to say about the elbow, "Stuff like that you never want to see happen. It's just one of those things. Habit, going up with an arm bar, especially as a guard you've got to protect yourself going against the bigs. I feel so bad about that."
Taylor talked about the mental focus of the Mercury in Game 2 and for today:
"I'm not sure if it was as much the energy as much as it was the focus. They pinpointed specific areas that we were not so great in and we didn't get them done I think defensively we didn't get done what we needed to. We didn't have the right frame of mind. We can't take them lightly. We can't lose focus on what we need to get done defensively....In this game I think we have a better focus. I can see it in their eyes. They've got the focus and they've got the will."
I was not surprised when I asked her about the Fever focusing more on her defensively. Penny said that her team is deep and if they focus too much on her then someone else will step up. I pretty much could have written that quote myself.
Talking to the Mercury assistent coaches they feel that the front line needs to do a better job defending the Fever posts and the guards need to stop the ball in transition and force Indiana to run their half court sets.
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Two notes
1 There have been two previous occasions when a team won Game 1 of the Finals at home by 4 points or less. In 1998 Phoenix beat Houston 54-51. In 2004 Connecticut beat Seattle 68-64. In both cases, the team that won the close Game 1 did not win another game in the series.
2 Indiana and Phoenix have met three times with Katie Douglas in the lineup this year. All three games were in Phoenix. Indiana won two, Phoenix had to rally back from double digits down to squeeze out an OT win in the other. Unless the Fever have to play without their leading scorer again, they’re the better team and should close this series out in four.
We'll find out today
Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @phoenixstan
by Seth Pollack on Oct 4, 2009 12:25 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Not buying Note 1
In both those cases those were best-of-three series where the home team would have to play the next two on the road.
Sitting baseline
waiting for the game to start….this is a “legit” sell out
Conseco is a pretty cool arena. There’s three tiers of seating which make it feel really small. Talk about fans being right on top of the court!
Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @phoenixstan
There's a small
but rowdy contingent of Mercury fans right behind the Merc bench….and then about 16,000 fever fans
Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @phoenixstan
quite a few still
but maybe there’s traffic down town. The Colts game is just wrapping up
Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @phoenixstan
Colts game ongoing down the street, lines outside to get in still
Here in support of my friends.
by Malcolm Wells on Oct 4, 2009 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Ebony Hoffman
just came out and grabbed the mic to be pump the crowd up. She’s the next Ced Ceballos
Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @phoenixstan
Fever come out on fire
they are moving w/ more purpose and intensity and are up 15-7 w/ 4:31 in the 1st
Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @phoenixstan
Mercury are rushing
on the offensive end….if the first look isn’t there they need to slow down a bit and work the ball around more. The way the Fever plays D they will get an open look
Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @phoenixstan
"This is exactly why I've always been skeptical that run-and-gun teams can win in the post season."
just so I understand,
the reason you’re skeptical that it’s possible for a run and gun team to win in the post season is because a team which already has a championship lost 1 game to pull even at 1 and 1 in another championship series…
it’s cool, man..it’s cool…
something like that
of course the Mercury can get it done. They have a ton of talent but I do think it takes a very special team to do it this way
To be able to flip a switch and play defense at a different level? That’s hard to do
Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @phoenixstan
One championship
The Merc only won in 2007 because Cheryl Ford got hurt in Game 4, and even then were lucky to steal that game in the final seconds.
Indian-napolis is a basketball hungry town
if pacers and hoosiers aint gettin it done….
Here in support of my friends.
I really do love
watching good defensive play….and the Fever are playing very good defense
They rotate well. They are active. They are in the passing lanes And they get to their spots well
Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @phoenixstan
Crowd report
W/ 4:29 to go in the half this place is about 85% to 90% full
Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @phoenixstan
Taurasi jitters like Shawn Marion, moves like on skates, but can finish shots on the move
like contact like manu ginobili
Here in support of my friends.
Vicky Johnson
is in the house looking very sharp in a white suit
Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @phoenixstan
Key stat of the half
In the 1st qtr the Fever were 8-0 on second chance points and at the half they are 8-5. Merc are up 18-12 on the glass.
Ann Meyers told me before the game that the key to the Mercury defense was putting the ball in basket so they can get back and set their defense. So far, she’s right as the Mercury out scored the Fever 30-20 in the 2nd
During the season, the Mercury’s best quarter was always in the 3rd. In this series so far the Fever have dominated out of the half.
We’ll see what happens
Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @phoenixstan
Tight game, but I like that DT and Cappie are playing aggressive
if DT gets hot and Cappie keeps up her scoring, we can win. Bottom line, and what I’ve said all along since before the playoffs: If DT goes thug, we win.
Glad to see Penny out there, and so far she doesn’t seem affected by her injury.
totally unlike some of us fans!
Here in support of my friends.
by Malcolm Wells on Oct 4, 2009 5:05 PM EDT up reply actions
Not that weird...
Considering the Indiana bench outscored them last game…
SwishAppeal.com, women's basketball...covered SBN-style... twitter: @qmccall3
ack!!! missed the first half...
Looks like a good game…
What’s up with Douglas? Defense or off night?
4 3’s might be much if you aint makin em
SwishAppeal.com, women's basketball...covered SBN-style... twitter: @qmccall3
I rarely find myself disagreeing with what Lin Dunn says...
I like her.
SwishAppeal.com, women's basketball...covered SBN-style... twitter: @qmccall3
I agree
I like her
Side Note: Just say all the Merc players lathering on the Puresol hand sanitizer
Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @phoenixstan
Lin Dunn reminds me of a mushroom toon in Super Mario bros.
Here in support of my friends.
by Malcolm Wells on Oct 4, 2009 5:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Dude you are on a roll today with the comparisons!
SwishAppeal.com, women's basketball...covered SBN-style... twitter: @qmccall3
Tameka Johnson... is she the Derel Fisher of the WNBA?
who’s the shortest?
Here in support of my friends.
More Michael Adams maybe?
League shortest is Shannon Bobbitt, right?
SwishAppeal.com, women's basketball...covered SBN-style... twitter: @qmccall3
i love Douglas' reactions after fouls...
lol
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Katie cracks me up
she always reacts like that after any foul on her. Her “I’m outraged at this call” face is on par with NBA greats such as Manu and Sam Cassell.
wasn't my point.
I simply stated that regardless of how legitimate the call, Katie is always outraged and always has that look
That foul
happened 6 ft from me…
Katie swung her arm out and took down Temeka…it was a good call
Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @phoenixstan
on a relative scale, davenport is so much bigger than dampier is to the competition
Here in support of my friends.
by Malcolm Wells on Oct 4, 2009 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah that is true...
I just remember Eaton being so awkward and ineffectual…
Wait…
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Yeah sure
she shoots about 80% FT and in practice nails three’s. No surprise
Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @phoenixstan
Katie Douglas
missing all these three’s is a big plus for Phx
Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @phoenixstan
I still wouldn't want her with the ball in 4th...
she’s clutch. Hoping it isn’t close with a few minutes left.
Yeah...
Good move by Phoenix to pack it in and dare them though…
SwishAppeal.com, women's basketball...covered SBN-style... twitter: @qmccall3
Hey Stan, question
is it just me, or are there no “clearouts” in the W?
I’d love to see DT and Catchings head to head with no immediate double….
Oh snap, Paula Dean is mad!
Don’t know about that call personally. Maybe a non shooting foul… sort of a compromise?
Catchings foul
Not sure I recall seeing her react that strongly with the sarcastic slapping and all.
Pelton...
You are brilliant.
SwishAppeal.com, women's basketball...covered SBN-style... twitter: @qmccall3
ok Dewanna needs to stop shooting
I haven’t seen a reasonable excuse for her to shoot since game 1. She almost lost us that game with two horrible horrible (not just form, but timing, momentum killing) jumpers.
Right... she's a rookie, I get it
but she’s compounding it by deciding to take shots. Give it to her on a break, off a board with noone in front of her, sure. But in triple coverage?
Not to mention a fast break layup...
:/
SwishAppeal.com, women's basketball...covered SBN-style... twitter: @qmccall3
Yes
Penny usually sits until about 1/2 way through the 4th…
Normally Bonner and Taylor come in about now w/ about 5 or 6 min to go…
I wonder if he’s going to close w/ Smith or Ohlde
Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @phoenixstan
ok so they mentioned that Corey and Lin are mic'd up
totally not interested in hearing Corey at all. But I’d pay money to catch Lin on ESPN3 or something….
forget that, did you just see Catchings?
she pulled the ball behind the back while still headed to the basket.
I dont get the impression Pondexter is taking this lightly...
SwishAppeal.com, women's basketball...covered SBN-style... twitter: @qmccall3
Dino time
Here in support of my friends.
by Malcolm Wells on Oct 4, 2009 5:43 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm actually optimistic despite being down 2
if you take into consideration we’re playing 5 on 4. I know i know, you see 5 players, but Temeka Johnson is either a corpse or a ghost, cause there’s no pulse
Smallball
Here is a scenario where, if I was Lin Dunn, I’d put January and Bevilaqua together in the backcourt and move Douglas to the three. The floor is not spaced at all with Moore and Sutton-Brown both in there.
You think so? PHX isn't a big team
so if Indy went small, we’d be able to match. We could run with Cappie and DT, Penny and Dewanna, and Ohlde. I think we win that head to head.
The Indy smallball lineup has actually been pretty effective
January plays very well off the ball…
SwishAppeal.com, women's basketball...covered SBN-style... twitter: @qmccall3
Hoffman
did something to her shoulder on that foul…she ran straight off the court holding her right shoulder
Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @phoenixstan
So yeah
another great game….certainly glad I came out here for this!
Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @phoenixstan
I don't know about that one
I don’t think DT saw her standing there at all…her head was turned up court
Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @phoenixstan
Horrible call...
even moreso because Douglas picked up a tech for standing there…
SwishAppeal.com, women's basketball...covered SBN-style... twitter: @qmccall3
I don't think she did
Otherwise Indiana would not have shot a free throw. I just think the broadcasters were confused (and understandably so).
Double tech? really?
And these are going to be our NBA refs soon? I cannot wait til Artest takes a call the wrong way.
Refs are going to need to wear helmets..
SwishAppeal.com, women's basketball...covered SBN-style... twitter: @qmccall3
They're lucky this isn't a soccer match
I don’t think the refs would make it out of most arenas alive if they called soccer matches like they do bball games
Indiana fans...
…your mission is clear.
SwishAppeal.com, women's basketball...covered SBN-style... twitter: @qmccall3
No
None of these refs are on the replacement list. Good enought for the WNBA finals, but not good enough for the NBA. sigh
Thank you for clarifying that..
I will put away my torch and pitchfork now
SwishAppeal.com, women's basketball...covered SBN-style... twitter: @qmccall3
I was wrong
Clarke Stevens is on the list.
Of course most of the best WNBA refs are women, and of course none of them are being used as replacements.
And what I love about her..
Making GREAT passess…
SwishAppeal.com, women's basketball...covered SBN-style... twitter: @qmccall3
Hey, guys. What a game, eh? What a series. :)
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Absolutely amazing basketball..
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Corey may just do like in game 1
and tell Cappie to bring it home. I really don’t think we need any sets with the playmakers we have. Plus, if anyone’s deserved the right to get the green light, it’s Cappie.
Lineup suggestions?
If I’m Indy I go with the small ball lineup…
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Smallball would be great for us
We have the better smallball lineup. Plus you’d be forcing Catchings to defend our bigs. No reason for that. If she switches, then you got a guard on our bigs… that’s bad.
So, here’s hoping for smallball
Depends on how you define possession...
It was definitely in her grasp, but she clearly did not have enough control to take a TO
SwishAppeal.com, women's basketball...covered SBN-style... twitter: @qmccall3
Is Hoffman really a "post"/interior player?
I feel like I never see her inside…
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she's Karl Malone
Here in support of my friends.
by Malcolm Wells on Oct 4, 2009 5:57 PM EDT up reply actions
How many 3s did Malone even have in her career?
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Probably not as many as Timmy.
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3s aside, a big bruiser that shoots with a soft touch from outside.
Willing to take a better NBA comparison
Here in support of my friends.
by Malcolm Wells on Oct 4, 2009 6:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Brand is closer...?
Vin Baker with heart…?
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Heh. Gotta love the basketball Jesus.
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Can you imagine the number of technicals we’ll have next season? :)
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Cappie rushed it a bit
but I’ll live with it. Without her, we woulda been floating in the nearest river.
Right...
wasn’t a terrible shot…
SwishAppeal.com, women's basketball...covered SBN-style... twitter: @qmccall3
3.4, and another time out by Corey
what are the other signs of the apocalypse?
famine…
war…
pestilence…
Corey calling 2 timeouts in 1 game.
This one was a given, though. 3.4 seconds left? You have to.
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How can it be a jumpball when Catchings was grabbing it with her elbows while calling for a timeout? Meh.
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favor the fever, but stan says the Merc have won 1 game in this spot this season
Here in support of my friends.
yep
I think Penny is 2nd option…
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Not to Taurasi? Even after this game?
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why oh why did they have Cappie inbounding?
who thought that up?
oh and Mazzante, ice cold, off the bench, to win a game if she got the ball? Are you kidding?
Well, there’s always the play where the ball goes back to the person inbounding. Innit Hubbie that says the player inbounding is the most dangerous one?
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Wow. I have to see that one again.
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I hate..hate... hate...
when refs have this kind of impact on a game…
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mainly yes...
But just a lot of questionable calls at the end there…
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it worked out
Most of the bad calls went against the Fever, so it’s all good.
But if you really hate this level of ref impact, you’re gonna hate the W in the long run.
Well... a 1 point game...
with a bad tech…
that’s rather significant…
SwishAppeal.com, women's basketball...covered SBN-style... twitter: @qmccall3
Easy to say from my couch ...
… but when that pass was blown, Tangela should have taken a timeout and set up again. Phoenix had two left, right? Can’t take ’em with you.
Call me crazy, but in the playoffs, whatever happened in the game up to that point, you go to your MVP for the last shot.
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Well...on a team like phoenix... you could make an argument to use her as a decoy...
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That last play
was designed to go to Taylor according to Gaines in the presser
Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @phoenixstan
Anyway, guys, good game. Sorry I couldn’t make it for the game threads – I’ll try to join the next one early. Stan, keep up the faith.
Later!
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