Atlanta Dream Advance to WNBA Finals to Face Minnesota Lynx

by Jessica Lantz on Sep 27, 2011 10:16 PM EDT in WNBA Playoffs 2011

The short-handed Atlanta Dream scrapped their way to a Game 3 victory over the Indiana Fever to advance to the WNBA Finals for the second straight season. Atlanta ran away with the game in an 83-67 rout at Conseco Fieldhouse.

The Dream picked up yet another banner night from the duo of Iziane Castro Marques and Angel McCoughtry in the road win. After combining for 57 in the second game of the series, the pair finished with a combined 49 points. McCoughtry poured in 26 points, despite an 11-of-19 performance from the line. She pulled down eight rebounds and had four steals in the win. Castro Marques contributed 23 points, including a 5-for-7 night from beyond the arc. Erika de Souza is expected to rejoin the team in time for the second game of the Finals after missing the last two games to play for Brazil in Olympic qualifying action.

The Fever was hard-pressed to find the basket, shooting only 38.9% from the field, 25.0% from 3-point range and 63.6% from the line. Indiana was led by Katie Douglas' 16 points. League MVP Tamika Catchings played in the contest, despite a torn plantar fascia. She finished with six in 24 minutes in the losing bid.

The Finals, a best-of-five, begin against the league-leading Lynx in Minnesota on Sunday at 8:30 p.m. EDT. In the regular season, Minnesota swept Atlanta 2-0. Full Finals schedule

ATL/IND Game 3 Box Score

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It's quite easy for me to root for Minnesota.

They’re pretty much 2011’s very own Seattle Storm. Absolutely blew through the regular season, playing in a championship starved city, beat Phoenix in the conference finals, and now facing Atlanta in the finals.

by WaveOcean on Sep 27, 2011 10:59 PM EDT reply actions

Finally Minnesota can get its revenge on Atlanta for 1998-1999.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/29806-the-forgotten-classic-falcons-upset-vikings-in-98-nfc-championship

by WaveOcean on Sep 27, 2011 11:02 PM EDT reply actions

I don't think that's going to play too much into the series,

though a Mystics – Storm finals would draw up a lot of parallels with the Bullets – Sonics in 1978 and 1979.

And also in 1991, the Twins beat the Braves in the World Series.

by thewiz06 on Sep 27, 2011 11:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Even

That was revenge for when that fat pig Hrbek wrestled Ron Gant off first base

by pilight on Sep 27, 2011 11:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Ah yes,

Braves to Twins…

by WaveOcean on Sep 28, 2011 10:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Atlanta appears impressive, Indiana not quite sufficient

It was interesting to watch Atlanta reach a couple of very high peaks in the 3rd and 4th quarters (and, unfortunately, to watch Indiana reach a couple of low valleys).

You know that Atlanta has that potential to very impressively find “the zone” in their perimeter shooting. Very nice 3 point shots in the 2nd half from Atlanta, finishing 8 of 12 for the night.

The Fever’s Ely put on an interesting show in the late 4th quarter, 3 for 3 in a short period.
I loved the behind the back pass on the fast break from Shannon Bobbitt.

What do you think of the Dwayne Wade style of lay up shot block from Angel McCroughtry on that 4th quarter play?

Indiana, and this is in my opinion a solid compliment, is similar to the Minnesota Vikings of the 1970s and 1980s. Unusually consistent at being successful in the regular season and qualifying for the playoffs but they have not been able to get into the championship frequently or to win it when they do. Yet, they have had 7 straight playoff appearances.
On average,since 2005 it has been more fun to be a fan of the Fever than of teams that have not qualified for the playoffs at all (Chicago) or infrequently (MInnesota).

This championship features the late bloomer, an Atlanta team that was NOT even in playoffs-qualified position at the All Star break, against the most dominant team of the regular season with the most awards (Coach of the Year, Rookie of the Year).

by 77DJK on Sep 28, 2011 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

boohoo this never happened erasing my memory of this

anyway I’m painting my first munny that was a gift from a friend
it’s one of the blank mini munnys
I…I’m making it half Avery Bradley of the Celtics and half Tommy Wingels from the Sharks. Yes, he’s a rookie. Yes, this is a freakin’ terrible idea.

…
still, Lori Ann, you were hilarious, and that block, I loved that block. You were Master Chief. <3

Waffles, Digimon...________

STALOCK GET A ROBOT LEG OR SOMETHING AND COME BACK~WE NEED SOME LOCK STOCK STALOCK HERE!!

by YeahTommyB4ZGermansGetThere on Sep 28, 2011 12:24 AM EDT reply actions

Both teams at the top of their game

I don’t really care who wins this series, so I’m just going to enjoy watching some great basketball. I hear that the Dream will get Erika DeSouza back for the 2nd game in the series, so essentially both teams are at full strength.

Both teams are also hungry. Minnesota has been waiting a long time for everything to come together, and Atlanta wants redemption for last year, when they were swept by the Storm.

I’m betting on Atlanta. I think Minnesota is vulnerable if they don’t shoot a high percentage, and Atlanta has more recent playoff experience.

by OVJ on Sep 28, 2011 12:33 AM EDT reply actions